|
Local artists join this weekend’s celebration in Lone Pine |
|
|
Tuesday, 06 October 2009 |
|
By Charles James
Special to The Inyo Register 10-6-09 Nature’s artistry is evident in Southern Inyo’s wind-swept, weathered boulders of the Alabama Hills against the backdrop of the majestic granite mountains of the Sierra Nevada to the west, and to the east the very different Inyo Mountains. Even the valley floor is defined by the wind and as much by water as the lack of it.
But there is also beauty of man-made art produced by local resident artists who call Lone Pine home. These artists are inspired by their environment and their love of art, fueling their imagination and creativity, and resulting in unique creations to complement those provided by nature.
While the Lone Pine Film Festival is an event staged annually to celebrate filmmakers, their artistry, films and their use of locales formed by the forces of nature and man, four local artists, along with a “mystery guest artist,” will be hosting an art showing for visitors during the weekend celebration of the Film Festival from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. this Saturday.
Artist Drew Wickman is a pottery maker with more than three decades of experience who uses a special form of firing pottery known as Raku, a method of Japanese origins traditionally characterized by hand-molding of clay. The pottery is removed from a hot kiln when the glaze has melted and is then placed in a closed container with various combustible materials such as grass, leaves, pine needles or paper. The result is a glaze that forms a metallic luster and crackles while the clay body is colored from gray to carbon black. The term Raku is Japanese, meaning literally, “enjoyment” or “ease.”
Sculptor Buck Grace originated relief sculpting in gypsum in 1958 when working in high-rise construction in Long Beach. Since opening his first shop back in 1969, he has produced many works which are often of North American wildlife, specifically those found in Inyo and Mono counties. Grace also has a shop, “Studio Too,” located in the courtyard of the Old Lone Pine Motel in the center of town.
Watercolorist Jean Stolaroff will be displaying her works as well. Stolaroff started painting 25 years ago and has continued studying under local masters over many years, always inspired by the every-changing scenery of the Alabama Hills, the Sierra Nevada, the Inyo Mountains and Death Valley. Her work has been shown from Mammoth Lakes to Ridgecrest and can be found in many private collections throughout California and Nevada.
Oil painter Amanda Dolphin originated from Philadelphia before relocating to the Eastern Sierra in 2002. She is inspired by the quiet beauty of the local landscape. Recently she has also begun studying pottery under Wickman. After closing her local shop gallery, she decided to transform her house into a giant work of art, explaining, “An artist lives art, so why not live in it.” The public will have the opportunity to tour her home while visiting the art show.
The local artists will be showing their works at Dolphin’s home, located at 310 S. Lone Pine Ave., on the corner of South Lone Pine Avenue and East Muir Street off the west side of Main Street across from McDonald’s. For more information and directions, call Dolphin at 876-1026.
|
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 October 2009 )
|
