John Gamache

A long-time resident of the Ocala Florida area, John Gamache has personal interest in creating bold, bright sculptures for the public to enjoy.

He has been creating mixed media artwork since childhood and later focused on graphic design in high school. In the early 2000s, he began to create sculptures by commission.

At CFCC, John took all available sculpture courses, eventually creating independent study courses which overlapped into the welding field.

Once at the University of Florida as an engineering student, John negotiated some non-major electives through the Fine Arts Department.

After completing all available sculpture classes at UF, he began teaching welding skills to fine arts students. Some artwork John helped to construct has been displayed at the Harn Museum in Gainesville.

Timeline:
May 2013: read about the Tuscawilla Sculpture Competition
July 2013: “Lofted” entered in the Sculpture Competition
March 2014: “Lofted” won Best in Show
May 2014: “Lofted” purchased by Fine Arts for Ocala and was donated to the City of Ocala by FAFO, to be left in its original location at Tuscawilla Park
July 2014: “Florada” entered in the Sculpture Competition
March 2015: “Florada” won the People’s Choice Award
April 2015: Maquette of “Florada” installed at the Ocala Civic Theater on display and to advertise the sculpture competition
October 2015: The Appleton Museum purchased and permanently displayed “Florada” in the museum Sculpture Garden
December 2015: Completed “Directional”
June 2016: Completed “Insitu”
November 2017: “Robustae” entered in the Sculpture Competition
March 2018: “Robustae” won Best in Show
John enjoys a wide variety of hobbies and interests in addition to his artwork.

He is a private pilot, flies a Cessna, and dabbles in aerial photography.

John is also a Master Beekeeper (through UF), and manages 15 beehives. He mentors beginner beekeepers, currently working with three local people who are new to the hobby.

John has volunteered with Farmer to Farmer in Nicaragua, helping with beekeeping projects in rural communities. He has also done beekeeping volunteer work with the Mayan community in Guatemala.

He travels whenever he can and has been to 23 countries so far.

FL