When Friendship, Art, and Unexpected Journeys Align: From North Port to China

Michele Moore
Jun 27
2 min read

This past week has been a whirlwind of activity, creativity, and incredible connections. Amidst it all, we had a truly special "Moore Museum" visit that beautifully illustrates how art brings people together and embarks on unexpected journeys.

It all began about four years ago when I met the amazing Charleen Elliot at the Englewood Art Center, Ringling College. I was interviewing their Executive Director for a radio show during my time at the North Port Art Center. That connection blossomed; I soon became a member of the Englewood Art Center, even volunteering there one to two days a week after Hurricane Ian. While their Englewood facility sadly closed its doors in May, leading Charleen to work at the main Ringling campus, our friendship has happily continued, mostly through texts.

So, imagine my delight when Charleen reached out to arrange a private tour of our Bone Boutique collection! She said, "My one bestie (me!) and my other bestie (Jerome, her best friend from high school band!) should meet." I just love that notion – you can absolutely have more than one bestie, and it warms my heart to be one of Charleen's. She thought our unique business in North Port, with its "cool bones and skulls," would be the perfect place for Jerome to visit during his trip.

Jerome's visit, accompanied by Charleen and her lovely daughter Amelia, was an absolute joy. He and Phillip immediately connected, diving deep into discussions about our collection, while I savored catching up with Charleen and Amelia. The visit was exciting, filled with shared passion for unique art.

Jerome and Phil at the Moore Museum — Jerome and Phil

As their visit drew to a close, Jerome’s eye fell upon a necklace Phillip was wearing – a piece crafted from Everglades Python Vertebrae, accented with black freshwater pearls and onyx. As many of you know, I typically prefer the freedom of creating my bone art spontaneously and rarely take on commission work. The very nature of working with found and ethically sourced mediums means we never truly know what materials we'll have, and I cherish the unbridled expression that comes with that.

However, in this particular instance, a strong sense of purpose emerged. Jerome's home, where he'll soon return with his girlfriend, is China. The thought of sending the Burmese Python – an invasive species in our precious Everglades – literally "back home to Asia" with him was a powerful narrative I simply couldn't ignore. It perfectly embodied our Wearable Conservation philosophy in a deeply symbolic way.

Inspired by this unique connection, I took a moment to create a new necklace for Jerome, mirroring the one Phillip wore, and then a matching necklace and earring set for his lady. Crafting these pieces, knowing their story and their international journey, was truly fulfilling.

This experience was a beautiful reminder that our art isn't just about crafting unique pieces; it's about the connections we forge, the stories we share, and the unexpected journeys our creations embark upon, linking North Port to the world.