GAINESVILLE – At 32, Newberry resident Jessica Gray was thrilled to show her artwork last weekend at the 36^th Annual Art Festival at Thornebrook. Gray is a painter and jeweler who uses and re-uses materials in what she calls a “closed loop practice.”

“My work is abstract and heavily influenced by nature and natural textures,” said Gray. When she talks about closed loop work she is referring to using items left over from one project to enhance another. She says she uses an extremely heavy amount of paint and recycled material…sometimes soil with an acrylic paint base.

“I use recycled paint from work surfaces to close the loop rather than throwing it away or washing paint down the drain into the water supply.”

While Gray’s jewelry is unique and interesting, she says she tries to keep it simple. She builds pieces using epoxy and clay along with gemstones. Her jewelry is often electroformed using copper wire suspended in a bath of chemicals connected to a power supply.

It has taken Gray research and trial and error to develop her method. “There is a resurgence in popularity of this method,” said Gray. “You have to troubleshoot on your own until you get it right.” This method is scientific and very “left brain,” she said. “Painting, on the other hand is right brained.” The two different methods help keep her grounded – along with her cat “Remy” who she says is boss of the household.

Gray said she “sort of side-stepped into becoming an artist ” as she studied businesses at Santa Fe College and took a few art classes on the side. She obtained her business degree while at Santa Fe but she stayed on and got her degree in Graphic Design.

“Our family has a creative streak running through it so my parents supported me in taking art classes while working on my business degree.” Gray’s grandmother is a ceramicist, her father and brother are into drawing and photography. Her mother did fiber arts – crocheting, quilting, etc.

Gray worked in graphic arts and marketing for more than 10 years. Over the years she dabbled in art but still kept her day job. “In 2020 I set priorities and knew I’d rather be making art than anything else. I decided to use the skills I had developed over the years to market my own business.”

Using those fun art classes, a lot of trial and error and a certain amount of recklessness, the primarily self-taught artist officially launched her own business. She said she has been selling her art for some time, but this is the first time she has focused all of her energy on these two types of artworks.

“You have to make bad art before you can make good art,” she said. “If you let the fear of a blank canvas paralyze you, you’re never going to make anything.” She launched her website www.andpersestudios.com earlier this year. Using social media and in-person local events in the north Florida area, she has made a name for herself in the art world.

Gray launched a new collection just prior to the festival and visitors to her booth seemed interested in her unique new designs. “In person, the stones just pop, but,” she says, “it’s difficult to photograph some of these stones to capture their wonderful colors. People just have to see them in person sometimes in order to really appreciate the work.”

Another local artist, Archer resident Amber Rust, 43, also showed her artwork at this year’s Art Festival at Thornebrook. Her web, Instagram and Facebook pages are all called “Fluidity by Amber” and show her fluid acrylic pour painting techniques on canvases, wood and other substrates.

The results are abstract, but focus heavily on beach and seashore types of scenes. Rust enjoys adding embellishments with realism such as hand-painted turtles, manatees and other sea creatures.

“I will sit with a finished product until I can envision what completes the scene,” said Rust. Referring to a large turtle painting she said, “I sat with that painting for a year before it came to me what would complete it.”

Rust spent the first 20 years of her working life in management at a credit union. As a teenager she spent time drawing, but a career and family took center stage for several years.

“I was always interested in art,” she said. Once she began playing with painting her interest in art was rekindled from a spark to a flame. “I was non-stop on art after that,” she said. She converted her dining room into her studio and has been going strong ever since.

“I had to focus my attention on one theme and that became oceans and shore life.” She learned that different additives to paint can cause shimmer and other different effects. “I learned how to create an ocean feel,” she said. The addition of resin over paint brings out the colors.

Rust also creates earrings and jewelry using an acrylic pour on a silicone mat. “I cut out the shapes I want for earrings and pendants and seal them with resin, which really makes the colors pop,” said Rust. “They are really light because there is no heavy metal behind the painted jewelry item, so they are very comfortable to wear.”

Rust claims because she is an introvert, she has shied away from YouTube videos. “The process of doing what I do is messy and requires specialized equipment and protective gear. It’s not just something I can easily show in a YouTube video without a whole lot of editing.”

Rust likes art shows for the interaction with her customers. “I have been doing this for two and a half years now and really enjoy talking with people about the work and seeing what they are interested in.

Rust’s art includes wall art, serving boards, trays, coasters, jewelry, occasional bracelets and specialized custom furniture pieces.

Rust will be showing also at the Ocala Art Festival, the Micanopy Art Festival and the Gainesville Downtown Art Festival in the next few weeks.

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HIGH SPRINGS – Dozens of community volunteers gathered on Saturday, Oct. 9, to plant new trees throughout downtown High Springs. 

Thirty-three beautiful new Live Oak and Cypress trees now beautify downtown High Springs from the Farmers' Market Pavilion to High Springs Brewing Company.

The program, funded by Alachua County Department of Environmental Protection and Keep Alachua County Beautiful, was led by Alachua County Arborist Lacy Holzworth. Holzworth and her team will continue to oversee the care and watering of all 36 trees until they are established.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in High Springs will hold a two-day celebration of its 125^th anniversary Nov. 6 through Nov. 7 that is open to the community. The church has roots that extend throughout the community and has been holding regular Sunday services for 125 years in its present location, making it the oldest continuous church in High Springs. According to Reverend Canon Lance Horne, the services actually go back further, with the congregation holding services in private homes.

The current location became a reality when a parishioner deeded the land for the church that would be built in the Carpenter’s Gothic style with a steep central gable, wheel windows and pointed-arched windows. At the time, railroads were booming, and in 1883, the railroad had extended from Live Oak to Gainesville, passing through the small community of Santa Fe, named for the nearby Santa Fe River. A post office and railroad station were established, and in 1888, the name was changed to High Springs. When phosphate was discovered in the area that same year, three branches of the Atlantic Coast Line converged in the town which became known as "The Railroad Center."

But in 1896, a tornado devastated High Springs, including the church. The “Great Storm” as it became known, caused 202 deaths and was one of the costliest hurricanes on record at the time. With winds at 125 mph, the storm surge destroyed almost every building on the coast and spawned tornadoes, including the one that devastated High Springs. It was a tragic chapter in the church’s history, but St. Bartholomew's was an important part of the community with its influence extending well beyond its walls, and railroad workers and townspeople worked tirelessly to rebuild the damaged church, cutting down pine trees and even using railroad ties to bring the church back to life. St. Bartholomew's Church became a landmark and an integral part of the town.

Since its reconstruction, the congregation has held two services every Sunday for the past 125 years. This year, the church and community will celebrate the anniversary with a BBQ, music, tours of the sanctuary and original memorabilia along with other activities for children. Speakers include High Springs CRA Coordinator David Sutton who will discuss the early history of High Springs, retired CBS radio host Ben Hill who will be the MC and also speak about the history of St. Bartholomew's, and High Springs City Manager Ashley Stathatos who will talk about High Springs today.

BBQ luncheons will be provided on site by Mr. P's BBQ and the High Springs Lions Club. There will also be a UF Clinical Research Vehicle (CRV) for free health screenings and vaccinations. Julie's Pin's & Needles will be displaying quilts on the back of the pews. To promote the historical aspect of the anniversary, some parishioners will be dressed in period costume. Music will be provided by four acts starting at 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., starting with gospel singers Band Together, followed by Canopy Road, Disney's Alpine Rose Band and ending with a performance by High Springs recording artist Cliff Dorsey.

On Sunday there will be a special service with Bishop Samuel Howard, Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida, officiating the 10 a.m. service with baptisms, and confirmations along with the church's Reverend Canon Lance Horne. Horne, a career Naval officer with a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Masters of Divinity, has been the reverend at the church for over a decade. Although he and his wife live in the Mayport area of Jacksonville, they make the trip for Wednesday Bible Study and Youth Services as well as the two services on Sunday.

“Travel time is over two hours, but there are absolutely wonderful people in this congregation,” Horne said. “It’s a family I am proud to be part of it.”

St. Bartholomew's church is located at18615 N.W. 238^th Street, High Springs. For more information about the anniversary celebration, call 386-454-9812.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The COVID pandemic closed down the historic Grady House Bed and Breakfast in High Springs in summer 2020. The local landmark had long enjoyed a varied history as a residence, business and finally a historic bed and breakfast, but for over a year, it sat empty and still.

Prior to 1900, the location where the Grady House now stands was a bakery owed by German immigrant Charles Nisi and his family. Eventually, the property was owed by H. L. Grady who lived there with his family for many years. In 1917 a second floor was added, and the home was later used as a boarding house. One of the Grady House owners purchased the 122-year-old Easterlin House next door and transformed it into Skeet’s Cottage, a beautiful two-story Victorian home.

Over the years, a number of owners called the Grady House home, and in 1990, it was transformed it into a bed and breakfast. But by June 2020, the doors were shuttered as COVID claimed yet another business.

But a year later in summer 2021, Scott Towne and Sara Miller reopened the Grady House. Towne, originally from Mississippi, and Miller, originally from Missouri, learned that the Grady House was for sale and visited High Springs to see the property and get a feel for the community. “We absolutely loved the Grady House, along with the companion Easterlin House (Skeeters Cottage) as well as the gardens and event site behind the house,” said Miller. “We decided to purchase it and bring it back to its glory.”

Miller said that the feel of High Springs was just what they were looking for. “We also loved the community of High Springs and felt very welcomed by the people,” said Miller. “We want to be part of the community and contribute to it. We plan to be more than just a B&B, providing special events including music concerts in the back garden and host other special events for the community.” The sale was finalized Aug. 3 and Towne and Miller immediately began restoring the property. Within two months they were ready to open and had a ribbon cutting on Oct. 2.

The Grady House Bed & Breakfast consists of two separate houses and a large private garden on two-thirds of an acre, all within four easy walking blocks of downtown High Springs and restaurants and shopping. The two-story Grady House itself is large with five guest rooms, each named for a color — the Yellow Room, the Green Room, the Red Room, the Navy Room, and the Peach Room. Prices for the rooms range between $175 to $190 per night depending on which room.

The Easterlin House, also known as Skeet’s Cottage, is immediately next door, across a small patio and garden. It is a full-size Victorian house built in 1896, with a kitchen, living room, television room, two bedrooms and one full bath. The Easterlin House is rented as a full house for a single group or individual and is priced at $225 a night.

The Grady House is located at 410 and 420 N.W. 1^st Avenue, High Springs. Additional information and reservations can be made by phone at 386-454-2206 or by visiting https://www.gradyhousebnb.com/

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