Please come out this weekend, both Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, 2021 to support AANV artists and do some holiday shopping at the locations indicated below. Several of Art Gallery Napa Valley Members are participating, including Janis Adams, John Comisky, Sharon Crary, Therese Legere, Sunshine Moeschler, Bill Mellberg, and Frank Trozzo,
Hours have been modified to 10 AM to 4 PM since it is getting dark earlier now. Please note that all the artists listed below will be showing on Saturday; Sunday there will be a reduced presence. Hope to see you there!!
Janis Adams is busy with new art for the holidays. Janis writes:
I’ve attached pics of some new fused glass plates and bowls recently add to my booth at the Gallery. I’m doing new work for the upcoming Holidays and our push to encourage folks to GIVE ART and BUY LOCAL, especially since the “supply chain” appears to have major breaks in it. I’m also making new works to show at the AANV Holiday Pop Up on Saturday, December 4 at 3 locations:
Jeanette recently had this mixed media piece in the show about remembrance Skulls and Roses at Artworks Downtown. Our Lady of Borders and was inspired by reliquary and shrines and what we hold in our hearts. Below is her ArtistStatement for the show.
Front of Reliquary:
“Oppression breeds revolt; and as a breed of men and women grow wiser and ponder through the ages, the time may come when even hopeless revolts will succeed beyond hoping.”
Great Women of Antiquity, (Boadicea), by Clement Wood
The pandemic was a time of deep reflection, evaluation and questioning. It brought to mind our connection/disconnection; our boundaries and what were we willing to include in our ever-shrinking sense of community; and our relationship to our society and our global responsibilities. Though I don’t consider myself a political artist, I found myself questioning the choices that were made on my behalf and questioned if those choices reflect my values and did the choices I make truly support the greater good for humanity? What are boundaries; personal boundaries and are the boundaries we create for our protection, or from our fears?
I view my role as an artist from a tribal perspective, where the artist, healer and shaman are one. So, my position is to present questions that evoke perspective evaluation. Does the belief support the values; values support the action; and/or the action support the greater good for humanity?
As a Mixed Media Artist (AKA alchemist), the choice of materials influences the direction of the creative dialogue. I approach each piece by auditioning materials and as the piece evolves, a secondary message emerges as the metaphysics of the materials create a sub-text message. Using found objects brings a deeper inquiry to what an object represents and how it is placed within the piece. Working with interiors and exteriors allows me to evoke additional inquiries. The juxtaposition and tension amplifies each component and each object can add a deeper meaning to interpretation.
Our Lady of Borders: A Reliquary of Boundaries
Mixed Media (with interpretations)-hearts (what’s written on the heart- open heart and sacred heart), keys (unlock), watch parts (time-time running out), mica (recognize flaws while remaining in a loving space), rust (a measure of time), emergency blanket (molded by heat to form interior heart), holy water font (preparing to enter the sacred space) and found objects (just because they are).
Jeanette Monterio Skulls and Roses, Artworks Downtown JeanetteMonterio.com MFA, BA from San Francisco Art Institute
Jeanette is a Bay Area resident and currently shows her work at Art Association Napa Valley. In her studio in Novato, California, she can be found auditioning her collection of relics as she creates the next alchemical question. Her work has been acknowledged and awarded “Best in Show” and “Jurors Award” and “Honorable Mention” and Napa Register has written articles about her box art. (see JeanetteMonterio.com for details).
Artist Quote: “I have no answers, only questions and if I can pique your curiosity, my job is complete.”
“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Albert Einstein
These are two new photos I have in my space called After the Harvest 1 & 2. Much of the photography on vineyards shows grape clusters. I’ve become interested in the beginning and end of the cycle as well. This is obviously the latter. The intend was to bring out the rich textures and colors that grape leaves can take on, by showing the aging process over time of one leaf. These two shots were taken 6 weeks apart.
Is another of our Art Gallery Napa Valley artists also showing at Open Studios these last two weekends in September. She’s located on Big Ranch Road with Karen Winograde.
Last year when my studio re-opened after the lock-down, I brought home some clay, mostly slab scraps. I cut the scraps into strips and rolled them into thinner strips which caused the edges to stretch and crack, creating the wonderful texture I wanted. I stood the strips on end, stacking multiple strips together to form the finished composition. These pieces were inspired by the striations that were revealed in mountains and hillsides when they were excavated to make the roads we travel on. These wall pieces will be available at studio #27, 32 Forest Drive in Napa during Open Studios Napa Valley September 18-19, & 25-26.
Wow! AANV member John Comisky is the winner of the 2020 Smithsonian Natural World photograph of the year. His winning photograph, Whale Tail 2, is on display at Art Gallery Napa Valley, 1307 First Street in Napa, so stop by to see this stunning picture from one of John’s many fantastic trips to commune with Mother Nature. Great job, John!! And thanks to all who voted for John’s photograph in the Smithsonian’s contest. The official announcement from Smithsonian can be found at this link
John will be the presenter for the Napa Library Remarkable Journey series, Thursday April 15th at 7pm, as shown on this flyer
John will be the presenter for the Napa Library Remarkable Journeys series, Thursday April 15th at 7pm
Frank Trozzo will be speaking about his solo exhibit in the Napa Libray this coming Friday, March 12.
Frank writes,
Now that we are making progress and are able to move around a bit again, I’m excited to tell you that I’m showing my paintings in a solo show at the Napa County Library during the month of March.
I’ve been busy during the pandemic working on new ideas and forms. The show has 26 paintings, including 17 new works and some that have never been shown before.
During this time the library has been holding live Zoom presentations of the featured artists.
I’ll be speaking about the works Friday March 12, 2021 at 6:30 pm. You are invited.
The finalists for the Smithsonian 2020 Photo Contest are now up and voting is open at the link attached. AANV member John Comisky would appreciate any and all support by taking a minute to vote for his wonderful photo of a whale’s tail.
