Florida Artists Group

Artist Statement:

I am interested in loss, both temporal and permanent, and the consequences of
death. Using compelling images inspired by my rural, southern culture, I confront
the viewer with the reality of loss and death on an intimate level. Incorporating video
and photography, my multi-media work varies in scale from small sculptures with
personal relics to large installations. These works are narratives of the subjects’
stories of loss and healing, enriched with dialogue and layered distortions of ambient
sounds captured during recording.
Beginning in 2005, this current body of work focuses on family members poetically
reenacting events of loss and caught in candid moments dealing with the reality of
death. I am also conscious of the connections between our human sense of loss and
the fragility of our surroundings. I will continue this body of work, investigating this
theme with site-specific works, drawings, shrine-like sculptures protecting relics, and
wearable art incorporating metal with water from disappearing environmental sites.

Artists Bio:

Born and raised in the rural Deep South, Janis Brothers finds a wealth of inspiration from
her surroundings and life experiences. For more than thirty years, she has worked as an
artist, designer, art educator and art advocate. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in
Interior Design from Florida State University in 1986, Brothers worked in the design
industry as a commercial and residential interior designer. To focus on professionalism in the
visual arts, she returned to Florida State University to obtain a Studio Art, Master of Fine
Arts degree in 2005.
Since 2006, Brothers has served as Professor of Art at Florida Gateway College, sharing her
passion for the visual arts and promoting the arts as a viable profession. She is committed to
set an example for her students through her artistic practice, continual enhancement of
academic knowledge in the arts, and professional development activities. Brothers has
received numerous awards and honors, exhibiting throughout Florida and South Georgia
including the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Appleton Museum of Art, the Florida Museum
for Women Artists, 621 Gallery, Florida School of the Arts, Valdosta State University Galley,
Florida State University Museum of Fine Art and Oglesby Gallery, Thomas Center Galleries,
and The von Liebig Art Center. Brothers’ work is included in both public institutions and
private collections. She is a member of the Southeastern College Art Conference and the
College Art Association, a leading organization that upholds the standards of theory,
research and artistic practice in the visual arts.

Current & Future Artistic Project:

The Suwannee Project is a series of photographs, sculpture and video that examines questions
of loss in youth, time and ultimately life. The project evolves around the dark, mysterious
waters of the Suwannee River and one of its numerous crystal clear feeder springs, Suwannee
Springs. This project began in 2005 with the video installation Passage, which reveals the
healing ritual of a young woman (my sister) after the loss of her daughter. The series
continued with Dust to Dust (triptych) and That Was Then/This Is now Vigil, which juxtapose
time from 2005 and 2011 to reveal loss of both youth and the depleting waters of Suwannee
Springs. The Spring’s rich history, known in the early 1900’s for its healing waters, still emits
a pungent smell of sulfur. This piece reveals this fragile environment facing its own
inevitable death.
Other works of this project include Vigil, which candidly documents a family memorial for a
loved one on a nearby bridge and Doldrums, a current project that examines the common
thread of a mother and daughter who have both lost children. Plans for future works include
expanding the series to site-specific installations and media including wearable art of metal
and water from the springs to preserve what is soon to be lost.

Professional Experience:

2006 – Present - Professor of Art, Florida Gateway College, Lake City, Florida - Instructor for
beginning and advanced foundational level courses in drawing, painting,
sculpture, metals and jewelry, ceramics, printmaking, two-dimensional design,
three dimensional design, art appreciation and art history
2005 Graduate Teaching Associate, Florida State University, Tallahassee,
Florida - Beginning Ceramics, hand-built ceramic forms, glazing and firing
techniques.
2004 Graduate Technical Assistant, Ceramics Department, Florida State
University, Tallahassee, Florida - responsible for maintenance and operation
of electric and gas kilns, preparation of glazes, inventory of materials and
assistance in the construction of salt kiln
1996 - 2002 Art Instructor, Suwannee County School Board - Suwannee High School
Instructor for three dimensional design, sculpture, ceramics and College
Board Advanced Placement courses in Studio Art
1990 - 2002 Interior Designer, JBDS, Live Oak, Florida - Owner of design firm
specializing in architectural renovation and lighting design for residential and
commercial clientele.
1993 Adjunct Art Instructor, Suwannee/Hamilton Vocational Teaching Center,
Live Oak, Florida - Instructor of drawing and interior design for community
enrichment adult students
1991 Adjunct Art Instructor, Lake City Community College Downtown Center,
Lake City, Florida - Instructor for drawing and design for community
enrichment students
1987 - 1990 Art Instructor, Suwannee County School Board; Branford High School -
Instructor for drawing, painting, ceramics, two-dimensional and three-dimensional
design.
1986 - 1987 Interior Designer, Till Office, Equipment and Design, Bartow, Florida

Solo Exhibitions:

2012              Constant Reminders, Florida School of the Arts, Fine Arts Gallery, Palatka,
                       Florida
2005              On the Verge, Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center for the
                       Episcopal Diocese of Florida, Live Oak, Florida
2000             New Works, North Florida Community College, Fine Arts Gallery,
                       Madison, Florida

Group & Juried Exhibitions:

2013             Camera USA: National Photography Award and Exhibition 2013,
                      The von Liebig Art Center, Naples, Florida, juried by Henry Benson, Christopher
                      Rauschenberg and Ron Bishop
 2013            62nd Annual All Florida Juried Competition and Exhibition, Boca
                      Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, Florida, juried by Mark Scala, Chief
                      Curator at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, Tennessee
2013             Valdosta National 2013, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia
2012             Appleton Biennial 2012: Florida Installation Art, Art of Our Time II,
                      Appleton Museum of Art, Ocala, Florida, juried by Alette Simmons-Jimenez,
                      Founder of Artformz
2012             Valdosta National 2012, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Gallery,
                      Valdosta, Georgia
2010             First Annual Juried Exhibition, Florida Museum for Women Artists,
                      Deland, Florida; Juried by Dr. Leslie Hammond, Founder of Artistic Eye
                      Art Services; John W. Streetman, Executive Director, Evansville Museum,
                      and Trish Thompson, Fine Arts Professor, Daytona State College
2010            Thomas Center Galleries Juror’s Choice: 2009 Regional Award
                      Winners, Thomas Center, Gainesville, Florida
2010             Art Matters Photo and Digital Exhibition, Levy Center for the
                      Performing Arts, Lake City Community College
2009            Thomas Center Galleries Regional Juried Exhibition, Thomas Center,
                      Gainesville, Florida, juried by Michael Burban, Gallery Director and
                      Professor, Florida School of the Arts
2008             Women’s History Month Art Exhibition, Howard Conference Center,
                      Lake City Community College
2007             Assemblage, 621 Gallery, Tallahassee, Florida
2006             Valdosta National 2006, Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta State University,
                      Valdosta, Georgia
2005             Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, Museum of Fine Arts, Florida
                       State University, Tallahassee, Florida
2005             Art Encounter 2005, The von Liebig Art Center, Naples, Florida, juried by
                       Irvin Lippman, Director, Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale
2005             Thomas Center Galleries Regional Juried Exhibition, Thomas Center,
                       Gainesville, Florida
2005             A Literal Space, Oglesby Gallery, Florida State University, Tallahassee,
                      Florida
2005             Progressive Center MFA/BFA Exhibition, Tallahassee, Florida
2004             Apperception, Oglesby Gallery, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
                      MFA Sculpture Exhibition, MFA Studio Gallery, Florida State University,
                      Tallahassee, Florida
2004             Nancy Turner Juried Sculpture Exhibition, Oglesby Gallery, Florida State
                       University, Tallahassee, Florida
2004             Lucky in Love, MFA Studio Gallery, Florida State University, Tallahassee,
                      Florida
2004             Autumn Artfest 2004, Suwannee River Regional Library, Live Oak Artists
                      Guild, Live Oak, Florida
2003             Autumn Artfest 2003, Suwannee River Regional Library, Live Oak Artists
                      Guild, Live Oak, Florida
2002             Spring Into Arts Juried Exhibition, Lowndes/Valdosta Cultural Arts
                      Center, Valdosta, Georgia
2001             Colored Pencil Society of America DC 113 Exhibition, Brick City Art
                      Center, Ocala, Florida
2001             Autumn Artfest 2001, Suwannee River Regional Library, Live Oak Artists
                      Guild, Live Oak, Florida
2001             Spring Into Arts Juried Exhibition, Lowndes/Valdosta Cultural Arts
                      Center, Valdosta, Georgia
2000            Autumn Artfest 2000, Suwannee River Regional Library, Live Oak Artists
                      Guild, Live Oak, Florida
2000             New Works, Artworks Gallery, Live Oak Artists Guild, Live Oak, Florida
2000             College Board Corporate Office Educators Exhibition, Atlanta, Georgia
1999              New Works, Artworks Gallery, Live Oak Artists Guild, Live Oak, Florida
1998              Art on the Lawn, Warlard-Smith-Goza Conference Center, North Florida
                      Community College, Madison, Florida
1998             Autumn Artfest 1998, Suwannee River Regional Library, Live Oak Artists
                      Guild, Live Oak, Florida
1991             Arts Mania, Jacksonville Coalition for the Visual Arts, Independent Life
                      Gallery, Jacksonville, Florida
1991              Images in Art, Ocala, Florida
1991             Cedar Key Arts Festival, Cedar Key, Florida
1991             Osceola Art Festival, Kissimmee, Florida

Honors and Awards:

2013             First Place Award, Valdosta National 2013, Valdosta State University
                      Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, Georgia
2012             Second Place Award, Valdosta National 2012, Valdosta State University
                      Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, Georgia
2010             One of twenty-four Florida artists selected to attend the Florida Department
                      of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and Creative Capital Foundation
                      Professional Development Workshop held in Del Ray Beach, Florida and
                      the Advance Professional Development Workshop held in Jacksonville,
                      Florida, sponsored in part by the National Endowment of the Arts:
                      Challenge America Program
2009             Juror’s Choice Award, 9th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition and
                      Invitation to Juror’s Choice: 2009 Regional Award Winners Invitational
                      Exhibition, 2010, Thomas Center Galleries, Gainesville, Florida
2008             Professional Development, Lake City Community College, Lake City,
                      Florida - funding for attendance to master workshop for Metals and Jewelry
                      with Suzanne Amendolara at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in
                      Gatlinburg, Tennessee
2005             Honorable Mention Award, Art Encounter 2005, The von Liebig Art
                      Center, Naples, Florida
                      Sculpture Award, Department of Art, Florida State University, Tallahassee,
                      Florida
2005             Graduate Teaching Assistantship, Department of Art, Florida State
                      University, Tallahassee, Florida
2004             Technical Assistantship, Department of Art, Florida State University,
                      Tallahassee, Florida
                      Purchase Award, Nancy Turner Juried Sculpture Exhibition, Oglesby
                      Gallery, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
2002             Colson Calendar Award, Spring Into Arts Juried Exhibition,  
                      Lowndes/Valdosta Cultural Arts Center, Valdosta, Georgia     
1998              First Place, Art on the Lawn, Warlard-Smith-Goza Conference Center,
                      North Florida Community College, Madison, Florida
1994              Remolded Salon Award of Special Distinction, Modern Salon
                      Magazine, 1994 Salons of the Year; Interior Design for One Twelve Hatley,
                      Jasper, Florida
1991             Purchase Award, Images in Art, Ocala, Florida
                      Judge’s Discretion Award, Osceola Art Festival, Kissimmee, Florida