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Susann D'Antonio has lived on Big Pine Key since
1979. She has a BA in Fine Arts and always wanted
to be an artist. Her main desire has been to
create and has used many different mediums over the
years. Susann's main focus now is to express her
creativity predominantly through 3 dimensional mixed
media projects. She incorporates many natural and
recycled elements into the work. She works with
gourds, which can be treated just like wood - painted,
carved and wood burned. It is an interesting and
ever-changing surface for artwork, with the gourd itself
giving the inspiration for a piece. Each has its
own character waiting to be uncovered. A main love
is to weave on the gourd using the gourd as the basis
for an expressive weaving incorporated onto the top of
the gourd. She also makes larger sculptures from
palm pods. She enjoys the lyrical curves that the
pods naturally have and enhances them with added
elements and finishes.
Sue has served on the Art in Public Places board for
the last 6 years, assisting in placement of art in
Monroe County's public spaces. She is also
currently on the Board of the Florida Keys Council of
the Arts. Susann also is the co-chair of the Pete
Rosin Scholarship Fund, which gives Keys students funds
to continue their education in the visual arts.
She and her husband Bob own Framing in Paradise, a
custom frame shop on Big Pine Key, located in Artists in
Paradise Gallery. As another joint project, Susann
and Bob build large 3 dimensional costumes each fall for
Fantasy Fest, one of Keys West's most popular events.
They have been competing and participating in the
Fantasy Fest Parade for the last 20 years and have been
fortunate to have had pictures of their costumes
published worldwide. Bob and his band, The No
Slack Band play around the Keys and at every
Frangipani Gallery opening.
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