Lots of time to waffle on a title for this quadriptych as I try to claw back some time time in the studio! I see these leucistic deer as liminal figures in a dormant California winter landscape that is cut through by a highway – traces of which have caught the deer’s attention as the headlines of an oncoming car approach.
I am very honored to be exhibiting Blooming Deadwood at Kumiko Iwasawa Vadas’ gorgeous gallery, Iwasawa Oriental Art in downtown Los Gatos where Every objet d’art is carefully selected for not only it’s craftsmanship but how it artfully reflects the season and relates to its neighbor! Thanks to Lorraine Lawson, David and Kumiko for your help with the install!
Unveiling.
Measuring.
Placement.
Hanging.
Leveling.
Happy artist and gallerist.
You can take the girl out of the valley, but you can’t take the valley out of the girl! I grew up in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia with it’s orchards flanked by basalt mountains and now I find myself in the Santa Clara Valley, formerly known as Valley of Hearts Delight, famous for its orchards and now more commonly referred to as Silicon Valley. I adore how my painting, Blooming Deadwood, has been paired with Ken Matsumoto’s stunning Floating Usu, carved out of basalt!
I love the relationship pieces have with each other at Iwasawa Oriental Art, especially this Meiji period vase and bird with Blooming Deadwood as a backdrop, can you feel spring coming? I am told their will be cherry blossoms in a few weeks!
Galaxy by Hiroko Ohno, pigment and acrylic on paper mounted on wood panel.
Giclée of Tokyo Waterfall by Hiroko Ohno.
Also, Iwasawa Oriental Art will be conducting their first calligraphy class of 2018 with Kihachiro Nishiura January, 11th e-mail iwasawaart@comcast.net or contact them at (408) 395-2339 to reserve a spot.
Join me for an Artist Walk and Talk with NUMU’s Waterlines artists, Christel Dillbohner, Theodora Varnay Jones, Danae Mattes, Linda Simmel and curator Marianne McGrath along Los Gatos Creek Trail this Tuesday, January 9th (rain date – Thursday, January 11th). We will be meeting at 11:00 am at New Museum Los Gatos. Learn about the artists’ practices and connections with the natural environment, and the role that hiking plays in creativity and problem solving. After the hike, everyone is invited to return to NUMU for refreshments, an exhibition tour and continued conversation.
Tickets are available at NUMU – $10 general admission and free to members.
The hike (which I do regularly) is fairly moderate with some rises and falls – good footwear is essential and hiking sticks can be very helpful in areas with loose gravel.
Here’s a little preview of some of the great views along the trail which I had snapped on a recent hike with Marianne McGrath. Let’s hope for great weather!
What a transporting evening of poetry and prose at the Launch Reading for the Red Wheelbarrow 2017 National Edition last night! So excited to be with curator and artist Sara Cole and editor Ken Weisner holding my very own copy of Red Wheelbarrow 2017!
The book, the painting, the artist, the curator and the microphone, warming up and ready to go!
Joe Miller of Works/San José hosting the launch and reading.
Rob Pesich of the Poetry Center San José and Ken Weisner, editor of the Red Wheelbarrow and a faculty member of the Creative Writing Department at DeAnza College.
Artist and poet Sara Cole was the Art Curator for this beautiful edition of the Red Wheelbarrow , she selected works curated for an upcoming show Repository, a group show of Bay Area Women.
Congratulations to Partridge Boswell from Vermont who read his poem “Pop a Wheelie” which took 1st place in the inaugural Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Prize!
Lauren Goldstein, from New Mexico (Poetry Prize Finalist) reading “Elegy with Feathers”.
I’m happy to report that poetry is alive and well, heartbreaking, hilarious, tender and kicking! Go get some! Go write some!
How exciting…. the book launch for the national edition of the Red Wheelbarrow is this Tuesday, December 12 from 7-9 pm at Works/San José, 365 Market Street, San Jose, California! Doors open at 6:30pm and performance begins at 7:00pm.
Free appetizers and affordable wine, beer and soda. Suggested admission $2 – but no one will be turned away.
Books will be available for purchase with my painting Magnolia Tea II smack-dab on the cover! This volume of art, poetry and prose was compiled by Ken Weisner who invited Sara Cole to curate the art which includes work by:
Pilar Agüero-Esperanza
Jhina Alvarado-Morse
Natalya Burd
Marie Cameron
Sara Cole
Kim Frohsin
Kristin Lindseth-Rivera
Mila Libman Starbird
Margaret Wherry
Featured readers from the new issue of Red Wheelbarrow and from the Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Prize will include:
Len Anderson
Rose Black
Dave Denny
Alex Giardino
Rosie King
Lita Kurth
Peter Nash
Dion O’Reilly
Lisa Allen Ortiz
McTate Stroman II
David Allen Sullivan
Aimee Suzara
Robert Sward
Cynthia White
In celebration of the Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Prize:
Partridge Boswell, from Vermont
Gary Young
Lauren Goldstein, from New Mexico
Susan Kelly-Dewitt
I had such a wonderful time at my Fade reception at Vargas Gallery last night! I was told that it was the best attended solo show in the history of Vargas Gallery (since 1986)! A BIG THANKS to everyone who came out – artists, friends, curators, students, collectors and faculty! I feel very honored to show in this space and to have such a great community come out and support me! A special thanks to Lynne Todaro for inviting me to exhibit this work which spans a decade, to my collectors who lent back some key pieces for this show and to Ashley for her help with the install and staffing the show! All the albino deer cookies were snapped up and three more paintings were sold!
An albino deer cookie and it’s inspiration, Bed of Ghosts.
With George Rivera (Artist, Instructor, Curator), Kristin Lindseth-Rivera (Sculptor, Instructor), Marianne McGrath ( NUMU Curator) and Lynn Todaro (Sculptor, Instructor, Director)
With Tamera Avery (Painter), Kathryn Arnold (Painter), Rozanne Hermelyn Di Silvestro (Painter, Graphic Designer), Karen Gutfreund (Artist, Curator) Susan Kraft (Painter) and Hadi Aghaee (Painter) to mention a few.
I love it when people take a pic with a painting, it is such a compliment! This student had an interesting take on the deer in the nest feelings like birds eggs – such a great fragility association!
Tamera Avery & Kathryn Arnold at the Fade Reception – Vargas Gallery.
I know both of these wonderful artists through the Triton Museum of Art. Tammy has two fabulous figurative paintings in the Salon currently, one (which I’m personally in love with) took first in painting! Kathryn had a stunning solo show, monumental assemblages of abstract painting on sheaves of paper inspired by specific selections of poetry and prose as I remember….how great to see and gab with you both!
Loved seeing my collectors David and Carol Ann!
My dear friend (and collector) Judy who has to be one of my biggest supporters!
Hadi was sweet to help me carry in my albino deer cookies!
Suki Ma has one of my Bird and Teacup paintings and kindly shared the reception with her Art Experience group!
Show continues at Vargas Gallery in the Gillmor Center of Mission College through to the 14th!
So thankful to have friends who not only come out for my shows but take great pictures too! This series was shot by artist Dotti Cichon at last Monday’s artist talk for Fade at Vargas Gallery…the reception is this Wednesday from 4-7 pm and parking will be free if you use lot D!
I was delighted to give an impromptu Artist Talk at Fade (my solo show at Vargas Gallery at Mission College) prompted by my friend artist Lorraine Lawson who kindly rounded up a great group which included people with backgrounds in galleries, marketing and art. It is a special thing when artists come out to support other artists!
I loved sharing the stories behind these paintings, how I choose both medium and technique to help tell the tale and the symbolism I try to employ.
Telling the story behind Blooming Deadwood.
So nice to see artists Veronica Gross, Dotti Cichon, Lorraine Lawson and Linda Benenati! We are enjoying the suggestion that I get a scissor lift for my paintings like Hung Liu uses!
Sometimes you can better see what’s in your heart with your eyes closed.
Talking about employing chiaroscuro (light /dark) in both the lighting of the figure but also more figuratively in the lightness of the feathers and the darkness of the Bacchanal in the folding screen.
Talking about combining different experiences to create an image, the albino deer of Pine Mountain Lake, the dormant forest at Picchetti, a nest of branches at Kirkwood, the fawns that visit my backyard and the antler drops I have in my studio.
With gallerist Kumiko Iwasawa, Lorraine Lawson and designer Robin Sedgewick.
Kumiko Iwasawa in front of Blooming Deadwood – we spoke of exhibiting at her gorgeous gallery, Iwasawa Oriental Art, in the spring!
Yay!
Director Lynne Todaro and I settled on a date for my Fade reception at Vargas Gallery, Wednesday, December 6 from 4-7 pm. Perfect timing for students, between classes and between holidays. I’m delighted to hear that the show, which began Nov 8, has been getting a great response and I am looking forward to entertaining visitors at the reception! I hope you can join me if you are in the area!!!
These are some of the “artist with her work” shots taken at the exhibit to come up with a show promotion…
Such a lovely space! Vargas Gallery is located in the Gillmor Center in the middle of the Mission College Campus. Gallery hours are Monday & Wednesday 11 am – 2 pm and Thursday 3:30 -6:30 pm.
I was so delighted to throw together a last minute solo show for Vargas Gallery at Mission College! I’m calling it Fade – it’s a collection of my Fade to White work, exploring albinism and leucism in our flora and fauna, laced with larger pieces I’ve done over the years that touch on themes of vulnerability and tenacity, beauty and mystery.
The show will run November 9 – December 14 (Reception TBA) Thanks to Director Lynne Todaro for the opportunity and to Ashley at the gallery for her help setting up!
“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where the dogs went.” – Will Rogers.
A pack of pooches were juried into the display in the front window of Gallery 24 for the month of November. Paintings are by Julia Watson, Kay Duffy, myself, Sandi Okita and Kevin Kasik.
Here’s a close up of my painting, Retriever in the Orchard, a 12″ x 12” oil on panel. I met this beautiful chocolate lab bounding through the historic apricot orchard in Saratoga between rain showers and piano lessons one spring.
Waterlines opened up last night at NUMU with a fabulous, packed preview party for members! I am so honored to be part of this extremely beautiful show curated by Marianne McGrath with such outstanding artists working in a multiplicity of media and bringing distinct perspectives and sensitive visions and voices speaking to our experience of water. Exhibiting artists include: Judith Belzer, Barbara Boissevain, Marie Cameron, Matthew Chase-Daniel, Christel Dillbohner, Linda Gass, Nancy Genn, Liz Hickok, Theodora Varnay Jones, Pantea Karimi, Cheryl E. Leonard, Danae Mattes, Marsha McDonald, Klea McKenna, Ryan M. Reynolds and Linda Simmel, I have added links to all of their websites which can be accessed by clicking on their names below.
Always a pertinent topic, and especially so in California, NUMU was able to enjoy the support of sponsors such as Badger Meter and San Jose Water Company and Kumiko Iwasawa, Iwasawa Oriental for Waterlines.
Executive Director Lisa Coscino and Curator Marianne McGrath, talking about the genesis of the show and introducing sound artist Cheryl E. Leonard who played transporting music with objects from the sea and layers of recorded sounds from waves and melting glaciers.
Here are some of her instruments, mussel shells, stones, dried kelp flute, stinger driftwood and shell rattles and sand.
Music by Cheryl E. Leonard, Video by Oona Stern.
I love how the various pieces in Waterlines seem to be in conversation with one another.
With my assemblage painting with found objects and Pacific Ocean water, Stilla Maris which is Latin for Drop of the Sea and is thought to be the precursor to Stella Maris.
With California Water Rites, my assemblage with Los Gatos tap water.
California Water Rites and Poem
Theodora Varnay Jones – Poem
Christel Dillbohner with Frozen in Time – oil, cold wax on linen and Motionless Torrents – oil on silver leaf.
With Danae Mattes and her Evaporation Pool.
Site Specific Evaporation Pool by Danae Mattes.
Exhibiting artists Danae Mattes and Liz Hickok with Holly Van Hart.
Liz Hickok‘s photographs (sublimation print on aluminum) Lithosphere and Signal to Noise.
Pantea Karimi speaking about her silkscreen, Mapping a Gulf: The Persian Gulf Map and Tour of The Persian Gulf Album with Lorraine Lawson.
Judith Belzer‘s paintings.
Linda Gass with her sumptuous painted silk textile pieces, Owens River Diversion and San Joaquin Merced Revival.
Marsha McDonald – Slough, one of many GIF videos of water.
Barbara A. Boissevain aerial photographs of Bay Area salt ponds.
Barbara A. Boisssevain – Salt Pond Restoration Photo Grid
Matthew Chase-Daniel – Swamp South of Crescent City – photo assemblage.
Nancy Genn‘s Patagonia series casein paintings on canvas.
Linda Simmel photopolymer intaglio etchings, 75kts and 60kts.
Linda Simmel – Book of Seas - gesso/pencil on gampi paper, steel binding.
Ryan Reynolds – Frogshead and Petaluma River – oil on panel.
Klea McKenna Rainstorms & Rain Studies
Waterlines runs from October 6 – March 18. November 4th several Waterline artists will be present to talk about their work (including me) in conjunction with NUMU’s Winter Celebration. I hope you get a chance to see the exhibit in person because my photographs are not capturing the beauty of the work!
I am so very honored to asked to participate in Waterlines, a gorgeous and relevant exhibition at NUMU curated by Marianne McGrath which includes some amazing work from 16 artists, bay area and beyond each coming to water with a different viewpoint and voice! The show runs from October 6 - March 18 with a member’s Preview Party tonight and an artist walk through November 4, as part of NUMU’s Winter Celebration.
The two pieces I have in the show, Stilla Maris (Drop of the Sea) and California Water Rites both focus on the notion that all water is holy and we need revaluate our cavalier relationship to it.
Stilla Maris – assemblage painting with found objects and Pacific Ocean water – 2016
California Water Rites – Assemblage with tap water – 2016
Woohoo – the 9th annual Sanchez Art Center’s 50I50 show is tonight! It’s so exciting to see all this work of 50 paintings in 50 days culminate in this one fantastic night where 60 Bay Area artists, all juried in by gallerist, Jack Fischer, display 3200 pieces of 6″ x 6″ art which get plucked off the wall and taken to new homes! The preview (from 6-8 pm) is completely sold out and the free public reception (from 8-9:30 pm) is sure to be packed!
Here are some snaps from last weekend when I installed Fade to White at the Sanchez Art Center, located at 1220-B Linda Mar Blvd in Pacifica, California. It was the very beginning of a three day install, and the work I did get to see was so good and the rest I’ve been avidly following online…I hope I get a chance to shop too!
We were encouraged to offer pre-sales and I’m delighted to share that a full 20% of my Fade to White series, of oil and encaustic paintings exploring albinism and leucism in our Flora and Fauna has been pre-sold!
If you’d like to find me tonight, my work is in the West Wing, at the end of the hall with the piano, I hope the pianist takes requests! And if you’re not able to make it tonight, the Sanchez Art Center will be open Friday, Saturday and Sundays through to October 1st with any remaining work.
I’ve been fooling around with some square business cards for Sanchez 50 I 50, you know the kind with a new image on each one…this will be the back with my contact info and painting care instructions.
I often live in my head about what I’m doing, and it was pointed out that by an artist friend (thank you Andy Ballantyne) that I should share the meaning behind my Fade to White series since they are more than purely decorative.
Here’s the Artist Statement I’ve prepared for the show:
It’s so magical to see a ghostly white apparition in the forrest!
I was overwhelmed the first time I saw an albino deer years ago at Pine Mountain Lake in Groveland and thrilled to witness a leucistic hummingbird at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum a year ago! I am intrigued by the increasingly frequent reports of albinism and leucism in our native flora and fauna.
Very rare in the wild, these white creatures stand out from their surroundings making it hard for them to be a predator and harder still to be prey. These genetic conditions carry other risks as well, including sensitivity to sunlight with a higher risk of skin cancer and weakened feathers in birds. Finding mates can also be more challenging. Plants without the chlorophyl fail to thrive and need to be associated with a green parent plant to grow. Interestingly, the case of albino redwoods, there is evidence that the albino shoots are actually processing toxins in the soil.
With the expansion of human development, real wild spaces are shrinking and becoming disconnected, creating isolated gene pools which heighten the opportunities for recessive albinism and leucism to express where it might not in a more diverse gene pool. Animals like deer, squirrels and raccoons that can live close to humans benefit from increased predator protection and entire communities of leucistic and albino populations are popping up. Of course there are more people and cameras on the look out for these unique and beautiful creatures.
In this series I have laid an encaustic veil over the oil painitng of flora and fauna, at times inscribing lines of pigment, colors which has been lost. I see this veil as one that we are unintentionally drawing over our wildlife.