Several of the Artists involved with the Artisans' Co-op are preparing for a group show at the Gualala Art Center. The following article will fill you in....

“Many Hands- Many Arts” is the title of the group exhibit coming to GAC on December third. It features 14 of the artists who make up part of the membership of the ARTISANS’ CO-OP in Bodega. On checking out the artist list for the show, you will find four weavers, three artists whose work is two dimensional, two potters, two jewelry makers, one knitter, one bootmaker and one gourd artist.

The gourd artist, Kelly Horan, grows the gourds, dries and prepares them for painting and other embellishment, then finishes with wall hangings that are clever, unique and easily find honored places in the homes of people that purchase them.

Bootmaker Angel Fiorito-Leddy has been shaping boots, shoes and slippers from sheepskin and exotic leathers for 30+ years. She also does custom designs in consultation with the purchaser for which she makes molds of your feet, insuring a perfect fit.I’m sure that she will have some of her custom pieces on display.

The knitter in the group, Edie Nelson, has rarely been seen without her knitting needles in motion. All of her creations, from newborn layettes to sweaters for adult men and women, are her own design. I think Edie is a yarn junkie. Many times I’ve seen her stitching away with yarn that has just come into the shop. She’ll tell any who ask that she is knitting samples for the shop so other knitters can see how the new fiber works up. I think that she really needs a new fiber fix---can’t live without it.

Comparing and contrasting artists who work in the same medium can be interesting and instructive. Consider clay. It is a plastic medium to be sure. Carolyn Horan uses clay for sculptures and pit fired vessels. Vera Van Shaick, who claims she’s been playing in the mud since 1976, produces mostly table ware and serving pieces on a wheel and her embellishments, painting, slips and glazes are beautifully done.

The jewelry makers are definitely a study in contrasts. Carol Sklar creates necklaces and earrings using a knotting technique which is really micro macrame. Her work is accented with semi-precious stones. She does have several styles that she uses as a basic pattern for her pieces but, in truth, none are exactly the same. Deborah Jacobson designs and creates jewelry with a wide range of materials: fossils, pearls, seeds,art glass, wood, shells, semi-precious stones and even Mah Jong tiles. Deborah creates pieces of striking originality, allowing the the materials to dictate the design.

The two dimensional artists all produce art that hangs on the wall. However, each works in a different medium. Blanca Harnwell is a photographer who has spent much of her free time catching interesting scenes of Sonoma County with her camera. Diane Price amuses us with her witty and extraordinary pen and ink drawings. Annie Murphy Springer, one of the Grand Dames of Sonoma County artists, is well known for her pleine aire watercolors of western Sonoma County. Watch for her soon on your local PBS station as she teaches “The Wonders of Watercolor”, a new art series she is creating.

One would think that four weavers would be too many for even a group show but, even though each of the women work on looms, they all have different foci which differentiates their work. Martha Cant focuses on the yarn. She is a superb spinner and has her own flock to supply her with wool. Her weavings highlight the beauty of the fiber she is working with. Ina Stess has a wonderful sense of the dramatic and so do her creations. She tends to use bold colors and chunky yarns, occasionally embellishing with Asian nomadic jewelry. Linda Cannefax is very interested in surface design and embellishment and, to that end, she paints her warps before weaving and screen prints designs and/or adds beading after creating a garment from her material. Judy Fisher enjoys weaving complex patterns in her yardage and then constructing clothing and accessories using her handwoven material combined with commercial fabrics.

As a community of artists, these artists not only produce their own work but give verbal and visual stimuli to each other. Come see the show and see which pieces stimulate you. You will experience many pleasant surprises and you can acquire wonderful, unique one-of-a-kind pieces.

The show opens with a reception at the Gualala Art Center on Saturday evening, December 4th and continues through January 2, 2011.

In the meantime,as you cruise through Bodega, stop at the Gallery and see the marvelous selection of art and craft created by over 40 local artists. We are open every day from 11AM to 5PM and, on the first Saturday of each month, free hands-on demonstrations are presented. A free knitting clinic happens on the “teenth” Friday of each month, too. Call for more info- 707-976-9830.

November Artist of the Month

Carol Sklar has been making tiny half hitch knots for a long time. What sets Carol apart is that she uses slender nylon cord and forms intricate designs with that cord. Her finished products are high end necklaces and earrings with semi-precious stones embedded in the design.

The Co-op always has a selection of her pieces for sale and, many times, you might find Carol minding the store as she ties her tiny knots.

Come by and check it out.

November Artist of the Month

Ina Stess has a long history in fiber arts. At the present time she is mostly known for her weaving and for her knitted "cupcake" baby hats. As this month's artist, she is showcasing her embellishing skills. Ina does a line of jackets where she starts with the iconic jeans jacket. she then dives into her fabric stash and finds wonderful fabrics, usually unusual prints, to applique to the jacket's surfaces.
Ina has an excellent eye for style and balance. What was once a lowly work jacket becomes an item of art clothing that can go to chichi places with aplomb. Come by the co-op to check out her work as well as that of around forty other Sonoma County artists.