JoAnne Abreu and Mel Gerst Opening Reception: Saturday, March 1, 2008, 5:00 p.m. Exhibit remains through April 2 Dolphin Gallery

The Dolphin Gallery will have a free exhibit featuring JoAnne Abreu, mixed media gourds, and Mel Gerst, photography, from the opening March 1, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. through April 2, 2008. Please join the artists with complimentary wine and munchies.

More about JoAnne Abreu

JoAnne relates some of her history,

"I have been a basket maker for twenty years. The basketry technique I love most is coiling. When I was introduced to hard shell gourds ten years ago, I knew I had to use my coiling art on these great gifts of nature.

Beginning with the gourd as my foundation, I use coiling to build something new. I create a structure that combines gourd and fiber, thus enhancing or altering the gourd's original shape. To accomplish this I wrap waxed linen thread around a fiber core, attaching row upon row to the gourd. Color is added using leather dye. The piece is preserved with a protective coating. Some gourds are covered with handmade paper.

I love the entire process used to create my pieces. It begins with studying a gourd in its natural state, deciding how it should be cut and built upon, and then transforming it into a three-dimensional art form.

A life-long fascination with shapes and textures in nature, as well as ceramics, woodturning, and fiber arts, keeps me motivated to explore and create."

JoAnne is a winner of the mixed media category of Art in the Redwoods in the years of 2000, 2004, and 2005.

More about Mel Gerst

Mel Gerst has come full circle from his childhood desire at age 10 to become an artist. He launched his first career in 1963 as a rocket engineer helping develop the rocket engines that landed man on the moon. Over the last three decades, he has used his entrepreneurial talents founding two businesses. Throughout his career, he's been an innovator blending passion, enthusiasm, creativity and technology. In early 2006, he sold his graphic design, commercial photography and printing company and is now devoting his time to his true love. An artist at age 10 to wildlife/nature photographer today, life is a journey.

Mel entered his first art show, Art in the Redwoods, in 2006. His signature image "The Prayer" (at right) won third place. In 2007, his image "The Look" (below left) was voted the "Most Popular" at Art in the Redwoods.

"I get my enjoyment capturing images I love and hope others enjoy as well. Seeing wildlife close-up, beyond what we can observe with the naked eye, helps us acquire a better understanding of the nature around us - living on the North Coast provides ever changing scenes and moods for my inspirational landscapes."

His recent work includes a study of our Sun as it interacts with the Pacific Ocean horizon. His photo sequence which shows how the Green Flash forms has been has been very well accepted. As Mel says, "my challenge is to capture the images we don't see even though they are right in front of our eyes." He presently shoots primarily with the latest Cannon digital cameras and a full range of high quality lenses. His prints are produced in his studio on an Epson large format printer with long life Ultra Chrome K3 inks. As a recent full time resident to the North Coast, he and his wife Janet live on The Sea Ranch.

The Dolphin Gallery is located at 39225 Highway One in downtown Gualala, CA
(behind the post office on the south side). Open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Please call (707) 884-3896 for more information.