Best of JAM (Juried Artist Member) Exhibition

Three captivating artists with unique backgrounds will open the Best of JAM (Juried Art Member) exhibition with a reception at First Coast Cultural Center on October 9, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature Mike Wodrich, a glass artist and sculptor with a background in anthropology and law; Jami Childers, a former hair salon owner who is now receiving numerous awards for her nature paintings; and Cynthia Spitzer, who was a retail specialty store buyer and teacher in New York City before discovering a whole new world as an outdoor photographer in Florida.

“The diversity and skill represented by the JAM honorees is phenomenal,” according to Silvia Romero, FCCC’s Senior Director of Operations. She says this exhibition runs through January 2, and these works will be on display, along with items from many other artisans, during the popular Holiday Shoppes event on November 22 and 23. “I’m excited for visitors to embrace these creations, which are a reflection of how we see the world through the lens of experience.”

Wodrich, for example, uses glass, steel, stone, wood, ceramics, and unique objects like Calculagraphs from the 1800s to tell colorful, 3-dimensional stories with a certain degree of ambiguity. “My hope is that what I’ve created will be sufficiently novel and unexpected to stimulate the viewer to become an active participant in the visual dialogue of the interpretation.” He adds that the name and story behind each piece is as important as its physical manifestation.

Meanwhile, each stroke of Jami Childers’ acrylic and oil paintings conveys the joy she finds in life and being outside. “I’m a self-professed seeker, and I seek beauty in all things.” A perfectionist, Childers was a portrait painter for years before finally embracing her passion for the outdoors. “I realized it’s not the ones that are the most talented that are out there making it – it’s the ones that keep showing up.” She finds it rewarding to express herself using a creative combination of colors and forms and to connect with the people who appreciate her art.

Photographer Cynthia Spitzer also finds inspiration outdoors. “Walking helps me see the world in a different way. You never know what you’ll find.” Before moving to Florida, Spitzer enjoyed plein air art and working with acrylics and pastels. However, she discovered that looking through a camera lens helped her focus on a world full of contrasts and delicacies. She is particularly fond of photo editing. “I’m able to see different things within photos that I didn’t notice when taking them.”