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Successes for Weekend 2
Allied Artists West’s Open Studios: A Wonderful Party
By Saaba MBB Lutzeler
“It’s just a wonderful, wonderful
party!” exclaimed Mary Ann Henderson, heirloom tomato queen, pastel
painter, and host of Allied Artist West’s Open Studios. Jazz piano
greeted visitors as they approached the garden event, the spirited
notes dissipating somewhere on the horizon’s wooded hills. The Saratoga
spot was so idyllic that the dozen or more cars parked out front did
nothing to diminish the beauty of the Henderson home, standing stately
under its ceramic tile roof. As new guests arrived, others trickled
out, holding their original art purchases and chatting about the
impressive caliber of the work. Entering visitors, meanwhile, wound
their way down tent and art lined paths, admiring the realism and
brilliance of the many floral watercolors and pastels. These were so
striking that it was difficult to discern whether the paintings
conjured up the fragrance in the air, or whether the surrounding
lavender and roses did! When asked what she likes
about SVOS, host Mary Ann said, “[the event]…draws in neighbors and
people from as far away as Pacifica,” adding after a moment’s
reflection. “When [the artists] take down their tents and go home, it’s
kind of sad.” Nearby guests nodded at this as they sat on the bricked
veranda sipping iced-tea, enjoying the garden, the art and the
beautiful day: a wonderful party, indeed.
PALO ALTO OPEN STUDIOS: REASONS TO CELEBRATE
By Debra Nimmer
In the image, left to right standing: Doron Noyman, Karen Frankel, Cassandra Gay,
Tom Garrison, Maria Koretz, Marie-Louise Rouff, Wendy Lowengrub;
Kneeling from left to right: Hedda Hope, Terry Acibo-Davis, Simone
Raoux, Julie Nelson-Gal. Also participating but not pictured. Tami
Avery, Anne Russell, Robin Welles, Carol Winograd.
The celebration on Saturday and
Sunday, May 8th and 9th at the Palo Alto Open Studios was monumental in
that it marked the studios’ one-year anniversary. All hearts were
warmed as the artists welcomed their families, friends and community,
giving them the opportunity to view their work.
The Palo Alto Open Studios,
located at 4030 Transport Street near Highway 101, owes its existence
to building owner Tom Taylor. Tom’s first tenants specialized in
advertising and occupied the site for six years. Shortly after they
left, however, Tom met Karen Frankel, a painter, who suggested the
space could be converted into a studio for artists. Tom Taylor proved
his interest by wasting no time. He and Tom Garrison, a
furniture-maker, came together to convert the warehouse into fourteen
studios. While the warehouse transformation was in full swing, Karen
got busy advertising available space for artists. Within a year, the
artists from Palo Alto and nearby cities responded to the call and
staked their claim. They now can celebrate one year at a new location
and give honor and tribute to the man who made it all possible.
Painter, Hedda Hope, is quite
pleased to be a part of the Palo Alto Open Studios. She enjoys creating
in her workspace and is grateful for the conveniences Tom Taylor has
afforded the artists. These include running water, heat, and the
capability to drive a car through the entrance directly in front of
their studio doors. This luxury allows artists to pack and unpack large
paintings, supplies and other tools without having to haul them up
stairs or down long hallways. The Palo Alto Open Studios
also celebrated a large turnout: crowds of art lovers came not only to
mingle with the artists or enjoy the scrumptious appetizers and
beverages; they also came to add to their personal collections. Several
pieces were sold and conversations could be heard of arrangements to
purchase more at a later date. For artists, that’s cause for
celebrating!
Last but not least, the Palo
Alto Open Studios is a model for other artists who may be looking to
invest in buying property that can be converted to an art-making haven.
Some came to see how Tom Taylor and Tom Garrison pulled it off and
walked away feeling confident they could accomplish the same task. The Palo Alto Open Studios
exhibiting artists were Terry Acebo-Davis (printmaking and new genre),
Tami Avery (painter), Karen Frankel (painter), Julie Nelson-Gal (mixed
media), Tom Garrison (furniture-maker and Palo Alto Open Studios Office
Manager), Cassandra Gay (printmaker), Hedda Hope (painter and SVOS
Star), Wendy Lowengrub (painter), Doron Noyman (painter), Simone Raoux
(painter and SVOS Star), Marie-Louise Rouff (painter) and Maria Koretz,
Anne Russell and Robin Welles (sculptors). Other artists who rent space
at the Palo Alto Studios include Skip Cantwell, Madeline Ettin, Lea
Feinstein, Barbara Mortkowitz, Steve Sabbag and Cristina Velasquez.
Natanson-Marcus Studio: Art in the Garden
By Therese May
The visual appeal of Eva Szore’s
landscape paintings with their rich and colorful variety of shapes and
forms, welcomed SVOS visitors to the front garden area of the
Natanson-Marcus Group Studio in Los Altos May 8th and 9th. Upon entering under the
Trumpet-vine-covered trellis, the bubbling sound of the fountain and
the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze added to the visual feast
of Dewey Garrett’s brightly colored wood vessels. While nibbling
strawberries and vegetables, viewers made their way around the path.
Once in the back garden they could view the ceramic cups, bowls and
vases of Randy Koster, the landscape paintings of Denise
Natanson-Marcus and the watercolors and sculptures of Catherine Zander.
According to Dewey Garrett,
“The best part was meeting the other artists and getting to know them.”
This hospitable group of artists, each one so willing to talk about his
or her work, was a pleasure to visit.
San Mateo Central Park Group Studio
By Therese May
Top to bottom, left to right: San Mateo Central Park, Dewey Garrett, Jon Keegan, Kathleen Wade, Lise Poulsen.
San Mateo’s Central Park, with its idyllic Japanese
tea garden, tennis courts, and winding paths, is the location for the
San Mateo Group open studio. This artists’ group will be contained in a
small building nestled right between the garden and the court. There is
convenient parking both on the street and underground next to the
tennis courts. To see the art, take any path to the core of the park;
there will be artists outdoors as well as inside. Walk through the
front door of the central building’s main lobby, and you’ll find more
artists in the building’s left and right wings. Kerri Lawnsby,
Executive director of SVOS, chose the San Mateo facility to accommodate
artists who wanted to exhibit with a group at a location other than
their own studios. Lise Poulsen, one such artist, volunteered to
coordinate the twenty-five others who will be gathering at Central Park
in San Mateo May 15th and 16th for SVOS. She says she enjoys the team
spirit of this group and getting to know each of its members. According
to Lise, all the artists are mailing their own individual flyers,
making it possible for more people to attend. It is her first year
participating in Open Studios, and this is the first time SVOS has been
offered at this popular park. The artists will be serving refreshments
in the kitchen at the site, and visitors will feel the great
cooperative energy the artists have harnessed for the occasion. This is a diverse group of exhibiting artists; there will be something for everyone.
The collection of 3-D
artists includes Cyndee Newick and Rebecca Black (gourds); Dewey
Garrett (woodturning); Harriet Helfricht (stone sculpture); and Manny
Magallon (ceramics). Those working in acrylic, mixed media, and/or oil paint are: Jon Keegan, Joni, Mary Medrano, Ronna Katz, and Victoria Ireland.
The lone group member working in fiber arts is Lise Poulsen.
Kathy Wade and Marge Regan are the group’s two jewelry artists.
In pastels and watercolor are artists CJ Myers, Dixon Lau, Jackie Gray, Ming Shu Franz, and Sheila Strand.
In photographic or digital media are Dan Baumbach and Gianfranco Paolozzi.
Working in oil are painters Jan Steele, Linda Etherington, Simone Raoux, Theresa Wayne, JoAnne Benson, and Victoria Veedell.
Lise Poulsen, originally from
the south of London, makes delightful one-of-a-kind knitted purses,
each one uniquely shaped with yarns of vibrant colors and textures. She
first knits the basic purse using high quality European and domestic
yarns, and then she washes the purse in very hot water to cause a
shrinking called “felting,” making a wonderful, thick texture. The
purse is then dried on a frame, after which Lise sews an exotic silk
fabric lining into it and embellishes it with buttons, beads and yarn.
(Lise says sewing is her least favorite thing to do in this process).
She has been creating these attractive objects for the past eighteen
months and has already sold many of them. Joni , a portrait
painter and illustrator as well as the manager and director of a
downtown San Jose art gallery , is participating in SVOS for the first
time this year, exhibiting over one hundred miniature artworks, all for
sale. Her work includes small portraits of friends and little cartoon
drawings of animals, one of which is entitled “Butterfly Cat,” a
picture of a cat daydreaming and wishing he were a butterfly. In the
three years Joni has been working in the gallery, she has helped over
one hundred artists exhibit their work. Her goal is to help ten times
that number get started in their art careers. She would like to own an
art gallery in an old house and have rooms devoted to children’s and
adults’ art respectively. Joni has put her professional gallery talent
to good use for the SVOS San Mateo event by drawing the layout of the
twenty-some individual art spaces inside the Central Park building
housing this year’s artists.
Dan Baumbach produces
exquisite digital photos of the natural beauty of rivers, streams and
flowers at times of the day when the light is “out of the ordinary” or
in times of cloudy or foggy weather. He has a background in advertising
and fashion photography and has traveled to France and India, taking
pictures. He lives in Marin County.
Victoria Veedell paints
lovely, simple landscapes, focusing on mystery, light and color. They
are painted from within, rather than reflecting the outside world. She
has exhibited her work extensively throughout the United States, India,
and Japan. She loves to travel and contemplate the light in different
parts of the world for her paintings. Victoria has studied art at New
York University and Texas A & M University. Rebecca Black and
Cyndee Newick will both be offering their gourd art during the SVOS
event in San Mateo. Rebecca often makes her gourd designs into baskets,
while Cyndee lets the shape of the gourd guide her in the creative
process. Manny Magallon’s ceramic pots are functional glazed vessels,
one of which is titled, “Blue Crystal Vase.”
The Central Park
Setting, the Japanese garden, the tennis courts, the winding paths, the
artists, the art, the creativity, the energy of team work, the food
provided by the participating artists --all will come together in a
grand celebration!
Redwood City Art Center: Retail with a Twist
By Patti Linder-Dodd
From left to right: Joyce Faulknor, Wendy Lee, and Laxmi Natarajan.
Walking along the tree-lined street of Broadway in
downtown Redwood City is like walking down many other streets in the
bay area, busy, but still not without small town charm. However, on May
15th and 16th, among the retail businesses on this enchanting street,
visitors can experience the excitement of Silicon Valley Open Studios
(SVOS) at The Redwood City Art Center located at 2626 Broadway from
11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Former art retailer Joan
Jordan started the center twelve years ago in Redwood City's old,
vacated police station. Couple of years later, when the station was
demolished, the art center relocated to a vacant retail space on
Broadway. Once the artists designed and entirely rebuilt the interior
with studio spaces, they were open for business, merging retail and
studio life into one. Now, eight years later,
watercolors of florals and still life sit side-by-side with mixed media
abstracts on easels lining along the wall-to-wall retail window. As
people walk by, they slow down or stop to observe through the large
glass front works of art being created by published watercolorist Joyce
Faulkner where she shares space with two other artists, Gig Lotti,
mixed media, and Elaine Bourland, watercolorist. They entice the
pedestrians to venture beyond this studio/gallery retail front. Twenty studios are
located along a hallway just behind the main front store gallery.
Traveling through the long, narrow walkway bisecting the Redwood City
Art Center, there is a wonderment of what various creations might be
found behind the multicolored studio doors with darkened windows,
lending a mysterious quality to the art process within. A hint of the
creativity that exists flourishes here along the walkway. The variety
is abundant. Exhibited samples of artworks range from paintings in oil
and acrylic, to watercolors and Chinese brush paintings; from mono
prints and silkscreens to 3D pieces. In addition, several SVOS Star
2004 winning artists are located at this site, including two Collection
2004 recipients, which are painter Nancy Halpern and Chinese brush
painter Wendy Lee. Although many of the
Redwood City Art Center artists display their work in locations
throughout the city, the street front exposure from this gallery makes
this location ideal: for the artists to sell directly to the public
while still maintaining a little mystery.
ENSO Art Center in Half Moon Bay: A Peaceful Place for Art
By Therese May
From left to right: Mauro Fforttissimo, Carrie Hollister, and Ellen Vogel
Enso; an art gallery, meeting center, yoga studio, and
performance space, is a work of art in itself. Created by founders
Mauro FF and Carrie Hollister several years ago, it began with old farm
buildings that were used to store agricultural equipment. Although
still old and rustic, these structures are now beautiful works of art
with copper and nickel metalwork, which Mauro tooled himself, and then
applied to the exterior walls. There is an altar-like construction
built into the front of the main building, which (even though it is not
the front door) seems to invite the viewer in. These barns now have art
studio spaces. Artists use these as both classrooms and art-making
facilities for media as varied as painting, drawing, papermaking,
metalwork and bookmaking. Mauro and Carrie began
Enso with the idea of making yoga classes and massage available to
people and to show their own artwork at the same time. Three years ago,
when Erin Tormey joined their staff, they began to have regularly
scheduled art exhibits. This will be their second year participating in
SVOS, and they are looking forward to having more of the public learn
about Enso. Enso will host their site
for SVOS on May 15th and 16th with five Half Moon Bay Artists: Ellen
Vogel, Sharon Scott, Carrie Hollister, Margaret Lindsey, and Mauro FF.
Erin Tormey, Gallery Director and self-described “Minister of Practical
Matters,” says everyone is welcome to look around at all the different
artworks in the various studios and gallery spaces. Mauro will even
serve his homemade creative vegetarian cuisine. Mauro FF, a native of
Argentina, has been in the U.S. since 1980 and is a sheet metal
sculptor, painter, poet, musician and yoga teacher. This inspired and
productive artist has a way of seeing mundane objects that, with his
creative touch, reveal surprising, delightful and friendly results. His
artistic energy and enthusiasm is evident in his copper and nickel
plate sculptures as well as his small watercolor paintings depicting
the mystical and spiritual cultures of many lands. In the recent past,
Mauro co-founded the San Francisco Os Folsom Music/Experimental Sounds
Laboratorium and has performed and recorded with many distinguished
musicians like India Cooke, Kash Killion, Liz Lamatia, Glenn Spearmin,
Armando Perazza, Ralph Carney, Reggie Workman, and Don cherry. Venues
for his performances include Theatre Artaud, SOMA, CafZ du Nord, and
The Mel Mello Center for the Performing Arts. He will play experimental
music with the group, “OHMD the order of the Half Moon” during the
weekend of SVOS at Enso. Carrie Hollister - also a
versatile and vital artist - works in a small, sunlit, two-room studio
space at Enso. She is a painter and textile artist who travels to many
parts of the world to study, enjoy, and create art, including detailed
gouache paintings on paper and her own original textiles patterned
after those of India. Carrie made the appealing, flat panel curtains on
the windows of the yoga studio and various other windows in the
complex. Another intriguing artist
exhibiting in SVOS is Margaret Lindsey, who practices and teaches
“Process Painting”. As part of her meditation, she paints from her
intuition and dreams, and she encourages her students to paint from the
heart and experiment with techniques. Margaret teaches an energetic
painting process that allows the medium to flow naturally, helping
students overcome any negative self-judgment or frustration blocking
their creative processes. At Enso, there is little distraction, so it
is a peaceful environment to create art and take classes. Along with
artist Ellen Vogel, Margaret is available to local children for
organizing summer exhibits of their work. The idea is to teach kids the
logistical, behind-the-scenes activities career-artists must under take
like framing, entering juried shows, documenting work, and writing
artist statements. Most artists at Enso will
not be found in mainstream galleries. Viewers can look forward to a
different kind of experience here. It is a place where art enthusiasts
can relax and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while browsing and
purchasing authentic works created more from the heart than from a
marketing point of view. Enso is located at the end
of a residential street (out of respect for the neighbors, there is no
sign). It is the last address before the beach. There are plenty of
slots in the parking lot. Director Erin Tormey reminds visitors that
yoga classes last until 11:00am, so this should be taken into
consideration when scheduling your arrival time.
NOTHING FAULTY HERE: The Portola Valley Artists Open Studios
By Debra Nimmer
From left to right: Sally Lennington Kunstadter, Barbara Zubrick, and Ann Wallach.
It’s no secret that Portola
Valley, California has a beautiful landscape. So much is evident when
you take an afternoon drive through its scenic roads accented with
golden brown hills and forest green trees. It’s also no secret Portola
Valley straddles the famous San Andreas Fault. Yet there’s nothing
shaky about the awesome talent neatly tucked away in the Town Center at
765 Portola Road. Passion is the word
that comes to mind when describing the works of art uniquely created by
the Portola Valley Artists. They’ve taken powerful emotions and evolved
them into a graphic production with each individual artist as the
director. The only seismic rumblings you’ll hear at this venue are from
the feet of appreciative admirers rushing in to see the fabulous
artwork. Portola Valley Artists
Studios are located in the Town Center building, originally constructed
as a school, and it has been the home of creativity for local artists
since 1982. Bonny Novesky and Kalani Engles, who sit on the city’s
Cultural Arts Committee, along with the other Portola Valley artists,
appreciate the skylights overhead, the peaceful valley atmosphere and
the large glass windows that frame their studios.
On Saturday, May 15th
and Sunday, May 16th, from 11 am to 5 pm, art admirers and supporters
will be given the liberty to behold some of Portola Valley’s best work,
including paintings, sculpture, jewelry, prints, ceramics and
photography. Visitors will also be able to mingle with the diverse
artists who will acquaint them with their pieces and reveal their
inspirations. These solo artists have been on this road of creativity
for many years, some since elementary school, and they all have a
common goal: to dream up, invent, and produce works that are sure to
please. Here’s a tidbit of what visitors can expect when attending the
Portola Valley open studios.
Abby Tamara enjoys
painting still life portraits and is currently working on a series
entitled “My Pantry” and Barbara Zubric paints watercolors that are
reproduced in giclee prints. She plans to show originals and cards.
Ann Ross Wallach creates
jewelry in what some might deem an unconventional way. Each piece is
made from exquisite beach stones gathered from seashores around the
Bay. After buffing, polishing and setting them in sterling silver
(occasionally adding jasper, lapis, jade or pearls), the results are
one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings and rings for men and women. Sally Lennington
Kunstadter, an SVOS Star, is a potter. Her simple yet elegant works
stem from a love of pottery that she’s had since college. When visiting
her studio, be sure to look for pots with multicolored, weaved lids.
You’ll want to take one home for sure.
Bonny Novesky doesn’t
consider herself very much of a painter or one that draws well, but she
prides herself in the ability to put things together, and with acrylic
collages, it works. To her, it’s not a chore; it’s fun, and that is why
she chose four years ago to steer clear from sour art depicting sadness
and grief. Instead, she made a personal decision to relocate her
imagination and creativity to acrylic collages using whimsical animals
as subjects, hoping to bring just a little joy into people’s lives. Kalani Engles is also
an SVOS Star. Though she spent many years sketching, she now chooses to
do less sketching and more remembering of feelings she’s had, places
she’s traveled, and things she’s seen. These memories are evident in
her paintings, monotypes and sculptures. She enjoys creating big bold
pieces using either bright colored paints or blacks and whites. When
looking at her pieces, viewers may think they know exactly what she’s
created, but Kalani says, “Though everything comes from something
you’ve seen or thought, you have to make everything up in order for
each piece to remain an original.” She encourages people to admire her
work and draw (no pun intended) their own conclusions for what they
feel the piece is or represents. Other participants will
be Adele Seltzer (acrylic, monoprints, sculptor and SVOS Star), Penny
Sur (painting), and Cathy Zander (mixed media). The Portola Valley
Artists Open Studios are pleased this year to have wine tasting,
compliments of Thomas Fogarty Winery of Woodside, California and will
also entertain you with vocal and instrumental music.
It’s hard to believe
that the Portola Valley Artists Open Studios will soon have to find
another haven in which to continue their work, through no fault of
their own. Unfortunately the entire Town Center complex lies within the
San Andreas Fault zone, and indeed some portion of the existing
buildings may astride the active traces of the fault. Because of these
findings, recommendations have been made by seismologists to tear down
portions of the complex. The artists’ studio is one of the sections
slated for demolition, so they will eventually have to move. Yet, these
talented individuals haven’t allowed this to dampen their spirits.
Their passion for creativity through art mediums continues to flow
through the scenic roads of Portola Valley until they’re forced to
leave. When that happens, they’ll just pick up and bring a ray of light
and sunshine into another community who will appreciate and cherish the
likes of artists committed to their craft.
A WORK OF LOVE SHARED WITH THE COMMUNITY: The 1870 Art Center Open Studios
By Debra Nimmer
From left to right: Carolyn Shaw, Rob Browne, and Ruth Waters.
In a time when little is spoken
of reaching out to our neighbors, Ruth Waters, founder and director of
The 1870 Art Center, reminds us that not everyone is selfish,
self-centered, or self-seeking. She is testimony to the fact that there
are people who simply want to make a difference, even if only in a
small way. Artists working at the center, located at 1870 Ralston
Avenue in Belmont, California, have found a way to bring people
together: they share their world with their community. This came to pass
through Ruth’s spirit and vision. She says she’s been a sculptor
forever, and when she left her home in Northern Virginia, she was
determined to create a public entity, an interface between the
community and the artist, so the artist wouldn’t be isolated. She
envisioned a place where the community would be exposed to creative
individuals, but also where artists could be exposed to the people in
the community. Ruth worked with the
city, getting permission to create an art center in 1977 at the former
Twin Pines Park Psychiatric Ward. Local artists were so enthusiastic
about the idea that every space was not only spoken for on opening day,
but there was a waiting list as well! When the city later needed Twin
Pines Park to build a senior community center, it offered the artists a
choice of three closed elementary schools in Belmont. They chose 1870
Ralston and moved there in 1985. They partitioned classrooms; brought
doors up from other buildings; sheet rocked and painted; and replaced
tiny peek hole glass windows in the doors with large tempered glass
windows so anyone could look in. A massive amount of sweat equity
encases every classroom, hallway and courtyard, but the artists at The
1870 Art Center call it a work of love. “Functional
segregation” is what Ruth calls keeping the dirty, noisy, messy
sculptors by the playing field near the parking lot and the clean,
quiet artists near the courtyard on the building’s opposite end. The
goal of this separation is to construct an environment that fits the
needs of all the artists without hindering any of their creation
processes. Thus, functional segregation aids in building a supportive
working climate, and that’s what counts. The 1870 Art Center is
incredibly enthusiastic about sharing its talents with everyone. They
offer a variety of lectures, demonstrations, seminars, workshops, their
Open Studios are held in May and December each year, and its
exhibits/receptions are held in the gallery every five to six weeks.
The 1870 Art Center artists especially love it when children, families,
and schools come for tours.
Exhibiting artists
include painters Carolyn Shaw (an SVOS Star and Collection 2004 Artist)
and Kevyn Warnock; photographer Kathleen Podolsky; potter Joy Imai;
sculptors Rob Browne, Marion Finn, BJ Stevenson, and Robert Wilkinson;
and sculptor/painter Ruth Waters. For more 1870 Art Center information, please visit:
www.1870artcenter.org.
A chance to see how art is made: Demonstrations for May 15-16
By Kerri Lawnsby, Executive Director
Our artists are proud of their artwork--and they want
you to be excited about visual art as well! Many artists have
volunteered to show you how they do what they do---so look below for a
list of demonstrations taking place this coming weekend -- May 15-16 --
near you!
Belmont
Los Gatos
Menlo Park
Monte Sereno
Redwood City
Chinese Brush Painting with Linda Stansen
Sunday at 11am and 2pm
2625 Broadway, Redwood City 94063
Map to Studio
Artist Page
Contemporary Crochet with Julie Goodenough
Sunday at 2:30-3:00pm
1420 James Avenue, Redwood City 94062
Map to Studio
Artist Page
San Mateo
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Weekend 2 Highlights
