Mary Demarest has been drawing since she was a little girl, and experimenting with materials to make art for as long as she can remember. She has the urge to create, and follows that urge whenever she can, drawing and painting on a wide range of surfaces and subject matter, or scavenging rusty wire and old jewelry for "sidewalk sculpture." Her current pursuit is finding new ways to turn papier mache and found objects into animals, both local and exotic.

First and foremost though, Mary is a teacher. With a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from LSU and a Master’s degree from William Carey College in Gulfport, Mary has been teaching in the Talent Education in Jefferson Parish for the past ten years. In 2003 she earned National Board Certification in Art for Early Adolescents through Young Adulthood. As a former member of the Jefferson Art Guild, and now with RRAA, Mary has participated in and won awards in various exhibits and contests in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi.

She’s married to the love of her life. She and husband Al have been residents of The Greens in Gonzales for almost two years, and she loves the lifestyle of Ascension Parish. She has four grown children and a growing number of grandchildren, who provide her with laughter and inspiration.

 Mary's art will hang in the River Region Art Gallery until the end of June.