Round Roofs in Hastings and St. Augustine

I never noticed how many buildings in Hastings and St. Augustine had rounded roofs or facades until Joyce started making paintings. At first I thought they were figments of an imaginary world she was creating. I rode around with her one day from Hastings into The West King area of St. Augustine and we counted at least 10 buildings with such roofs. She also pointed out many of the other building she has painted and ones she has taken bits and pieces of to use to build her own on canvas. I'm dumbstruck when I see the intuitive architectural leaps Joyce makes on the painting surface. I would love to see an architect try to realize one of Joyce's homes. Maybe Samuel Mockbee or Hundertwasser will nudge a graduate student in their dreams tonight to seek Joyce out.

mikewindy

Joyce and the Apple Tree

I recently had a discussion with Joyce over the phone about the apple trees that show up in her work on a regular basis. Our conversation meanders from church, to the produce aisle and then to making art with markers vs paint and other places too. We think it's worth a listen.

From the Beginning

I met Joyce late in 2006. I had just started working at the O.U.R.(organization of United Resources) Center in Hastings managing the foodbank. She used to come with another volunteer and was this really sweet super shy lady. I'd try to get her to say a few words. Mostly she just smiled. In January of 2007 I was hand painting a sign for GED classes that had been scheduled and Joyce asked" Are you makin' a paintin'?" I said "kind of. Have you ever painted?" Before she could say "no" I was heading for my truck asking if she wanted to try. I grabbed an old canvas that was in the back and took it into her, poured some paint out for her and she did the rest. Since that time she has made a few hundred pieces of art. Even during rough times she kept painting. She and I have decided to create this blog to keep track of our unlikely friendship and her amazing story. We'll start from the beginning when I would send her home with some paper and markers and each week she would bring me new work. I would put them up on the bulletin board by my desk. Alot has happened since then but for now let's enjoy these first pieces.

mikewindy