Introduction
There is something so special about the Imagine Museum and the glass that lives within its walls. The Central Avenue studio glass art museum opened just a few short months ago in the former Imagine School, capitalizing on the Renaissance of St. Petersburg and its coming-of-age art scene. For its part, St. Pete has welcomed the museum with open arms. It is already capturing the imagination of its visitors and even its deputy director, Jane Buckman. Buckman is singularly focused on the museum's development over the coming months and years, as well as founder Trish Duggan's vision for the advancement of the studio glass movement regionally and nationally.
Years in St. Pete
1
Organizations involved in
The Imagine Museum – right now it pretty much has all of my focus.
What gets you out of bed every day?
There are 3 things that get me out of bed every day. Especially focusing on the Imagine Museum. The first is the vision of our Founder, Trish Duggan. What she wants to accomplish with the museum, I support all of her vision. Secondly, the artists we represent. I want to make sure they are represented in the best possible light in the museum. Third – the community of St Pete. I feel that we owe something tremendous to the city of St Pete and I’m grateful to everyone who has worked with us over the last year to get the museum open.
Why St. Pete?
The museum was here – that’s what brought me here. I lived in Sarasota. I worked with Ringling College prior to coming up here. It was through putting together a glass weekend in Sarasota over the last five years and working with the artists and working with Habitat gallery, who then ended up working with Trish who brought me here. Being here a year, I couldn’t think of another place I’d like to be right now.
What is one habit that you keep?
A discipline to stay focused, to stay focused. I pretty much apply that to everything in my life.
Who are some people that influence you?
Ms. Joanna Sikes and Trish Duggan are right now pretty huge influences. I do work with them, but their inspiration, their drive, their commitment is helping me continue to grow.
What is one piece of insight - a book, methodology, practice - that you would share with our readers?
Smile
What is one thing you wish you knew about your work 3 years ago?
My comprehension of the full studio glass movement – I wish a year ago that I had more of it. It’s been a quick study in this last year. It’s been enjoyable all the way through, but to be able to do what I do, I wish that historically I knew more prior to coming in.
What’s next?
Continue working with this museum. Enjoying St Pete. Really having a museum open for six weeks, I am looking at 3 years, 5 years and what more we can do being in the city of St Pete and how we can take this mission and expand it more regionally, nationally and internationally.
