The Dolphin Gallery invites you to a spring soiree in honor of talents Susan Shaddick (kelp/mosaic/oil/watercolor) and Robin Begbie (clay). From 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, meet the artists and soak up daylight savings as you enjoy complimentary wine and appetizers. What a wonderful way to spend an evening÷and admission is free!

Robin Begbie creates with clay. Born in New Zealand, she trained as a teacher and traveled extensively before opting to study sculpture and pottery. She came to California in 1980, working in a pottery studio in Carmel Valley before moving to Forest nolls to establish Red Fox Studio.

She works in large sculptural stoneware forms, a wide variety of stoneware clay, porcelain bowls and other functional forms. "Touching and creating forms with clay brings one close to the earth, which leaves me with a calm peace. All the elements÷ wind, rain, sun, etc.÷affect the process of life. My work moves with these elements from the raw forms to the fine light bowls. It has become a way of speaking and telling my stories."

Susan Shaddick is a native Northern Californian, and has been creating art for 35 years. She has Bachelorâs and Masterâs degrees in Art and Counseling Psychology, and has also done graduate work in Italian literature and art therapy. Susan has lived and worked in Berlin, Germany and New York City, as well as locations in Northern California. Her work is in collections in the U.S. and abroad.

Susan views all her creative work as an interaction, a collaboration, between her and the materials, as well as something beyond them both. Using her intuition as a guide and her hands as the primary tool, each piece is made manifest. She is very drawn to work with natural materials in as "pure" a form as possible.

The Dolphin Gallery will feature the work of Robin Begbie and Susan Shaddick from June 5 through June 30.