Open Studios 2018

It’s that time of year again. Cold season? (Yes, I am almost over a cold.) No, it’s Open Studios season. Time to start planning your tour.

The free guide and map is now available at many locations throughout Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, and San Mateo Counties. It will also be included in the Good Times entertainment newspaper. A free app (or upgrade if you have installed the app before) will be available October 1st through the Apple App Store or Google Play. I am artist number 259 in the Guide and App.

For people visiting from out of town, make it a weekend (or three)! The Arts Council of Santa Cruz County, as they say on their web site”, …partnered with Hotel Paradox to bring an artful lodging experience to your Open Studios adventure. Request the "Arts Council" rate and save 15%. Reserve online using promo code 13701 or call 877-425-7100. You can also email ann@artscouncilsc.org to request a guide be shipped to you.”

Open Studios runs the first three weekends in October. South County is first this year on October 6 and 7. North County (me) is next on October 13 and 14. (The Artist Guide and Maps show locations.) The Encore Weekend is the entire county, and many studios will be open October 20 and 21.

The best way to plan your tour is to first visit the Santa Cruz Art League to see the Open Studios Preview Exhibit. Work from nearly all Open Studios artists will be on display September 29 through October 21. Meet the artists at a reception at the Art League on September 30th from 3 to 6pm.

New Work

Here’s a sampling of new work that you will see when you visit me during Open Studios. (Or other times by appointment.)

These are three new medieval-style psalteries I recently completed. The first is the very popular “Cantigas de Santa Maria Psaltery”. I’ve sold all I’ve made and wanted another available for Open Studios. It is maple and black walnut. The middle instrument is a wing-style psaltery, based on an image in a medieval illuminated manuscript. The last photo is a smaller version of the popular “hog-nose” psaltery.

I’m still working on quite a few sculptures, and just finished this lidded vessel sculpture. This is a salvaged piece of black walnut that was removed from a much larger piece. When sawing through the larger piece to remove this “lump”, I hit a rock that was embedded in the original tree the walnut came from. One very dull saw later, I was able to pull this piece off. The shape intrigued me, so I carved it into this vessel and reinserted the rock. The lid is also black walnut and has a tagua nut handle. The voids in the piece are filled with a turquoise-colored epoxy called Inlace.

News

I was excited around six weeks ago by an email I received from the Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern, Pennsylvania.

One of my pieces was accepted in the annual woodworking show at the museum. This year’s theme is “Stools”, and my “Medieval Trestle Stool” was chosen from around 200 applications. Only 18 stools are in the show. I feel very fortunate to be in this show at this location. (This is actually my second acceptance for this annual show.)

For those not familiar with Wharton Esherick, here is a link to the museum web site with a description of the great woodworker and designer.

Well, that’s about it for now. I hope to see you all at the Santa Cruz Art League for the Open Studios Preview Exhibition reception on September 30 and at my own Open Studio on October 13, 14, 20, 21.

Onward…