Arts for ACT Gallery is featuring the art of Pam Jones in June.
An opening reception is planned for Friday, June 3 from 6 to 9 pm. in conjunction with Fort Myers art Walk.
A self-taught mixed media artist, Pamela Jones resides in Punta Gorda. She always has been attracted to religious, ethnic and folkloric imagery, roadside memorials, home altars, shrines and outsider art. Her work consists of carefully crafted assemblages made with found objects, thrift store treasures and random stuff.
Jones’ “Gypsy Jazz” mixed media and fiber art series celebrates the colors, textures and vibrance of gypsy life and the music of legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt. Each piece starts with an altered vintage or repurposed item, such as a souvenir spoon display, embellished with fabric, ribbon, rope and beads, concealing antique bells, balls and other hidden treasures.
“Chair Shrines” honor the Holy Mother and female saints in unique sculptural assemblages created with toy and children’s chairs, vintage figurines and themed adornments.
Jones’ first and ongoing projects include “Shelliquaries,” antique-looking portable shrines built around bone-like shells. In 2020, her Shelliquary “2 Relics” won first prize at the Color exhibit at the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda. For two consecutive years, Shelliquaries have been juried into exhibits of the International Society of Experimental Artists, in Pennsylvania and Alberta, Canada. Others recently were juried into sacred art exhibits in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Shelliquaries are held in private collections from Florida to Washington.
Discovering a trove of vintage rubber clown heads at a junk store led Jones to create the “Bad Clowns” series, reflecting coulrophobia, or fear and loathing of clowns. Jones also creates “Art Nativities” with repurposed objects and vintage figures. They are shown seasonally at select regional galleries and gift shops.
Arts for ACT Gallery is located at 2265 First St. in downtown Fort Myers. Contact the gallery at 239-337-5050.
