Jay Bashant Eccentric Brilliance — by Denise Copeland
laughed when I pointed it out. He said he found it in the back of a metal salvage truck. And when he asked the salvage guy what the metal was worth, he wasted no time in o ering 30-something dollars for it on the spot. is part of my story is an interesting contrast to usual articles addressing animal rescue, as I appreciate Jay’s valor and eccentrics.
T he wind kicked a brisk coolness into the aernoon, cutting through the late day sun just as I spotted the white picket fence hosting the address to my destination. e white gravel drive crunched under the Jeep’s tires, de ning my arrival. e property is
e studio sits behind the main cottage, a large metal “barndominium” tucked out of view. As we stepped inside, the space opened into a mix of organized chaos (his words, not mine). In the distance, handmade paper hung from the far wall. A quick scan of the room unveiled bright pops of color, neatly displayed canvases on easels, and a gray leather couch that felt like an open invitation to sit down and pick up the conversation where it last le o . Stories of the past came quickly, slipping into laughter just as easily. Jay and my publisher, Glen, grew up together, which helped the banter roll naturally. No formalities, just entertaining stories that surfaced each time he gravitated towards another piece of art. He talked about growing up, running around Stuart, and taking trips to the Bahamas. He didn’t over explain it, just enough to paint a mental picture of a fun carefree life. Sun, water, long days, trekking to West End with nowhere else to be.
divided by an east-west 2 lane road, with a small cluster of art cottages on the south side, and across to the north, sits the main cottage Jay Bashant has nicknamed “ e Ritz… Cracker.” at alone tells you plenty. Each cottage is painted in its own pastel, contrasting one another but somehow working together. Jay welcomed me to follow him down a Chicago brick pathway behind the Ritz; we wound through palms and a yard full of purple, pink, yellow and lush green foliage—a low-lying landscaping layered in without much concern for rules. As we approached the studio, an abstract metal dragon peeked through a bush, watching. I questioned if it was constructed
from discarded musical instruments as I looked curiously at what appeared to be part of a trumpet. Jay
Jay graduated from Martin County High School in 1978, having arrived
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Coastal Pearl Living - AWAKENING 27
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