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”