Tanya Amorose works at Mugwump Productions on Kings Avenue. She handles event planning, theme parties, prop rentals and sculpture design and fabrications.
WHAT DOES SHE DO AT MUGWUMP PRODUCTIONS?
Amorose does a little bit of everything. She spends most of her time at work painting, woodworking and building props. Occasionally, she helps set up for corporate parties. Her most recent project was to help design and create manatee statues for the Sea Cows for Kids public art project.
WHAT DOES MUGWUMP MEAN?
Mugwump is an Algonquin Indian word meaning “great one” or “chief.” It also means someone who left the Republican Party in 1884 refusing to support presidential candidate James G. Blaine, or a person who remains neutral, especially in politics. The workers at Mugwump Productions say the owner named it for “great one.”
HOW DID SHE COME TO WORK AT MUGWUMP?
While out for a ride on her unicycle about four months ago, Amorose passed the building and thought, ‘That sounds like fun.’ She took her application to the boss and two weeks later she was hired. “It was really the only job I wanted. Everyone I work with is really cool. I’m really happy I got it.”
DID SHE GROW UP IN JACKSONVILLE?
She lived in Jacksonville until she was 16. She attended Bishop Kenny High School. She returned because she inherited a house located near St. Nicholas Park.
WHERE ELSE HAS SHE LIVED?
Amorose moved to Orlando and then to Atlanta before returning to Jacksonville. “I ended up living in Atlanta because I went to visit my mom and I never left. It’s hard to pass up free rent.”
EDUCATION?
Amorose received a bachelor’s degree in graphic design from Orlando College.
WHERE ELSE HAS SHE WORKED?
“I only used my degree right after I got out of college.” That was when she worked for Rich Willis Digital in Orlando. While there, she did digital photography and graphic design. In Atlanta, she worked at Raiford Gallery. The gallery showcases artists who work with jewelry, clocks, wood and metal furniture, ceramics, glass and sculpture.
WHAT DOES SHE THINK ABOUT JACKSONVILLE NOW THAT SHE’S BACK?
“It’s neat to see the city growing.” She also appreciates Jacksonville’s pace. “Jacksonville’s a lot slower than Atlanta, so it’s nice to slow down a little.”
WHAT ARE HER HOBBIES?
Besides riding her unicycle, Amorose likes to build scultures made of copper and other metal. She plans on delving into iron work soon. She also likes to paint and renovate the “fixer-upper” house she inherited. “I have too many hobbies. I just don’t have enough time to do them all!”
WHAT ARE HER PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
She wants to open her own jewelry studio in about year. Amorose designs and creates her own jewelry. “I plan on doing really well.”
— by Tammy Taylor