MARY’S CHAPEL | Niki Butcher

Historic Spanish Point © 2020

Photographic Story Selby Gardens in Sarasota had just added Spanish Point into their organization, so some photographer friends and I decided to check it out. We had a great afternoon exploring the grounds, and enjoyed ourselves so much we didn’t realize how late it was, so they had to ask us to leave! We’re looking forward to returning. I fell in love with the little chapel and graveyard at Mary’s Chapel. It was nestled in the woods and gave me a feeling of peace. The history behind the chapel: Mary’s Chapel was built in 1894 as a memorial to Mary Sherrill, a young woman from Kentucky who died while visiting the Webb Winter Resort. Mary’s family and friends paid for the chapel construction and furnishings. The stained-glass windows were donated by Mary’s Louisville church group, friends, family, and schoolmates. In 1895 the chapel bell arrived from the New England Conservatory of Music, Class of 1891, in honor of their classmate. Forged onto the bell are the words: “Mary Hath Chosen That Good Path, Which Shall Not Be Taken Away From Her”. – Luke 10:42 Mary’s Chapel served as a non-denominational church and community center until the elements took their toll and the original building “sort of fell in” in the early 1960s. Gulf Coast Heritage Association, Inc. restored the graveyard and reconstructed Mary’s Chapel in 1986, incorporating the original six stained glass slide windows and the bell in the steeple. Today Mary’s Chapel is a popular site for weddings, just as it was in years gone by. The Art of Hand Painting Black and White Photographs Photographed with a Sony digital camera and instead of oil painting with Q-tips and cotton balls, Niki was able to paint using Photoshop. Changing from the old-fashioned way of doing her art, to the new ‘fashion’ of using technology was challenging, but she’s enjoying getting back to her own personal expression. Archival Print Making Niki’s open edition gicleé artwork is printed on Sunset Bright Velvet Rag matte finish paper using eight archival inks. A state-of-the-art Epson Stylus Pro printer creates deep, rich dark values that hold subtle detail in the shadows as well as bright vivid colors that are truly tropical.