Meet Barbara Bucci | Retired florist & Treasure Box Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Barbara Bucci and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Barbara, why did you pursue a creative career?
I think that the artistic career/creative career actually choose me. It was a natural flow that I followed, a feeling that just seemed “right”; so right, in fact, that I’m still following the flow, even without knowing where it will take me

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I make Mermaid Treasure Boxes. What’s that, you might ask? I’d say simply, that “even Mermaids need a place to put their treasures”. I think most people have special memories associated with photos, or postcards (do people still write postcards?) poems, papers with images or small found objects that now can reside all together in one sacred place. Mine are mostly collage, but some painting like effects or marker enhancements…using primarily recycled paper, old Japanese paintings from books, mulberry paper sheets, rice paper…anything that evokes a feeling or a mood. I feel like I’m “painting with paper”…ripping, sometimes cutting the paper, but almost always abstract in style, yet occasionally with imagery.
I don’t know of anyone in my area that’s doing what I’m doing, which I actually like. I like feeling that what I’m doing is unique & as we all know, it may not be for everyone, but that’s OK.
The challenges that I have faced are mostly technical, but I’ve had a lot of help & encouragement in that area, so I now have a website & good photos with excellent lighting to put on the site.
I’m still learning lessons every time I set out to create a new Box…how can I get the paper to not wrinkle? What might be a better glue or adhesive medium to use? How can I get the gold leaf to adhere in a larger piece, rather than floating away?
For as long as this continues to bring me Joy, I will continue to do it…

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1, The beach! You can’t visit Stuart without a trip to the ocean…some sun, relaxation, a swim or wave hopping. 2. Coming back from the beach, we’d have to stop at the Elliott Museum & the House of Refuge, also the Florida Oceanographic Society. The three are within a stone’s throw of each other & are a MUST VISIT!
3. The Palm Room Art Gallery & Artisans Boutique in Harbour Bay Plaza is another essential stop. This Gallery & Boutique is the Martin Artisans Guild Home where members exhibit & shine.
4. There are some good restaurants in this Plaza as well as great shops. Josepine’s for Italian, Cafe Boonma for Thai & Stringers for Tavern fare & Oysters.
5. Downtown Stuart Main Street & the adjacent Creek Arts District should definitely be on my list as well, The MartinArts Galleries in the Cultural Courthouse, The RCK Gallery, 901 Hub, The Gilt Complex & The Geoffrey Smith Gallery are some of the more important places to visit for Fine Art & creative inspirations.
6. Try any of the many great restaurants downtown. My current favorites are Pepe & Sale, Colab Kitchen & Fruits & Roots.
7. For evening music listening & dancing go to Terra Fermata…Live music with local talent

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many people & one group in particular that I’d like to dedicate this Shoutout to. Firstly, my late father, James J. DeMartis, who by sheer proximity of parenthood was responsible for all my early life exposure to the Fine Art Masters, both Classic & Modern. Although I didn’t have much choice as a child to argue about playing outside rather than going to yet another Art Museum, these excursions grew silently as a seed within, nurturing my own future creativity & laying a foundation for the way I viewed the world & where & what I found to be beautiful & to be cherished. He encouraged me to draw, paint, create & look at nature & the surrounding world as a way to inspire & nurture my life. In retrospect, his direction could have been merely a way to occupy myself while he painted & created himself! It was later in life, when looking back on these early opportunities to see famous artwork, that I was able to really appreciate the many, many hours of Art Museum visits as a youth.
Fast forward thru 25 years of being a floral designer & flower shop owner (a VERY enjoyable & creatively rewarding career, by the way), to retirement & finally having the time to devote to a posthumous Legacy Project for my father’s rather large artwork estate.
The group Shoutout will go to the Martin Artisans Guild that has allowed my late father to be included as a member! Becoming a part of this extraordinary Non-Profit group has energized my own creativity, while still representing my late father. I have been encouraged by so many of the members to continue to exhibit my late father’s paintings but also to “do my own thing”, which I’m still working on.

Website: www.barbbuccicreations.com

Instagram: babsbucci

Facebook: BarbaraDeMartisBucci

Image Credits
Photo: all Barb Bucci