When Art Meets History: My Experience at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum

St. Augustine is one of my favorite destinations. There is something about this beautiful city that keeps drawing me back. I love exploring its historic streets, visiting its museums, and learning about the people and events that shaped its rich history. As the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine offers a unique connection to the past, leaving me inspired, curious, and eager to learn more with each visit.

Being selected to exhibit my artwork at the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum made the experience even more meaningful. When I learned my work had been chosen for the exhibition, I felt honored. I knew it was a special opportunity, but I didn't yet realize how much the experience would stay with me.

The Exhibition: A Celebration of Art & History

Presented through a partnership between the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum and the St. Augustine Art Association, A Celebration of Art & History took place during the city's renowned Nights of Lights season. Created to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the exhibition brought together a select group of artists whose work was displayed throughout one of St. Augustine's most treasured historic homes.

I was honored to be one of fourteen artists selected to participate. Walking through the museum and seeing my artwork displayed within a home that has stood for centuries was an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by history, I found myself reflecting on the connection between art, place, and the stories that continue to live on through both.

As the founder and creator of WonderWalls Art, I have always believed that art should do more than decorate a wall. It should transform a space, create a sense of wonder, and tell a story that is felt beyond the surface. Standing inside the Ximenez-Fatio House, that belief felt more real than ever.

My artwork was sharing space with a home that has preserved history for generations. In that moment, past and present seemed to meet. Art, history, and human experience came together in a way that was both humbling and inspiring. Having my work become part of that environment for the duration of the exhibition was an honor I will always treasure.

Experiences like these remind me why I create. They remind me that art has the power to connect people, places, and stories across time.

Art should do more than decorate a space.

It should create presence.

It should spark emotion.

It should tell a story.

And sometimes, it becomes part of a story that has been unfolding for centuries.

~Corina Manno

Founder & Creator of WonderWalls Art

Where Walls Transform Into Wonder

Working with wire mesh is not easy. It cuts, it resists, it bends the wrong way, it refuses perfection, and that is exactly why I love it. The challenge is where transformation begins.

I believe sculpture today must move beyond tradition, beyond what has been done for centuries. Art should be open to every material capable of holding form, carrying structure, and telling a story. For me, that material is wire mesh.

Wire mesh is the foundation. I shape it by hand, twisting, bending, and sculpting until a presence begins to emerge, a wing, a form, or an abstract structure that first exists only in imagination.

Once the framework is complete, the building begins. Thin layers of a mixed-media sculptural medium are applied and allowed to dry before additional layers are added. Sometimes two, three, or even four rounds are required to achieve strength, depth, and dimensional integrity. Each stage requires patience; each layer builds character.

When the structure is ready, I introduce additional materials: acrylics for depth and luminosity; sand, when the sculpture calls for it, to create an earthy, grounded, organic presence; resin to seal and protect; and, at times, metallics or natural stones to enhance strength and meaning.

Together, these elements transform the mesh into a finished sculpture, no longer a raw framework and layered medium, but a dimensional work of presence, power, and wonder.

What drives me most is transformation: elevating blank walls into sculptural statements that shift the energy of a space. Wire mesh is not just a material; it is the foundation of transformation and the beginning of a new kind of art.

That is why I call it WonderWalls Art.

— Corina Manno

People often ask me, "How did WonderWalls Art begin?"

Every time I answer, I smile, because the story usually surprises them.

It all started with my cockatiel, my little angel. He's incredibly smart, whistles beautifully, and even learned how to give kisses because I kiss him all the time. Of course, he still sneaks in a little bite now and then, but I've learned to laugh about it. He's been my little companion through so many moments in life, and without realizing it, he became the unexpected beginning of my artistic journey.

One day, while searching YouTube to learn more about cockatiels and their behavior, I stumbled across something completely different, a video of someone creating sculptures from everyday materials.

I wasn't looking for art.

Art found me.

In that unexpected moment, something awakened inside me, a spark I didn't know existed. It ignited my imagination, stirred my curiosity, and opened a door I never knew was waiting for me. That single moment became the beginning of a journey of transformation, leading me home to myself.

My artistic path didn't begin in galleries or studios. It began with a feeling, an undeniable desire to create, to build, and to transform ordinary materials into something extraordinary. Guided by passion and persistence, I taught myself to sculpt on canvas and wood, discovering that my hands could express what words never could.

One of the signature foundations of my work is stainless steel wire mesh, layered with sculptural mediums, resins, fabrics, metallic finishes, and acrylics to create dimensional works that interact with light, reveal depth, and invite wonder from every angle.

Working with raw, unyielding materials is demanding. Sometimes frustrating. Often unpredictable. But it is also where transformation happens.

Wire mesh challenges my strength, my patience, and my imagination. Every bend is intentional. Every cut carries purpose. Every layer becomes part of a story. Slowly, piece by piece, what once appeared ordinary evolves into something alive, filled with movement, texture, presence, and a quiet sense of magic.

That philosophy became WonderWalls Art.

I don't create artwork simply to decorate a wall.

I create to transform the way a space is experienced.

I believe art has the power to spark emotion, awaken imagination, and shift the atmosphere of a room. It should invite people to pause, to feel, to wonder, and to discover something new each time they encounter it. Every piece is created with intention, to bring depth, presence, beauty, and transformation into the places where life unfolds.

Through this blog, I'll share far more than finished artwork.

I'll share the stories behind each creation.

The inspirations hidden within texture. The quiet beginnings of bold ideas. The moments of doubt that became breakthroughs. The lessons, discoveries, and experiences that continue to shape both my work and my vision.

From nature to architecture...
From emotion to imagination...
From process to purpose...

I invite you into the world of WonderWalls Art.

A world where walls become more than walls.
Where texture tells a story.
Where light reveals new perspectives.
Where imagination comes to life.
And where transformation begins.

This is only the beginning, not just of this blog, but perhaps of a new way of seeing.

If you believe beauty can be felt beyond words...
If you believe texture can hold emotion...
If you believe spaces deserve more than decoration...

Welcome to WonderWalls Art.

Where walls are transformed into wonder.

With love and wonder,
-Corina Manno