Opening @ McCue Gallery 83

Thanks to everyone who turned out for the opening in Orinda last night. Not a bad start for a new gallery with a few sales and a room full of art lovers. Here are a few pictures Michael took of the crowd. What would I do without my faithful photo snapping husband?

This is a shot that Scott McCue took of the Bird Ballet installation. I made a giant red one since then and it is my new favorite!

As it got dark outside the gallery began to fill up.

I enjoy explaining the process of how I create the birds.

These two folks are constant companions. Scott McDonald rides huge hills with me twice a week at 6am and Carol Aust is one of my closest friends who also happens to be an amazing painter.

Gail seems to be enjoying the wall pieces. I found that people were pretty surprised that I also paint.



Scott McCue did a really nice job on the studio shot of me. He chose to hang this photo of me working on the birds right above the installation of the flock.



Fortunately, a few of the birds where set free and flew to new homes.



Sam has a great smile besides being a great orator.

By the end of the evening I finally had a chance to talk to Margaret Keelan and Annie Stryke. They will be showing next month in the gallery, so stop on by on December 10, 6-8pm to see some renowned bay area ceramic work.

Las Cadre Opening at Richmond Art Center

My critique group, Las Cadre, has had the opportunity to have an exhibition next to one of this centuries great sculptors, Stephen DeStaebler. The show comes down on October 9, so you have a short time to get to the Richmond Art Center to see them. Below are a few shots of the opening and some of the work.

De Staebler has been a big influence on many of the sculptors in our group.


Jenn Brazelton's ceramic blossom goes well with our entry signage for the show.


Shalene Valenzuela's ceramic statements on the feminine culture of the past and present.

Michelle Gregor's graceful pieces have a rich layering of multi fired glazes.

Susannah Israel's wonderfully textured work is like a sentinel watching over the show.

Tiffany Schmierer's work is a burst of color and patterns. One can get joyfully lost in the discovery!

Anna Vaughan's ceramic bee butt! A good reminder that the bees are needing our help these days.

Sterling and Susannah pulled together a really elegant show for Las Cadre.

Noelle and Susannah next to Anna's ceramic wall work.

Check out the Richmond Art Center website for more details at:

http://www.therac.org/

No Impact Man

This is a cool video that I found through my film maker friends.

Mixing Art with Great Food

Last week I installed my work at a new restaurant called Bocanova.

Here are a few photos to tempt you into going over to Jack London Square for a visit. The food is a wonderful combination of Latin, European and Mediterranean which the owners call "Pan American". I love the fact that they are aiming to use local and sustainable food.

The red leather couches with the large colored glass wall and monster size columns that glow with fabric and light create a warm atmosphere.

My sugar ladders, ceramic and iron go well with the feel of Bocanova's multi textured interior.

Ceramic boats inside with the real boats just outside by the patio.

There is a wonderful outdoor patio to enjoy.

The front view of Bocanova.

Here are the details :
55 Webster Street, Oakland, California, Phone: 510-444-1233
Bocanova Website: http://www.bocanova.com/

April 2009 @ Mercury 20 Gallery

Here are a few photos taken on opening night at my April show with Margaret Chavigny. This photo is a view of the sugar ladders that I mounted on the wall. Trying my hand at a mini installation! The sugar I used is called Isomalt. It is a sugar beet derivative that when cooked becomes very hard like rock candy. Not only did I color some of them, but I also embedded things like barbed wire, sticks, plastic animals and money. A sugar ladder seems to be a natural metaphor for the state our world is in at this strange point in time.

View from the street looking into the gallery.

Gitty, one of my favorite biking partners came by to see the show.

My work looks like it is dancing through the crowd of people.

We finished off the night at Luka's Tap Room with some yummy fries and dancing.