The holiday season is a perfect time for Main Gallery artists to celebrate our art and to recognize our wonderful supporters. The Arts Consortium is the umbrella organization for the arts in Tulare County, business owners Nancy and Michael Phelps of Michael’s Jewelry, Sue Sa of Sue Sa’s Clubhouse, and Nathan Hall and Barbra Hood from Suncrest Bank all provide wonderful venues for us to exhibit our work and gracious receptions for the artist and the community on First Fridays. And the Valley Voice and Visalia Times-Delta newspapers do their part by publishing and advertising our events.
The months of November and December find Betty Berk celebrating her colorful oil paintings at Sue Sa’s Clubhouse at 699 W. Center St, and Joy Collier at Suncrest Bank at 400 W. Center St. with her beautiful images of the Sequoias. I am showing at Michael’s Jewelry on Main Street with an exhibit called “Double Take,” which features an image twice though with different interpretations. It may be a photograph taken during different seasons, as with The Three Graces and Half Dome, or from different perspectives and/or with mixed media as with the poppies, the Ghost Ranch images, or with the Cinque Terre in Italy.
The exhibits will be open during the First Friday receptions on November 7, between 5-8pm.
Karl Merhten, owner of Café 225, has also been a wonderful supporter of the arts and probably the first Visalia business owner to have local artists show their work at his restaurant. He has hosted many exhibits and has provided beautiful receptions for the community for many years and this holiday season is no exception. Main Gallery artists Elsah Cort, Toni Best, Deanna Saldana, Beckie Nava, Deborah Nolan, Lynn Ramires, Betty Berk, Joy Collier, Laurie Gorman, Ginny Wilson and I will have a group show at Café 225 from November 16 to January 18. The theme of this exhibit is “Celebration” which will be an opportunity to see how the artists interpret this theme through their work.
Lynn Ramires’ painting of French Chateau was given to a friend who ‘celebrated’ her daughter’s college graduation and who took cooking classes in the chateau. Joy Collier’s painting of “Our Nation’s Christmas Tree” celebrates the holiday season in the snow. Beckie Nava finds the sunset hour to be the most celebratory time of day with her photo of “Sundown Celebration at Pismo Beach.” Deb Nolan celebrates the beauty of the natural world with her image of “Perfection.” Toni Best, gourd and basket weaver, says, “Every piece becomes a celebration of ideas, joy in movement and shape, and a gift of myself to the viewers.”
Betty Berk indicates that her oil paintings help to show “her close bond with the landscape and animals that thrive here and to celebrate their life.” Laurie Gorman celebrates the beautiful colors of the oranges, grapes and bird of paradise that grow here with her watercolors.
Photographer Ginny Wilson says, “For me, the very existence of light is a cause for celebration, especially if the light touches something beautiful.” Deanna Saldana’s oil paintings revolve around creation, “We have to celebrate the planet, its beauty, and our role as caretakers.” Finally, my mixed media images revolve around the celebration of food that is part of every celebration, particularly fruits and vegetables and their beautiful colors.
The public is invited to the reception at Café 225 on Sunday, November 23, between 2-5pm. Please help us celebrate the holidays, enjoy the art, talk with the artists, and perhaps find an original gift to celebrate that special someone or event.