Coast Highway Artists Collective

Deborah Threlkel, Abalone Queen Jewelry -Carolyn Zeitler, Woven Baskets

The October show will be on exhibit from Oct. 5 until Oct. 28. Regular gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 p.m. The gallery is located at 284 Main St., Point Arena, the little red building with the big yellow sun next door to the Redwood Credit Union.

The Coast Highway Art Collective in Point Arena ushers in the fall with an opening reception exhibiting intricately woven baskets and delicate abalone jewelry. The show features the distinctive works of local artists Carolyn Zeitler and Deborah Threlkel. An opening reception for the show is on Friday, October 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, located at 284 Main St., Point Arena. The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy a glass of wine and small bites.

Carolyn Zeitler graduated from San Jose State University in 1976 with a degree in ceramics and weaving. She began working as a United State Forest Service fire look-out in Big Sur in 1979 and started making baskets with the native Coulter Pine needles. Her baskets evolved, as a kind of marriage combining her two loves – clay and fiber.

Deborah Threlkel, aka the Abalone Queen, began making jewelry 20-years ago. Seven years ago, when she moved to the Mendocino Coast, her focus honed-in exclusively to abalone jewelry. Threlkel creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry influenced by the structure, color, texture and iridescence of the shells and stones she works with. An inveterate collector, she is continually inspired to turn treasure polished smooth by the ocean into wearable works of art

  

Brenda Philips - Chris Grassano

Pottery and Oil Painting Artists

Into The Wild

Natural beauty of Mendonoma featured in new art show

A new art exhibit opens at the Coast Highway Art Collective in Point Arena on Saturday, September 1 from 5 to 7 p.m., featuring new and favorite works by local artists Brenda Phillips and Chris Grassano. Working with the theme “Into the Wild,” Phillips and Grassano explore wildlife as art and inspiration. 

Phillips is well known in the area for her beautiful functional ceramics and her technical skill with glazes. She often uses molds of animals and objects found in nature to add texture and contrast to her pieces. Creativity is a hallmark for Phillips, who created a mold of an elephant from her mother’s bookends and applied it to canisters and bowls. Using shells she has collected over time, Phillips created various molds and applied the results to larger bowls and platters, adding texture and interest. In addition, Phillips has designed a series of soup or salad bowls using fish molds she designed herself. Phillips says “my favorite design is octopi on plates, which are purple on a black background.” 

Sharing the opening with Phillips is Chris Grassano, who lives in Cazadero. Her life-like oil paintings of birds and animals are so realistic, viewers almost expect the creatures to fly or run right off the canvas. Grassano explains "My oil paintings of nature focus on the birds and animals I encounter near my home under the Redwoods and throughout the North Coast. My goal is to capture in paint, the feeling of excitement and wonder in the moment the I first see the animal. I hope my images translate my deep love of the natural world so that those who view these paintings get these same wondrous feelings.

"Tasty snacks, wine and beverages will be available during the opening reception on Sept. 1.  “Into the Wild” will be on exhibit from Sept. 1 – 30 at the Coast Highway Art Collective, 284 Main St., Point Arena, the little red building next to the Redwood Credit Union. Regular hours are Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to relax in the garden at the front of the building while enjoying the paintings, textiles, photography, woodwork, jewelry and greeting cards inside. For additional information, see the website at  www.coast-highway-artists.com. 

Please mark your calendars and join us at this fun opening exhibit for Brenda and Chris.  Stay tuned and come back here to our home page for more examples of the artists' work and further details.

Emma Hurley & Debbe Hull Exhibit Reception

Fri. Aug. 3, was the CHAC gallery's open reception for the new August Exhibit, featuring local visiting artists Emma Hurley and Debbe Hull. It was a wonderful evening, and we had a very good turnout by local and touring art lovers. We've tried to capture some of the enthusiasm and inspiration of the artists in a short video as they walk us through the highlights of their exhibit pieces. For those who missed the reception we hope you will drop by the gallery on any Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM, during the entire month of August. The artists have set some very reasonable prices for their superb work.

AUGUST EXHIBIT - DEBBE HULL & EMMA HURLEY

 Debbe and Emma are two invited local artists who have exhibited earlier in the CHAC gallery and have been very popular with patrons of the gallery.  Debbie creates the most exotic, exciting lampwork beads jewelry that might be found, anywhere, including at the most tony, boutique shops here, or in mysterious foreign bazaars!  And all are attractively priced and within sensible budgets for gift giving.  Emma's ceramic ware exhibits all the hues of the ocean and seashore, and may be embellished with attractive drawings of maritime life. She also designs and produces marine life themed wearing apparel, and donates a portion of her earnings to marine sustainability non-profit organizations.  Mark you calendars for the exhibit opening, Friday, Aug. 3, with a reception from 5 to 7 PM.  Our receptions are always well attended by locals and visitors.  Food and beverages are provided by the gallery, and the featured artists.

Debbe Hull's Themed Necklaces

Debbe Hull's Pendant Necklaces

Debbe Hull's Lampwork Beads

 Ceramic bowl by Emma

 Ceramic pot by Emma

 Ceramic kelp cup by Emma

LS tee shirt with fish prints by Emma

 VIEW THE MICHAEL CONNOR COLLECTION

Michael is one of our newer, local member artists.  Michael is a well known American artist best known for his abstract painting projects. His work uniquely examines the relationship between form and fluidity. Come by our gallery and see some of his paintings.  The following are selected from his wide collection; those currently on display are chosen especially for this month's exhibit.

Whalalaland: Rolling. 30X48 Acrylic on Canvas

Whalalaland: Rough Waters. 30X48 Acrylic on Canvas

Into the Wild

Coast Highway Art Collective

Opening reception for two artists and a group exhibit at The White Cap Café

The Coast Highway Art Collective in Point Arena ushers in the fall with an opening reception exhibiting intricately woven baskets and delicate abalone jewelry. The show features the distinctive works of local artists Carolyn Zeitler and Deborah Threlkel. An opening reception for the show is on Friday, October 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, located at 284 Main St., Point Arena. The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy a glass of wine and small bites.

An additional show featuring the works of all Collective member will be on exhibit during the month of October at the White Cap Café during regular café hours. The café is located at 35509 Hwy. 1 (630.46 mi) in Anchor Bay. Visit their website for more information at www.facebook.com/whitecapcoffeeandtea.

Carolyn Zeitler graduated from San Jose State University in 1976 with a degree in ceramics and weaving. She began working as a United State Forest Service fire look-out in Big Sur in 1979 and started making baskets with the native Coulter Pine needles. Her baskets evolved, as a kind of marriage combining her two loves – clay and fiber.

She has worked exclusively with pine needles for close to 40 years.  Zeitler says “My only tools are my hands and a needle. The repetitive rhythm of the stitches becomes a kind of meditation. It’s amazing that one can take a material as mundane as a pine needle and create something that celebrates its beauty and strength. There are inherent limitations to the medium that create a challenge to search beyond its boundaries for something that reflects both the tradition of craft and the innovation of art.”

In 2016, Zeitler spent three months in Japan, culminating years as a passionate student of Japanese culture, art and language.  There, she studied the language and absorbed the culture. “My new works incorporate my love of Japanese language, Japanese calligraphy, haiku, papermaking and pine needles, of course. I love this new direction. It opens up a whole new way of using color, text and designs that was not possible just using pine needles,” says Zeitler.

Deborah Threlkel, aka the Abalone Queen, began making jewelry 20-years ago. Seven years ago, when she moved to the Mendocino Coast, her focus honed-in exclusively to abalone jewelry. Threlkel creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry influenced by the structure, color, texture and iridescence of the shells and stones she works with. An inveterate collector, she is continually inspired to turn treasure polished smooth by the ocean into wearable works of art.

Threlkel sources the majority of the shells by beach combing the Northern California coast. She also uses vintage and exotic shells and beads from places like Tasmania, Russia and Madagascar. Each piece of jewelry is individually crafted around the shells being used. Designed to last, she gathers, sorts, drills and wire wraps abalone and shells combined with gemstones, 14k gold, gold fill and sterling silver. With no two pieces alike, the result is like a small wearable sculpture. “I love the process that brings me to a completed necklace or pair of earrings knowing that Abalone Queen jewelry will feel like you are wearing the ocean,” says Threlkel.

The October show will be on exhibit from Oct. 5 until Oct. 28. Regular gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 p.m. The gallery is located at 284 Main St., Point Arena, the little red building with the big yellow sun next door to the Redwood Credit Union.

Coast Highway Art Collective

Opening reception for two artists and a group exhibit at The White Cap Café

The Coast Highway Art Collective in Point Arena ushers in the fall with an opening reception exhibiting intricately woven baskets and delicate abalone jewelry. The show features the distinctive works of local artists Carolyn Zeitler and Deborah Threlkel. An opening reception for the show is on Friday, October 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, located at 284 Main St., Point Arena. The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy a glass of wine and small bites.

An additional show featuring the works of all Collective member will be on exhibit during the month of October at the White Cap Café during regular café hours. The café is located at 35509 Hwy. 1 (630.46 mi) in Anchor Bay. Visit their website for more information at www.facebook.com/whitecapcoffeeandtea.

Carolyn Zeitler graduated from San Jose State University in 1976 with a degree in ceramics and weaving. She began working as a United State Forest Service fire look-out in Big Sur in 1979 and started making baskets with the native Coulter Pine needles. Her baskets evolved, as a kind of marriage combining her two loves – clay and fiber.

She has worked exclusively with pine needles for close to 40 years.  Zeitler says “My only tools are my hands and a needle. The repetitive rhythm of the stitches becomes a kind of meditation. It’s amazing that one can take a material as mundane as a pine needle and create something that celebrates its beauty and strength. There are inherent limitations to the medium that create a challenge to search beyond its boundaries for something that reflects both the tradition of craft and the innovation of art.”

In 2016, Zeitler spent three months in Japan, culminating years as a passionate student of Japanese culture, art and language.  There, she studied the language and absorbed the culture. “My new works incorporate my love of Japanese language, Japanese calligraphy, haiku, papermaking and pine needles, of course. I love this new direction. It opens up a whole new way of using color, text and designs that was not possible just using pine needles,” says Zeitler.

Deborah Threlkel, aka the Abalone Queen, began making jewelry 20-years ago. Seven years ago, when she moved to the Mendocino Coast, her focus honed-in exclusively to abalone jewelry. Threlkel creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry influenced by the structure, color, texture and iridescence of the shells and stones she works with. An inveterate collector, she is continually inspired to turn treasure polished smooth by the ocean into wearable works of art.

Threlkel sources the majority of the shells by beach combing the Northern California coast. She also uses vintage and exotic shells and beads from places like Tasmania, Russia and Madagascar. Each piece of jewelry is individually crafted around the shells being used. Designed to last, she gathers, sorts, drills and wire wraps abalone and shells combined with gemstones, 14k gold, gold fill and sterling silver. With no two pieces alike, the result is like a small wearable sculpture. “I love the process that brings me to a completed necklace or pair of earrings knowing that Abalone Queen jewelry will feel like you are wearing the ocean,” says Threlkel.

The October show will be on exhibit from Oct. 5 until Oct. 28. Regular gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 p.m. The gallery is located at 284 Main St., Point Arena, the little red building with the big yellow sun next door to the Redwood Credit Union.

The Coast Highway Art Collective in Point Arena ushers in the fall with an opening reception exhibiting intricately woven baskets and delicate abalone jewelry. The show features the distinctive works of local artists Carolyn Zeitler and Deborah Threlkel. An opening reception for the show is on Friday, October 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, located at 284 Main St., Point Arena. The public is invited to meet the artists and enjoy a glass of wine and small bites.

An additional show featuring the works of all Collective member will be on exhibit during the month of October at the White Cap Café during regular café hours. The café is located at 35509 Hwy. 1 (630.46 mi) in Anchor Bay. Visit their website for more information at www.facebook.com/whitecapcoffeeandtea.

Carolyn Zeitler graduated from San Jose State University in 1976 with a degree in ceramics and weaving. She began working as a United State Forest Service fire look-out in Big Sur in 1979 and started making baskets with the native Coulter Pine needles. Her baskets evolved, as a kind of marriage combining her two loves – clay and fiber.

She has worked exclusively with pine needles for close to 40 years.  Zeitler says “My only tools are my hands and a needle. The repetitive rhythm of the stitches becomes a kind of meditation. It’s amazing that one can take a material as mundane as a pine needle and create something that celebrates its beauty and strength. There are inherent limitations to the medium that create a challenge to search beyond its boundaries for something that reflects both the tradition of craft and the innovation of art.”

In 2016, Zeitler spent three months in Japan, culminating years as a passionate student of Japanese culture, art and language.  There, she studied the language and absorbed the culture. “My new works incorporate my love of Japanese language, Japanese calligraphy, haiku, papermaking and pine needles, of course. I love this new direction. It opens up a whole new way of using color, text and designs that was not possible just using pine needles,” says Zeitler.

Deborah Threlkel, aka the Abalone Queen, began making jewelry 20-years ago. Seven years ago, when she moved to the Mendocino Coast, her focus honed-in exclusively to abalone jewelry. Threlkel creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry influenced by the structure, color, texture and iridescence of the shells and stones she works with. An inveterate collector, she is continually inspired to turn treasure polished smooth by the ocean into wearable works of art.

Threlkel sources the majority of the shells by beach combing the Northern California coast. She also uses vintage and exotic shells and beads from places like Tasmania, Russia and Madagascar. Each piece of jewelry is individually crafted around the shells being used. Designed to last, she gathers, sorts, drills and wire wraps abalone and shells combined with gemstones, 14k gold, gold fill and sterling silver. With no two pieces alike, the result is like a small wearable sculpture. “I love the process that brings me to a completed necklace or pair of earrings knowing that Abalone Queen jewelry will feel like you are wearing the ocean,” says Threlkel.

Deborah Threlkel, aka the Abalone Queen, began making jewelry 20-years ago. Seven years ago, when she moved to the Mendocino Coast, her focus honed-in exclusively to abalone jewelry. Threlkel creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry influenced by the structure, color, texture and iridescence of the shells and stones she works with. An inveterate collector, she is continually inspired to turn treasure polished smooth by the ocean into wearable works of art.

Deborah Threlkel, aka the Abalone Queen, began making jewelry 20-years ago. Seven years ago, when she moved to the Mendocino Coast, her focus honed-in exclusively to abalone jewelry. Threlkel creates unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry influenced by the structure, color, texture and iridescence of the shells and stones she works with. An inveterate collector, she is continually inspired to turn treasure polished smooth by the ocean into wearable works of art.

About Coast Highway Artists Collective (CHAC)

This is our historic art gallery, located on Highway 1 in Point Arena. The gallery displays finished work for sale by the individual artist members of the Coast Highway Artists Collective (CHAC).  The mission of CHAC is to bring you beautiful, inspirational, and local art, at affordable prices, and exceptional quality.  Any special public activities at the gallery, or current regional art exhibits in which work of our members is entered, will be displayed and updated on this page.

 All art work of the collective is locally created by our members in their home studios.  The artists work in multiple media, including painting (Classical (Expressionism, Abstract, Realism, Figurative, Portraiture, Plein air, Still Life, Pop, and Manga),  printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, encaustic coated and etched steampunk, glass, textiles, basketry, photography, jewelry, woodworking.  and modern art forms are uniquely expressed in the creations of our award-winning artists. 

Visit Our Gallery Today!

Our current hours in the gallery are Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM to 5 PM (our spring-summer hours).  Major credit cards accepted for purchases. We invite you to contact us at anytime! You may use the Contacts page for email, or call us at the numbers listed below.  Please leave a message on the answering machine outside of the normal business hours.  We look forward to hearing from you.  

2018 CALENDAR OF GALLERY EVENTS 

Schedules are subject to change.  Please monitor for any changes when planning your trips to the gallery.  All of the Opening Receptions for each of the new shows are held from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M. unless otherwise noted.  We strive to provide a tasty array of free snacks and beverages for each reception event.

Jan 27 - Feb 25   Opening Reception: Sat. Jan 27  Kristen Hoard and Jessie Brooks, metal sculpture artists.

 Mar 1 - 31  Opening Reception: Fri. Mar. 2,  Jennie Lee and Michael Henderson, textiles, graphics, and ceramics.

April       Open House Celebrations: Fri. Apr. 27, 5 - 7 pm, and Sat. Apr. 28, 5 - 7 pm.  The gallery will offer themed art and actiities celebrating the Almost Fringe Festival, and includes Live Music, and Food snacks/wine at the reception hours.

May 3 - 27 Opening Reception: Fri. May 4.  Sharon Nickodem, collage & photography.

Jun 1 - 30  Opening Reception: Fri. Jun 1.  Patti Wells, clothing & Jewelry; Rone Prinz, jewelry and bird drawings; Bill and Sue Halderman, wood birdhouses

Jun 17  Introducing new clothing line by fabric artist Monique Toulouse.  Featuring recycled fabrics, in individually designed cashmere ponchos to flare bottom sassy pants.

Jul 1 - 25  Opening Reception: Sun. Jul 1, 1 - 3 PM, (During Parade).  Collective's summer show, supporting Point Arena Independence Day Parade, and related local activities.  More details TBA.

Aug 2 - 26  Opening Reception: Fri. Aug 3.  Debbie Hull, lampwork beads & jewelry; Emma Hurley, ceramics & apparel

Sep 1 - 30  Opening Reception: Sat. Sep 1.  Chris Grassano, oil paintings, and Brenda Phillips, ceramics

Sep 17 Redux appearance of original designs in clothing by fabric artist Monique Toulouse.  Featuring recycled fabrics, in skirts-mini and long, to leggings and tunics, and more.

Oct 5 - 28  Opening Reception: Fri. Oct 5.  Visiting artists Deborah Threlkel, Abalone Queen jewelry, and Carolyn Zeitler, fur and leather purses, accessories, & woven baskets

Nov 2 - 25  Opening Reception: Sat. Nov 3.  Meg Oldman, art glass, explorations in paper and fabric moulding and sculpting.

Dec 1 - 30  Opening Reception: Sat. Dec 1.  Collective's Holiday show and Holiday Gifts

 MENDOCINO COUNTY TOURIST ACTIVITIES

Plan your summer and fall vacation around a visit to the spectacular coastline and tourist friendly towns and hostings of Mendocino County.  Click on the lighthouse link and check out the many categories of themed vacation activities. Use the site's search features to land on the locations and facilities that offer your selected activities.  Detailed descriptions and photos will help you make your choices and any needed arrangements for a vacation you won't forget.

Join us if you are in town for the July 4th weekend.  The gallery will have live music and other goings-on during the parade activities down Main Street in Point Arena, on Sunday, July 1.  Other info on poster below.

NOW!  A NEW LINE OF MODERN ART

created by Paula Haymond

Paula is a mixed media sculptor who works with wood, metal, resin and stone to create 3-D works of art.  Her works incorporate imagination and whimsy, enhanced by color, lace work piercing designs, and surface texturing, to realize beautiful, integrated, never before seen, original works of art.

As a sculptor, Haymond is always looking for new materials to be used in her strucures, and always seeking to spark the curiosity of viewers to explore her materials and designs more intimately.

Paula uses a wide variety of power tools, hand tools, and micro machines to create her projects. You are invited to drop by our gallery and view this exciting, entirely new line of artwork 

Etched Encaustice-coated Antique Musical Instruments, Bowls, and Vases, by Paula Haymond

woodworking art

SPECIALS FOR SUMMER

 Mendocino County has some of the finest woodwortking artists in the country, and we think our collective has two of the most outstanding of that cadre: Barry Semegran, and Charles Ross.

Barry is a firm believer in practicing a sustainable wood cultivar environment, and goes to great lengths to do his own part to use our scarce hardwood resources to the best advantage.  He is forever on the lookout for opportunities to conserve or reclaim hardwood made available through small scale orchard thinnings, building lot clearances, vintage building removals, and such.  His home shop has all the equipment needed to work with the wood from tree trunk stage through the finished wood project.  His inventory of comnmon to exotic hardwoods has grown to where it might already be enough to supply him for years to come. Barry informs us that he will offer a 10% discount on all his items now at the CHAC gallery in Point Arena until June 15, 2018.  Some of this work will be shown in the following photos.

 Charley Ross is a recent addition to our collective and has a long experience in the woodworking craft.  He has taught industrial arts in urban schools, and has had overseas assignments in international schools--like a recent multi-year assignment in Thailand, as well as in a Native American Indian school on a midwestern reservation.  He likes the challenge of unusual projects, like building music stands for musicians, where even the wood threads to disassemble the stand for travel have been cut from hardwood.  His wall sculptures are frequently very thought provoking, with a use of archetypal syimbols.  At another level, his wood-crafted toys are a delight for young and old alike. Come into the gallery and browse some of his items.    

Display Cabinet on Stand at L.  Black Walnut, Black Cherriy, and Maple hardwoods.  $790 less discount. 

Display stand on R. has many attractive small items on display, including Lidded Box on top shelf, (Pacific Madrone, Black Walnut sap and heart wood).  Next shelf has a Hinged Box, (Claro Walnut, Tiger Maple), $215 less discount.

The Oval Wall Mirror in background is of Birdseiye Maple, $395 less discount.

 By B. Semegran



Desk (in corner), Curly Sassafras with Black Walnut accents in legs, and with natural finished near-surface of tree at outer edge.  $795 less discount.

Bench, Pacific Madrone, with natural near-surface of tree at outer edge.  (check at sales desk for price).

By B. Semegran

  Coffee Table, Maple with Wenge inlay.  $695, less discount.

 By Barry Semegran

Wall Sculptures, Mobus at lower right, Archetypal Symbols (Christian and Jewish) left and top.  Walnut and Mahogany.   

By C. Ross

 Music Stand  (sample display of disassembled components lying beneath the completely assembled display stand)

 By C. Ross

Tic-Tac-Toe Game

By Charlie Ross