St. Petersburg – Appreciation of art is subjective, they say. But there’s no denying that the artwork created by Spathose is distinctive.
Partners Scott Durfee, 48, and George Medieros, 53, created their design business after moving to Tampa Bay and discovering a love of palm trees. Today, their creations using the palm tree’s spathe—the woody covering of the bloom of the palm—has attracted fans from around the country.
It’s hard to imagine the two artists and partners of nearly three decades apart. But they say their meeting was by sheer chance.
“George was stuck in the snow,” co-creator Durfee says. “I pulled over in the truck and helped him out of the storm on Christmas Eve in Swansea, Mass.”
Medeiros explains why he was stuck in the snow.
“The highway system went through both Rhode Island and Massachusetts,” Medeiros explains. “We had to take the same highways to go to the bars.”
The two began a relationship immediately and have been together ever since.
The evolution for Medeiros and Durfee was an extensive one.
“What are doing now is far removed from what we were doing then,” Durfee says.
In fact, their origins started in corporate America social climbing.
“Scott was working in office environments and I was in the food service industry,” Medeiros says. “We each had a creative side and were doing creative things, but it took a while to develop individually and as a couple.”
Durfee grew up with his grandparents, who owned a nursery. So creating with organic materials has always been a part of his life.
Medieros says that art class was always his favorite in school, as was drama club.
“A lot of it stemmed from out childhood,” Durfee adds. “In regard to how we are now, I was professionally driven and was into the idea of the corporate climb for six years. I helped create efficiency on how people should be working. I actually have a business degree.”
Medeiros majored in the liberal arts.
“My degree was in fine arts,” Medeiros adds, with a chuckle. “No wonder I was doing work as a waiter. But that is what we were taught to do. You get a job and you work your way up. So for the first five years, our relationships were in other jobs. Then we began working together creatively about 20 years ago.”
That combined creativity has built a juggernaut of artistic expression and exhibits culled together in Tampa Bay. The intricate pieces can take a few days to complete or a few weeks, depending on their size.
“We create our wearable sculpture in multiples, so it is hard to say exactly how long it takes,” Medieros says. “When it’s done is when it’s done!”
But what, exactly is Spathose?
“’Spathose’ literally translates from Greek to mean ‘Spathe-like,’” Medieros explains. “We developed our quick tag line that pretty much sums up our art—’Organic with an industrial edge.’”
And using natural material not only makes the wearable art of Spathose distinctive, but local.
“We love that we are using sustainable material that’s indigenous to Florida and making beautiful objects from yard waste,” Durfee says. “I like to say ‘Saving landfills, one accessory at a time!’”
This background in business, as well as a background in faux-finishing—an integral part of Spathose’s look—no doubt served the productivity of Spathose in spades.
“Our first creative project,” Medeiros says with a hint of irony, “was, well, talk about gay. It was for a banquet. We created maypole center pieces. Very Martha Stewart.”
Medeiros is quick to point out that he is a fan of Martha Stewart and credits her for inspiration.
The evolution of the Spathose brand came when they couple relocated to St. Petersburg, a community which has both embraced them as members of the artistic community and allowed them to be proactive in gaining the permits to use personal residence as an impressive art gallery.
The Spathose brand could be described as both ecological and industrial, environmentally friendly art that appears as though it were manufactured by an assembly line. This synthesis came from both men wanting to incorporate the inspiration of Florida with an edgy twist that will bring in customers who are not keen on the traditional hippie-style brand that “green” art often connotes.
“We create more than art,” Durfee says. “We create product. We work from both sides of our head. We see it as a business that is based around art.”
The Spathose line includes wearable fashion, purses and traditional art center pieces, each with a distinct look that requires an open eye to appreciate it.
“We even have neighbors drop off pieces of discarded yard waste in hopes that they can be used in our pieces, “Medeiros admits.
Another interesting aspect of the Spathose couple is they are not afraid to promote their own personas as much as they are their creations.
Both men wore their own creations for this interview. Their confident self-promotion has served them well in landing gigs that could lead to creating award center pieces for the upcoming Clearwater /St. Petersburg Best of Awards in April.
In fact, in a rather cool turn of events, Medeiros and Durfee are in the process of auditioning for an as-yet-unnamed gay couples reality show.
It is clear that the guys at Spathose want more than just a local following. They want to appear as brand associated with Florida—hence the use of locally grown items as pieces of their art. But the men have no intention of leaving the town that so openly accepted them.
Spathose wearable art is available online at Spathose.com. The site also lists upcoming shows throughout the area.
So what advice do they have for beginning artists?
“Love what you do and do what you love,” Medieros says.
Durfee adds, “And take a business course!”
