"Sunshine, Butterflies, and Sunflowers" is the coastal-inspired theme this month at the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce’s visitor center and art gallery. The exhibit celebrates the beauty and vibrancy of nature, particularly focusing on the elements which bring joy and inspiration.
Possibly the most remarkable piece is the hand finished metal lionfish.
“It’s very colorful,” says exhibitor Shelly Medeiros, owner of Ärtêfacts gift shop and gallery in Florence. “This piece combines the organic beauty of the natural world with the creativity and craftsmanship of human artistry. It serves as an aesthetic representation of the majestic lionfish, drawing attention to its intriguing form and captivating presence.”
Medeiros is a jewelry designer/artist by trade and says her personal art pieces are too small to display in this show; “But, we do have a couple sculpting artists’ and metal artists’ works on display,” she says. “The exhibit closely characterizes what you'll find at Ärtêfacts. It is always difficult for me to pick out just a few pieces for an exhibit like this as the shop is so diverse in product types and styles, but this display provides a good mix of everything we carry.”
“I know every visitor—whether local or from out of town—would be thrilled if they came into the Chamber’s visitors center this month. Shelly’s selections are truly remarkable. She has two-dimensional and three-dimensional pieces. My favorites are that lionfish and the stone octopus. Unbelievable,” says Bettina Hannigan, president/CEO of the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce. “Florence is fortunate to have the number and quality of artists and art purveyors it does.”
“Bettina and the Chamber are continually supporting our small businesses by providing new, and tried and true ways to get more traffic to our little town! The events that are featured each year bring people in from all over the world, but the town alone stands on its own merits as one worth visiting,” says Medeiros, adding “Our little town of Florence is home to a surprising volume of artists using all different media. I love supporting local artists by displaying and selling their beautiful artwork in my shop.”
Artefacts is at 1255 Bay Street, Florence, and is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays Noon to 4:00 p.m., Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Their phone number is 541-991-8380 and the website is FlorenceArtefacts.com.
The Chamber’s visitor center is at 290 Highway 101 in Florence. Hours are Monday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays from June through August from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information about joining or volunteering with the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce, visit FlorenceChamber.com or contact Hannigan at 541-997-3128 or Bettina@FlorenceChamber.com.
