Art I'm Looking At: Kerry Vander Meer on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi (May 1 through July 1)

I'm pleased to announce the upcoming show on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi. I'll be showing mixed media work by Kerry Vander Meer, who works in Oakland. She's an inspiring colorist and has an exquisite sense of composition. Her work incorporates drawing, printmaking, and collage, using paper, fabric, and other found materials. Beautiful work. Artwork will be viewable during the restaurant's normal business hours from May 1 through July 1. Opening reception Monday, May 7, from 5:30 to 7:30PM. Come see the work, have a glass of wine, and meet the artist. 8235 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, CA 94931

Kerry has recently done a wine label for Imagery Estate Winery as well. She'll be at the winery for one of their "Gallery Days" events, Sunday, May 20, 1:00-3:00PM. Her label will be on the 2017 Albariño. (Stay tuned for information about my own Gallery Days event later in the year. One of my pieces will appear on the Imagery 2017 Viognier label.)

Art I'm Looking at: Claude Smith, on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi

I'm pleased to announce the next show on the Art Wall at Shige Sushi will feature work by Graton-based artist Claude Smith. These are the last few days to see the exquisite work by Bob Nugent up on the Art Wall now (through tomorrow, Sunday, September 3). Claude's show will go up over the long weekend and open on Tuesday, September 5. The opening reception will be the following Monday, September 11, from 5:30 to 7:30PM. Drop by, meet the artist, have a glass of wine, take in the art.

Art I'm Looking At: Sherry Parker—Collage Work on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi (May 31-July 31, 2016)

For readers in the San Francisco Bay area, I'm pleased to announce the next show on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi, in downtown Cotati will feature the surreal collage work of Sherry Parker. The show, opening Tuesday, May 31, will run through the end of July.

Opening reception the following Monday, June 6 (5:30-7:30PM). Come meet Sherry, have a glass of wine, see friends, enjoy the work. Aside from the reception, art work on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi is viewable during regular restaurant hours. Shige Sushi is at 8235 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, CA 94931. More information about The Art Wall at Shige Sushi.

Art I'm Looking At: Lewis Bodecker—Paintings and Drawings on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi

New show opening soon on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi, downtown Cotati. Enigmatic Bay Area artist Lewis Bodecker (1926-2009). Abstract paintings and drawings. April 5 through May 29, 2016. Opening reception, Monday, April 11, 5:30PM to 7:30PM. Light refreshments served. This week is the last week to see work by Lisa Beerntsen and Deborah Salomon (closes April 3, 2016).

Art I'm Looking At: New Show at Shige Sushi, Cotati (December 1 through January 31, 2016)

In my role as curator of The Art Wall at Shige Sushi, I'm pleased to present a new show, opening December 1—Mixed Media work by Jenny Honnert Abell.

JENNY HONNERT ABELL—MIXED MEDIA
On the ART WALL at SHIGE SUSHI, Cotati
Dec 1, 2015 - Jan 31, 2016
Reception: Monday, Dec 7, 2015 from 5:00PM to 7:00PM. Light refreshments served. Come have a glass of wine and meet the artist (note that Shige Sushi is closed on Mondays. The restaurant will be open on Monday, DEC 7 for the reception only). The show runs from DEC 1, 2015 to JAN 31, 2016. See the Art Wall website for details of opening hours and for more information. Http://ctalcroft.wix.com/artwallatshige/

Jenny Honnert Abell is a mostly self-taught artist whose work beautifully combines fine handwork with subtly exotic imagery. Abell's work is represented by multiple galleries in the US. Overseas, her work has been shown in Canada, England, Switzerland, and Senegal. A recent commission by the State Department’s Art in Embassy program honored her with a trip to Dakar, Senegal in West Africa where she was given the opportunity to experience the people and culture there. Reflections on that experience resulted in a series of 10 pieces now exhibited in the permanent collection of the US Embassy in Dakar. Jenny’s work resides in numerous private collections including world-class collections at Hall Winery in Napa, California and Imagery Estate Winery, in Glen Ellen, California. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Abell has lived and worked in Santa Rosa, California since 1995.

Art I'm Looking At: Mark Eanes on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi

I'm looking forward to showing the work of Mark Eanes next on The Art Wall at Shige Sushi, in Cotati. The show will run from October 6 through November 29, 2015. The opening reception will be Monday, October 12. Click on the image here for a larger view. For more information about current and upcoming shows on The Art Wall, visit The Art Wall website at http://ctalcroft.wix.com/artwallatshige/

Art I'm Making: New Collages (November, 2014)

I've finished two new collages in the past couple of weeks. Pictured here is Untitled Collage No. 81 (Santa Rosa). This one is rather more boldly colored than usual, using some raspberry-colored paper and the luscious Venetian Red made by Sennelier.

In contrast, Untitled Collage No. 82 (Santa Rosa) shown below is mostly in neutral shades, although with accents in a deep grey-blue and in purples. It's an altogether more contemplative piece. It incorporates a few bits of paper with torn edges. I mostly use a paper cutter to get straight edges, but I liked these ragged scraps. I've let one push out below the bottom of the picture edge.

I'll be showing some of my collages in December and January at Shige Sushi, in downtown Cotati, on the new Art Wall there. Come by and meet me and the other artists participating in the show (Claude Smith and Sherry Parker) called "The Art of Collage" on December 17, 2014 at 7:00PM. The show will run from December 6 through the end of January 2015.

Click on the images for a larger view. For more, use the Art I'm Making tab to the right or visit my collage website at http://ctalcroft.wix.com/collage-site/ (requires Flash Player).