Ling-Yen Jones, jewelry, Barbara Kelley, prints, Nancy Kyle, pottery Opening Reception: Saturday, June 1, 2013, 5:00 p.m. Exhibit remains through July 3 Dolphin Gallery

The June 2013 exhibit at the Dolphin Gallery features printmaker Barbara Kelley, jewelry designer Ling-Yen Jones and ceramicist Nancy Kyle. The three have collaborated to produce a show with a distinctive Asian motif that is called "Eastern Reflections." The opening night reception is on Saturday, June 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the show runs through July 3.

Barbara Kelley

Barbara Kelley is no stranger to frequent visitors to the Dolphin Gallery. She has previously had shows in 2001, 2004 and 2007. She returns with original pieces that incorporate the Asian theme found in her "Kimono" series on which she has worked on since 2001, and her "Meditation" series based on ancient Chinese landscapes.

Using her 1380-pound Sturges etching press and an assortment of hand-held tools to apply inks, Kelley creates one-of-a-kind monoprints printed on either fine papers or canvas. Some are framed under glass while others are mounted on bamboo obi rods, traditionally used for displaying the obi sash of a kimono. Many viewers find her work creates an inner sense of calmness.

Kelley enjoys incorporating found objects from nature such as maple leaves, seaweed or bird feathers. She will press these inked objects directly onto the plate that will print the monoprint. The result is a piece that is not only visually pleasing and evocative of nature but one that also has a timeless contemplative quality.

She works out of The Moon Catcher Studio, her Sea Ranch retreat along the coast, and in a painting studio in Santa Rosa. She first studied at UC Berkeley and at other California State universities. She did additional studies at Kala Institute, Rocky Vine Press, Evans Encaustics and Brinker Ink.

Her work is found in private collections in Europe, Australia and throughout the United States. She has exhibited since 1985 and has won numerous awards. She is a member of the California Society of Printmakers, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Cultural Council of Sonoma County and past president of the North Coast Artist's Guild.

A complete list of her exhibits, more biographical material, and a virtual tour that includes a range of prints and paintings can be found on-line at Mooncatcher.info.

Nancy Kyle

Nancy Kyle's love for clay began when she needed a creative outlet to help her as a young mother find tranquility and balance in her life. "Taking a lump of clay and feeling the magic of the clay in my hand as it centers and becomes a beautiful creation is a process that connects me to the earth and the generations who have used this process of creating functional pottery," she says.

Kyle started taking courses in ceramics, figure sculpture and drawing at the Evanston Art Center in Evanston, IL. She became proficient in functional stoneware and loved working on the wheel. She was pursuing a career as a functional potter when she became a single parent and needed to go back to teaching for a steady income.

After retiring, Kyle again had time to pursue her love of working in clay. "I did some throwing, but learned the joy of hand building and working with slabs," she says. "I studied with Kay Like at Brandybuck Ranch and at the Mendocino Art Center where I learned about raku firing. It is so exciting to open the reduction chamber after a raku firing and discover the gift that the fire and reduction have created." She also learned from sharing ideas and techniques with the other artists working there.

Kyle's passion has become learning more about raku firing and creating pieces that lend themselves to that process. She is fascinated with textures in clay and creating pieces that are enhanced with texture. Kyle has always been inspired by Asian art, especially Japanese culture and was fortunate enough to be able to visit some well-known Japanese potters in her travels. "I am grateful to the teachers and potters who have inspired me and taught me so much about working in clay." Kyle adds. "I have grown to love the magic that happens in a raku firing and discovering the surprises and delights that happen serendipitously."

Ling-Yen Jones

For over a decade Ling-Yen Jones has worked as a jewelry designer in Mendocino County. During that time she has refined a distinctive style that is easily recognizable and one that has attracted increasing attention for its highly individualistic approach. She mainly uses silver, semi-precious stones and pearls.

Jones is comfortable with traditional designs but prefers creations that are not only functional but also artistic and symbolic. For example, many sets of earrings have a variation in their pattern so one piece augments the other rather than mirrors it. Each earring makes a slightly different statement on one theme. The result is often whimsical and always a symbolic statement.

Much of her work is inspired by the Ukiyo-e period of Japanese art. The term is translated as "pictures of the floating world." From its beginning, this period stressed the impermanent, fleeting characteristic nature of life. Yet, it was accessible to a wide audience of people and had a commercial aspect. The different facial expressions found in many of Jones' pieces reflect these qualities.

After completing her studies at Humboldt State with David LaPlantz and at Monterey Peninsula College she settled on the Mendonoma Coast and currently works out of Point Arena. She is represented at many California galleries as well as galleries in Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, New Mexico, Michigan, Oregon, Texas and China. This is her third show at the Dolphin.

Her designs have received numerous awards at both Art in the Redwoods and the Beverly Hills Annual "Affaire in the Garden" shows for a number of years. In the January 2012 Gualala Arts exhibit Living on the Edge she received First Place for jewelry. More information and many examples of her work can be found on her website, Ling-YenDesigns.com.

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.