Artist Profile from 2007 – Lisa Marie Thorpe

This morning I was blessed in many ways.  I stopped into Church of the Incarnation on Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa.  First I helped myself to a wonderful cup of coffee in the Parish Hall and noticed a new “gallery” display of collages.  Upon closer observation I realized that the art was produced by Lisa Marie Thorpe.  Lisa was my featured artist in April of 2007 and I love her work.  I could easily have gone off with a few pieces – but I used self control.  The second blessing was from Fr. Matt to acknowledge my taking my maiden name back as my legal name.  So do not be surprised when you start seeing Ellis instead of Shula on my communications.  It is wonderful to be in a loving community.

Here is my article from the Gazette on Lisa.  Enjoy.  Lisa’s work will be up at Church of the Incarnation for a while so stop in and take a peek.  Alas, I cannot find any pictures of her art to add here.

Lisa Marie Thorpe

With the landscape of Sonoma County in full bloom, I was overtaken by the concept of “Secret Dreams of Fruits and Vegetables” – a series of paintings with collage offered by Lisa Marie Thorpe.  Lisa describes this series:

These are playful pieces that get the intimate, inside story from the produce aisle. To create these portraits I had to gain the trust of each piece of produce that I interviewed. To begin I got them to be comfortable and trust me so they would reveal their inner most thoughts. Then I got each one to model for me in a lush and intimate environment with boudoir lighting that highlighted their best features. The result is a revelation of such personal truths that the fruits and vegetables may be embarrassed at their own candor.

Excuse my excessive use of quote (something I seldom do), but this description is so revealing of the artist that I could not pass it up.  I particularly was taken with the Sweet Red Peppers who so coyly reveals fancying themselves as “the bad boys of the garden world.”!   To think that this is only a small glimpse into the works of Lisa Marie Thorpe.

Lisa wears many hats and has as many artist styles.  In addition to being the wife of Jack Dowling and mother to an active son, Lisa teaches art at local schools and is the Resident Artist at Bishop’s Ranch on Westside Road.   Lisa is a true Northern Californian having grown up in the rural counties of Siskiyou, Calaveras and Colusa.  She attended UC Davis, the most Northern of the UC campuses and received her teaching credentials at SF State.  Lisa stayed in San Francisco for ten years before her husband joined the staff of Bishop’s Ranch.  The return to rural life has provided the opportunity to focus on family and art with the backdrop of Dry Creek Valley and the Mayacamas. 

Lisa believes in the Cheap Art Manifesto which was begun in 1984 by Bread & Puppet Theater of Vermont.  The Manifesto is aimed at making art accessible to those who do not have large disposable incomes.  Lisa lives this message by making her art accessible to all.  This is true of all of her creations but is most welcome at the Ranch where she provides a affordable series of plein aire paintings of the Ranch and its environs. 

Lisa’s art has an innocent by edgy quality that results in Day-of-the-Dead-ish vignettes of pregnancy, assemblage of shoes with their sordid lives and, of course, the dreaming fruits and vegetables.  With the patronage of a Bishop’s Ranch visitor, Lisa was afforded the dream of experiencing plein aire landscape painting in France.  Six days to experiment with technique and the meshing of meditation with art.  The direct outcome of the trip were paintings that are disbursed to friends, family and the Ranch -  the indirect outcome was an appreciation for landscape.  The quietness that surrounds the Ranch is captured in Lisa’s paintings for the benefit of those that must leave its serenity.  For a nominal outlay, a visitor can bring a tangible reminder of their retreat with them as they re-enter their greater world. 

The picture I have included of Lisa does not include her art but does include a large, gnarled acacia tree that stands outside of her studio in the basement of the chapel on Bishop’s Ranch.  I have always attempted to include a glimpse of the artist’s work in the photograph.  This did not seem consistent with Lisa.  No single piece of art seemed to speak of Lisa as a whole.  However, the beauty and uniqueness of this blessed acacia (yes, that is a whole other story) is the perfect backdrop for Lisa Marie Thorpe. 

Lisa’s most recent series is the result of gaining access to a print press.  The prints are enhanced by collage and contain elements of food, birds, sign language, et. al.  She is mounting them with an encaustic cover, an affordable alternative to framing that sets off the work with the right touch.  She has ideas as to where they may be displayed when completed but no firm plans.  When they are ready the venue will be found.  Everything in due time.  In the interim, check out Lisa’s work at http://www.bishopsranch.org/artist.html.

The Garden Thinks We Have Summer

Flower off the Porch at Farr Eden

First Tomatoes of the Season

 Only last Thursday I was strolling the garden – lamenting the lack of tomatoes and zucchini.  Today I previewed a property with extensive gardens (not the only properties I show but I must admit that they are my favorite) and I saw ripe berries.  I decided that I needed to explore the berry patch when I got home and see if the berries of Farr Eden were as close to harvest.

I was shocked and pleased to see the bounty of the garden in a far greater state of maturity than just four days ago.  Some sun must have come through this cloud cover we have been experiencing.   Not only were there blackberries in a ready state of ripeness but a few beautiful sweet raspberries that glistened in the sun.  I was taken back to my childhood when I would wander the garden eating ripe raspberries warmed by the afternoon sun.  I would often be scolded for consuming what was to have gone into the dessert for the evening but it was worth every delicious morsel.   

Raspberries Ready for Eating

strelitzia nicolai

The flowering plants are doing their share of blooming.  The picture at the top of this post is outside the south eastern corner of my house.  I need to walk past it each time I go to the waste bins or to water my potted plants.  Imagine my surprise when today I saw these huge bird shaped flowers.  I believe the plant is strelitzia nicolai, commonly referred to as Giant Bird of Paradise or White Bird of Paradise.  Whatever it is called, it is absolutely stunning.  If I am incorrect in my identification of this plant, please comment with the correction. 

The oriental poppies and the wisteria blossoms are faded and gone but there is still a majestic sense of their presence with seed pods and drooping tentacles.  Roses are in bloom and the garden is abuzz with bees. 

Pods of Poppy Seeds

This is why I live in Sonoma County.  

Artist Profile – Pam Selvaraj

It's Genetic

Meeting Pam Selvaraj is like stepping into a palace of vibrant color and artist composition.  Forget that I am in a tract neighborhood of Northwest Santa Rosa – I am transported to a land that is part India, part England and a great deal of enthusiastic American creativity.  Pam’s art is the essence of this fantastical paradise.

Saturated secondary colors jump out from the canvas and grab my mind.  Abstract shapes hint at biological origins.  Everything is very alive.  Pam Selvaraj is very alive – and is thankful for it each day.

Pam may have been born in Chennai, India and raised until age 13 in the United Kingdom but she is undeniably American in appearance, demeanor and attitude.  The transplant from the metroplitan Edinburgh to the rural Hillsboro, West Virginia was an adjustment but as most teenagers, she fully acclimated to her new country and environment. She was introduced to the bold and fanciful depictions of life and landscape of Vincent Van Gogh in high school and wanted to follow in his footsteps.   But when it came time to choose a course of study, she selected Biology at Marshall University near her home – relegating art to elective classes and the status of hobby.  After graduation she sought out the glamour and excitement of the big city in Miami.  For nine years Pam pursued her career as a field representative for Beckman Coulter, a medical instrument manufacturer, and lived the life of a successful young professional.  Art fell to the wayside as she married, established herself professionally and availed herself of the life that Miami offered.  She and her husband, Jeff Goodwin, relocated to Sonoma County as a career move and life was good.

Everything changed when in 1995 Pam discovered a lump and was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer.  Cancer at any age is scary and daunting.  Cancer in a thirty-something is devistating.  Rather than lament her misfortunes, Pam embraced the experience of breast cancer as enrichment to her life.  She and her husband purchased their home, got a dog and reintroduced art into her daily activity.  Pam was going to live each day to the fullest no matter how few or many those days were.  As a fifteen year survivor, Pam has lived with the uncertainty that is always present but she has used that threat to make her time more meaningful.  She does this by pursuing a deep passion – ART.

The story of Pam Selvaraj is expressed in all of her paintings.  The colors are vibrant and can be found in the sari fabrics that her mother still wears.  Intricate designs in scratch board or paints can be traced to Pam’s Eastern roots.  The abstracts have a biological nature that must reflect the technical education and professional endeavors that are a large part of Pam’s makeup.  Pam discusses the maturation process of her paintings as she coexists with them before they leave her home.  Every piece is a part of her and they, Pam and the art, need to go through a separation process of close association before finding new homes. 

During her illness, Pam began taking classes at Santa Rosa Junior College (and like most Sonoma County residents sings the praises of our gifted and giving fellow residents who teach at SRJC).  On a business trip she discovered Chaim Soutine, the little known early 20^th century artist, whose saturated colors and raw strokes are strong influences in modern art.  Pam traveled to the Oakland Museum to study the art of the Bay Area Figurative Movement and the Society of Six.  She especially draws on Selden Gile.

Verdant

Pam shows her art with a group of friends she met in her SRJC classes.  Their group is Intertwined Art and they can be found at www.intertwinedart.com.  She seeks out inspiration at every opportunity through museum visits, book browsing or art related conversation.  She cannot stop producing art and developing in approaches.  In July and August, Pam’s paintings will be on display at Frame of Mind.  The show is It’s Genetic! And it is a perfect metaphor for Pam’s life and art.  The opening reception will be held on Saturday, July 10 from 4pm to 6 pm at 6671 Hwy 116 in Forestville.   If you cannot attend the opening, stop by to see the show during normal business hours.

Moving in Sonoma County – Part IV – The Move is Complete

Goodbye Conor Court

 

Late afternoon on Friday, June 25, I got the call I had been waiting for all month.   310 Conor Court became the property of new owners.  Many friends expressed concern as to how I would react to the finality that this transaction symbolized.  It has been a very difficult six months for me but I am ready to say goodbye to my old life, my old home and even, my old garden.  

Hollyhocks that I Purchased in October

 

For the last week I have been sorting through detris left in the Conor Court garage and tidying the garden.  Nine hours of deadheading only made a major dent in the spent rose blossoms.  Fortunately I was able to schedule Hector for a day of weeding.  He was able to clear all the pathways of weeds in one day - quite a feat.  The saving discovery during the garage clean out was FreeCycle.  I learned about this hidden gem from my son-in-law.  FreeCycle is a national movement to reduce the amount of useable items that eventually end up in landfills.  There is a local network that belongs to the FreeCycle Yahoo Group right here in Sebastopol.  I quickly found homes for a sewer snake, miscellaneous lumber scraps, a broken ladder, bender board and about 100 1 gallon black pots.  The most unusual item I found was a box of metal fencing clips for attaching fencing to metal T-poles.  The fellow who got them lives around the corner from my new place so I even met a neighbor.  The one requirement of FreeCycle is that the item must be absolutely free.  Not a problem here -  I was thankful that someone hauled it away and that I did not have to pay to put it into a landfill. 

Yesterday I lamented my need for one last load to take the trip from Conor Court to Joy Road.  I called all of my Conor Court neighbors who have pickups (which is all of them!) and no one was home.  I posted a frantic request on Facebook and got the best response in the world.  My son, Chris, wanted to know if this need warranted him and my granddaughter loading into their pickup and driving to Sonoma County.  I could not have asked for a better present.  By the time Chris and Maike could get to Conor Court, I had mowed the back lawn, moved everything out on the driveway and said goodbye to all of the neighbors who had come home to phone messages from me.  Chris and a neighbor loaded the back of the pickup while I played with Maike.  Not a bad way to get a stressful job done!  

Once up on Joy Road, I needed to help with the unloading.  We spread a blanket for Maike in front of the sacred cypress and started the task.  Alas, Maike made a beeline for the edge of the blanket and I spent the next hour afraid that she had swallowed a pebble.  She really did not like being put in a playpen but safety first and the crying certainly alleviated the fear of a pebble lodged in her throat. 

My Last Bouquet from the Garden at Conor Court

 

Chris and I ended the day with some very tasty leftovers followed by a trip to Sebastopol for ice cream (and to entice  Maike to fall asleep.)   I don’t know how I would have felt at the end of the day without family with me and friends who care about me.  They have made this ordeal easier for me and demonstrated their love daily.  One thing I have realized is that when hobbies are nesting  in a home and creating a special garden, one not only loses their relationship in a divorce but also loses their hobbies.  Fortunately, I love the location of my farmhouse and the farmhouse is accepting of my belongings.  My friends are correct – this is really final. 

Peace and Reflection on Joy Road

 

Resorts In Bloom

Casa Panama - Vacation Rental in Jenner

 

Another week has flown by.  I really believe that we have entered into summer.  With the rain going on and on, I was not the only person who thought it might slip back into winter mode.  But now the mornings are warm with blue skies and the evenings are like having a light blanket wrapped around the world.  I love this time of year.  I want to roam the garden in the morning and take it in from the porch in the evening.  It is a great time to show property and I will be doing that today.  

Last Saturday I was given two tickets to a new fund-raising event in the Russian River area – Resorts in Bloom.  It was a great way to spend a few hours with my dear friend, Phyllis.  The advertised concept was to visit the gardens of various lodging options around the Russian River and raise money for local charities.  Being gardening people, we could not pass it up.  We saw some beautiful outdoor vignettes but mostly we saw some great get-a-ways.   

Casa Panama is a vacation rental in Jenner which is where Hwy 116 (the road that travels from Hwy 101 through Sebastopol, Forestville, Guerneville and Monte Rio) ends at Hwy 1.  Jenner is a cute coastal town with a couple of good restaurants and spectacular views of the Russian River and Pacific Ocean.  I remember when the house that is now Casa Panama was on the market a number of years ago.  Wow, what a difference!  The terraced garden is spectacular and the home was reconfigured to give maximum advantage to the views.  You can check it out at www.casapanama.net.    

Russian River from Casa Panama

 

 Equally private and just as beautiful in a very different way is CazSonoma Inn outside of Cazadero.  This establishment has been around for many, many years as the Cazanoma Lodge.  Don’t let the bumpy dirt road deter you from making it out to this delightful oasis in the redwoods.  It is nestled up against Kidd Creek and offers in lodge rooms and private cabins.  The restaurant is open May through Thanksgiving for dinner and Sunday Brunch.  Thought provoking and informative talks from astronauts to filmmakers are offered throughout the summer.  This is a hidden West Sonoma County gem.  Learn more at www.CazSonoma.com.  

The Deck at CazSonoma Inn

 

 The gardens at the Farmhouse Inn in Forestville were beautiful, labeled and informative.  We were sorry to see that the rose garden in front is replaced with a lawn.  We rose people are just that way!  Applewood Inn has lovely grounds and a great feeling of privacy.  Oh, I could go on.  But then what would be the incentive to come and stay at one of the wonderful places?  You can learn about Resorts in Bloom at www.resortsinbloom.com.  I bet that it will be happening again next year. 

We finished out tour with a wonderful lunch at Howard’s Cafe in Occidental.  Since moving to Joy Road, I am now a frequent eater at Howard’s.  Great place to get a super breakfast or tasty lunch.  The summer is starting out to be a great one.  

Driving Up to CazSonoma Inn

Weekend in West Sonoma County

The summer has definitely begun.  First – and most appreciated – the weather is warm and there are no signs of rain.  Second, there are so many things going on that decisions must be made for the weekend.  Many years ago I met a young couple at the Forestville Firemen’s Pancake Breakfast.  They described to me their weekly quest for Sunday breakfast at the bargain price of $5 each. From Memorial Day to Labor Day they can find a Sunday pancake breakfast within Sonoma County.  I have since learned that there are breakfasts, lunches and events each weekend to keep any local or tourist fed and entertained.

This weekend is no different.  Tonight (Friday) began the weekend with an Art Opening at Wine Emporium on Main Street in Sebastopol.  The featured artist is Charles Beck (his Artist Profile from July 2006 follows) and events at Wine Emporium sport great food and wonderful wines.  You can see the Wine Emporium Newsletter at http://tinyurl.com/2b3fvw6. Wine Emporium is just one of the many gems found in West Sonoma County.  Wine Emporium has a wide variety of local and international wines covering the whole price spectrum.  I discovered Chono Reserva Syrah from the Elqui Valley of Chile – a wonderfully drinkable and tasty wine for a mere $15.

Interior of Wine Emporium

 

The art was spectacular and Tara Linda, a wonderful singer and musician serenaded us throughout the evening.  I had arranged to meet a friend there who had two tickets to Resorts in Bloom for this weekend.  Resorts in Bloom is a charitable fund-raiser for West Sonoma County Heath Services, River to Coast Children’s Services and West County Community Services.  You can learn more about the event at www.resortsinbloom.com.  Tomorrow I will be off visiting the wonderful gardens of Russian River Resorts.  And, again, I will remind everyone that you still have time to visit artist studios this weekend with Art@theSource.   Summer is truly here. 

Here is the article on Charles Beck from 2006.  I cannot believe that it has been that long since we sat on his deck taking in the splendor of Joy Road. 

Salmon Creek by Charles Beck

 

Artist Profile – Charles Beck 

All artists are independent thinkers, of sorts.  Some are just a bit more independent in the “doing”.  Charles Beck is definitely an independent doer.  A man of few words and quiet demeanor, Charles has taken the less traveled path to pursue his interests in nature, art and life.  

Charles has good roots for independent doing.  His grandmother was a trail blazer when she purchased property for her summer home at Salmon Creek in the 1920’s.  Boulder, Colorado had a mystical draw for the California youth in the 1960’s but when it came to settling down, there was no place like home.  After attending school at University of Colorado and Sacramento Junior College, Charles finished his formal education at Sonoma State majoring in Art.  After spending summers in this pastoral environment, the selection of Sonoma County as home was natural.   No other landscape could pull him away – except for the Pacific Ocean. 

Charles recalls an art appreciation class in Sacramento as a turning point in his interests.  The proximity of The Crocker Museum and the celebration of the Bay Area Figurative movement had a profound effect on his desire to paint.  Richard Diebenkorn, Elmer Bischoff and David Park were in nearby Berkeley and taking the American art world by storm.  Their strong technique and raw subject material moved many into action.  

As many artists are aware, art is not the easy way to earn a living.  When putting food on the table for his young family became a necessity, Charles put down his paint brushes and became a commercial fisherman.  Well, he put down his paintbrushes while he was a sea but savored the blocks of time that the profession gave him to paint.  It is not surprising that another favorite artist is Winslow Homer who is renowned for his depiction of fishermen and the untamed sea. 

The fishing days are now behind Charles and his inspirational activity is bicycling.  By his own admission, Charles is a “passionate bike rider.”  He rides the roads of Sonoma County and takes in the countryside – the hillsides, the vineyards, the orchards, streams, the clouds, the shoreline.  Sometimes he will snap a digital picture.  Sometimes he will go back and recreate a scene at the easel.  Most likely he will imprint a shape or a ray of sun into his memory for future use.  His desire is to draw from his collective experience and produce a work that has a reality at the core.  His current paintings fall into the category of landscape but to call them “landscapes” does not capture the essence of them.  The painting captures an experience that goes beyond the superficial subject matter. 

Charles is currently re-incorporating the figure into his work.  The emphasis on water and land has given way to still lives of apples from the orchard at his home.  The inclusion of people in his paintings brings him full circle to the movement that inspired him in his youth.  To own a Charles Beck painting, one must deal with Charles Beck.  That independent “doing” shuns all but the most special outlets.  So, yes, you can see a few small pieces at Quicksilver Mining Company in Forestville, but otherwise, you need to contact Charles.  Charles participates in the two local open studios each year, Art @ the Source in June and Art Trails in October.  Paintings are displayed across the Beck property on Joy Road.  You can contact Charles at chasbeck@sonic.net or take a peek at his work at http://www.chasbeck.members.sonic.net.

Moving in Sonoma County – Part III

Last night was a different night in my country farmhouse.  I arrived home around 5ish and began the nightly ritual of “what is for dinner?”  Plenty of leftovers fill the frig and I snacked away as I planned the evening of cooking dishes for my P.E.O. meeting on Wednesday.   I first harvested fava beans from the garden.  Now I have eaten fava beans in the past but they were presented on a plate with garlic and olive oil.  Picking, shelling, blanching, peeling – it was a very different experience.  I have a much greater appreciation for those plates of fava beans that were consumed with no effort on my part.  I watered my potted plants and began the survey of the garden.  Roses are scattered throughout the property and they have blossomed.  In the far corner is a fantastic rhododendron.  This is beginning to feel like home. 

Fava Beans from Joy Road

Once I got my fava and orzo salad together, I realized that I was to also take a dessert to my potluck.  Lemon bars were the plan and I made the shortbread base in quick order.  While it was cooking, I decided to pop outside and pick the Meyer lemons that had been beckoning me since I came to Joy Road.  The night was dark with full cloud cover.  No light came on and I heard a low growl as I rounded the corner of the house.  As I stepped closer to the lemon tree the growl became more evident and developed into a deep rumble – I turned on my tail and ran (and I mean RAN) into the house.  The lemon bars were finished this morning.  I still wonder what the animal was – mountain lion, coyote, possum, racoon – all have been suggested.

What does this have to do with moving?  These wonderful domestic activities do not find space in the throws of moving.  This must mean that I have completed my move.

My Farmhouse Living Room

No, not every room is as organized as the living room but all in all – the place is looking pretty good.  The garden is in producing – the house is clean – the cabinets are stocked.  Moving is over – it is now life on Joy Road.

Artist Profile – Carla Sarvis

This Artist Profile is from May of 2007.  Wow – time flies.  Carla is still making great art.  Visit her this coming weekend at her studio for Art @ the Source.

Display of Glasswork in 2010

When life throws a curve, change seems to come from all directions.  Carla Sarvis has taken these changes and created a new life.  What was the curve?  After eighteen years of sharing the ownership of a Victorian-era home in the Castro District of San Francisco, Carla’s co-owners decided to move to Fort Bragg.  Unable to buy them out, Carla and her husband, Alan, were faced with the task of finding a new home.  This was not an easy decision.  Carla was born and raised in North Beach.  Her mother was a dancer and Carla followed her into the performing arts and eventually into art education.  San Francisco was the world. Carla’s aunt lived in the Avenues.  The Castro was like living in another state.  Leaving San Francisco took much soul searching.  During this period their son left for college in Michigan.  Looking for a venue to escape the chaos of change, Carla found a new passion.  She “met” glass during a Sharon Arts Studio class in Golden Gate Park.   Finally, Carla and Alan decided that they too would move north.  No quite so far north as their friends since Alan needs to commute to San Francisco but to the Russian River where Carla had spent many childhood summers at Brookside Lodge on Johnson’s Beach with her mother and aunt.  The perfect house was found in Forestville.  A great location, a porch and a studio that could hold a kiln – what more could a woman ask for? 

Carla’s relationship with glass has been fast and furious.  Her first experience at the Arts Studio was with mosaic.  She focused on tiles which related to her interest in hearth and home.   She explored “fusing” and embraced it.  She used whatever equipment was available to dip into any new technique.  Recently she has begun to create a version of stained glass.  These various creations expose a unique and compelling ability to coordinate color and design.  Whether it is a tile or a bowl, these pieces are beautiful.  I am not an expert in glass art.  Actually, I am not an expert in any art.  But I know what is good, what is unusual, what is inspired. 

During the first two weekends of June, Carla is making her debut voyage in Art@theSource.  Most of the readers of this column are veteran Art@theSource prowlers.  But for those few who are not, Art@theSource is a wonderful opportunity to learn the depth of talent that resides in West County.  This event is sponsored by the Sebastopol Center for the Arts.  For thirteen years local artists have opened their studios to share with the art loving public. It began with a few artists coming together and today there are 103 who are participating. A preview exhibition of the works of this talented group will be held from an Opening Reception on May 18 until June 10 at 6780 Depot Street, Sebastopol.  Programs are available at local merchants.  If you are interested in paintings, ceramics, textiles, sculptures, woodworks, photography, jewelry or glass, you will find it at Art@theSource.  Many new artists are participating this year.

Through the Sebastopol Center for the Arts program, Carla found a mentor in Laurence, a West County glass artist.  Carla has been in West County for less than two years but has made the most of her time.  She works once a week at Pig’s Alley in Duncan Mills.  She has utilized all local resources to expand her glass skills.  One never knows the outcome when a life takes an unexpected turn.  The creative and adventurous of us make the difficult decisions and take the unanticipated route to new adventures.  Welcome, Carla and Alan, to West County and we look forward to having you a long time part of our community.

Artist Profile – Maggie Bolt

Margaret "Maggie" Bolt

Maggie's Piece at my KitchenWindow

Each morning I stand at my kitchen sink taking in the weather pattern over the garden.  Whether the day is dreary rain or sunny skies, I can move my glance to the consistency and serene beauty of a Maggie Bolt ceramic wall hanging that occupies the space between the two windows.  The impressions in the striations of beige, brown and ecru are of Chinese characters, a warrior, a parasol, a maiden and markings that evoke rays of sunshine and bursts of light.  The supporting structure is a braided cord attached to an aged chopstick.  The vision is calming, provoking, inspiring.  Was Maggie’s intent to create a focal piece for my morning sink side meditation?  I really doubt it.  But I do not doubt that her natural talents brought together the elements that resonated within her soul and she created something amazing with her full intent.

To visit Maggie’s studio is like stepping into a fairy land of beads, trinkets, swatches of paper, fabric, notecards, wall hangings and light.  She immediately apologizes for the state of disarray – she is doing inventory for the upcoming Art @ the Source.  Do I believe for one minute that this is not its normal state?  Calm art among chaotic inspiration seems to be a familiar theme for artists.  Despite Maggie’s claim that she is not a formally trained artist, she exhibits all the traits of the most educated – compultion, proliferation and individuality.

Growing up in Southern California, Maggie visited San Francisco at age 16 to attend her brother’s wedding.  She attended Pasadena Junior College after high school but could not erase the lure of Northern California and soon moved to San Francisco.  It was not long before she met Geoff Bolt.  Geoff has his own story but for this brief mention, he is a well known local wood turner and sculptor.  Each year they would venture to Kennedy Road to purchase their Christmas tree until one year they decided that this was where they wanted to live.  Moving from San Marino to San Francisco to rural Sebastopol was quite a shock.  Snakes in the garden?  Septic systems?  Life in the country had its challenges.

While Maggie had always participated in crafts – be it flower arranging in San Gabriel to art classes at Pasedena JC – moving to the country added a different dimension.   She made wreaths of grape vine cuttings before you could buy them for $1 at JoAnn’s and she drew on the inspiration of the setting.  Her son, Dennis – also a local artist – recalls his mother during his childhood as having a glue gun in one hand and a cigarette in the other.  She took a clay course at SRJC where she experienced pressing things into clay.  That lead to print making and then, of course, one must use the excess from the prints in collage and notecards.  When Dennis left for college, he challenged his mother to enter the Sonoma County Fair competition.  She was delighted when her humorous painting of a fish received a third place and she was awarded $100.  Maggie now had the taste of public appreciation and she was hooked.  The detached studio was built and a career was launched. 

An Array of Artwork Ready for Art@theSource

I asked Maggie about the deep Oriental influence in her art.  I was surprised to learn that she has never visited the Far East.  Well, physically she has never visited.  She recalls a sixth grade social studies project on China that introduced her to the style of Chinese art and culture.  With that simple introduction, a profound understanding of Chinese design was tapped.  Anyone who questions the value of elementary education enrichment programs should hear this story.  What a testament of early exposure to other cultures! 

Today you will find intricately carved pendants incorporated in the wall hangings.  Fish continue to be a recurrent theme.  I picked up a 7” round hanging with fish swimming in circles at Bodega Artisan Coop one day.  Such a find!  Great for any bathroom.  Maggie continues to evolve her style which keeps me coming back to see what is next.  Do not miss the opportunity to experience her talent the first two weekends of June during Art @ the Source.

Maggie participates in Art @ the Source with her friend and fellow artist, Janet Charnofsky (Artist Profile – May 2006), at 10430 Mill Station Road.  That is where I purchased my kitchen hanging some years ago.  It is a great studio to visit with displays from Maggie, Janet and Dennis.  You can see Maggie’s art year round at Local Color in Bodega Bay, Bodega Artisan Coop in Bodega and Dolphin Gallery in Gualala.  Do not miss Art @ the Source.  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet local artists and learn their stories.  I will be posting some of my older Artist Profiles at www.MyWineCountryVillage.com in the coming weeks so that you can learn about artists before you meet them.  Have an inspiring tour of West Sonoma County Artist.

June in My Wine Country Village

  

Graduate Taylor with her Proud Parents

June is the month of graduations, weddings and moving.  At least this year I experienced the graduation tradition thanks to the lovely Taylor who graduated from Christian Brothers High School last weekend.  The following day party brought together  family and friends for a delightful warm day in Sacramento.  One of those days that you expect in June with enough sun to get the boys in the pool and the rest of us searching for shade to keep cool. 

No weddings on my social calendar this year.  Probably a good thing since I am fully experiencing the opposite and could be less than upbeat at such an occasion. 

And, while I moved months ago, I am still in the final stages of moving.  The house on Conor Court was to have closed today but, alas, the loan did not go through and the buyers are trying a different bank.   (Read my post of May 18 on banks these days.)  We are now looking at June 24 for the close of escrow. That would be quite a birthday present.  I am not discouraged as this will happen and other movings are happening.     

Florence Avenue - with The Rabbit by Patrick Amiot

 A cute little yellow house on Florence Avenue in Sebastopol has new owners.  It is darling and will be transformed into a wonderful oasis by my friends and clients, Anne and Simon.   Florence Avenue is famous for the delightful sculptures by resident artist, Patrick Amiot.  I did an Artist Profile of him some years ago.  I will post it in the next few days so that you can learn more about Patrick.   Today I am off to San Jose for inspections at a condominium that will make a wonderful home for a young family.  New properties are coming on the market daily and there are buyers eager to find their perfect nest.  I showed property for the last two days and have other showings scheduled throughout the month of June.  It is the time when real estate is hopping.  Many people are anticipating an uptick in home prices but I am still seeing substantial price pressure.  Loans are still difficult to get even though the interest rates are remaining low and 95% loans have returned.  It is a good time to buy.  If you are planning on buying, it is a good time to sell.  The market is the market and you have to do what you have to do. 

What June 4 Should Look Like! The Forestville Parade Judge's Stand 2009

The weather forecast is rain for this afternoon and it is quite foggy as I look out the window but June is shaping up to be a great month.  The rainwill be gone for the year and sunny skies will be with us for the coming months. Tomorrow is the Forestville Youth Park Parade and Barbeque.  It is always great fun but I will not attend this year due to my commitments in San Jose.  I am sure it will be wonderful without me.  I love summer in Sonoma County.