I'm Jessica Moreau-Berry and the proprietor of http://www.junquerevival.com. I recently opened my Etsy shop http://junquerevival.etsy.com/ where I sell my found object jewelry.
Where do you live? Tell us a about your town.
I live In Whitefield, about 15 minutes from Wiscasset and 15 min. from Gardiner. We have an old farm house, no neighbors, a couple of old farm fields, woods, and a barn that is finally getting some TLC. There is supposedly a big artist community here in Whitefield, but I do not seem to ever see any events going on, etc. I think everyone drives to the coast to peddle their wares.
I live In Whitefield, about 15 minutes from Wiscasset and 15 min. from Gardiner. We have an old farm house, no neighbors, a couple of old farm fields, woods, and a barn that is finally getting some TLC. There is supposedly a big artist community here in Whitefield, but I do not seem to ever see any events going on, etc. I think everyone drives to the coast to peddle their wares.
Tell us about your family & pets.
My Husband is known as "Big Daddy" to my internet friends. He is the love of my life. We will be married nine WHOLE years this July (quite a record for me folks!) He's a fisherman, and I often go boating and fishing with him. We love to kayak, hike go to breakfast, and I dare say we tend to be the ones to entertain amongst our friends. We have two dogs and a cat. The dogs are about 11, and I think Weezie the cat might live forever, just to annoy us! We just found out that one of the dogs has lime disease:( We have no children, just our furry babies.
My Husband is known as "Big Daddy" to my internet friends. He is the love of my life. We will be married nine WHOLE years this July (quite a record for me folks!) He's a fisherman, and I often go boating and fishing with him. We love to kayak, hike go to breakfast, and I dare say we tend to be the ones to entertain amongst our friends. We have two dogs and a cat. The dogs are about 11, and I think Weezie the cat might live forever, just to annoy us! We just found out that one of the dogs has lime disease:( We have no children, just our furry babies.
How long have you been making your craft & what got you into it?
Well let's see, I think everything I have done when it comes to being artistic has really just been a natural extension of the life I have lived. My Mom (who is my best friend) was/is an antique dealer, so I was setting up at shows with her when I was a young teen. I started painting found objects in those years, and progressed up to furniture for the last 15 years. I sold hand painted furniture and antiques all over the state of Maine. I painted big specialty pieces for coastal shops. I had to have someone work for me about three days a week to help. THEN I crashed and burned!! I just got so bored painting pink flowers onto white cottage furniture. That's all anyone wanted....I think I felt stifled. I took a summer off about 3 years ago, and did nothing but kayak and garden, it was wonderful, but I am a person who needs to be creative. I went into the barn and grabbed up some old ephemera and small found objects that caught my eye. I really just started playing around and VOILA.....jewelry pieces started coming to life!
Do you feel like your craft is related to where you live?
hmmmm.....I am a nature girl, and I have always used Maine's great outdoors to inspire me. It's not that I might go hiking, pick up a pinecone, then run home and make a pinecone. It's more that our beautiful surroundings calm me, relax me and just naturally bring out the artist in me.
Tell us about the awesome craftspeople that you've met around Maine-- have you collaborated or met with any Maine Team members?
I have yet to meet up with any Maine Team members, but I can't wait to! I have become friends with other Maine artists through blogging, and have wonderful mini retreats and gatherings with them! I have had a weekend retreat here at the house that was FABULOUS! I have become friends with artist Susan Tuttle who is publishing a book called, "Exhibition 36: a Gallery of Mixed-Media Inspiration" and I will be in it!!
What are your plans for the future? (Life and/or craft)
I would like to just keep on creating! I want to teach more workshops on a regular basis so maybe I can give up slinging beers three days a week! I would like to write regularly for a magazine. I would love to open some kind of big art studio one day. I am thinking of a big old space in a fun downtown like Damariscotta or Bath where I can rent out studio space to other artists. I envision a big central workspace on the first floor where the artists can teach workshops. I would love to have a kitchen there as well, so when we have shows we can make a bunch of munchies. (and storage for our wine!) (LOL!) FOR NOW, I would consider something smaller, maybe something that can be shared with a few folks. I am lucky, I have lots of space to create here at home, but I am a people person, and sometimes I get a bit lonely.......
Want to be interviewed? Email jamieribisi{at}gmail.com