Down the Rabbit Hole – Anne & Mark’s Art Party 2016

What a party! The food, the fun, the friends the fashion the frolicking the theme (falling down the rabbit hole into a world of wonder) and yes, booze, but at its core, Anne and Mark’s Art Party is all about the art – visual, musical, spoken and dance, SO many artist and SUCH great work! Artists emerging and established, local and international, street meets museum! As an exhibiting artist this year I am so grateful to Anne Sconberg and Mark Henderson and Georgie Huff and to the vast army of volunteers and contributors who made this all possible…and it’s not over yet!

The gallery is open this week, Friday and Saturday from 11am-5pm ($10 admission) and a Closing Bash ($29 admission) Saturday night, October I, complete with a Pivot to Fashion Show that is not to be missed!  It’s a good thing because you can’t see everything in one visit! Check out  https://artpartysj.com/ for more information! FYI This post is link rich – click on the artist’s names for websites where available!

Bill Gould‘s installation over the gateway to Anne & Mark’s Art Party clattering in the breeze  like a river rucking over stones.

Exhibiting artist Holly Van Hart and company in front of a sculpture installation by Tulio Flores and Linnae Asiel of Asiel Design.

Live painting!

So delighted to have six of my Florilegia – illuminated mixed media assemblage paintings on exhibit in my own little “gallery” in the south-west corner of the Main Gallery. Here I am with Purity and Oblivion.

Pano of my “gallery” Secret Lover, Mature Elegance, Happy Marriage, Purity and Oblivion.

With Bryan Callanta – the man who knows galleries and shirts and also the man I have to thank for my great little gallery!

With artist W.M. Vinci – the Mad Hatter with the sublime taste and the fab footwear!

Goldfish heels! Swoon!

Fabulous Steam Punk art lovers.

Susan Kraft and her encaustic paintings.

NUMU curator, Marianne McGrath. 

Sieglinde Van Damme and her digital prints from scanned Chemograms with gallerist Jack Fisher.

Jay Ruland‘s  gorgeous dying rose scanned prints.

Lovely White Rabbit & Mad Hatter!

Christopher Elliman‘s mixed media Systematic Deconstruction.

Tessie Barerra-Sharaga‘s mixed media installation.

Exhibiting artist Holly Van Hart with her abstract landscape oil paintings on canvas.

Samuel Price‘s mixed media collage.

Will Marino‘s wound and folded paper, Shadow (Fig Tree)

Jody Alexander and her Keep installation of discarded library books, and vintage linen  and book skins, boro technique worked textiles.

Lisa Wangness‘s mixed media collage Sin / Without.

Dotti Cichon‘s digital photography printed on silk.

Exhibting artist Sara Friedlander and her American Women: Birds of Im/Migration
Mixed media digital collage and paint on wooden panel

Sara Friedlander‘s  American Women: Birds of Im/Migration: Ethel on Her Way Home From School – Mixed media digital collage and paint on wooden panel.

George Rivera‘s dramatic oil on canvas figurative work.

Karen Gutfreund‘s bold text pieces.

Exhibiting artist Laura Jacobson with her prints and ceramics.

Rose Sellery – Baby Shoes!

Rose Selery‘s Pins and Needles dress (detail).

Exhibting artist Rose Sellery and her Rags to Riches sculpture with JR

Rose Sellery‘s Rags to Riches

Laura Scandrett‘s Untitled – Photochemicals on Photo Paper.

Cristina Velázquez‘s installation.

Exhibiting artists Kent Manske and Cristina Velázquez.

Marc D’Estout – Pinhead

Tim Craighead – Without Constantini and D. Brent Stephens – El Triunfo

Khaled Akil‘s Requiem for Syria 1- Digital print from painting and photography — with Anne Schonenberg and exhibiting artist Mary Wold Souza.

        

Exhibiitng artist – Guru and Angel – Mark Henderson.

Robert Larson‘s mixed media paintings – I love the one with the cigarette packaging!

Lorraine Lawson – mixed media on canvas (left)
Mary Wold Souza – oil on canvas (far wall)
Kim Pourciau – wedding china sculpture (center)
Patrick Wädl Hofmeister – mixed media on canvas (right)

Margaret Niven‘s mixed media trees flanking Stan Welsh and Margitta Dietrick Welsh’s mixed media, sculpture, photograph with drawing on far wall

Della Calfee‘s photograph On the Inside.

Robert Ortbal‘s A to Z sculpture.

Robin Lasser‘s photograph & fabulous party goers

Awesome aqua!

Brian Coleman‘s Neon lovliness!

Emanuela Harris-Sintamarian‘s gouache on paper.

         

Green fairy lights – Joe Miller – mixed media install, Exhibiting Artist Jane Peterman Trace and her acrylic Trace Memory

Wild orange!

Exhibiting artist Mandy Spritzer and her metal pieces

Exhibiting artist Danielle Dufayet and daughter.

Danielle Dufayet‘s acrylic paintings.

    

David Middlebrook with his missed media sculpture and the lovely April Gee.

David Middlebrook‘s sculpture and Gail Ragains abstact figurative paintings in oil.

Cool vibe – bass and piano.

Indian classical dance with Abhinaya Dance Co.

 

Best of friends!

Great sax with a jazz-funk-rap group.

Shovelman! I bought his Dirty West CD SOOOO good!

Late night in the VIP lounge.

One final blast of fire before I called it a night.

Golden Gala

The Triton Museum of Art celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a Golden Gala last weekend raising money for educational programming. Apart from the great food and bubbly and wonderful company, it was particularly exciting to see the art generously donated by so many bay area artists for the silent auction!

Here’s a piece that Melissa McKenzie of Santa Clara Weekly published on the event, David Stonesifer’s painting is bing bid on in the photograph below:


Triton’s Golden Gala Celebrates Museums 50th Anniversary Melissa McKenzie

 

Triton's Golden Gala - Mei-Ying Dell'Aquila and Marie Cameron - photo by Ron Dell'Aquila 2015


Photo courtesy of Ron Dell’Aquila

Photographer Ron Dell’Aquila, who had donated one of his gorgeous Pastel Diner photographs from his recent solo exhibition at the Triton, was there with his camera. He took these shots of me with donating artists, Mei-Ying Dell’Aquila  and Holly Van Hart. Mei-Ying had donated her impressive oil painting, Dawn of Knowledge and Holly had donated a beautiful giclée from her Possibility Abounds series which also enjoyed a solo show at the Triton recently.

Triton's golden Gala - Marie Cameron and Holly Van Hart  - photo by Ron Dell'Aquila 2015


Photo courtesy of Ron Dell’Aquila

The piece I had donated was Frozen Thoughts  (that little purple dot on the wall below).

Triton's Golden Gala

Here’s a close up, it was painted on a convex canvas emulating the paperweight that had inspired it.

Marie Cameron Frozen Thoughts 2012 oil on canvas 16x16

 

Triton's Golden Gala

Chief Curator, Preston Metcalf and his men in black about to announce the closing of one of the silent auction rooms.

Triton's Golden Gala

Paparazzi about to capture the moment.

Triton Golden Gala - Robin and Marie - Photo courtesy of Ron Dell'Aquila 2015


Photo Courtesy of Ron Dell’Aquila

It was such a pleasure to attend the event with my husband Robin. That’s Ron’s Pastel Diner photograph behind us (which we were outbid on). We did what we could to bid on many pieces but only lucked out with one….. and it was a goodie too – an original photograph of Frida Kahlo taken by Bay Area artist Emmy Lou Packard in 1941.

Frida - Emmy Lou Packard- 1941

Emmy Lou Packard had lived with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera in Mexico working as a studio assistant for a time, taking lots of photographs like the one above. She had also worked as Diego Rivera’s chief assistant for the Pan America Unity Mural  for the Golden Gate Exposition.  In this image you can imagine Frida pausing for a smoke break in the sun outside her studio.

I can’t begin to say how much it means to me to have this photograph of my favorite painter where I can see it every day – so very inspiring!

Also inspiring is how many people came out to support the Triton an institution that has been serving our community for so long and so well!

Anne and Mark’s Art Party 2014

Let me just start by saying wow!  WOW!

I hear that Anne and Mark have been hosting their Art Party for a number of years now but this is the first time they’ve held it at the Santa Clara Fair Grounds – because they’re just that big and fabulous!

Artist Holly Van Hart and I got dolled up for the Opening Gala to check it all out and we were so impressed with the quality and variety of the work which was not limited to just visual art but there was spoken word, poetry, music and dancing! Just when you began to think you saw everything there was another maze to follow and more talent to be amazed by! I hope we can wrangle an invite to participate next year!

Where possible I have linked the artist’s names to their websites so you can find out more about them and their work, just click on them!

Oh – and the party is still going on until September 25th artpartysj.com. Go!Art Party 2014 - Holly Van Hart and art car-photo by Marie Cameron

Art Party 2014 - fish lips -photo by Marie Cameron

Art Party 2014 - fish car -photo by Marie Cameron

Art Party  SJ 2014 - Me with Li Ma's 633 Hours to Intergalactica! -photo by Holly Van Hart

Me with Li Ma‘s 633 Hours to Intergalactica! installation.

Joe Miller exhibited a great street inspired installation.

Art Party SJ 2014 - Seven - c photographic digital print by Michelle Longosz - photo by Marie Cameron

Turns out photographer Michelle Longosz and I have a lot of friends in common – which is always really fun to find out! I was blown away by her serene yet emotionally charged photographs, Seven (above) and White ( below). They are very still and full of movement at the same time ?! To me, they are like photographs of the human spirit!

Art Party SJ 2014 - White - c photographic digital print by Michelle Longosz - photo by Marie Cameron

Art Party SJ 2014 Dotti Cichon explaing her process for photographic process for printing her silk scarves - photo Marie Cameron

Dotti Cichon explaining her photographic process for printing silk scarves. They make a great backdrop for the the couple on their date below. (Can you guess which one is based on graffiti from Florence that I picked out for myself?)

Art Party SJ 2014 - art date - photo Marie Cameron

Art Party SJ 2014 - Art Gaze - photo Marie Cameron

Art gaze  – Thorn of Plenty by David Middlebrook of Los Gatos.

Art Party SJ -Kebe Konte's rings of Fire- photo Marie Cameron

Kebe Konte‘s Rings of Fire – nails on wood.

Art Party 2014 - Marie Cameron in front of Kebe Konte's rings of Fire -photo by Holly Van Hart

Art Party SJ 2014 - impromptu dance - Cie -photo by Marie Cameron

Cie doing an impromptu dance for me in front of Jen Jenning‘s untitled work made from wood, nails and human hair (they reminded me of wool carders).

Art Party  SJ 2014 - CT-86 Big Iron - RIchard Starks -photo by Marie Cameron

CT-86 Big Iron by Richard Starks was a showstopper!

Art Party SJ 2014 - Roberta Aherns and her acrlic and watercolor florals on cracked linen - photo by Marie Cameron

Roberta Aherns paints her florals on cracked linen which gives them a soft textured age look like a fresco.

Art Party SJ 2014 - Holly Van Hart's back, shapie tattoo compliments of yours truly - photo by Marie Cameron

Did I forget to mention that I did have some artwork on exhibit after all? It was on Holly’s back, a shapie tattoo compliments of yours truly! A little something I dashed off (to match the one she’d done on her leg) before we dashed off in her car.

Art Party SJ 2014 - Rose - digital photographs by Jay Ruland- photo by Marie Cameron

And while my little feather was lovely and all that, what was really breathtaking was this Rose series by photographer Jay Ruland! Thump – thump…Thump – thump…Thump – thump!

Art Party SJ 2014- Stan Welsh Ceramic, epoxy resin - photo Marie Cameron Art Party SJ 2014- Stan Welsh - Pilgrim, - photo Marie Cameron Art Party SJ 2014- Stan Welsh ceramic Figure, epoxy resin - photo Marie Cameron

A quiet moment of reflection with Stan Welsh‘s Void and Pilgrim –  ceramic figure and  epoxy resin.

Art Party SJ 2014 - White Queen by Michael Garlington - silver gelatin photographyy, mixed media frame - photo Marie Cameron

White Queen by Michael Garlington – silver gelatin photography, mixed media frame was full of fabulous, dark details as was his other shrine like piece.

Art Party SJ 2014 - White Queen by Michael Garlington - frame details antler - photo Marie Cameron             Art Party SJ 2014 - White Queen by Michael Garlington - frame detail frog - photo Marie Cameron            Art Party SJ 2014 - shrine by Michael Garlington bird detail - photo Marie Cameron

Art Party SJ 2014 - Michael Garlington's shrine - photo Marie Cameron

Party goers discussing the ecstasy of the nun in Michael Garlington’s shrine like sculpture.

Art Party SJ 2014 - Foot and Ass by Tracey Snelling - photo Marie Cameron

And while on naughty and nice – this mixed media piece, Foot & Ass by Tracey Snelling also took a look at secret pleasures.

Art Party SJ 2014 - Fields of Gold by Yvonne Escalante - photo by Marie Cameron

Fields of Gold by Yvonne Escalante, speaks to the aggressive nature of modern agriculture, with these bullet or even missile like forms. They are striking as handsome, sleekly crafted objects, loaded with symbolism and complex implications!

Art Party SJ 2014 - Part of the Whole, encaustic, by Linda Steenkamp - photo Marie Cameron

Another favorite piece was this encaustic work, Part of the Whole, by Linda Steenkamp. These cell-like shapes could be read in a lot of ways but they reminded me of little boats made up of maps and bits of writing on a crowded sea where everyone had a journey but no one was getting anywhere. Perhaps I’m too imaginative with my interpretations. Viewer’s prerogative!

Art Party SJ 2014 - mixed media paintings by D. Hooker - photo Marie Cameron

Mixed media paintings by D. Hooker, whimsical and perhaps a little menacing.

Art Party SJ 2014- Monika Vanderdool Blue Rabbit's Foot, Canary- mixed media ceramic - photo Marie Cameron

Monica Van den Dool‘s Blue Rabbit’s Foot and Canary mixed media ceramic pieces  combined pop (over-scaled, familiar objects in bright colors) with something tender and dark (the real rabbit’s foot and wishbone) leaving me with a feeling of soft melancholy.

Art Party 2014 - photographic portraits  David Pace - photography -photo by Marie Cameron

David Pace exhibited riveting portraits, that pin you with their stare piercing through the kaleidoscope of pattern.

Art Party SJ 2014 - mixed media painting by George Rivera (center) - photo Marie Cameron

A George Rivera mixed media painting looms central in the photo above.

Art Party SJ 2014 - detail of Hope, mixed media painting by George Rivera - photo Marie Cameron

A dramatic detail from George Rivera’s mixed media piece, Hope, with its deeply wrought darks and its burnished highlights.

Art Party SJ 2014 - with exhibing artist Lorraine Lawson and Holly Van Hart - photo Marie Cameron

Artist Phyllis Jenkins, Lorraine Lawson (yet another Los Gatos Museums Gallery artist – along with me and Holly), Gallery 85’s Sandy Burkhart and Holly Van Hart!

Art Party SJ 2014 -Melissa Kreisa and her metallic abstract paintings - photo Marie Cameron

Melissa Kreisa and her rich metallic Abstract paintings.

Art Party 2014 - Susan Kraft and her acrylics-photo by Marie Cameron

Susan Kraft and her textured abstract acrylics.

Art Party 2014 - pair o' Aussies- Burning Man regulars -photo by Marie Cameron             Art Party SJ 2014 - all dressed up - red and black -photo by Marie Cameron            Art Party SJ 2014 - all dressed up -photo by Marie Cameron

Great people watching!

Art Party SJ 2014 - Art Goers - photo Marie Cameron

Art Partty SJ 2014 - Gail Ragains acrylic Swimmers - photo Marie Cameron

I’ve been a fan of Gail Ragains bold and bright abstracted figures for some time now and it was great to see an entire alcove full of these swimmers in acrylic!

Art Party 2014 - Dissent anf Off with Their Heads mixed media by Christopher Elliman -photo by Marie CameronArt Party 2014 - Voices of Dissent and Off with Their Heads mixed media by Christopher Elliman -photo by Marie Cameron

I would have liked to walk home with these!  Voices of Dissent and Off with Their Heads, mixed media paintings by Christopher Elliman. He uses elements of stencil and poster bombing, street art and fairytale. I find them both whimsical and politically charged! LOVE!

Art Party SJ 2014 - lines of art and art appreciators blurring - photo Marie Cameron             Art Party SJ 2014 - Music!- photo Marie Cameron             Art Party SJ 2014 - photographer Stephanie Guerrero- photo by Marie Cameron

Art Party SJ 2014 - a rose by any other name...- photo Marie Cameron

A rose by any other name…

Art Party SJ 2014- VHS tape knitting by  Cristina Velazquez - photo Marie Cameron

VHS tape knitting by Cristina Velazquez – I’ll take a sweater dress please!

Art Party SJ 2014 - Patrick Hofmeister installation - photo Marie Cameron

Patrick Hofmeister‘s installation above and below (I hear he’s on his honeymoon – congratulations!)

Art Party SJ 2014 - Patrick Hofmeister installation - photo Holly Van Hart

Art Party 2014 - guys playing with fire -photo by Marie Cameron

Dancing dudes with stilts and blow torches.

Art Party SJ 2014 - Fire Dance r- photo Marie Cameron

Fire Dancer performed to one of my all time favorite musicians, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn  and his qawwali piece, Dum Must Qalandar.  I believe this was the remixed version with Massive Attack.

Art Party SJ 2014 - Anne and Mark sighting? - photo Marie Cameron

A possible Anne and Mark sighting – Thanks for the party!

Art Party SJ 2014 - deep sea fish car - photo Marie Cameron

Deep sea fish car.

Art Party 2014 - CD installation -photo by Marie Cameron

I watched early on as artists were stringing up the CDs among the lights, and by the end of the evening they looked like twinkling stars!

Art Party 2014 - wrapping up the gala -photo by Marie Cameron

When your photos start getting blurry like this you know it’s time to go home – too dark for my hand held camera or too many Art Dog martinis?

Art Party 2014 - Snail Car -photo by Marie Cameron

But not before one last blast from Jon Sarriugarte‘s snail car, The Golden Mean!

Last Hours – SVOS 2014

I was able to squeeze in a few more studio visits before time ran out on the 28th annual Silicon Valley Open Studios. Click on the artist’s name for a link to their website.

First on my list was Ed Lucey‘s hilltop Los Gatos studio ( Site 271).  I have admired his work since I arrived in California in 1997 where I saw it at the Pacific Art League and although we both belong to the Los Gatos Museums Art Gallery and the Los Gatos Art Association, I have never seen his studio!

SVOS 2014 - Ed Lucey - Artist in his Studio

I was not disappointed. It was overflowing with richly hued landscapes and the occasional still life and that was just what was on the walls – lots more in the pull out racks!

SVOS 2014 - Ed Lucey and guests

The artist talking with studio guests.

SVOS 2014 - Ed Lucey -  Valley View

Ed Lucey’s work is really rooted in the local landscape, you can feel that as you gaze out over the valley below his studio.

SVOS 2014 - Ed Lucey - Los Gatos Studio

SVOS 2014 - Ed Lucey - Wall of Art

SVOS 2014 - Ed Lucey - Plein Air

His plein air easel was set up on the patio – you really need that umbrella for the California sun!

SVOS 2014 Michael Rogan ( Site 271)

Michael Rogan, who belongs to the Los Gatos Museums Gallery and the Los Gatos Art Association too, was also exhibiting his work at Ed’s. Michael had his great watercolor landscapes and portraits and I’ve seen his roosters before but his parrots were new to me!

Not the only wildlife to be seen at  the studio…..

Rattlesnake - photo Maie Cameron 2014

Rattle - photo Marie Cameron 2014

Yes, that’s a rattler – a little one and, sadly, not a live one anymore but it was amazing to examine it up close and to remember that though we seldom see these snakes, they’re close by!

 

SVOS 2014 - Holly Van Hart

The last stop on my list was Holly Van Hart‘s Saratoga studio. I met Holly this last year as she became a new member of the Los Gatos Museums Gallery and won the Triton Museum of Art’s Statewide Painting Competition (and a coveted solo show). She’s busy preparing an “oeuvre” of nest and egg themed paintings related to her winning entry, Possibilities Abound, for this upcoming exhibition.

SVOS 2014 - Holly Van Hart- Possibilities Alight

Possibilities Alight

SVOS 2014 - Holly Van Hart- Queen of Possibilities

Queen of Possibilities

SVOS 2014 - Holly Van Hart - Studio

Holly’s nests are very warm and fluid and textured, I especially love Possibilities Alight where the nest is precariously perched among all those lovely magnolias and the activity within the nest is implied but still mysterious. Can’t wait for the show!

 

Reception at the Triton

Yes, it feels every bit as good as I thought it might to have a painting hanging in the Triton! It’s such well regarded museum with a beautiful exhibition space and to have Feathers hanging alongside the works of so many of my piers made me feel truly at home! Thanks to friends and family who came out to share this evening with me – you’re the best!

First place was awarded to two artists this year (I know both of them!) Cuong Nguyen (who also won the painting competition last time ’round and is so good they might just devote a wing to him) and Holly Van Hart (who just joined the Los Gatos Museums Gallery). They each get a solo show!

In fact, the Gallery was very well represented with nine member artists in the show. In addition to Holly and me, there was David Stonesifer (with two pieces), Donna Orme, Will Maller, Ed Lucey, Ellen Howard, Linda Smythe, and Joan Harvey.

Artists I know and love, Jaya King (two pieces), Mei-Ying Dell’Aquila, Teresa Ruzzo and Brigitte Curt were also included. So much really interesting work – I need to go back for a better look!

Triton Statewide - Gallery View - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Proud to be hanging on this wall as you enter with with Jaya King and Cuong Nguyen!

Triton Statewide - Marie Cameorn and Preston Metcalf - photo Ann Dubois 2013

Talking with Chief Curator Preston Metcalf about my project plans for 2014.

Triton Statewide - Cuong Nguyen- photo Marie Cameron 2013

Cuong with his first place winning Portrait of Paul as Leonardo.

Triton Statewide - Holly Van Hart - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Holly Van Hart in front of her painting Possibilities Abound.

Triton Statewide - Jaya King - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Jaya King with her moving paintings in the upper left and lower right (see below)

Triton Statewide - Jaya King's Little Silver Bullet From a Pretty Blue Gun- photo Marie Cameron 2013

Jaya’s Little Silver Bullet from a Pretty Blue Gun.

Triton Statewide - Joan Harvey - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Joan Harvey with her painting Endless Summer.

Triton Statewide - Gallery View 3 - photo Marie Cameron

I met the artist, Vincent Liu who painted Kung Pao Chicken hanging in the upper left and chatted with Linda Smythe who painted Pretty in Pink.

Triton Statewide - The Boys - photo Ann Dubois 2013

With the boys.

Triton Statewide - My Crew - photo Ron Dell'Aquila 2013

With the girls

Triton Statewide - Galler Viewers 2 - photo Marie Cameron 2013

 

Triton Statewide - Pam Prentice and Marie Cameron - photo Daniel Margulies 2013

I first met Pam Prentice, a Bay Area blogger at one of my Open Studios.

Triton Statewide - Gallery View 2 - photo Marie Cameron 2013