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Today is an exciting day at Backstreet Gallery because we are opening our doors after being closed for maintence for 10 days. Our fresh gallery is now open and we are featureing the multi-faceted artist, Mary Beers.
Mary Beers is a multi-faceted artist. Combining multiple components, Beers loves to create with various beads, metals, seed beads, stones, then weave them into intricate pieces of beautiful and unique jewelry. She uses the various weaving stitches, stringing, and wire work in her creations, but weaving is her favorite.
Beers is mostly self-taught. Her interest in jewelry making began at seven years of age when she was given a kit filled with plastic beads. When she had leftovers from kits, she sought more supplies at bead stores. To learn more, she researched through books to learn basic techniques. Then at 12, she found the directions from a Native American trading post to construct a loom. With her Dad’s help, she did it. From there, she learned how to weave and her creative spirit took over.
From Manila, in the Phillppines, she was adopted and came to live in McMinnville, OR. After marrying, she came to Florence. She says that her greatest joys are her children, 4 year-old Ramil, and 8 month-old Zhade.
After being commissioned to do beadwork and beading classes for her husband’s tribe, she was inspired to reprise her own work and designs. She hasn’t looked back since. In between her family and jewelry designing, she manages to fit in more creative efforts – music and the theater. You may have seen her in the recent production of Cabaret performed at the FEC. She has been involved with music at the Casino and the tribe. She sang at the Florence Festival of Books and often shares her lovely voice at Backstreet Gallery After Hours. Beers also enjoys the outdoors, cooking and is learning basket weaving in the Native American style.
Meet this outstanding artist and find out more about her work at her reception on the 14th. An array of scrumptious refreshments will be served from 3-5pm.
