Safe Shopping Days During COVID-19

CHAC gallery has added a safe shopping day on Friday of each week, from 11 am to 4 pm.  We will have selected artwork on display in the gallery's front courtyard.  On request, small groups can be escorted inside the gallery during these hours.  All the rules for safe distancing and hygiene measures will be observed.  Come out and join us this coming Friday, June 5, to get a lift to your morale during these trying days.  We will be happy to see you.

THIS WEEK'S SOCIAL-DISTANCE SHOPPING!

CHARLES ROSS 

 WOODWORKING 

 Charley began his career teaching junior high woodworking in 1963. Along the way he taught special education and worked as a learning style specialist and consultant. 

His first woodworking teaching job was at a junior high school in the Watts area of Los Angeles. After that he was employed by the International Voluntary Services as an industrial arts/vocational teacher for two years at Trung Ky Thuat Technical School in Vinh Long, South Viet Nam. After returning to the US, he taught woodworking and construction in an alternative high school in Oregon. Some of the teaching tools he developed–eighteen different woodworking machine operation manuals, several design booklets and a very successful HAPTIC (learn through the sense of touch) program, led to his next assignment at the New Jersey Department of Education. They engaged him to replicate many of the ideas he had for their Job Corps Educational Program. Doing extensive research on how people learned led to his obtaining a Learning Disability Teacher Consultant Certification. 

His fascinating portfolio of experience led to another woodworking teaching job, this time on the Zuni Indian Reservation. There he also learned stone carving. Tired of the long drive from home in Famington, New Mexico, he switched to a nearby Navajo school to teach special education. 

After still another overseas stint at The International Refugee Camp at Site II South, Thailand, where he taught English as a second language at Phanat Nikom refugee camp, he returned to Phoenix, Arizona to take a woodworking/special education job in a private school for some very spoiled kids from very wealthy and well-placed families. For some of the students, the choice was this school or jail. It was quite a learning experience for him. 

A lot of his experience and research in developing learning tools and working with cultural affinities for crafts and industrial arts goes into his current woodworking exhibited at the CHAC gallery.  His board games, and puzzle pieces are good examples.  His music stands are marvels of fine woodworking skills, as are his tables and other fine furniture items. 

Come out to the opening reception for the galleries month long exhibit of Charley’s work and view some of his fine pieces.

 Cherry Music Stand

 Meta-Expressionist Sculpture

 Game Board

John Stickney

Wood Carving

 Stickney works extensively in some of the more exotic hardwoods, for their color, grain, hardness, ability to take a high finish and their capacity to be carved with fine detail.   Recently he has been learning how best to carve Redwood, which can be tricky, using recycled tight grain pieces, mostly from old growth Redwood fence posts and old decking. For larger pieces, he has also used Basswood extensively, as well as Jelutong, Maple, oak and Mahogany.  Basswood, Maple and Jelutong show little grain, allowing control, and are nearly white, allowing exploration of color on their surfaces. 

John’s back ground in carving started with whittling at camp fires as a child, and found its footing while carving small pieces for friends at Berkeley High in California.   After college at Humboldt state and UCSB, he taught at the university of Georgia for 34 years, and has moved back to the coast of California to carve full time.

Our October Artists’ Reception 

Saturday, Oct. 5, was the opening reception evening for two local visiting artists, Joan Rhine and Jim Meilander.  These artists work collaboratively in a wide variety of arts media, including paper-making, jewelry, collage, printmaking, sculpture, and other mixed media.  Jim was gracious in giving an informative video on a number of his art works, especially the attractive collage-block printing-abstract  creations on exhibit.  The design composition, variety, contrasts, and values in each piece were very pleasing.  Joan’s interview also covers a large part of their collaborative efforts in paper-making, as well as her unique work in copper and mixed media assemblage.  Joan’s wide range of jewelry, featuring gold and silver pieces with semi-precious stones were brilliant.  Check out our video of the interviews and activity on another of our well attended mostly receptions.  If you didn’t make this one, we hope to see you at the next one.  This exhibit will continue showing through the month of October, Thursday - Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM, each week.

 Something new approaches! A Raffle to benefit the Coast Highway Artists Collective gallery in Point Arena.   The Raffle is being held in conjunction with the Opening Reception for our new, August Exhibit,Pots, Shots & Tees, featuring the works of local visiting artists, Emma Hurley, ceramics and apparel (pots and tees), and Scott Seewell, photography (shots).The Raffle features loads of separate prizes--check out the accompanying poster.   View the artwork and meet the artists while you gather up an armload of prizes (someone has to win that bundle of individually drawn prizes, and we hope it will often be you).

 

CHAC Gallery Art exhibit, August 2 - 29, Reception for Artists - Aug. 3, 5 -7 PM

Emma Hurley, ceramics & apparel     Scott Sewell, photograpy

If you are touring our area on vacation this summer, we would be pleased to have you drop into the gallery on your way to the nearby, breathtaking hiking trails of the Coast National Seashore Monment, or taking an espresso and lunch at our Point Arena merchant venues.

In August, Emma Hurley is one of the two featured local artists at our gallery.  Emma will be showing her line of beautiful, functional ceramics. The ocean plays a major role in influencing her decorations on bowls, cups and plates. Her designs are carried out in her local studio, NorthCoast Brine, wherein fish or swell and wave patterns adorn most pieces. You can find Emma online at www.northcoastbrine.com.

Emma has also created a line of wearable “fish art,” reflecting her background in conservation biology and her love of the ocean. While working as a fisheries biologist and an ocean educator in Santa Cruz, Emma created a line of clothing using her hand-drawn designs, ‘inspired by 'the colors, shapes, beauty, humor, mystery and character of the fish that live off the cold brine water of California,” she says. One of the goals in her line of creations is to encourage stewardship and pride in the ffishlife of our cold ocean waters. On hang tags attached to her garments, she provides species natural history information as well as advising on sustainable methods of the taking and eating of seafood. “Many of the species I depict have a long history as human food. Most of us are now removed from the process of catching and cleaning our seafood and only know halibut, lingcod, or rockfish as a square white fillet. My wearable art work puts an image to these common food species that are beautiful amazing animals in their own right.” Her wearable (shirts, tanks, hoodies) will be on display and for sale at the show.  Mark you calendars to reserve a day at the gallery next month to view her works.

Scott Sewell will be exhibiting his environmental and landscape photography.  The poster shown above will give you a sampling of the thrilling scenes Scott has captured in fleeting instants of time and environmental conditions, when the elements of lighting and visual drama are electric in effect and never to be seen again like that.

Lighthouse Station at Low Tide -- Scott Sewell

Fog spills over Bridal Veil  --Scott Sewell

Kelp Cup -- Emma Hurley 

Fish Pot -- Emma Hurley 

Hoodie -- Emma Hurley 

Tee Shirt -- Emma Hurley

July 4th Weekend Parade and Opening Reception for Barbara Fast, basketry, and Mirka Knaster, mixed media art

What a day!  The parade down Main St. (Hwy 1) in Point Arean was absolutely great.  A whole cordron of fire engines, Mexican dance troupe, Asian dancer, belly-dancers, with their own marching band, various vehicle floats, includihg our improvised CHAC gallery limousine driven by Jon Handel and carrying parade artists Ling-Yen Jones and Andrea Allen.  Afterward, we hosted a reception for the new, July Exhibit, featuring Barbara Fast, basketry, and Mirka Knaster, mixed media artworks.  We had a constant stream of parade-goers visit the gallery afterward for the reception, and many also attended our annual flea market of art objects and apparel held outside, behind the gallery.  It was a fun day for all.  The new exhibit will remain open for the entire month of July, on Thursday through Sunday each week, from 11 AM to 5 PM>

METAL SCULPTURES by KRISTEN HOARD

Mermaid in blue sea, by Kristen Hoard

Octopus by Kristen Hoard

Paris, in steampunk, by Kristen Hoard

GERALDINE LIABRAATEN 

Visual Poetry in Photographs

We are pleased to announce a new member of our Collective, Geraldine Liabraaten.  Geraldine has a unique approach to selecting and framing her subject to give a uniquely poetic composition that will resonate with the viewer.  Here are a few words from her to describe her art:

There are many inspirations for the images I capture: poetry, architecture, automobiles, parking garages...pretty much anything can make me grab my camera and start shooting.

I love color, diagonal lines, and rich patterns. The final work may look quite different from the original object, as I like to move in close, grab a corner or change the angle of view, though I do not alter the photographs once taken.

I want to make you wonder, to ponder, and then to have that “aha!” moment when recognition strikes. 

We invite you to stop by our gallery and view some of Geraldine's work, and perhaps visualize the dramatic effect they may lend to an area in your own home.

ANDREA POLK - EXPRESSIONIST PHOTOGRAPHER

Coast Highway Artists Collective welcomes a new member, Andrea Polk, a superb expressionistic portrayer of urban, architectural, industrial, rural, and environmental themes, that are both exciting and meditative, at once.

 Andrea’s introduction to photography began at Georgetown University, where she acquired extensive training in color darkrooms along with photography classes. That experience inspired her particular interest in vivid, manipulated color, and “painterly”, abstract photography images. Drawing from a minimum of five photo editing applications, she produces each image as a time-consuming labor of love.  Attracted to such disparate subjects as old cars and motorcycles, atmospheric city streets, and scenes from nature, her travels, through the United States, Canada, Central America, Northern Africa, England, Ireland, Japan, Western and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East, and her desire to craft representative images has been guided by the essential principle that “in photography, light is the magician”.

The advent of digital technology has vastly expanded the art, bringing new creativity to the medium and making it accessible to an astonishing number of people around the world. One of Andrea’s favorite images, taken in Sharm El Sheikh, depicts a fully veiled Saudi Arabian woman, with holding an iPhone in one hand and a “state of the art” Nikon in the other.

We invite you to observe and enjoy some of Andrea's work now on exhibit in our gallery.

Art Gallery Grandeur

Feathered Collaborators

Kiosk Sentries



Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the coast highway artists collective recognizes the urgent need to take the preventive measures recommended by national and state authorities, and we have decided to temporarily suspend normal operating hours in the gallery.  Effective beginning April, 2020, the physical gallery is temporarily closed except through scheduled appointments. If you need a gift, or to pick up a special order, please contact lingyen1969@gmail.com and Ling-Yen will open the gallery for you.

 June Exhibit - Ron & Bobbie Jeanne Quercia

PAINTING AND SCULPTURE

Not quite ready to venture out until the lockdown lifts further and it seems a bit safer?  You can also take a relaxing VIRTUAL TOUR of the work of our painter-sculptor team, Ron & Bobbie Jeanne Quercia, the featured artists in our June Exhibit

As government officials gradually relax the lockdown provisions of self-isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us may be getting a bit edgy with the growing length of days of self-isolation. So what could be more relaxing now than a slide-show of our featured artists collection in our June 2020 Exhibit.  The gallery may indeed be open if regulations permit by the beginning of June, but we also think you’ll find a virtual tour of Ron and Bobbie Jean's work very relaxing and inspiring.  Begin your virtual tour by going to another tab on our  website.  Click on this link: 

  VIRTUAL TOURS   

 For as long as the COVID lockdown continues, we will be featuring the scheduled artist for each months exhibit on the virtual tour page.

 SOCIAL DISTANCE SHOPPING

FRIDAY, MAY 22

 Join us, if you are able, in another of our one day limited trials of outdoor, Social Distance Shopping at our gallery in Point Arena.  We will be observing the public guidelines and protocols for protecting shoppers and artists as our California business venues cautiously reopen in this warmer, late spring weather.  If you are out strolling through downtown Point Arena on Friday, consider stopping by at our table if distancing precautions look okay for you.

 COAST HIGHWAY ARTISTS COLLECTIVE (CHAC) 

Our normal opening days and hours for Spring would be Thursday through Sunday, 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. However, as noted further above, we have termporarily discontinued normal opening times until further notice, owing to state mandates, and our own concerns, for mitigating public vulnerabilities to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Please view this page later for further information on a full reopening of the gallery to the public.

CHAC 2020 GALLERY SCHEDULE

Jan:  Regular Hours/Days, except closed for Renovations Jan. 6 to approx. Jan. 17

Feb 1-23  John Stickney, Sculpture and Wood Carvings

Reception  Feb 1 Sat.,New 2020 Receptions time 4-6 pm

March 5-29  Charles Ross, wood, 3-D constructions & carvings

Reception  March 6 , 4-6  pm   

THE FOLLOWING GALLERY ACTIVITES ARE CANCELLED OR WILL BE SUBSTITUTED WITH ONLINE VIRTUAL EXHIBITIONS, DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS.  CHECK THIS SCHEDULE AGAIN LATER FOR RESCHEDULING OR MODIFICATION OF THE FUTURE PLANNED EXHIBITIONS INSIDE OUR GALLERY

May 1-31 Virtual Tour, click on Virtual Tours Tab above: Mike Conner, painting;  Brian Donahue, Sculpture

June 4-28,Ron, Bobbie Jeanne Quercia, Painting and Scupture

Reception:  June 6, 4-6  pm

July 2-26 CHAC Artists, Mon-Thu, 11-5 pm, plus specialactivities on July 3rd to 6 pm, after parade

SpecialLighthouse Exhibition, including CHAC artists, 150yrs. anniversary

Aug 1-31  Wesley Lutluster, painting, oil & acrylics; DeborahCaperton, Assemblage and Jewelry

Reception  Aug 1, 4-6 pm

Sept 3-27  Rozann and Deb Billings photos/quilts

Reception (Tentative) Sept 5. 4-6 pm

Oct.1-25  Geraldine LiaBraaten, visual poetry, photography, and Colette Coad, glass art.

Reception:(Tentative) Oct. 2, 4-6 pm

Nov. 5-29,Deborah Threlkel, Abalone Queen,Sara Costello,Costello Rose jewelry

Reception Nov.6, 4-6 pm

Dec.3-27  Holiday Gift Group Offerings

Dec. 5  Gala Showing 5-7 pm

 

 ALMOST FRINGE KITE DISPLAY

Part of the annual ALMOST FRINGE events includes the kite flying at the Point Arena Lighthouse grounds.  Here are a couple of photos by Chris Grassano.  The kites are truly works of art!

ALMOST FRINGE FESTIVAL

The Coast Highway Art Collective is exhibiting the Almost Fringe artwork of our collective members, plus we will feature local guest artists, Doric Jemison Ball, Sue Friedland, Margaret Lindgren, Paula Haymond, and Michael Grab of Gravety Glue.  Michael will be, showing his new, avant garde works: balancing rocks.  Have a look at his Facebook page to preview these remarkable rock sculptures. . The exhibition is up April 1-27,2018 with the grand opening on April 13, 2019 from 12 noon to 6 pm.  We will have music at 1 pm with Brut and Blush, Leslie and Eric Dahlhoff.

The Almost Fringe Festival is always interesting!

by Rozann Grunig

 The unusual, the bizarre, just a bit whacky, maybe even shocking – that’s what the Almost Fringe Festival is all about. Join the members of the Coast Highway Art Collective for a celebratory weekend of this fun and free-form event on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28 in Point Arena. The Collective is hosting two nights of music, food, special guest artists and new works by its members.

Loosely based on the International fringe art movement, Mendocino County celebrates this as a month-long festival at several venues to celebrate all of the creative happenings countywide, from traditional to cutting edge and artsy to agrarian.

The original Fringe Festival is held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the largest art festival in the world.   This festival spans 25 days and includes events in 294 venues in the following categories theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children's shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events.

Locally, this idea was created by the Mendocino Council for the Arts and is being promoted county wide by Visit Mendocino. The goal of the festival’s planning group is to have a culturally diverse festival that reflects the complexity of our amazing community. In addition to encouraging all local merchants and restaurants to participate, plans include creating a fun and engaging festival street scene, with street performers, musicians, food vendors, vendors, dancers and performance art.

The Coast Highway Art Collective is joining into the festivities with guest artists Karen Shapiro, ceramics, Laurie MacAdams, jewelry, Jane Reichhold, ceramics; Carol Frechette, leather and Doric Jemison Ball, ceramics. Collective members will also have new and interesting pieces on exhibit in the spirit of the festival theme.

On Friday, April 27, entertainment by the Highwaymen with guest flute, Leslie Dahlhoff will be at the gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. The following evening, Saturday, April 28, Barbara Johannes will be playing the accordion in the afternoon and Amy MacFarland from Renegade Botanicals will be available tao demonstrate her natural beauty products. That evening, from 5 to 7 pm, Black Sugar Rose, featuring Todd Orenick and Charlene Rowland, will entertain guests. Wine, drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be available on both evenings…

You don’t have to wait until the closing weekend to see the artwork on exhibit. The show actually opens on April 6 and runs through April 29 during regular gallery hours, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 p.m. The gallery is located at 284 Main St., Point Arena, the little red building next door to the Redwood Credit Union. 

7th Anniversary Celebration

BEA ACOSTA - MASKS, CERAMICS, BASKETS

BRENDA PHILLIPS - CERAMICS

The Coast Highway Art Collective celebrates its 7^th anniversary on Friday, March 1, from 5 to 7 pm. with a new exhibit, food and drinks. The exhibit will focus on the range and diversity of the collective member’s work and a celebration of community involvement, a founding ideal of the group. The members invite the entire Mendomona community to celebrate with them.

Located in a small, historical building built in the early 1900’s, the gallery is in the heart of Point Arena.  The collective was founded in 2012 by a group of local artists who wanted the help reinvigorate Point Arena, which was undergoing a kind of renewal after years of boom and bust. 

The building has a very interesting history. Local book publisher, the late Warren Jones, purchased the building in a state of disrepair, having no idea how to use it other than improving his beloved City of Point Arena.  A group of artists suggested an art gallery and he embraced the idea. Volunteers rebuilt the building and called the gallery CityArt. The interior was completed in 1997, and was active as the creative and vibrant CityArt Gallery for ten years. The gallery closed in 2007 and the building sat empty, waiting patiently for a new life. 

Then, in 2012, the idea of the gallery was resurrected and Barbara Fast, a renaissance woman in her own right (former pediatric surgeon, artist and musician) became the founder and first manager of the newly minted Coast Highway Art Collective. The artists who work to make this collective succeed are just as eclectic and quirky as the building they inhabit. 

Currently there are15 artists whose work ranges from oils and watercolors, photography, jewelry, textiles, woodworking including birdhouses and ceramics.  With so many creative outlooks among this diverse group, one thing all agree on is the importance of the gallery as a place to display and sell their work, and the amazing sense of community and nurturing each member experiences. 

Founding member Ling-Yen Jones says “It means bringing together artists, new and old, and creating a place to exhibit and promote the creativity of these local artisans. The gallery is a place to learn and get a feel for what it’s like to exhibit and sell work. I enjoy this gallery’s idea and feel of community.” 

Recent member John Stickney explains it this way “The collective is a place where the pressures are low and the friendliness is high.    The CHAC is a place where they can show their art and where you can find interesting art in an engaging environment. Everyone pitches in, so the overhead is low, and the prices are very reasonable.” 

Original member Bea Acosta says “The gallery has provided me with a venue to show my work and a camaraderie of local artists who support each other.” Another original member, Brenda Phillips, noted “I love having the gallery as a place I can show my latest inspirations. For years now, the gallery has been a wonderful showroom for my art. 

The gallery often has guest artists in addition to the collective members. Monthly opening receptions for featured artists often include tasty food, drinks and live music in the garden when the weather cooperates. 

The gallery participates in American Craft Week and the annual Almost Fringe Festival, a fun event where artists are encouraged to let their imagination run wild and create from the heart, not from the wallet. The gallery opens its doors for the Point Arena’s annual Hometown Holidays, a special night when Main Streets fills up with holiday shoppers and revelers. The gallery lights up with a holiday tree decorated with handmade ornaments made by collective members. 

The Coast Highway Art Collective is located at 284 Main Street in Point Arena. The winter hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment.  Summer hours are typically from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

POTTERY, CERAMICS, AND BASKET WEAVING

by Beatrice Acosta



Bea is one of our foremost artists featuring southwestern contemporary and traditional motifs in her work.  We are presenting some of her art in this column to give our viewers a few ideas for their holiday shopping.  Visit our gallery to see these and more!

"My Native American/ Mexican roots have emerged in my pottery and ceramics. The joy I feel as my hands create with the clay must have connections to my ancestors. I am enamored with the piece as it unfolds and I rarely know beforehand what I want it to look like. It evolves as the clay and I create together."









The Coast Highway Art Collective is exhibiting Almost Fringe pieces of artwork from our collective members plus, we will have guests Doric Jemison Ball, Sue Friedland, Margaret Lindgren, and Paula Haymond. The exhibition is up April 1-27,2018 with the opening on April 13,2019 from 12 noon to 6 pm.  We will have music at 1 pm with Brut and Blush, Leslie and Eric Dahlhoff.

Energizing space with captivating metal art design

Kristen Hoard of CHAC is one of our metals sculpture artists.  Kristen has exhibited at shows throughout the state and has won many awards.

Using various recycled metals, a plasma cutter and welding designs Kristen molds these pieces into beautiful works of art. Through grinding techniques, colored dyes and patinas, and powder-coated finishes Kristen brings a new and beautiful life to a discarded piece of recycled metal. Every piece of art — whether eclectic metal wall art, color changing LED art, a majestic metal sculpture, or alluring fire pit — tells a story. And when you combine all of Kristen's treasured pieces of art, they tell her story.

Blue Green Dragonfly

Spiral Heart 

Yin Yang

FINE ART WOOD CARVER

John Stickney

John Stickney has recently joined the Coast Highway Artists Collective, making avaliable to our Point Arena art gallery visitors a unique line of art work.

His art is focused on carving and furniture design.   All pieces are handmade and one of a kind.  He has a love for wood:  the grain, texture, and appearance, and is attracted to color, and has worked with toy dyes, and paint on wood.  He has worked on relief carvings of paintings by artists he admires, including Michelangelo, as his paintings read as sculpture. Recently, he has worked on album covers of bands from his youth.  In other woodworking, he has designed tables, beds, desks, lamps, a rocking horse, and many other architectural and interior furnishings.

Stickney works extensively in some of the more exotic hardwoods, for their color, grain, hardness, ability to take a high finish and their capacity to be carved with fine detail.   For larger pieces, he has used Basswood, Jelutong, Maple, Mahogany, and Redwood, as they are excellent for carving. Basswood, Maple and Jelutong show little grain are nearly white, allowing his exploration of color on their surfaces.  He enjoys working with Mahogany and Redwood, for their ease of carving and their inherent beauty.  

Stop in at our art gallery soon to view some of Stickney's latest pieces.

Carolyn's Table

Lady With a Blue Ribbon

Maskies



 

Picasso's Reader