Imagine a fantasy art garden brimming with exuberant florals in every rainbow hue, each a lush representation of beauty and grace. A garden, furthermore, comes complete with a coterie of fanciful guardians. They’re multi-colored characters with vivid forms and facial expressions that can be found in a book or film of paranormal lore.
Guardians of the Garden: Glass Art Exhibit by SenOiH will be celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 30, 6-9 p.m. at the Rusted Jade Art Collective, 1142 West Jefferson St., Brooksville. “Join us for an exciting gallery show of hand-blown glass by the artists of SenOiH. Unique sculptures, wall art, and personal adornments, all creatively curated as an exquisite display of art in an ethereal nature and garden theme,” read an event notice. “Most every piece will be for sale, and Nate and Jess of SenOiH will be at the reception to meet and mingle with everyone!”
Refreshments will be offered at this exhibit, which is family-friendly, with free entry. “This is going to be our first dedicated solo show! We are pushing the limits of our skill with the material,” said Jessica Lynn, who co-owns SenOiH in Spring Hill with Nathan Spence.
“We’ve been working all month to cultivate an exciting glass experience—the first handblown exhibit this area has ever seen!” said Lynn. “It’s going to be a very organic and fluid display! We worked together on choosing the right color palette for each piece to enhance our vision and give the public a peek into our minds.”
The centerpiece of this show, says Spence, will be a glass art garden that represents a union of two artistic styles. “We’ll have a garden scene that features Jess’ botanical plant and flower sculptures inspired by nature,” he said. “My guardian characters will be arranged around the garden.”
Both artists, veterans of the Hernando County art scene since 2016, will offer works for sale at the show. Lynn is the HCFAC Administrative Assistant and MMP Coordinator of the Hernando County Fine Arts Council; both artists have shown their work at area art events such as the Front Porch Art Walk, the Art and Wine Stroll in downtown Brooksville, and Grove Market, and as a part of public art presentations such as the Brooksville Main Street Mini Mural project. Lynn has worked as an art teacher with the council’s Art Mark summer education program, where Spence has demonstrated his glassblowing techniques.
“This show expands the viewers’ idea of art beyond pencils and paper,” said Spence. “This medium is 3D; its elements capture the light differently.”
Lynn is excited about this public presentation of SenOiH art. “Nate and I started working with Rusted Jade Art Collective in September 2021,” she said, “so it feels right to be presenting our first art show there two years later. We are so grateful for the support from the community and hope to see lots of familiar faces at the event!”
And this show, she says, also marks an important milestone in their studio’s history.
“The ‘Guardians of the Garden’ exhibit is special to us because we recently celebrated ten years of torching, so this feels like a culmination of all of our hard work over the past decade,” he said. “We will be presenting a variety of sculptures made with different techniques to show you all what can be made on a small torch in your garage.”
Max Grey, Rusted Jade co-owner, says that Guardians of the Garden will be a “really exquisite and different presentation of art.” “Nate’s guardian glass sculptures are signature and unique,” she said. “Jess’ sculptures are ethereal and are of nature. These two elements add up to a signature show.”
