ARTFUL COMPANIONS, “A Walk Through the Cypress!” November 2024

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

Greetings from the Cypress Gallery, situated on one of the loveliest corners of Lompoc. It is particularly beautiful in the golden light of fall. Our display this month is full of warmth, with works charged with autumnal glow. A walk around the Cypress proves again the rich abundance of talent and creativity in our midst.

November brings to the gallery a unique featured show by local artist Liz Poulin Alvarez, entitled “Canine Companions.” These lively paintings clearly demonstrate Poulin Alvarez loves the act of painting – that she knows her way around the canvas, and understands the potential of color and brush. They also show that she really loves her dogs Jack and Fred!

Poulin Alvarez often brings her dogs along while painting on location. She uses her signature gestural technique to its best effect in these animated paintings. Even when a pooch is seated he emanates movement, suggesting the adage, “a happy dog is a tired dog.” When in action, the gleeful, bounding pups are rendered in strokes of genius, as in “Competition Dogs,” a small work with several dogs leaping in midair.

Poulin Alvarez is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, UCSB and Whitecliffe College in New Zealand. Her expertise and continued practice ensure that these whimsical paintings are skillfully and thoughtfully rendered. A Poulin Alvarez painting typically entrances us with brilliant color to feast our eyes upon. Several works in this show are situated on Jalama Beach, rendered in blue and gold, and contrasted with the black and white of Jack. Jack also brings out the glow of poppies, of green grass, and flowers against a fence.

Art lovers and dog lovers alike will not want to miss “Canine Companions.” It runs through November 24, with an artist reception held on November 17.

Several of the works in the main galleries seem to have a certain pensive outlook. It may be that the month of November acts as an augury, suggesting the ending of another year, and a time for reflection. Rich color acts as a “dying glow.” George Kreutz’s “Bountiful Harvest” is a close-up of beckoning capsicum, painted in jewel tones. Michael Corob mysteriously names his still-life “The Glow,” and includes his signature symbolic doves.

Kathy Badrak’s “Dream Within” is a carved gourd with a window, curtained by a dream catcher. Claudette Carlton’s “The Sentinel” depicts what might be Jerusalem's skyline, silhouetted by a red and orange sky. Linda Gooch’s paintings of La Purisima Mission interiors depict a shadowy but glowing sacred space.

And, as it is November, it is not too early to begin your holiday shopping. The Cypress Gallery is the best gift store in town. Cards, glassware, mosaics, journals, magnets, jewellery and small works of art are hand crafted. Among her many other works of decorative art, glass artist Joellen Chrones has put together charming sets of jewellery, made with with small beads and dangling charms. Beverly Messenger-Harte offers her artfully arranged photographic still-life. The delightful variety of art is endless. Experience it at the Cypress Gallery. Purchase it and you can take it home!

All photos by Bill Morson

Square Perspectives

by  
Elizabeth Monks Hack 

Step right up! We’ve got a really big show! Throughout the month of October, the  Cypress Gallery hosts “Square Perspectives,” which can be enjoyed as a series of variety acts. Around seventy-five works of art, all within the identical 12 x 12 inch format, are sure to delight, entertain and even confound the viewer. With creatives, there is something about a rigid mandate that sets them off exploring a range of inventive possibilities. 

The Lompoc Valley Art Association typically sponsors a community-wide “Call for  Artists” for its fall exhibition. This time around, the Cypress Gallery team decided upon the unique concept of having the artists submit small work of identical size, but of any media.  Our local artists responded to the challenge, and have provided us with a positively engaging show.  

Several artists conceived of work outside of the traditional flat picture plane. A  mixed media, three-dimensional collage piece, “Music In My Mouth” by Aaron Crocker is probably the most surprising of all, for it rotates, and emits sound. Bamboo artist Beverly  Messenger-Harte created “Through the Narrows to the Beautiful Within,” a labyrinth of small bamboo pieces for the viewer to explore and perhaps use as a spiritual exercise.  “Dunking Pumpkin,”a meticulously hand-tied fishing lure surrounded by nautical rope and mounted on rough boards, is the unique brainchild of Stephen Scolari. Its colors of bright orange and violet are as striking as its concept.

The abstract piece “Texture Expressed” by Sam Easton is an exquisite painted  “mosaic” of textures, pieced with equally sized vertical shapes and harmonized colors.  Jennifer Chavoya Moreno has submitted detailed, wonderfully executed realist paintings. In “Fern River,” light, color and detail of place are rendered in waxed gouache, creating an uncanny effect. Lee Hill, taking an opposite approach, surprises us with a whimsical  rendition of the signs and symbols of Americana. “Circus” and “Road Trip” are brightly colored paintings with graphic design motifs. “Diana” by Edward Heintz presents a breezy,  beautiful WWII era woman in watercolor.  

This writer would love to go on and on about each artwork, but it is better that you  come in to enjoy this spectacle of creativity for yourself! Celebrate the Cypress Gallery’s  30th anniversary with us. A reception for the public will be held on Sunday, October 13, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm.  

Get a jump on your holiday shopping during your visit. Our gift shop is filled with  affordable, quality handmade gifts and cards. Take home a “square perspective” to fit into  your interior decor. They are small, portable, adaptable, and will provide you with your daily  dose of beauty and entertainment.  

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PHOTO CAPTIONS 

Photos by Jasmine Gonzalez 

1. Aaron Crocker “Music in My Mouth” 

2. Beverly Messenger-Harte “Bamboo Labyrinth Assemblage” 

3. Steve Scolari “Dunking Pumpkin” 

4. Sam Easton “Texture Expressed”

5. Jennifer Chavoya Moreno “Fern River” 

6. Lee Hill “Circus” 

7. Edward Heintz “Diana” 

Sharing the Art

by  

Elizabeth Monks Hack

 

Fall is in the air. If you didn’t get a chance to travel this summer, plein air artist George Kreutz has done a lot of it for you. If you did get out, Kreutz may have painted a few places you have been. In “Sharing the Art of Plein Air” at the Cypress Gallery this month, his wide-ranging subjects take us all around the country and beyond.

A plein air artist paints “en plein air,” which is French for “in the open air.” Before the 19th century, artists who portrayed landscapes were confined to their studios, due in part to the restrictions of available equipment. Landscapes of the past often have a studied, or unnatural aspect. Once paint tubes and portable canvases were invented, however,  artists began to  explore the advantages of painting outdoors.

Today plein air painting has a huge fan base, of both practitioners and consumers, and could even be considered an international  movement. Kreutz regularly attends PACE, the annual Plein Air Convention and Expo, held in various regions of the U.S. He is active in the arts and plein air community of the central coast, and credits the workshops of John Cosby for his plein air background. Kreutz states that “as I drive/travel, I am always looking for the next painting.” Through his work, Kreutz indeed takes us on a engaging road trip.

Over time, each artist develops a particular style. Kreutz applies his paint in discrete patches of value and color, the eye mixing them together at a distance. He has an eye for pattern, and much of his work is an arrangement of the textures and surfaces of nature, enhanced by light. In “Grand Canyon Vista,” color areas in the distance become pure shape.  The colors of “Road to Tuscon, Rocks” are so fresh that you can almost smell the sage along the trail and feel the sunlight in your eyes. Don’t miss this show – it ends September 29.

You’ll find an abundance of pictorial excitement in the main galleries. Chris Jeszeck’s two “action” paintings are both comical and vibrant.  In “Grandma’s Birthday” an elderly woman skydives, and “Mine!” depicts a pair of zany dogs leaping into the boundless blue sky. Vicki Andersen’s large format painting of one her quintessential white fences is a piece de resistance in the genre. “White Fence with Daisies” sends a jolt through the viewer with its dynamic beauty. Valerie de Mille’s “War,” a large, painted collage of the word WAR, affects us similarly, but is a wake-up call to arms.

Subtle works of art can also generate strong emotions. Linda Gooch’s serene watercolor “On Santa Rosa Road” captures fall colors and distant mountains with intense quietude. Diane Atturio’s trio  of watercolors, including “Fall Beauties,” are delicately painted. Working from life, Atturio shares with intimacy her love of native flora. Kristine Kelly works miracles of elegance in her fused glass painting, “Oregon Coast.”

Use the Cypress Gallery as your go-to gift store for cards, jewelery, glassware, small paintings, journals and more. All works are handcrafted by our artists. Come October, the Cypress Gallery  will be the venue of our community-wide Fall Show, entitled “Square Perspectives.” Please review the show prospectus on our website soon, as space is limited. Explore your creativity. Take a trip with us!

PHOTO CAPTIONS

All photos by Bill Morson

  1. George Kreutz “Grand Canyon Vista”

  2. George Kreutz “Road to Tuscon, Rocks”

  3. George Kreutz “Lake Hodges”

  4. Chris Jeszeck “Grandma’s Birthday”

  5. Chris Jeszeck “Mine!”

  6. Vicki Andersen “White Fence with Daisies”

  7. Valerie De Mille “War”

  8. Linda Gooch “On Santa Rosa Road”

  9. Diane Atturio “Fall Beauties”

  10. Kristine Kelly “Oregon Coast”

Inspired Radiance

Here we are in August already. You may be winding down your summer festivities and travel adventures. You may be thinking about getting the children ready for school, or preparing for a return to the mundane, the day-to-day. Yet there are still wonders to behold. You will find them in an exhilarating show at the Cypress Gallery, entitled “Patterns, Spaces and Places.”  Artists Neil Andersson, Deborah Breedon and Chuck Klein present a diverse, dynamic collection of work that is sure to energize your senses. 

The three artists, all members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, are dedicated professionals for whom art is a daily vocation and a raison d’etre. In this show they experiment with new forms and techniques, inspired by the boundless creative potential found in their art materials, as well as in the world around them. Pastel, oil paint and wood are transformed into radiant inspiration.

Deborah Breedon’s use of pastel media is extraordinary. Realistic landscapes and  abstracted realism have the same stunning effect. Whether you are looking at a hillside of poppies in “Poppy Bloom” or cactus forms in “Shimmer,” pigments surge with electricity. Vibrant strokes of texture charge one another, creating a surface that leaves one dizzy. 

Similar movement and alacrity of color can be found in the abstract oil paintings of Neil Andersson. Known predominantly as a plein-air painter of serene landscapes, in this show Andersson embraces pure abstraction. The artist is also an accomplished jazz guitarist. Andersson seems to register the tones and rhythms of a musical score in paint. He doesn’t miss a beat. Pigments both harsh and gentle, thick and thin, dance before your eyes. Works entitled “Bird in Flight” and “Propinquity” tell stories animated with a visual life force.

Chuck Klein practices the art of turning wood, turning wood into the mysteries of nature and the human experience. The extraordinary forms he creates seem to be inspired by metaphysical thoughts, of perhaps finding a synchronicity in human and divine experience through the natural world. Embedded in many of his pieces are devotional objects, polished stones, and shells, imbuing the work with further meaning. Klein’s turned wood is created for contemplation, suggesting portals, doors, gateways, and sacred vessels.

In the main galleries, artists show their willingness to look at the world anew. Joe Goetz’s painting “Golden Horizon” depicts a beautiful but shifting landscape. 

Jasmine Gonzalez’s mixed media collage piece “Never Let It End” is a concatenation of many book covers, whose surfaces peek through an expressionist rendering of a troubled city. In contrast, Angelina LaPointe’s pristine, hand-colored block prints on wood seem to convey an opposite message. Called “Atomic  Beach Houses,” the images are so overtly precise and serene they may be sheltering a quite different reality. 

“Misty Morning,” a photograph by Cindy Berry, tells the story of a miraculous encounter with a dried bush covered by spiderwebs, suffused with light. What a lovely surprise that must have been for the artist. 

Our art gallery is full of such surprises. We have glorious gifts for sale. We are sponsoring a fall show entitled “Square Perspectives.” It’s not too early to start planning your unique piece. Surprise us! The show prospectus is on our website.

CAPTIONS  (All photos by Bill Morson)

Your Art Jaunt for July

by  

Elizabeth Monks Hack 

Start your  summer touring locally! The Cypress Gallery is an ideal place to begin the journey. It is in the center of OldeTown, anchoring the newly restored Centennial Park at Cypress Avenue and H Street. We are friendly, accessible and colorful. Our July show, full of sights both wonderful and whimsical, will inspire you to explore, travel and perhaps dream. You may even be tempted to approach your neglected creative pursuits once again.

Claudette Carlton is our featured artist for the month of July.  Her show “Watercolor Creations” includes a wide range of subject matter described by the versatile media of watercolor. Carlton chooses a technique of simplicity and purity. She allows her paint  to bring out the stories of her subjects, using distinct strokes and clear colors. Pigments on the white paper glow.   

The artist has come a long way since the days when she would sketch quick portraits of her students in the few minutes before class ended. There is very much of the teacher still in her;  a  lover of history, a preserver of personal and cultural memory, attention to detail and a broad range of interests. She has arranged the show into “nooks” of related subject matter, where her enjoyment of the world delightfully comes into focus. Historical buildings, flora and fauna, and watercolor “embroideries” that include Bible phrases are featured.

Her artful depiction of “Mission San Antonio de Padua,” located in Jolon, halfway between Highway 101 and Big Sur, beckons one to visit. Sky, water and land mass are sublimely juxtaposed in “Mountain Lake Sail.” One hopes that Carlton will return to portraits, given the authentic expressive face of her little painting “Pound Puppy.” This refreshing show runs through July 28.

The viewer is a tourist in an art gallery; an explorer of colors and shape, of people, places and concepts. In our main gallery, take in the sights through the eyes of the artists. Janis Knox will show you the extraordinary clouds over the sapphire water of “Coos Bay.” Lee Hill will have you wandering through the countryside to discover an abandoned vintage car in “Glory Barn.” And Linda Gooch will take you quietly and serenely, in a golden light, to the end of your journey in “At Day’s End.”

The Cypress Gallery contains many such glorious sights, rendered in a surprising variety of media and technique. Pay another visit to “Cosmic Kitty” by Joe Goetz, “People’s Choice” winner for the month of June. Small paintings, like that of a ferocious little pug by George Kreutz, are for sale in our gift shop, which has developed into a delightful place to shop. There you will find handcrafted, affordable pieces of art in the form of cards, jewelery, glassware, journals, and more. We are a fine art tourist attraction. Before you leave town, see us!

CAPTIONS  (All photos by Bill Morson)

June Magic

by
Elizabeth Monks Hack 

The sun is warm, the air is cool, flowers bloom in profusion, and once again it is June! Summer has us looking forward to long days of pleasant diversions. Why not fill some of them with a little local color? The Cypress Gallery, owned and operated by members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, offers fine art and gifts for your viewing pleasure every month of the year. The work of a featured artist is frequently presented in the front gallery, allowing for an in-depth exploration of technique and aesthetic concerns. Enter the gallery this month and you will find a shimmering world of paintings on glass.

Kristine Kelly’s show entitled “The Magic of My World” brings us into a experience of light and color, captured in the medium of glass. Her predominant subject is landscape, created by the process of glass fusion. Pieces of colored glass are layered in a tray called a “dam,” then heated in a 1500 degree glass kiln. That describes the raw technique. The magical transformation that appears once the artwork has cooled, is the artist’s secret. 

In viewing Kelly’s work, the eye meets beautiful flecks and sparkles, luminescent layers, and ethereal strokes of color. She is truly painting with glass, contrasting textures and shape to create lively compositions. Kelly’s control of the medium is superb.

In “Orca Borealis,” thick-bodied orcas cavort against a background of a gleaming aurora borealis. “Oriental Spring” is a lively contrast between 3-D cherry trees blooming in front of a mountain range that resembles a silk ink painting. “Winter Solstice” has the aspect of a watercolor painting, while “Fall Hike” is dappled with thick pieces of multi-colored glass, resembling Impressionist daubs of paint. As an artist who has twenty-five years of experience in fused glass painting, Kelly is a master.

Winter Solstice by K.Kelly.

In the main galleries, our artists display artworks of experimentation and tradition. Joe Goetz’s muted abstract piece “Triptych of Stone and Spirit” reads as a landscape with a moon that is an actual gemstone. Michael Corob’s “Poster Flower” is a swirling mass of petals pushing against the picture plane. In Steve Scolari’s bold, line-based abstract painting “Barns,” a little barn hides in corner. Yours truly displays her sewn “patchwork paintings,” in which some elements are three-dimensional.

Two large landscapes by plein-air painter Neil Andersson delight the eye and rest the soul. Vicki Andersen’s “Jalama Pool” lets her brushstrokes tell the story of this exuberant scene. In Lee Hill’s “Gone Fishing” a little boy with a pole over his shoulder contemplates the lake before him. Each artist has a style that ultimately represents who they are. 

Many more tantalizing works await the visitor. Bins of original artwork and prints and greeting  cards are available at modest prices. We offer exquisite jewelery, journals and glassware, including marvelous little three-dimensional glass houses by Joellen Chrones. Why not stop by this month, enjoy the show, and perhaps select a work of art by a local artist to take home?

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association. We are a  501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. Located at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Open Thursday – Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Phone: (805) 737-1129

CAPTIONS (All photos by gallery photographer Bill Morson)

Pouring the Art Out

by

Elizabeth Monks Hack

 

It’s May! The lusty month. We are in the fullness of spring, with its myriad colors, fragrances and sense of jubilation. The Cypress Gallery has works of art to equal this joyful state of mind. Our featured artist, Chris Jeszeck, continues to thrill us with lavish abundance in her show “Pouring My Heart Out,” on display through May 26. 

Jeszeck has explored the technique of “fluid art,” the strategic pouring of acrylic paint onto canvas, for several years. The paint is combined with incompatible media to create surprising and often astounding effects. Mastering this method of abstract painting, Jeszeck went on to add “embellishments” to the works, by painting realistic additions in her compositions. The piece “Take Me to Your Leader” is a marvelous example of this. In it a large, somewhat frightening, “steampunk ladybug” confronts small realistically painted ladybugs amidst a background of fluid art greenery. Did I mention Jeszeck is delightfully witty?

Ever creative and ever restless, the artist has gone on to pursue and explore the medium of oil paint and colored pencil, in a variety of styles. You will find realistic works which contain a subtle use of the fluid art technique, and works that recall the old masters, especially in the form of still life. Look to works such as “The Mane Event” to see a barely perceptible use of fluid art, and her “Intrigued,” an exquisite foray into verisimilitude. Both of these pieces, of a horse and a kitten respectively, portray these animals with movement and feeling.

The world of Chris Jeszeck is an explosion of the senses, representing the plant and animal kingdom, from octopi to pink flamingos to beautiful women, alongside the power of abstract beauty. Several products embellished with her designs are also available for sale. “Pouring My Heart Out” is truly a sense-surround art experience.

In the main galleries, works of color and style flower from the walls. C. Wood has earned the April “People’s Choice” award for her large format painting “Sunflower,” which is an explosion of floral life on canvas. Next to it, in pitch perfect harmonious contrast, is the green and violet gusto of “Artichoke.” Another work featuring sunflowers is the acrylic and resin piece by Mitra Cline, “Sunflower Nap.” Two human beings with sunflower skin float in a starlit abstract space.

Lee Hill’s “Bus Stop” bursts from the wall with form and color. Its subject, of people crowded together at a bus stop in Mexico, leaves an indelible impression on the viewer. Also of note are the thrilling mosaic pieces by Karen Franscioni, of dragonflies, hearts and more.

The Cypress Gallery has been an active participant in Lompoc’s First Thursdays Art Walk. Many have enjoyed our “make and take” activities, along with the night-time gallery experience. Our Art Academy offers classes, and we maintain an art education grant program. The Cypress Gallery also functions as a gift shop, where you are able to purchase not only museum-quality works of art, but also museum quality handmade gifts. Don’t miss out on this local treasure trove of art. And please bring the children!

Traveling throughout the Cypress Gallery!

by Chris Jeszeck

While Elizabeth Hack is off traveling the world, I am filling in for her this month, traveling throughout the Cypress Gallery!

In our front room this month is a Featured Artist show you won't want to miss. Eye-popping, thought-provoking and stimulating are some of the words that come to mind in describing the art of Jasmine Gonzalez. From resin pieces to collage to 3D wall hangings, her imagination and creativity abound. She has poured her heart and soul into this show, exposing a vulnerability that few of us are comfortable expressing.

In the words of the artist: "Creating is instinctual, an essential part of me, shaping my identity with every stroke. My work, a reflection of self-love and creative furvor, invites you to feel - joy, sadness, connection. Each piece, crafted with authenticity, tells a story waiting to be uncovered, whether bold or subtle."

In the remainder of the Gallery, a multitude of fine art pieces grace the walls. One particular standout is a large painting by Carol Wood, entitled "Sunflower". Bold, dramatic strokes come together to create a powerful statement in one of nature's beauties. Another very pleasing painting is a watercolor by Diane Atturio entitled "Prickly Pear". Though a strong subject matter, the colors are soft and delicate.

Several landscape artists show their skills this month including Neil Andersson with four of his locally inspired oil paintings. George Kreutz transports us to Arizona with three scenic wonders.

A watercolor by longtime member Ed Heinitz entitled "Mule Train" evokes the pioneer spirit which often describes artists willing to explore new things and places.

Elsewhere in the Gallery are an ever-growing number of affordable items in our newly renovated gift area. Cards, jewelry, glass items, ceramics and small wall art pieces are but a few of the items available. Numerous other art forms and styles are available for your viewing pleasure and of course, purchase! We hope you will make visiting the Cypress Gallery part of your itinerary each and every month!

Love Love Love at the Cypress Gallery

By Elizabeth Monks Hack

“Love” bedazzles the walls and pedestals of the Cypress Gallery this month, in a show that will surely add to your enjoyment of the most whimsical of holidays. The symbols and tokens of the concept of love – hearts, flowers, birds and bees – are presented in a variety of surprising media. Many of them are as small and precious as a favorite Valentine, and quite perfect for your special someone.

Mosaic artist Karen Franscioni has created hearts of dynamic shapes and contrasting materials, with intriguing titles. “Heart for a Queen,” made with red and black ceramic and glass, wears a crown. “East” is a white heart with a jewel. Franscioni also displays mosaic bees comprised of decorator ceramic pieces, mounted on slate. Her work has an alluring textural beauty.

Tammy Evans, an accomplished gourd artist, has crafted numerous hearts of wood, hand-carved and mounted on twisted wire. Stained red, blue, or left raw, these little pieces throb as you walk by them. Joe Goetz has mounted gemstones on hand-painted wood hearts. Joellen Chrones’ fused glass hearts are bursting with color and full of visual intricacy.

If your love prefers roses, there are so many to choose from throughout the gallery, with names to melt your heart. When you visit us, see if you can find “Sunset Rose,” “Quiet Beauty,” “Perfect Moment,” and more. Not to be outdone by the queen of flowers, Diane Atturio presents us with “Amaryllis,” a fragile depiction of two large blooms. They are rendered in veils of color, and what appears to be watercolor transparency is actually colored pencil.

Mitra Cline offers two strong, startling pieces that are wonderful to behold. “Mushroom Couple” is a fantasy piece of a couple embracing beside a towering forest of mushrooms. The painting swirls with color and design, as does her “Puss and Boots Mask,” a mixed media piece. This kitty will be staring at you long after you leave the gallery.

But don’t leave just yet! The gallery is a shopping paradise this month. We have an equal amount of high quality interpretive art and fun decorative gifts. Choose from felted wool hats in remarkable colors, fanciful Valentines Day cards and tokens, glassware, jewelry, journals and more. All are handmade. They are local products of the thriving artistic community of Lompoc. Let’s support it.

While you are here, pick up your wooden “Cat” blank for our upcoming community art project. The deadline is fast approaching. Visit the gallery or check www.facebook/CypressGallery and www.lompocart.org/events for more information.

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. Located at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Hours are Thursday – Sunday 11;00 am to 4:00 pm. Phone (805) 737-1129

  

CAPTIONS (All photos by Bill Morson)

  • Karen Franscioni “Heart of a Queen”

  • Karen Franscioni “Bee”

  • Mitra Cline “Mushroom Couple”

  • Mitra Cline “Puss and Boots Mask”

  • Tammy Evans “Wooden Hearts”

  • Diane Atturio “Amaryllis”

Bolster Your Outlook – Look at Art

by Elizabeth Monks Hack


The Cypress Gallery wishes a Happy New Year to all art aficionados and creators of art! If you need a lift this month (the promising but sometimes problematic month of January), stop by the gallery to see our exuberant January exhibition. Our artists have contributed works that are vibrant, polished and inspiring. Works poised to galvanize a bold and positive look on life.

In the front room are several magnificent acrylic paintings depicting the magical city of Venice, by Vicki Andersen. Andersen is an artist who fully absorbs the visual wonder of the places she visits. Her paintings take you along on the adventure. Artist Linda Gooch guides you to her private locations. Her subjects of choice are often local environs, depicting quiet scenes of great beauty. Gooch’s “At Day’s End” is every bit as enchanting as the work of Romantic landscape painter John Constable, however, this one you can own.

Punctuating the front gallery are earth-toned gourds and abstract paintings by multi-media artist Kathy Badrak. Their modernist sensibility often serves as a wonderful foil to more traditional works. Modern décor calls for contrast, which the many artists of the Cypress Gallery can provide.

Chris Jeszeck displays very strong, striking abstract “acrylic pours.” Of moderate size and harmoniously toned and designed, each one is a feast for the eyes. More eye excitement (eye candy!) is found in Diane Atturio’s “Mexico.” A skillfully painted still life, it is a glorious celebration of the art objects of Mexico. Valerie de Mille creates visual excitement through another means; her paintings contain visual puns and political questions. “War” is writ large, and confronts us with tough questions.

Touches of whimsy abound as well. Claudette Carlton’s finely composed watercolor “Trust” depicts a joyful day at the beach. A little girl is tossed in the air, headed for the arms of her dad. Dolores Gonzales’ watercolor “Hibiscus with Geometry” surprises us with projecting flowers. Michael Corob’s intriguing, color saturated work “Shine Your Light, Shine Your Love” depicts many things – cats, a menorah being lit, a vase of flowers. But whimsy has a deeper side, and the viewer is wise to look for it in paintings that at first seem playful.

We are happy to display paintings by Neil Andersson, who has returned from a brief hiatus. His landscapes of the most straightforward of scenes, of water, sky, and trees, envelop the viewer and are simply ravissant; so lovely one just has to use a French adjective. The Andersson effect is based on subtleties; of carefully placed entities, brush strokes and color harmony.

These are just a few of the treasures waiting for you at the Cypress Gallery. We have small paintings, works on glass, cards, jewelry, and more for you to enjoy. Start the year off right. Bolster your outlook with art. Visit the Cypress Gallery!

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley and located at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Hours are Thursday – Sunday 11;00 am to 4:00 pm. Phone (805) 737-1129 lompocart.org facebook.com/CypressGallery

CAPTIONS

  • Vicki Andersen “Serenissimo”

  • Neil Andersson “Dream Pond”

  • Linda Gooch “At Day’s End”

  • Kathy Badrak “Reflecting Spirit”

  • Chris Jeszeck “Labyrinth” (forthcoming)

  • Claudette Carlton “Trust”

  • Dolores Gonsalez “Hibiscus with Geometry”

  • Michael Corob “Shine Your Light, Shine Your Love”

  • Diane Atturio “Mexico.”

HOLIDAY MUST-HAVES

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The corner of H Street and Cypress Avenue has undergone a most welcome transformation. It’s new and pristine, beautiful in the sunshine and enchanting at night. Now dressed in its holiday finest, a towering Christmas tree and glittering gazebo make Centennial Square a delightful causeway into the Cypress Gallery. Like the elves in Santa’s workshop, our artists have been busy preparing gifts. The gallery is full of small treasures for you to enjoy and bring home to most everyone on your list.

A handmade object of art is enough to give your world a festive makeover. We have a charming display of jewelery, tree ornaments, small decorative paintings, books, glassware, watercolors and more, to choose from. C. Wood’s oil painting of Santa is irresistible. He is a flurry of deftly placed expressionist brushstrokes. George Kreutz’s artful, acrylic paintings are of toys and Christmas decorations that we see through the eyes of a child.

Not all the work is small, however. Chris Jeszeck has contributed a marvelously large and fanciful door decoration. It is made of a large round canvas with a small, rectangular piece attached, simulating a huge tree ornament. Jeszeck uses the acrylic pour technique, and maintains a popular YouTube channel demonstrating her varied methods. Occasionally a work created in a demo will go viral, as is the case for another painting on display in the gallery, entitled “Metamorphosis.” It has over 14,000 views and counting! No wonder there; it is a painting full of surprises and gorgeous colors, impossible to duplicate.

For your book-loving friends this holiday, consider Beverly Messenger Harte’s handmade book “To Bamboo.” With Japanese stab binding and handcrafted ink stamps, she illustrates poetry that uses the bamboo plant as both subject and metaphor. Consider also Kathy Badrak’s handmade accordion book series entitled “Life in Lompoc.” These books are exquisitely crafted and filled with fabulous vintage photographs.

It is worth a gallery trip just to come eye-to-eye with Emily Abello’s watercolor “Winter Wolf.” Standing in front of snow-laden pine boughs, this white wolf is a magical creature from another realm. Another striking painting is Ed Heinitz’s “Ocean Cave,” in which light and water blast through an ocean rock formation. I also enjoyed the abstract expressionist painting “Figure It Out Later” by Manic Creative. It invites study, and tells its stories through color, drips, drawn shapes and brushstrokes.

The Cypress Gallery is now participating in the monthly “First Thursday Lompoc Art Walk.” What a great opportunity for us to walk about and participate in our town. View art, fanciful installations, meet people, and come home with a “make and take” from the gallery.

Shop creatively this holiday season! Shop small, shop local and shop art.

CAPTIONS (All photos by Bill Morson)

  • C. Wood “Santa”

  • George Kreutz “Christmas Candle”

  • Chris Jeszeck “Metamorphosis”

  • Chris Jeszeck “Ornament”

  • Beverly Messenger Harte “To Bamboo.”

  • Kathy Badrak “Life in Lompoc.”

  • Emily Abello “Winter Wolf.”

  • Ed Heinitz “Ocean Cave”

  • Manic Creative “Figure It Out Later”

All About Lompoc

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

 

This month, the Lompoc Valley Art Association brings to our community another terrific art exhibit at the Cypress Gallery, entitled “All About Lompoc.” Its hometown theme should please viewers of all aesthetic preferences. This show features art that references our own landscapes, seascapes, structures, events and inhabitants, as well as a collection of historical photos. The artists have made clear the variety of riches and beauty found within our reach. Our city and its environs are gorgeous!

Let’s begin on the coast. Suzanne Schenk’s photograph “Surf Beach” captures light at the end of the day, as it collects on the water and rocks of our spectacular shore. Elizabeth Monks Hack has created the opposite mood with “Rogue Swell, Surf Beach,” featuring the ocean when it speaks its fury during a high surf warning.

“Surf Beach” by Susanne Schenk

Moving on to our renowned flower fields, sadly diminished in quantity but not quality, several artists have contributed colorful beauties of the subject. Photographer Bill Morson has chosen to represent their workers. In both “Harvest Time” and “Flower Harvest,” a powerful man strides through the colorful rows of stock, carrying an enormous bundle of the glorious blooms on his shoulder. Morson’s images, printed on aluminum plates, are vibrant, clear and true.

“Harvest Time” by Bill Morson

Several of our members are plein-air painters, who explore our local parks for scenes and vistas to paint. Ken Adam Park, River Park with its picturesque Kiwanis Lake, and Beattie Park, are among the favorite haunts of Neil Andersson, Deborah Breedon, C. Wood, George Kreutz and Joe Gliebe-Goetz. These artists take us to the “south of France” in our own backyards.

La Purisima Mission is also an idyllic subject, with its acres of pastoral scenery and magnificently restored buildings. Claudette Carlton and Vicki Andersen lovingly depict the light and cast shadows on cream colored adobe walls and tiled roofs.

“La Purisima Mission” by Claudette Carlton

And what about our skies? Not many communities can claim the heavens above pierced by rockets. Mary Ann Mosley’s acrylic “SpaceX Launch Vandenberg“ recreates the jellyfish-like light display of the launch  and descent of our first Falcon 9 event. Lompoc’s luminous skies, cloudy skies, rain filled skies, sun kissed skies, and even a “zebra sky” by Beverly Messenger-Harte are all on view.

SpaceX Launch Vandenberg, MaryAnn Mosely

Collage artist and bookmaker Kathy Badrak has put together several handmade accordian-style books, featuring historical photos from a private collection, and the Lompoc Historical Society. The handsome books are arranged by theme, beautifully crafted, and feature handmade buttons and classic black photo corners.

“Life in Lompoc” by Kathy Badrak

Photographs on loan from the Lompoc Historical Society make one marvel at the passage of time. Some of us may remember dancing in the bar of the old Sherman House, and the sound of walking on the woooden planks of the front porch. Lompoc onced looked like a movie set of the wild west.

Of note in the back room are ambitious watercolors by new member Dolores Gonzales. “Sea Turtle” is nuanced with layers of color and texture. Hand-painted silk scarves by Emily Abello are decorated with images from nature, including large golden carp on a blue background. They make for truly special apparel. Come in and visit your own Lompoc community, as seen  through the eyes of artists!

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valleys. 119 East Cypress Ave, Lompoc (805) 737-1129 Open Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM www.lompocart.com

 

All photos by Bill Morson

  • Suzanne Schenk “Surf Beach” photograph

  • Bill Morson “Harvest Time” photograph on aluminum

  • Elizabeth Monks Hack  “Rogue Swell, Surf Beach” oil painting

  • Mary Ann Mosley’ “SpaceX Launch Vandenberg” acrylic painting

  • Kathy Badrak “Life in Lompoc” handmade book

  • Dolores Gonzales. “Sea Turtle” watercolor painting

Art  As Adventure

by Elizabeth Monks Hack


Each month, the Cypress Gallery brings to our community an engaging show of art, planned and arranged by its members, for your viewing pleasure. This month, gemstone artist and painter Joe  Gliebe-Goetz has hung a particularly unique exhibit, entitled “Gemstones and Landscapes.” His work demonstrates the concept of art as an exploratory adventure, in which the artist sets off on his own particular journey and is willing to engage with what crosses his path. He is open to influences. He is guided by his own sense of beauty and wonder.

Originally trained in technical illustration in Southern California, Goetz settled on a teaching career in Visalia, where he raised his family. He always had his eye on the California coast, however, and wished to devote more time to art. Upon retirement, both dreams came true.

 Throughout the years Goetz has also developed his skill in the art of lapidary. Using first rate gemstones, he hand-polishes pieces that will eventually be incorporated in wire-wrapped jewelery, mounted decorative plaques, and paintings. Ten years ago his path led to the merging of lapidary and the art of painting, developing a style that is uniquely his.

Goetz noticed, as he polished his stones, that their mineral designs were similar to what he experienced with oils and acrylic, watercolor and pastel. Looking for the best angles and taking note of their intricate compositions and subtle colors, Goetz found in the gems a wellspring of inspiration. 

His paintings have evolved from color saturated realism to an expressionism that proclaims the artist’s unique and subjective approach to subject matter. Goetz has tilted the picture plane and distorted natural perspective. He uses color and texture for emotional effect. He is opening yet another door into the realm of the mind. This evolution is on view in its entirety. “Landscapes and Gemstones,” a straightforward title, is in reality a remarkable adventure.

In the rear galleries, work has been installed in groupings that showcase the individual styles of each artist. Some of our artists have been with the gallery for many years, producing work that is confident and distinctly recognizable. Linda Gooch has wall of exquisitely rendered watercolors in delicious pinks and greens. Vicki Andersen’s palette of intense color and inviting shadows consistently proffer a rich tactile beauty. Diane Atturio’s velvety watercolors of local flora beckon from the wall. Chris Jeszeck continues to explore the art of acrylic pouring. This month she visits outer space with an  an alien and a UFO. Painter and guitarist Neil Andersson has a wall of abstract works that sing like a piece of music.

Individual treasures can also be found. Emily Abello’s delicate watercolor “Foggy Morning in Santa Ynez Valley” is a sensitive arrangement of delicate forms, empty space and restrained color. Beverly Messenger-Harte’s wall piece “Bamboodha Bones and Stones” could be categorized as a sculptural collage, with meditative components from the Japanese traditional arts, each arranged to perfection.

Come in and explore! We also feature handmade gifts, jewelry and cards stamped with the personality of individual artists. We have an Arts Education program featuring art classes in various media taught by gallery artists. To find out about our classes and events, refer to our website. Come in and walk the trail of your own adventure.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

All photos by Bill Morson

  • Joe  Gliebe-Goetz New Beginning

  • Joe  Gliebe-Goetz  Meditation Sunset

  • Emily Abello Foggy Morning in Santa Ynez Valley

  • Chris Jeszeck I Need My Space

  • Beverly Messenger-Harte Bamboodha Bones and Stones

  • Neil Andersson Yardbird

A Walk Through the Cypress: Pattern Pictures Paper Paint

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

Each month, the Cypress Gallery brings to our community a new show of art, planned and arranged by its members. The gallery is owned and operated by the Lompoc Valley Art Association,  an active community organization that has drawn local artists together since 1965. Desiring a permanent, public space to exhibit their artwork, LVAA established the Cypress Gallery in 1994, creating a local nonprofit and co-op art space for the benefit of all. 

Consider it a treasure box full of color and ideas that you can open and enjoy every month of the year. The front gallery room usually showcases the work of our featured artist, with the remainder of the gallery filled with submissions by individual artists; unless a special gallery-wide show is planned. This July, the treasure box metaphor is particularly apt.

C. Wood gifts us with “Paper and Paint,” a show that must be experienced in person to get the full effect. These works of art glitter and dazzle the eye, with pattern and color so richly applied the viewer is almost physically mesmerized. C. Wood is a multi-faceted and exuberant artist who sets no limits to her creativity. Previously, she has exhibited captivating landscape and still life paintings and pastels, rendered with keen perception and a deft hand.

In this show Wood explores her love of Japanese patterns and color combinations, with large, collage-paintings that are each three foot square. They depict a gallery of traditional Japanese portrait figures, each alone in an environment of paint, paper, foil, antique Japanese stamps and origami papers. In works such as “Geisha,””The Bride” and “Samurai,” the faces and exposed skin of the figures are painted, in contrast with their lavishly collaged costumes.

The large works are accompanied by smaller, abstract-expressionist pieces and objets d’art, using a similar color and texture theme. The small works are each spectacular, and demonstrate what an original and accomplished painter C. Wood is.

A truly enjoyable feature of the Cypress Gallery each month is the variety of work submitted by our artists. It is so often full of surprises. Steve Scolari, whose two-dimensional work is usually diminutive and realistic, has created a very large, abstract piece. Entitled “Barns,” and mounted in a wide black frame that functions as a continuation of the idea, the painting explores the geometries and colors of barn structures.

Jasmine Gonzalez's three-dimensional mixed-media piece also gives the viewer a start. Stable in its organization but full of contrasts, including a baby in utero and clown faces, it is entitled “All My Friends Are Having Babies.”

So much to explore! We also feature handmade gifts, jewelery and cards stamped with the personality of individual artists. Come in and interpret the works of art for yourself. Visit “The Cypress,” your friendly local art gallery!


All photos by Bill Morson

  • The Bride by C. Wood

  • The Official by C. Wood

  • Crazy Layers by C. Wood

  • Barns by Steve Scolari

  • All My Friends are Having Babies by Jasmine Gonsalez

June Luminations

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The bright side of June gloom is the burst of sunlight that sometimes appears towards the end of the afternoon. Colors seem to bounce off one another as they are absorbed, reflected and transmitted, bringing joy to the heart. The effect is similar to that found in the work of glass artist Kristine Kelly, who is our featured artist this month. In her exhibit “California Pathways,” Kelly showcases paintings of glass, a unique and captivating medium. Its effect is altogether different than that of traditional painting.

Kelly has been a glass artist for almost thirty years, delighting in its luminosity, iridescence and color. Using opalescent, transparent and diachroic glass – glass that has shifting colors depending on the angle of view – she began with fused glass jewelry, later developing decorative pieces using molds.

Kelly then took a class on creating landscape paintings with glass, which ultimately led to the richness and abundance of the Cypress Gallery show. The laborious technique she used to create the varied textures of her pieces include multiple kiln firings at various temperatures.

Though the works are referential in nature, in which the trunks of trees, the moon, pathways and mountains are clearly featured, they are abstractly expressed with sprinkles of glass and various textures, depths and shapes. In some pieces it is as if the world has been created by fairies who cast a magic wand to create jewel-like environments.

Other works, such as “Moon River,” remind one so much of sumi ink paintings. Kelly’s draftsmanship is superior, the line flowing easily to create soft shapes in evocative settings. Birch trees and mountains inspired by the Sierras are arranged in convincing compositional patterns. The work is most fully appreciated in person, so be sure to make “California Pathways” a destination this month.

The rear rooms of the gallery features a few surprises. “BFF,” an enormous white chicken by C. Woods, calls your name as you turn the corner. It is freshly painted with masterful brushstrokes. Realist painter Lee Hill has taken a new direction, and is exploring the “funny stuff” of abstraction. His three horizontal compositions of two simple shapes imply landscapes, but his remarkable paint handling suggests other worlds.

C Wood, BFF

Claudette Carlton’s subtle watercolor “Ladybugs” has softly colored blooms that you will be tempted to pick. Likewise, gourd artist Tammy Evans has contributed several “Spirit Figures” that are irresistible. The whimsical creativity in putting together the various elements of her pieces belies their strict craftsmanship and skill.

Claudette Carlton, Ladybugs

Tammy Evans, Spirit-Figure

Our photographers Tom Chrones and Bill Morson have several striking color-saturated works on display. They have been joined by new member Diana Diaz, whose black and white photo “Cold Springs Deer Skull” provides a haunting contrast.

Mentioned here are just of few of the many fine works of art and gifts that you will encounter in the gallery this month. Art offers luminosity to pierce the gloom that too often visits us. Seek it out. Enjoy it!

PHOTO CREDITS: All photos by Bill Morson

An Outpouring of Creativity

by Elizabeth Monks Hack     

Within a relatively small space, artists of the Cypress Gallery consistently rain down an abundance of work that is as beautiful and surprising as a spring shower. The bursts of creativity one finds here are among the delights of our community. Chris Jeszeck, a fluid art creator, never fails to win in the wonderful and delightful category. She is our featured artist  this month. Her enchanting show “Pouring My Heart Out” will raise eyebrows and spread smiles in awe.

“Fluid art” refers to the art of pouring paint onto canvas; paint that has been mixed with a variety of additives that cause astounding effects. Jeszeck has been honing her fluid art skills for several years now, and she is able to control the paint and color harmony to pinpoint perfection. She also intelligently plans for “embellishments,” which are realistic images that enhance the abstract background. In a Jeszeck painting, it is not unusual to find a tiger or a pelican commanding a strange but convincing, complex “poured” environment. My absolute favorite is “Pearl Dive,” in which the room is reflected in its dark interior space.

Jeszeck’s chosen technique perfectly fits her playful personality and sharp wit. This aspect of her work grows more evident with each show. In “Flabbergast,” a frustrated Leonardo da Vinci stands aghast before a large fluid art piece in a contemporary art gallery, while his own “Mona Lisa” next to it is ignored by viewers. In “Munch,” a soft-haired rabbit dines on grass from a field of poured paint.

On display also are works from Jeszeck’s entrepreneurial accomplishments.  She maintains a successful YouTube channel, where the artist demonstrates various acrylic pouring and embellishment techniques. She also creates a variety of products bearing her signature designs, including puzzles and clothing.

In the rear gallery rooms, visitors will find creativity in all its many guises. The absence of color can create a powerful emotional effect. Michael Corob uses his personal symbolism in the charcoal and ink drawing “Holding an Apple,” depicting a hand grasping fruit, observed by spirit birds. “Jazz Singer” by Julia Nash is a black and white oil portrait of an elderly musician, thick with texture and feeling.

New to the gallery is artist Janis Knox, whose landscape “Sandunes“ evokes some of the rhythmic lines and intriguing spaces of the artist Georgia O’Keeffe, but with some marvelous textural passages. The intricate collage “Blessings” by Diane Atturio is an ode to motherhood, a perfect gift for a special someone in May.

The gallery is full of gifts and cards created by our artists, including handmade jewelery, glassware, wall pieces and more. Don’t miss the outpouring of creativity this month, and the opportunity to pour some art into your life.  On view through May 28, 2023.

 

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valleys. 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, or call for an appointment (805) 737-1129 lompocart.org facebook.com/CypressGallery

PHOTO CAPTIONS

  • Flabbergast by Chris Jeszeck (Photo by Bill Morson)

  • Munch by Chris Jeszeck (Photo by Bill Morson)

  • Holding an Apple by Michael Corob (Photo by Bill Morson)

  • Sandunes by Janis Knox (Photo by Bill Morson)

  • Jazz Singer by Julia Nash (Photo by Beth Hack)                                                  

Elemental

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

Somehow, upon walking into the featured show at the Cypress Gallery this month,  the states of matter that constitute our existence here on earth are magically called forth. In “Water and Wood,” artists Neil Andersson and Chuck Klein have conjured earth, water, air and fire –  scientifically referred to as solid, liquid, gas and plasma – and transformed them into  objects one hangs on a wall, or places on a table. The show is less like an exhibition, and more like a natural environment  in which one yearns to linger.

Andersson and Klein are receptive artists, exceptionaly attuned to their surroundings and the workings of nature. Both men have spent a lifetime experiencing and assimilating ‘”the ebullience of the natural world,” and recreating it as art. They view art as a process and expression of creative self discovery. It’s an endeavor that begins with each new piece, and doesn’t end once the piece is finished. “Water and Wood” features new work from the artists, and is their first collaboration together. 

Born in Tacoma, Washington, Neil Andersson hails from the wooded northwest. His love of the visual arts parallels an ongoing, successful music career as a renowned jazz guitarist. Following an MFA degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he returned to Washington to teach art, exhibit, create music, and learn the ins-and-outs of the sometimes difficult activity of plein-air painting. The works on view here invite contemplation, as they glow and pulse with the immediacy of the natural world. Sky and water reflect the fire of our sun in “Equilibrium.” As a painter and pastel artist, Andersson continues to develop his impressionist painting techniques. In “Lakeside Harmony” water, air and earth reverberate in suspended tension. 

Chuck Klein is a California native, born in Santa Barbara. He became an avid outdoors explorer, engaging in sporting activities and travel across the globe. His life as an artist follows a career consulting for national non-profits. Klein’s work has been profoundly influenced by cultural studies in Europe, South America, and especially Asia. Referring to his artistry, he is a Wood Weaver, and his pieces are living things. 

Much of Klein’s work can be viewed as a vehicle of spirituality. Bowls, lidded vessels, sculptural objects and wall pieces are beautifully lathed, and adorned with sacred beads, feathers, carved ivory and stone. In the wall piece “Ganesha,” two heavy arcs of wood with a gap between them are joined by slender bands of inlaid wood. The Hindu deity Ganesha is mounted in the sculpture’s center. The bowl “Neuton Star” in deep reds and midnight green, seems to convey a sacred orb encapsulating a glimpse of the cosmos. 

Our rear galleries feature several works that continue the nature theme, and as you wander through them, keep the notion of our world as “matter” in mind. Kathy Badrak, ever playful and experimental in her pieces, has brought forth “Reflecting Spirit,“ a mixed media piece featuring a silvery oak tree. Sometimes the artist’s strokes and marks of paint and pastel seem to illustrate the nervous system of nature. This is true of Deborah Breedon’s “Inlet at Refugio Beach” and Joe Goetz’s “Surf Beach Tree,” both done on location. All of our gallery artists are on the journey that never ends – the  elemental journey of art and nature. Despite of the frustrations of the process, in the end it always brings joy. 

Water and Wood” featuring plein-air painter Neil Andersson and Wood Weaver Chuck Klein. On view through April 21, 2023

PHOTO CAPTIONS

  • All photos by Bill Morson

  • Ganesha by Chuck Klein

  • Neutron Star by Chuck Klein

  • Equilibrium by Neil Andersson

  • Lakeside Harmony by Neil Andersson

  • Reflecting Spirit by Kathy Badrak

  • Inlet at Refugio Beach by Deborah Breedon

Hidden Gems

by Elizabeth Monks Hack, Cypress Gallery reporter, “A Walk Through the Cypress” monthly column

After more than twenty-seven years in business, members of the Cypress Gallery still encounter folks who exclaim, “Wow! I didn’t even know this was here!” Is this perhaps because we are a hidden gem, even though we are located on the corner of H Street and Cypress Avenue, bordering Centennial Park? This month, the hidden gem that is the Cypress Gallery, announces its February show by featured artist Susanne Schenck, entitled “The Quest for Hidden Gems in California.” You can start right here.

Schenck is a photographer, as well as an intrepid traveler, hiker, and camper. As an explorer of nature and her environs, Schenk uses her camera to document her adventures, and to further discover and appreciate them through the lens of art. She enjoys sharing her experiences, stating she would like the viewer to “feel like you're coming along on the trip with me, and seeing the wonders I see.” 

Susanne Schenk, Light Under the Pismo Beach Pier

Schenck was born in Sweden, but is now a long-time Lompoc local, who loves to load up the 20 ft trailer and go hunting for hidden gems. The subject of light falling on the objects in nature is a primary theme of her photographs. Rendered beautifully, it defines place, time and experiences. Complete immersion in the story of “a stark cliff dropping down in a wondrous blue ocean at sunset,” or “iced-over lakes in red beautiful sunset lights mesmerizing you,” is what the artist hopes for.                           

Schenk’s gift for framing and defining light is apparent throughout her work. In “Light Under the Pismo Beach Pier” a pathway of oblique pier columns lead towards a symmetric door of pure light, opening at the end. Light is used to transform an ordinary cow into the sacred bull of antiquity, solemnly making its approach, in “Dusty Cow.” The goal of Schenk’s quest, “to convey a sense of awe and wonder of nature's beauty,” has been accomplished in this show. 

Susanne Schenk, Dusty Cow

After exploring  Schenck’s world, viewers can continue the search for gems through the diverse viewpoints of our many gallery artists. Our community gallery is a treasure trove of various painting styles, subject matter and media. Vicki Anderson’s rich, compact floral “Red and Pinks” is a glorious bouquet for your Valentine. “African Mask” by Valerie de Mille will knock your socks off. Conversely, the serenity of Tom Chrones’ photograph “Great Blue” heron will take you to a motionless space. 

Artists working in three dimensions this month have contributed a wealth of intriguing beauty and surprise. “Billy the Squid” by Steve Scolari is a witty, sculptural construction of carved wood and twigs. Beverly Messenger-Harte’s dense, intricate design around a convex mirror, “Balance and Harmony,” is a bamboo assembly that allows one to look into oneself. Sculptor Chuck Klein amazes us this month with a new series of carved and shaped wall pieces. “Tree Frog” intertwines the world of forest and spirit through a precise mounting of rendered wood and bead assemblage. 

There is so much more to explore, this month and every month, in the world of art, right here in the middle of town. We also have gorgeous little works of art in the form of jewelry, cards and other gifts. We announce all of our shows, and events and classes monthly, in print, online and on social media. So now, if you didn’t know before about the Cypress Gallery, you know! 

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valleys. 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, or call for an appointment (805) 737-1129 <lompocart.org>  <facebook.com/CypressGallery>




IMAGES by Bill Morson

  1. Susanne Schenk_ Light Under the Pismo Beach Pier

  2. Susanne Schenk_ Dusty Cow

  3. Vicki Andersen_ Red and Pinks

  4. Valerie de Mille_African Mask

  5. Chuck Klein_Tree Frog

  6. Beverly Messenger-Harte_Balance and Harmony

  7. Steve Scolari_Billy the Squid

  8. Chris Jeszeck_There You Are!

  9. Carol Wood_Storm Drain

  10. Lee Hill_Pride of the Coop

  11. Kelly Ranger_Hendry’s Beach

  12. Elizabeth Monks Hack_Third Room