by Elizabeth Monks Hack
The holiday season is upon us. Step right up to the Cypress Gallery, located on the corner of beautiful Centennial Square. The tree is up and glittering, the gazebo is topped with starry lights, and the Lompoc Valley Art Association members have a shopful of handmade holiday offerings to tickle your fancy. Fanciful, fun, and beautiful goods with affordable price tags make our “Holiday Arts and Craft Sale” a must for the season.
Let’s start at the beginning – holiday greeting cards! We have them. Angelina LaPointe has put her antique press to work to create unique letterpress designs that will be treasured for years to come. Her small linoleum block prints of charming flora and fauna are also on display.
More printed matter is Kathy Badrak’s handcrafted themed book art, entitled “Life in Lompoc.” Replete with historical photos in sepia tones, they unfold into a beautiful keepsake of our town. The versatility of this artist is made apparent by the copper embellished hand carved gourd on an adjacent pedestal.
Add to (or refresh!) your holiday decor this season with an irresistible miniature diorama by Vicki Andersen, or a pine cone gnome by Linda Gooch. A fool-the-eye “gingerbread” house by Chris Jeszeck is another sweet find. Her mixed-media piece “Cookie Kingdom” is a fanciful Russian domed castle in brown with white frosting.
Deck the walls! A gift of a fine art painting is sure to make someone very happy. Lee Hill has some charming selections, including one of a young buck in a snowy landscape. Deborah Breedon’s gorgeous abstract pastels are a splash of joy in any season. Now is the time to acquire a canvas by a great artist for a beyond modest amount.
On the main gallery walls is our usual remarkably diverse collection of visual delight. Carol Wood’s vibrant “Chrysanthemum Kimono” reads as a large, colorful abstract painting. What a surprise to discover it is a close-up of a Japanese kimono. Full of bright reds, it hangs next to Jasmine Gonzalez’s “Hi Let’s Eat the Rich,” also dominated by red. A mixed-media collage, this work incorporates a bit of local signage to create a politically charged piece.
Enrich yourselves this season with the simple joy of absorbing works of art. If you have visited the Cypress Gallery in the past, you know that we always carry works of glass, lapidary and jewelry, art prints, small originals and more. Our artists have created wonderful works of arts and crafts especially for the giving season. They are unique, local and just what you want!
The Cypress Gallery is a 501c(3) non-profit organization operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, committed to supporting and expanding access to the arts in Lompoc and the Santa Ynez Valley. Open Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. 119 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc, CA (805) 737-1129 <lompocart.org> @cypressgallerylompoc
CAPTIONS photos by Elizabeth Monks Hack
Gallery Still Life
Kathy Badrak “Life in Lompoc” handcrafted folding books
Kathy Badrak “Gourd” embellished, carved gourd
Chris Jeszeck “Cookie Kingdom” Mixed-media 3-dimensional sculpture
Lee Hill “Young Buck” Acrylic on canvas
Deborah Breedon “Abstract” Soft pastel
Carol Wood “Chrysanthemum Kimono” Acrylic on canvas
Jasmine Gonzalez “Hi Let’s Eat the Rich” Mixed-media collage