Culture
Jill Costa Miniature Exhibition Opens Nov. 25
< < Back to jill-costa-miniature-exhibition-opens-nov-25An exhibit of miniature settings created by longtime Nelsonville resident Jill Costa, who died Sept. 18 at age 59, will be open Friday, Nov. 25 at the Majestic Galleries Annex, 31 W. Washington St. on the Nelsonville Square.
The showing begins at 10 a.m., and an opening reception in Costa’s honor will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Annex hours will additionally be held on Saturday, Nov. 26; thereafter the settings will be displayed in the Annex windows for passers-by to view at their convenience.
Costa’s portrayals, often comprised of “found objects,” cover subjects such as her interpretations of a Nelsonville brick plant and a coal mine along with an assortment of other topics that caught Costa’s eye and imagination, including renditions of noted songwriter Woody Guthrie’s Oklahoma cabin; John Lennon’s “white piano” studio in New York City; an auto repair shop inspired by Costa’s love of working on cars; and a Tiki Bar envisioning a fun-in-the-sun tropical gathering spot.
“Jill made many other rooms and scenes, frequently giving them away as gifts in keeping with her well-known generosity of spirit,” said James E. Guyette, Costa’s boyfriend of 37 years.
“She often observed that ‘other women may make dollhouses, but I like making bars,’” according to Guyette, who first met Costa on the dance floor at Swanky’s, a college student-oriented music club previously located on Court Street in Athens.
Guyette’s mother, Caroline B. Guyette of Geauga County, Ohio, had long made miniatures as a hobby, and Costa discovered that it was an activity that the two women could share and enjoy together. “Jill embraced it as her own, applying a unique twist to her creative endeavors,” said James E. Guyette
“Jill was exceptionally humble,” Guyette said, “but she would be honored that her legacy and miniatures live on to be enjoyed by others.”