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Gualala Arts
Promoting public interest and participation in the arts since 1961.
Archive of past events: 2004 through 2014
The Sea Ranch Lodge Front Gallery will have a free exhibit of Jan Fogel's colorful paintings and Beatrice Acosta's thoughtful ceramics starting November 14, 2009. The Front Gallery exhibits are sponsored in association with Gualala Arts. About Jan Fogel
"I've been selling art since I got here 10 years ago. The opportunities through NCAG, Gualala Arts and the local galleries have been fantastic. There is a market I didn't know existed." This, Jan's "Big Color" series sends her on new adventures with color and includes a return to glassine, her signature medium, after working on wood for two years. These colors are raucous in contrast to many of her totally resolved, earlier earth tones. They bring brightness along with lightness and there is no loss of the substance they had in earlier exhibits. Jan accepts the idea that each piece virtually paints itself as each stroke or action suggests what comes next. Solving problems and correcting mistakes powers the process of painting for Jan. Her relentless layering and repainting leaves hypnotic marks that reveal painterly depth. Galleries and especially museums and books provide Jan's contemporary education. She enjoys working and is compelled to go in her studio to see what happens next.
About Beatrice AcostaSearching much of her adult life for a creative medium, Beatrice found her heart's passion at Brandybuck Ranch Pottery Studio in Point Arena. Under the tutelage of art instructor, Kaye Like, Beatrice has been creating, experimenting and building with clay since 2000.
Her work is organic and flowing, allowing the viewer to continually discover something new in each piece. She is a hand builder, using the coil and slab method. Beginning with the earth element, the clay, ending with the fire element, the piece is complete with connections to the universe. "I am enamored with the piece as it unfolds in my hands. I rarely know what I want it to look like. It evolves as the clay and I create together." Smolder pit fire is one of her favorite methods. The use of the fire element creates smoke clouds, which then create their own unique design in the artwork. The pottery is then polished to a fine sheen. Beatrice uses Navajo Wheel low fire clay for her pit-fired pieces. Beatrice also has a strong affinity for the raku process. She has created numerous large scalloped bowls, vessels and masks, using raku glazes. "I love surprises and the smolder fire and the raku process certainly provide that element." She is now exploring the use of horsehair on her creations. After the piece is bisqued, it is heated to 1000 degrees and horsehair is placed on the piece thus embedding itself into the work. The low fire white clay is then polished; the effect is somewhat marble-like.
Beatrice has participated in many art events on the Mendocino Coast, including in The Sea Ranch, Gualala and Point Arena. She was awarded First Place and The Judge's Award at the 2005 Art in the Redwoods and Second Place in 2007. She has had two highly successful shows, entitled "Surprises" (2004) and "Spirit" (2007), at the Dolphin Gallery in Gualala. This is her second art presentation at The Sea Ranch. Beatrice is employed through the Santa Rosa Junior College teaching English classes to non-native speakers (ESL) in Gualala and Point Arena. She also is the homestudy teacher for Arena Elementary, teaches yoga and is an Acupressure practitioner and a holistic massage therapist.
The Sea Ranch Lodge is located at |
For those of us who keep an eye on the North Coast art exhibits, the paintings of
"I think my ethnic background, my Native American and Mexican roots, have emerged in my pottery work. The joy I feel as my hands work with the clay must have some connection to my ancestors."
