Christmas Card Lane shows Salvetti’s ‘Reflection’
On Christmas Card Lane, Jena Salvett’s “Reflection” depicts Santa Claus, a reindeer, snowman and two rabbits admiring the Aurora Borealis. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – For Christmas Card Lane, Jena Salvetti has created artwork that prompts the viewer to reflect on the season’s beauty.
For the second year, Madison Arts Council (MAC) is sponsoring Christmas Card Lane on Church and Front streets with outdoor artwork resembling larger-than-life greeting card covers.
“I’m a self-taught artist with the exception of classes I’ve taken at Huntsville Museum of Art,” Salvetti said. “Since I was a child, I have loved to paint, draw and craft. My mom could leave me for hours at the table with a set of watercolor paints.”
“Reflection,” Salvetti’s card on Christmas Card Lane, “is about taking time to reflect on what’s important. Before the hustle and bustle of Christmas Eve, Santa, Frosty, Rudolph and their buddies take some time together to enjoy the Aurora Borealis,” she said.
To complete the image, Salvetti used high quality acrylic paint. Acrylic “is forgiving and grips the surface of the base well,” she said. “I completed the card over a weekend, totaling about eight hours. I find that doing it all at once keeps my momentum up and the concept from deviating.”
Salvetti appreciates the support that Madison Arts Council extends to local artists. “They give a lot to us, so I wanted to give back to them in the form of participation in a really neat holiday tradition. It helps to get visibility for my work at the same time,” she said.
Eight years ago, she moved to Huntsville with her job and lives in Hampton Cove. Salvetti has a seven-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter.
Salvetti works as a human factors engineer (ergonomics) for aviation projects. “At night, I use my artistic side for making handmade jewelry, pen and ink drawings and paintings for my small business, Melly Luna Designs,” she said.
For more information, visit mellylunadesigns.com, Facebook/mellylunadesigns or etsy.com/shop/mellylunadesigns. Her jewelry is available at University Pickers and The ARTery.
The displays will be illuminated through Dec. 30 from 5 to 9 p.m., founder Shrail Heinrich said. To vote for your favorite card, visit MAC’s website at artsmadison.org.
