From The Beginning

The Dolphin Gallery opens at its new location with an exhibit of works by Judith Greenleaf. The gallery opens with a unique exhibit by a Mendonoma Coast artist who is connected to art, artists and art lovers. The long history of Judith Greenleaf’s art and support for artists is well represented in the exhibit that opens on Saturday, August 13.  The Dolphin Gallery makes a short move into a new location in the Sea Cliff Center (39140 South Highway One, next door to Trink’s Cafe) in Gualala. An opening reception is scheduled on Saturday, the 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

In 1985, Judith Greenleaf was introduced to Gualala Arts by Jer Skibbens, who called and asked if she would give a lecture at the opening of an exhibit of works by world famous watercolorists. “The priceless collection was loaned to the fledgling Gualala Arts Center by a wealthy collector through the then Gualala resident, the nationally celebrated artist, Millard Sheets. Skibbens must have heard about me because I was teaching art and art history at the College of the Redwoods’ Fort Bragg campus.   I accepted his invitation and came to Gualala for the first time (from my homeI in Little River, about five miles south of Mendocino village.)”

Soon after her lecture (and through Skibbens’ recommendation) Gualala Arts made an arrangement with Santa Rosa Jr. College, and college art classes became available on the Mendonoma Coast for the first time. (Classes continued for more than 20 years.) Greenleaf adds, “My 23 years teaching all of the   laboratory arts and art history at GAC was the best job I could have imagined.”

Almost all of the work in this exhibition at the Dolphin Gallery was produced as Greenleaf was teaching at Gualala Arts, working along with her students. Then she would further refine and develop (if needed) her work at home in her studio, often after a day of teaching, whlle the inspiration was still fresh. Greenleaf is a night person, so working until two or three in the morning was not uncommon.

Greenleaf adds, “This work reflects what is closest to my heart, the beauty of the natural world and the expressive possibilities of the human form. All my work begins in the presence of the subject. The watercolors and oils celebrating nature are started outdoors at the site. The drawings, paintings, and sculpture inspired by the figure are started while looking at the model. They may be transformed in the studio, pared down to essence, with themes of movement, transformation, historical reference, and myth. There is always a romance with the material in a spontaneous and intuitive process.”

Judith Greenleaf will be unable to attend the opening reception on Saturday, the 13th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., but we hope to have her in person on Sunday September 4 from 2-4pm.

“From the Beginning” continues at the new Dolphin Gallery through Sunday, September 4, 2022. Information is at GualalaArts.org. Download the poster and share with friends.