Women Illustrating Nature

Barn Owls by Ioana Urma

June 3 - July 31, 2011

Artists Receptions: June 11 & July 9 from 5 - 7 p.m.

This exhibit celebrates illustrations of the natural world in a variety of media from digital and traditional science illustration approaches to watercolor and contemporary forms — all with the goal of capturing the beauty and truth of nature for our pleasure and knowledge.

We are presenting 27 talented women from Alaska to New York.

Krista Anandakuttan

Melisa Beveridge

Kathleen Biersteker

Michelle Bourne

Sarah Chen

Ferris Cook

Alexis Demetriades

Rani Douglas

Emily Eng

Michele Faia

Kelly Finan

Erin Hunter

Layla Lang

Rona Lesser

Angela Liounis

Andrea Lofthouse

Lucy Martin

Claire Meyler

Lynne Moody

Liza McElroy

Emily Nisbet

Logan Parsons

Louise Roy

Stephanie Rozzo

Elizabeth Smith

Pamela Takigawa

Ioana Urma

Anne Whitehurst

Anne Whitehurst’s current series is as subtle as an elephant stampede. The body of work brashly incorporates personally relevant symbolic images and loud complementary colors that result in planned visual cacophony. Somehow, each piece and the series pull together to create a cohesive body of work. The neon palette contradicts the decidedly dark imagery. Bas-relief inclusions in the pieces offer a primitive and ethnic flavor to the series.

Frequent use of skulls would lead one to believe that the work refers solely to Mexican “Day of the Dead” paintings, but the viewer should be reminded that although the artist did live in Mexico for more than five years, being raised in a mortuary has more to do with the macabre imagery than the influence of her years in Latin America.

Anne sold her first painting at 12. Commercially specializing in historic murals, she varies the content her personal work from formal agricultural pieces to cowboys to musicians and an ongoing series of non-representational art utilizing backward writing as its sole visual content.

The unifying element of this diverse choice of subject matter is her brilliant palette and purposeful usage of complementary contrast. Anne received her degree in Fine Arts from the University of Santa Clara and went on to post-graduate studies at the San Francisco Art Institute.

19th Annual Images of the Virgin Exhibit

I thought I would be more efficient keeping everyone updated on the Gallery's news and events. Time just slips by. This next exhibit opens on Friday, but we still have a few missing art pieces. That's okay though because we had a lot of artists submit work to this juried exhibit. The art ranges from very conservative (traditional) to abstract. Every year it is a surprise what is submitted, but always make a delightful experience.

We just completed our Dia de los Muertos art show. We got a lot of good feedback on the art and it was a fun show to sponsor. We would like some ideas for future juried shows, so if you have a favorite theme, let us know. One artist from New York suggested birds and butterflies. That would be a fun theme. I just saw the most wonderful fluorescent green humming bird in our yard today. I wish I had my camera right then.

Save December 11 for our artists reception for the Images of the Virgin. It will be free to the public and held from 5 - 7 p.m. at our gallery at 115 Third Street, San Juan Bautista. See you all there.

Roots of "Jazz"

June 4 - August 1, 2010
This current exhibit was juried by guest juror Linda Bynoe. Using the theme of the Roots of "Jazz" our exhibitors have encompassed ceramics, mixed media, photography and textile story quilts in the telling the history of "jazz."

Special guest artist, Jacquelyn Hughes Mooney, a native of New Orleans, is a visual poet, creating contemporary quilted textile collages. Mooney started her artistic journey with coloring books, daydreams and doll houses. In 1995, she created the Big City Women series as a vehicle for her woven stories. Mooney has lectured at the Witherspoon Museum, North Charleston Cultural Art Center, and Spelman College.

Her works are in numerous exhibitions housed in both private & corporate collections including Oprah Winfrey, the Hon. William Jefferson Clinton, George H. Bush Sr., Bill Gates Sr., Drs Bill & Camille Cosby, Johnetta Betsch Cole, Maya Angelou, Danny Glover, Baroness Valere Amos & others. In 2010, she will serve as the Artist in Residence for the River Road African American Museum & will be one of the featured artists at the Essence Music Festival Marketplace for 2010.

We are privileged to have two of her vibrant quilted textile collages on display.

Continuing 18th Annual Images of the Virgin

This exhibit is still available for viewing through January 17. Put Saturday, January 9, 2010 on your calendar. This is the last reception for this exhibit. Come in from noon to 7 p.m. with refreshments being served from 5 - 7 p.m. Start the new year with this outstanding exhibit. Keep watching this blog throughout the year. We hope to keep a running dialogue of art events, exhibits and a place to chat about your art. Become a fan of our facebook page also. If you are an affiliate of the Galeria, get more involved this year. We need new ideas and enthusiasm. This gallery is for you. How many people can say they have shown their art in an historical adobe from the 1800's. Come by and see us at 115 Third Street, San Juan Bautista, right next to Jardine's Restaurant. Their beautiful garden is our backyard.

18th Annual Images of the Virgin

Come celebrate our 18th year of our Images of the Virgin art exhibit. It runs from November 20 through January 17, 2010. We are having our main artist reception on Saturday, December 12 from 5-7 p.m.

Our annual Virgin Conference is also on Saturday, December 12 from noon - 4 p.m. There are still seats available. Come on by the gallery at noon, tickets are $30 and enjoy an afternoon of lectures, discussions and lunch. Call 831-623-2783 if you have any questions.

Joy Severin

September 4 - 27 in the Main Gallery. Artist Reception, Saturday, Sept. 12 from 5 - 7 p.m.

Joy Severin was born in St. Louis. She is currently a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. She competed as a ballroom dancer at competitions throughout the United States. She attended Washington University of Fine Arts and is a graduate of California College of Arts and Crafts. Her love of color, people and nature shows up in her portraits of Indiginous Women now showing at Galeria Tonantzin.