Who We Are...
Memories To Masterpiece was created by Jimmy and Melinda Talarico of Bozeman, Montana. It started with a Christmas present Jimmy created for his mother as a way to honor his grandmother who had passed away. Jimmy asked for dried flowers from his grandmother's memorial service and kept them for years while pondering ways to display them that would honor her life. Through a process of trial and error, Jimmy developed a fine arts technique that mixed wax, ash, and acrylic paint in a way that would beautifully preserve the flowers. It was a very moving moment when the gift was shared with his mother, a moment Jimmy and Melinda wish to create for your family.
For Helen: Created in memory of Jimmy's grandmother.
Jimmy was born and raised south of Chicago, Illinois but left shortly after high school to start a life in Montana. He attended Montana State University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Design and a Master's Degree in Architecture. With over 20 years of experience in the Architecture profession, Jimmy has learned first hand how to mine the desires of his clients so that his final designs exceed their expectations. Jimmy's passion for the arts has always been a staple of who he is beginning in elementary school one evening at the kitchen table. While the rest of the family was watching television, Jimmy grabbed a piece of notebook paper and borrowed his sister's mirror to see how well he could draw his own eye. This was the beginning of a life of artistic expression that grew to public poetry readings in high school, short experimental films in San Diego, furniture design and construction, 2D and 3D art of all media. All of this was previously done sporadically as a creative outlet before Jimmy realized this could become a life focus... And so here we are.
Melinda was born and raised in the picturesque tourist town of Red Lodge, Montana before moving to Helena, Montana just prior to high school. She has always been a thinker with a passion for improving systems evidenced by her valedictorian status and Bachelor's Degree in Industrial and Management Engineering from Montana State University. It was precisely this focus of "how can we make things better" that gave Melinda the idea for Memories To Masterpiece. She recognized a niche that was not being filled from within the art community and prompted Jimmy to further explore the concept. Her thinking was that people's memories and keepsakes deserved a better place in their lives; perhaps a place where they would be honored as heirlooms and passed along from generation to generation.
Melinda and Jimmy have been married for over 23 years and reside in Bozeman, Montana where they enjoy raising their kids, playing in the mountains, and creating their own memories.
Melinda and Jimmy have been married for over 23 years and reside in Bozeman, Montana where they enjoy raising their kids, playing in the mountains, and creating their own memories.
