Garage Art
By Ashley Bates
Photos by Kate Gardiner
When Max and Jan Miller purchased the historic Butterfield Garage at 137 West King Street, they found the original neon sign for the building, circa 1929, in the upper level of the building. The couple cleaned up the sign, plugged it in and…it worked! It was a sign… literally. They decided the name of their new gallery would have to be Butterfield Garage.
Since that time, when Miller opened the doors to the business as a cooperative gallery in 1999, Butterfield Garage has served as an anchor of the King Street art scene. “My experience in Chicago as director of a cooperative gallery (ARC) led me to open a cooperative here,” she said. “There were so many wonderful, creative artists in St. Augustine. Following the same format as the Chicago gallery, I invited 14 of the best artists around to join us and fortunately they all agreed to become members.”
Today, there are 32 artists in the co-op who work with a wide variety of media and styles including painting, drawing, printmaking, batik, sculpture, photography, textile art, jewelry, basketry, ceramics, handmade pens, wood furniture, and mixed media. Prices throughout the gallery are determined by each individual artist, but are reasonable because the gallery takes a very small percentage, thus keeping prices low.
Ron Vellucci is an artist at Butterfield Garage and serves on the board for the gallery. “There’s a high level of quality work by local and regional artists,” he says. “Most of them are very well respected in the arts community in St. Augustine and across Northeast Florida. it’s just a good place to show their work, and they all benefit from the exposure.”
Vellucci and Miller both agree that each August is the biggest month at Butterfield Garage. That’s when the gallery holds its annual “Garage Sale.” Gallery artists fill their spaces with older work, experimental work, slightly damaged frames and preparatory drawings, according to Miller. “Everyone likes a good deal and artists get to clean out their studios,” Miller said. This year’s event begins August 3rd, and continues through August 31st.
In addition to the Garage Sale, the gallery is always a popular stop during the monthly Art Walk, held the first Friday of every month. The Art Walk in St. Augustine began 24 years ago and Miller was one of the original members.
“I was one of about 15 local artists who formed the Art Galleries of St. Augustine (AGOSA) and gathered together to begin opening in the evening, on the First Friday of every month, inviting locals and visitors alike to visit our many galleries,” she said. “Galleries began offering refreshments, some music, and a lively atmosphere. Artists got to bring out some new work and to visit with their fellow artists and art lovers. (It’s) become a lively and anticipated event by everyone and it definitely is now an integral component of the art scene.”
For more information on Butterfield Garage, visit their website here, call (904) 825-4577 or visit their gallery at 137 West King Street. And drop by the annual “Garage Sale,” beginning August 3rd.
