Artworthy: Margina Gabriel

Occupation?
Full time Elementary School Counselor for the St Johns County School District

Artist or advocate?
Artist and Advocate of creative expression.

Artistic tool of choice?
Acrylic Paints and Mosaic using an eclectic mix of broken mirror, stained glass, sea shells and re-cycled materials.

First artistic memory?
As a third grader I created a 3 foot X 5 foot painting of a Japanese Pagoda and landscape scene for a social studies project. Other students did shoe box size projects. My first mosaic project was a trivet using little pieces of tile.

While growing up in Pittsburgh, I had the opportunity to attend the Palette Art Classes every Saturday at the Carnegie Museum. Joseph Fitzpatrick, a painter and recipient of the Mr. Art of Pittsburgh Award, and Phillip Calaboyas, a sculptor and printmaker co-taught these classes. After class instruction we went on a drawing Safari in the museum. We also painted compositions. I had the opportunity to be on stage doing a “chalk talk” during the Pittsburgh Three River Arts Festival.

Defining moment as an artist?
Realizing as a full time mom, and school counselor, that although I had little time to paint, that I could express myself creatively on a daily basis. I demonstrated this creative need and or urge by creating beautiful surroundings in my home and garden. I arranged food beautifully and colorfully on plates, I designed and decorated clothing, quilts, birthday cakes and just about anything else I touched. When I had the opportunity of TIME I created paintings, prints, and other expressions of creativity. Creativity is in your mind first, processed and expressed after the thought or idea and then manufactured. Some of my best work may be processed mentally for weeks before I even begin to create.

Inspiration or perspiration?
Art is always inspiration, which is sometimes expressed quickly, and easily. At other times, it requires the perspiration of processing, struggling and working out problems.

Favorite art related possession at the moment?
I have too many favorites to think about just one. Often, the most recently completed piece of work may temporarily feel like my favorite.

Why St. Johns County?
St. Johns County is very encouraging and positive to artists. The local art galleries, the Council for the Arts, the Art Association, First Friday Art Walks, and Up Town Saturday art walks, bring the viewing public to the artists. St. Johns County is on the Cutting Edge of leading artists and directing the viewing public by bringing the two groups together.

For additional details on the cultural events reported to Historic City News by St. Johns Cultural Council, visit their website at www.stjohnsculturalcouncil.org