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.”