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Arts & Entertainment

Art Fest Spotlight: Di St. Jacques-Blue, Jeffrey Blue

A Florida sculptor talks about the work she creates with her son through their company, Green Art Studios.

Di St. Jacques-Blue and Jeremy Blue are first-time Norcross Art Fest vendors who create glass sculptures out of plastic for their company, Green Art Studios. Before the festival, Patch talked with Di about how it's like working with her son and how the two started in the industry.

What is your art classified as?

Our art is classified as fine craft.

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How would you describe your art to a complete stranger?

My son Jeffrey Blue and I create whimsical, glass-like sculptures from PET [polyethylene terephthalate] plastic.

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How long have you been producing art?

I started playing with plastic a bit over three years ago. Our business, Green Art Studios, has been seriously participating in art festivals and selling in galleries and shops for about two years. We have been seriously selling art for over ten years.

How did you first get started in art?

Mixed media book production in a niche market was my first foray in the art world. Like my current business, my entrance to the art world was serendipity. I fell in love with paper crafts, and before long, people were asking me to make recycled coffee table books for them; an attorney became interested and a business was born.

I was in the environmental business for many years. I sold chemicals when I finished college and quickly developed a passion for recycling. At that time, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act had just been put into law; it was an exciting time in manufacturing in the United States. The regulations forced companies to rethink their waste disposal methods. I worked for an innovative bunch of chemists who developed a process to reuse hazardous waste as a waste-derived fuel. It was during this time that I learned to think outside of the box in respect to recycling and upcycling. Eventually, that company was bought by Chemical Waste Management. Sharing this piece of my background shares the synergy of my corporate career with my art career.

Jeffrey has always had art as his career choice. He is an accomplished oil painter, but the lure of working together is great. He started helping me out when I was overwhelmed by taking a lead in the chandelier part of our business. Jeffrey loves interiors and is always developing new ways to use PET plastic. He is the problem solver and the production guru in our partnership.

We have always had a love for the arts. My family has an artistic bend, my father was a sculptor and my mother and brother were ballet dancers. My brother danced with Houston Ballet and briefly American Ballet Theater. My parents loved all things art, and our vacations were spent in museums and touring historic sites. My husband and I continued sharing our love for the arts with our children. Jeffrey, of course, is an artist, and our 15-year-old plays the violin, ukelele, piano and guitar.

Who are your art heroes?

As evidenced by my art, Dale Chihuly is my inspiration, but I adore so many artsits. My sister recently bought me a piece of Lynn Whipple's work, and that is my favorite this week. Several years ago, I saw a project that made me think that plastic had the potential to mimic glass. It was a yearlong journey to the end result you see today.

What inspires you?

We are inspired by nature and graphics. Our pieces have a unique use of color, and we find that we achieve those interesting colors by constantly remixing our old favorites into new hues. We use waste latex paint in many of our pieces, so tweaking the colors is a major inspiration to us.

Do you have a website?

Our website is currently under reconstruction but you can find us on facebook at Green Art Studios or email us at greenartstudios@yahoo.com.

Where do you live?

We live in a charming little town in Florida, Winter Park. Winter Park is a hidden gem, so don't tell anyone how fabulous it is!
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How many times has your art been featured in the Norcross Arts Fest?

This is our first time at the Norcross Arts Fest, but we have shown at two other Georgia shows in the last few months and have quite a few patrons coming to visit and pick up pieces in Norcross. We are anticipating a grand time in Norcross!

Editor's Note: The Art Fest will take place this weekend, Oct. 1 and 2, in downtown Norcross. Find more information here.Β 

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