A WALK THROUGH THE CYPRESS, April 2025

Cypress Gallery Column, Guest Writer Christine Jeszeck

Have we got a treat for you this month! In our front room, featured artist Mitra Cline presents Cuckoo's Mixed Reality Nest from April 3 to April 27. I got a sneak peek as Mitra was setting up and I was immediately drawn in by the captivating colors, the creativity and the magical quality of her art.  

The title refers to the cuckoo's practice of laying their eggs in the nests of other species. This practice can be likened to artists needing each other for inspiration and collaboration. There will be an interactive aspect to Mitra's show in which visitors can enjoy a hands on experience with the art and even create their own art projects with the materials provided. Meet the artist and learn more at her public reception on Saturday, April 12 from 1 to 3 pm.

Diving deeper with Mitra, a lucky ten participants can sign up for a two-day mask making workshop by registering at lompocart.org. 

Don't miss this show!

Elsewhere in the Gallery, you will find a delightful array of subject matter in various mediums by our LVAA members. From animals to landscapes, abstracts to detailed realism, there is truly something for everyone. 

What you might notice first is a mixed media sculpture by Ellen Thermos entitled "April, the Junk Yard Dancer". The beauty of the piece lies in the grace and elegance of a dancer in a minimalist, yet expressive form. Other pedestal pieces include a fused glass creation by Kristine Kelly called "Hike to the Falls". This delicate work invites the viewer to meander along a path in a nature scene. 

On the walls you will find some familiar local landscapes including our own River Park. One of them, "River Park Reflections" by Vicki Andersen, is awash with her trademark vivid colors and bold brushstrokes. Don't forget our popular gift area, where you can find reasonably priced original art, including a delightful mixed media piece by VC DeMille depicting a California Quail. 

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc Valley. 119 E Cypress Ave, Lompoc. 805-737-1129 <lompocart.org> @cypressgallerylompoc

Photo Credit: Christine Jeszeck

Captions:

  1. Mitra Cline "Falling Star", Mixed Media on Canvas

  2. Mitra Cline "A Gift for You", Mixed Media on Canvas

  3. Mitra Cline "Masks" Mixed Media on Paper

  4. Ellen Thermos "April, the Junk Yard Dancer", Mixed Media

  5. Kristine Kelly "Hike to the Falls", Fused Glass

  6. Vicki Andersen "River Park Reflections", Acrylics on Canvas

  7. VC DeMille "Quail", Mixed Media on Canvas

Share

Fanciful Flights, “A Walk Through the Cypress” March 2025

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

They’re back! Birds of a feather have come home to roost at the Cypress Gallery. In this case, they are birds comprised of any imaginable art media. This creative assortment of avian friends are a feature of the show “Flights of Fancy,” a Lompoc Valley Art Association community art project. Artists were invited to decorate, enhance and otherwise transform a simple bird shape cut from wood. No stipulations other than creativity were imposed.

The results of this particular artistic challenge are delightfully whimsical, and as varied as the personalities of each artist. Some pieces are humorous, others surprising, poetic, introspective, entertaining, or simply beautiful. Collage elements of all types are used as embellishments, including glass, found objects and metal.

Figure 9: Diane Arnold “Ready to Go” Mixed media

In a stunning piece by Joe Gliebe Goetz, the viewer enters the world of dream time. His “Dawn of Effervescence” features a bird resting on a branch, lit by a cosmic sun, rendered with the dot technique found in Australian aboriginal art. Two delicately painted pieces by Jennifer Chavoya Morena, “Night Time Lovebirds, I and II,” are magical. Kaitlin Chui’s “Someone to Come Home To,” a mixed media piece that includes fine drawing, takes the viewer into the mysterious world of private thoughts.

Some of the flat cut-outs have become three-dimensional. “SKETCH” is the name of a cartoon character bird by Linda Gooch, complete with a beret and miniature sketchpads and pencils. “Ready to Go” by Diane Arnold, atop its own tree branch, has “feathers” made of shells, buttons, and stones.

Traditional paintings of birds, and those rendered in glass and mosaic, are included in the display. Throughout the gallery the viewer will find a crane, a snowy plover, a rooster, a parrot, a mockingbird, sparrows and finches. This is a must-see show for bird-lovers, fanciers of bird art, and of the creative process itself. Where else will you find a mer-bird, or a car-bird?

Also on display are works produced by our gallery artists, of environments so convincing the viewer can conjure a complete ecosystem; almost hear the birds! Go on a safari with Lee Hill, through his painting “Mom’s Pride.” Wander through the grass, the sage and oak trees in paintings such as “La Purisma Paths” by Neil Andersson and “Old Red Barn” by Claudette Carlton. Hear the bees buzz and sense the abundance of the floral kingdom, in spectacular floral watercolors by Diane Atturio and a pastel by Deborah Breedon.

The Cypress Gallery is your place for art. We are also a well-supplied gift store and an arts education center, with classes taught by gallery members. Support us by a visit and a purchase. Have yourself a merry, local art experience this spring!

All photos by E. Monks Hack

Share

Red Zone, A Walk Through the Cypress

By Elizabeth Monks Hack

The Lompoc Valley Art Association brings to our community another holiday celebration this month, with a theme that should please viewers who delight in the color red. “Red Zone” invited members to submit work that features the color of hearts, the color of roses, of love and excitement. The front gallery is awash with all tints, tones and shades of red. There are also plenty of hearts and flowers, in a variety of media, to please your special valentine.

Linda Gooch, with her uncanny realism, has on display her signature roses in traditional media, but also several works that range in style from surrealism to steam punk. Placed next to an explosion of collage elements called “Big Bang,” a luscious doughnut tempts you. See if you can find the three-dimensional bees in her “Poppy Dance.”

Tammy Evans, Joellen Chrones and Karen Franscioni are Cypress Gallery artists who work in wood, glass and mosaic respectively. Included in the show are many of their delightful objects of art, all with a heart motif. This month’s exuberant display of paintings, collages and art is sure to get you the mood for love!

Once you see an surfeit of a color, your eyes start to find it everywhere, which is true for visitors who stroll from our front room into the main galleries. A gorgeous little painting by C. Wood features a cool ocean, with a beach chair of an eye-searing red orange. Angelina LaPointe’s accomplished gesture drawings feature a model wearing naught but red gloves.

The eye eventually readjusts. A delightful contrast is found in Chris Jeszeck’s ethereal acrylic pours “Pez de Fantasia” and “Flights of Fancy.” Veils and feathers of blues and violets cascade down slim vertical planes.

As per usual our artists represent the gamut of creativity. No two artists are the same and no two works of art are the same. Consider adding some of this creativity to you home. Update your style, invigorate your life on a daily basis by adding a new work of art. And while you are here, pick up a little something for your Valentine!

NOTE: Don’t miss our “Flight of Fancy” community art project coming up in March! Pick up your cut-out bird blank to decorate for the show during gallery hours, and return your creation by February 24.

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. (805) 737-1129 <lompocart.org> @cypressgallerylompoc

All photos by Elizabeth Monks Hack

  • Linda Gooch “Double Delight” Watercolor

  • Karen Franscioni “Then. Now. Always” Glass mosaic

  • Tammy Evans “Hearts” Wood tiles

  • Ellen Thermos "Valentine for the World"

  • C. Wood “Last Stand” Oil on canvas

  • Chris Jeszeck “Pez de Fantasia” Acrylic pour on canvas

  • Ellen Thermos "Valentine for the World"

Share

Cross the Threshold – Look at Art, A Walk Through the Cypress January 2025

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The Lompoc Valley Art Association wishes a Happy New Year to all! Many of you, art lovers and creators alike, often visit us at the Cypress Gallery, our venue for showcasing the talent of our local arts community. If not, now is an excellent time to take the opportunity. Our January exhibition features the art of printmaker Angelina LaPointe, whose “California Wilds” explores the natural world with a fresh eye for beauty coupled with exceptional technique.

LaPointe studied printmaking and book arts at the College of Creative Studies, UCSB, where she developed an affinity for the block print medium. A decade ago she founded her company Side Car Press, and has worked steadily since, honing her style and exploring various expressions of print media. For example, upon entering the Cypress Gallery, the viewer is treated to a school of three-dimensional mackerel swimming across the walls in a play of light and shadow. She has installed a similar work using California barn swallows, at Allan Hancock College.

The laborious technique of carving an image by hand into a linoleum block, sometimes using a separate block for each color of the piece, is completed on LaPointe’s fully functioning, fully impressive, antique letterpress machine. Her work retains a nostalgia for past art styles, but simultaneously pops with a contemporary immediacy. The chosen color palette for each piece is gloriously limited to a few perfect contrasting harmonies, with oranges that ignite and blues that cool, against the lively lines of black ink. Compositions have just enough empty space to counterbalance the animals in their environments.

The subject matter of the pieces in “California Wilds” may be the flora and fauna of our state, but they are far from wildlife studies. In LaPointe’s hands we look upon these animals and plants as familiar companions, with wit and personality. This most enjoyable show show runs through January 26, with an artist reception on Sunday, January 25, 1 – 3 PM.

In this column I often mention the startling nature of original art, of it being an expression of the heart and mind and hands of each individual artist. The variety never ceases to amaze me. In the main gallery space of the Cypress the viewer will find art of social protest, as in J.T. Turner’s red-orange “The First Rule Is,” next to a red-orange floral mosaic, as in Karen Franscioni’s “Poppy,” which itself is near Michael Corob’s flame throwing floral “Some of Us Are Flowers.”

Artists create works of serenity, flamboyance, or pleasure. Artists transform useful objects, plates, hats, necklaces, journals, for example, into treasured works of beauty. We hope you will cross the threshold into our world soon. Follow us to learn more about our activities, classes and events. It is a world of color, delight and imagination.

Share

"Art for the Holidays" A WALK THROUGH THE CYPRESS December 2024 Edition

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The Cypress Gallery, your first stop for holiday happiness. December brings cold weather, black and starry skies, and the transition to a season of giving. Our artists have put together a display of festive paintings, prints, cards, ornaments and gifts to suit your holiday needs and uplift your mood, if it needs uplifting!

Many of the pieces are small, and all of them are unique, well-suited for the special people on your holiday list.

The most startling of all is an assemblage by Tammy Evans, entitled “Horns and Heart.” Not easy to describe, it is a totemic wall piece incorporating antlers, mosaic glass and a carved wooden heart, expertly crafted. Evans is in equal measure an artist and a horse wrangler by trade, and her compelling work displays the vitality and precision her vocations demand.

The main gallery contains representative work of many a favorite local artist. In Vicki Andesrsen’s “Santa Barbara Boats,” the paint is laid on thick and true, defining a lively but harmonious scene. “Harmony,” a pastel by Deborah Breedon, transforms a classic Lompoc flower field painting into an exhilarating experience. In it the somewhat abstract floral abundance cascades towards the viewer in a tumult of color and texture. Liz Poulin Alvarez, last month’s featured artist, has a masterful landscape on display, entitled “Mt. Whitney in June.” Its broad and rich expressionist brushstrokes collide with one another on their voyage tCypress Galleryo the top of the painting.

Each work of art on display is a treasure of its own. Whether you are enjoying a precious piece of glass or stone jewelry, a sweet giclee print of a blue jay, a mirrored mosaic heart, or a wooden craft work of Santa Claus, you are experiencing the bounty of human creativity. Consider the gift of art for the holidays. Give an art class, give a gift certificate, give a print, or an original. We hope you will give us a visit!

The Cypress Gallery is owned and operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association. We are a 501c (3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. Location 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Hours Thursday – Sunday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Contact (805) 737-1129 lompocart.org Cypress Gallery

PHOTO CAPTIONS

All photos by Bill Morson

  1. Tammy Evans “Horses and Heart”

  2. Liz Poulin Alvarez “Mt. Whitney in June”

  3. Deborah Breedon “Harmony”

  4. Vicki Andersen “Santa Barbara Boats”

  5. “Gallery View”

  6. “Holiday Gift”

Share

ARTFUL COMPANIONS, “A Walk Through the Cypress!” November 2024

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

Greetings from the Cypress Gallery, situated on one of the loveliest corners of Lompoc. It is particularly beautiful in the golden light of fall. Our display this month is full of warmth, with works charged with autumnal glow. A walk around the Cypress proves again the rich abundance of talent and creativity in our midst.

November brings to the gallery a unique featured show by local artist Liz Poulin Alvarez, entitled “Canine Companions.” These lively paintings clearly demonstrate Poulin Alvarez loves the act of painting – that she knows her way around the canvas, and understands the potential of color and brush. They also show that she really loves her dogs Jack and Fred!

Poulin Alvarez often brings her dogs along while painting on location. She uses her signature gestural technique to its best effect in these animated paintings. Even when a pooch is seated he emanates movement, suggesting the adage, “a happy dog is a tired dog.” When in action, the gleeful, bounding pups are rendered in strokes of genius, as in “Competition Dogs,” a small work with several dogs leaping in midair.

Poulin Alvarez is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, UCSB and Whitecliffe College in New Zealand. Her expertise and continued practice ensure that these whimsical paintings are skillfully and thoughtfully rendered. A Poulin Alvarez painting typically entrances us with brilliant color to feast our eyes upon. Several works in this show are situated on Jalama Beach, rendered in blue and gold, and contrasted with the black and white of Jack. Jack also brings out the glow of poppies, of green grass, and flowers against a fence.

Art lovers and dog lovers alike will not want to miss “Canine Companions.” It runs through November 24, with an artist reception held on November 17.

Several of the works in the main galleries seem to have a certain pensive outlook. It may be that the month of November acts as an augury, suggesting the ending of another year, and a time for reflection. Rich color acts as a “dying glow.” George Kreutz’s “Bountiful Harvest” is a close-up of beckoning capsicum, painted in jewel tones. Michael Corob mysteriously names his still-life “The Glow,” and includes his signature symbolic doves.

Kathy Badrak’s “Dream Within” is a carved gourd with a window, curtained by a dream catcher. Claudette Carlton’s “The Sentinel” depicts what might be Jerusalem's skyline, silhouetted by a red and orange sky. Linda Gooch’s paintings of La Purisima Mission interiors depict a shadowy but glowing sacred space.

And, as it is November, it is not too early to begin your holiday shopping. The Cypress Gallery is the best gift store in town. Cards, glassware, mosaics, journals, magnets, jewellery and small works of art are hand crafted. Among her many other works of decorative art, glass artist Joellen Chrones has put together charming sets of jewellery, made with with small beads and dangling charms. Beverly Messenger-Harte offers her artfully arranged photographic still-life. The delightful variety of art is endless. Experience it at the Cypress Gallery. Purchase it and you can take it home!

All photos by Bill Morson

Share

Sharing the Art

by  

Elizabeth Monks Hack

 

Fall is in the air. If you didn’t get a chance to travel this summer, plein air artist George Kreutz has done a lot of it for you. If you did get out, Kreutz may have painted a few places you have been. In “Sharing the Art of Plein Air” at the Cypress Gallery this month, his wide-ranging subjects take us all around the country and beyond.

A plein air artist paints “en plein air,” which is French for “in the open air.” Before the 19th century, artists who portrayed landscapes were confined to their studios, due in part to the restrictions of available equipment. Landscapes of the past often have a studied, or unnatural aspect. Once paint tubes and portable canvases were invented, however,  artists began to  explore the advantages of painting outdoors.

Today plein air painting has a huge fan base, of both practitioners and consumers, and could even be considered an international  movement. Kreutz regularly attends PACE, the annual Plein Air Convention and Expo, held in various regions of the U.S. He is active in the arts and plein air community of the central coast, and credits the workshops of John Cosby for his plein air background. Kreutz states that “as I drive/travel, I am always looking for the next painting.” Through his work, Kreutz indeed takes us on a engaging road trip.

Over time, each artist develops a particular style. Kreutz applies his paint in discrete patches of value and color, the eye mixing them together at a distance. He has an eye for pattern, and much of his work is an arrangement of the textures and surfaces of nature, enhanced by light. In “Grand Canyon Vista,” color areas in the distance become pure shape.  The colors of “Road to Tuscon, Rocks” are so fresh that you can almost smell the sage along the trail and feel the sunlight in your eyes. Don’t miss this show – it ends September 29.

You’ll find an abundance of pictorial excitement in the main galleries. Chris Jeszeck’s two “action” paintings are both comical and vibrant.  In “Grandma’s Birthday” an elderly woman skydives, and “Mine!” depicts a pair of zany dogs leaping into the boundless blue sky. Vicki Andersen’s large format painting of one her quintessential white fences is a piece de resistance in the genre. “White Fence with Daisies” sends a jolt through the viewer with its dynamic beauty. Valerie de Mille’s “War,” a large, painted collage of the word WAR, affects us similarly, but is a wake-up call to arms.

Subtle works of art can also generate strong emotions. Linda Gooch’s serene watercolor “On Santa Rosa Road” captures fall colors and distant mountains with intense quietude. Diane Atturio’s trio  of watercolors, including “Fall Beauties,” are delicately painted. Working from life, Atturio shares with intimacy her love of native flora. Kristine Kelly works miracles of elegance in her fused glass painting, “Oregon Coast.”

Use the Cypress Gallery as your go-to gift store for cards, jewelery, glassware, small paintings, journals and more. All works are handcrafted by our artists. Come October, the Cypress Gallery  will be the venue of our community-wide Fall Show, entitled “Square Perspectives.” Please review the show prospectus on our website soon, as space is limited. Explore your creativity. Take a trip with us!

PHOTO CAPTIONS

All photos by Bill Morson

  1. George Kreutz “Grand Canyon Vista”

  2. George Kreutz “Road to Tuscon, Rocks”

  3. George Kreutz “Lake Hodges”

  4. Chris Jeszeck “Grandma’s Birthday”

  5. Chris Jeszeck “Mine!”

  6. Vicki Andersen “White Fence with Daisies”

  7. Valerie De Mille “War”

  8. Linda Gooch “On Santa Rosa Road”

  9. Diane Atturio “Fall Beauties”

  10. Kristine Kelly “Oregon Coast”

Share

Love Love Love at the Cypress Gallery

By Elizabeth Monks Hack

“Love” bedazzles the walls and pedestals of the Cypress Gallery this month, in a show that will surely add to your enjoyment of the most whimsical of holidays. The symbols and tokens of the concept of love – hearts, flowers, birds and bees – are presented in a variety of surprising media. Many of them are as small and precious as a favorite Valentine, and quite perfect for your special someone.

Mosaic artist Karen Franscioni has created hearts of dynamic shapes and contrasting materials, with intriguing titles. “Heart for a Queen,” made with red and black ceramic and glass, wears a crown. “East” is a white heart with a jewel. Franscioni also displays mosaic bees comprised of decorator ceramic pieces, mounted on slate. Her work has an alluring textural beauty.

Tammy Evans, an accomplished gourd artist, has crafted numerous hearts of wood, hand-carved and mounted on twisted wire. Stained red, blue, or left raw, these little pieces throb as you walk by them. Joe Goetz has mounted gemstones on hand-painted wood hearts. Joellen Chrones’ fused glass hearts are bursting with color and full of visual intricacy.

If your love prefers roses, there are so many to choose from throughout the gallery, with names to melt your heart. When you visit us, see if you can find “Sunset Rose,” “Quiet Beauty,” “Perfect Moment,” and more. Not to be outdone by the queen of flowers, Diane Atturio presents us with “Amaryllis,” a fragile depiction of two large blooms. They are rendered in veils of color, and what appears to be watercolor transparency is actually colored pencil.

Mitra Cline offers two strong, startling pieces that are wonderful to behold. “Mushroom Couple” is a fantasy piece of a couple embracing beside a towering forest of mushrooms. The painting swirls with color and design, as does her “Puss and Boots Mask,” a mixed media piece. This kitty will be staring at you long after you leave the gallery.

But don’t leave just yet! The gallery is a shopping paradise this month. We have an equal amount of high quality interpretive art and fun decorative gifts. Choose from felted wool hats in remarkable colors, fanciful Valentines Day cards and tokens, glassware, jewelry, journals and more. All are handmade. They are local products of the thriving artistic community of Lompoc. Let’s support it.

While you are here, pick up your wooden “Cat” blank for our upcoming community art project. The deadline is fast approaching. Visit the gallery or check www.facebook/CypressGallery and www.lompocart.org/events for more information.

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. Located at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Hours are Thursday – Sunday 11;00 am to 4:00 pm. Phone (805) 737-1129

  

CAPTIONS (All photos by Bill Morson)

  • Karen Franscioni “Heart of a Queen”

  • Karen Franscioni “Bee”

  • Mitra Cline “Mushroom Couple”

  • Mitra Cline “Puss and Boots Mask”

  • Tammy Evans “Wooden Hearts”

  • Diane Atturio “Amaryllis”

Share

Bolster Your Outlook – Look at Art

by Elizabeth Monks Hack


The Cypress Gallery wishes a Happy New Year to all art aficionados and creators of art! If you need a lift this month (the promising but sometimes problematic month of January), stop by the gallery to see our exuberant January exhibition. Our artists have contributed works that are vibrant, polished and inspiring. Works poised to galvanize a bold and positive look on life.

In the front room are several magnificent acrylic paintings depicting the magical city of Venice, by Vicki Andersen. Andersen is an artist who fully absorbs the visual wonder of the places she visits. Her paintings take you along on the adventure. Artist Linda Gooch guides you to her private locations. Her subjects of choice are often local environs, depicting quiet scenes of great beauty. Gooch’s “At Day’s End” is every bit as enchanting as the work of Romantic landscape painter John Constable, however, this one you can own.

Punctuating the front gallery are earth-toned gourds and abstract paintings by multi-media artist Kathy Badrak. Their modernist sensibility often serves as a wonderful foil to more traditional works. Modern décor calls for contrast, which the many artists of the Cypress Gallery can provide.

Chris Jeszeck displays very strong, striking abstract “acrylic pours.” Of moderate size and harmoniously toned and designed, each one is a feast for the eyes. More eye excitement (eye candy!) is found in Diane Atturio’s “Mexico.” A skillfully painted still life, it is a glorious celebration of the art objects of Mexico. Valerie de Mille creates visual excitement through another means; her paintings contain visual puns and political questions. “War” is writ large, and confronts us with tough questions.

Touches of whimsy abound as well. Claudette Carlton’s finely composed watercolor “Trust” depicts a joyful day at the beach. A little girl is tossed in the air, headed for the arms of her dad. Dolores Gonzales’ watercolor “Hibiscus with Geometry” surprises us with projecting flowers. Michael Corob’s intriguing, color saturated work “Shine Your Light, Shine Your Love” depicts many things – cats, a menorah being lit, a vase of flowers. But whimsy has a deeper side, and the viewer is wise to look for it in paintings that at first seem playful.

We are happy to display paintings by Neil Andersson, who has returned from a brief hiatus. His landscapes of the most straightforward of scenes, of water, sky, and trees, envelop the viewer and are simply ravissant; so lovely one just has to use a French adjective. The Andersson effect is based on subtleties; of carefully placed entities, brush strokes and color harmony.

These are just a few of the treasures waiting for you at the Cypress Gallery. We have small paintings, works on glass, cards, jewelry, and more for you to enjoy. Start the year off right. Bolster your outlook with art. Visit the Cypress Gallery!

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley and located at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Hours are Thursday – Sunday 11;00 am to 4:00 pm. Phone (805) 737-1129 lompocart.org facebook.com/CypressGallery

CAPTIONS

  • Vicki Andersen “Serenissimo”

  • Neil Andersson “Dream Pond”

  • Linda Gooch “At Day’s End”

  • Kathy Badrak “Reflecting Spirit”

  • Chris Jeszeck “Labyrinth” (forthcoming)

  • Claudette Carlton “Trust”

  • Dolores Gonsalez “Hibiscus with Geometry”

  • Michael Corob “Shine Your Light, Shine Your Love”

  • Diane Atturio “Mexico.”

Share

HOLIDAY MUST-HAVES

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The corner of H Street and Cypress Avenue has undergone a most welcome transformation. It’s new and pristine, beautiful in the sunshine and enchanting at night. Now dressed in its holiday finest, a towering Christmas tree and glittering gazebo make Centennial Square a delightful causeway into the Cypress Gallery. Like the elves in Santa’s workshop, our artists have been busy preparing gifts. The gallery is full of small treasures for you to enjoy and bring home to most everyone on your list.

A handmade object of art is enough to give your world a festive makeover. We have a charming display of jewelery, tree ornaments, small decorative paintings, books, glassware, watercolors and more, to choose from. C. Wood’s oil painting of Santa is irresistible. He is a flurry of deftly placed expressionist brushstrokes. George Kreutz’s artful, acrylic paintings are of toys and Christmas decorations that we see through the eyes of a child.

Not all the work is small, however. Chris Jeszeck has contributed a marvelously large and fanciful door decoration. It is made of a large round canvas with a small, rectangular piece attached, simulating a huge tree ornament. Jeszeck uses the acrylic pour technique, and maintains a popular YouTube channel demonstrating her varied methods. Occasionally a work created in a demo will go viral, as is the case for another painting on display in the gallery, entitled “Metamorphosis.” It has over 14,000 views and counting! No wonder there; it is a painting full of surprises and gorgeous colors, impossible to duplicate.

For your book-loving friends this holiday, consider Beverly Messenger Harte’s handmade book “To Bamboo.” With Japanese stab binding and handcrafted ink stamps, she illustrates poetry that uses the bamboo plant as both subject and metaphor. Consider also Kathy Badrak’s handmade accordion book series entitled “Life in Lompoc.” These books are exquisitely crafted and filled with fabulous vintage photographs.

It is worth a gallery trip just to come eye-to-eye with Emily Abello’s watercolor “Winter Wolf.” Standing in front of snow-laden pine boughs, this white wolf is a magical creature from another realm. Another striking painting is Ed Heinitz’s “Ocean Cave,” in which light and water blast through an ocean rock formation. I also enjoyed the abstract expressionist painting “Figure It Out Later” by Manic Creative. It invites study, and tells its stories through color, drips, drawn shapes and brushstrokes.

The Cypress Gallery is now participating in the monthly “First Thursday Lompoc Art Walk.” What a great opportunity for us to walk about and participate in our town. View art, fanciful installations, meet people, and come home with a “make and take” from the gallery.

Shop creatively this holiday season! Shop small, shop local and shop art.

CAPTIONS (All photos by Bill Morson)

  • C. Wood “Santa”

  • George Kreutz “Christmas Candle”

  • Chris Jeszeck “Metamorphosis”

  • Chris Jeszeck “Ornament”

  • Beverly Messenger Harte “To Bamboo.”

  • Kathy Badrak “Life in Lompoc.”

  • Emily Abello “Winter Wolf.”

  • Ed Heinitz “Ocean Cave”

  • Manic Creative “Figure It Out Later”

Share

All About Lompoc

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

 

This month, the Lompoc Valley Art Association brings to our community another terrific art exhibit at the Cypress Gallery, entitled “All About Lompoc.” Its hometown theme should please viewers of all aesthetic preferences. This show features art that references our own landscapes, seascapes, structures, events and inhabitants, as well as a collection of historical photos. The artists have made clear the variety of riches and beauty found within our reach. Our city and its environs are gorgeous!

Let’s begin on the coast. Suzanne Schenk’s photograph “Surf Beach” captures light at the end of the day, as it collects on the water and rocks of our spectacular shore. Elizabeth Monks Hack has created the opposite mood with “Rogue Swell, Surf Beach,” featuring the ocean when it speaks its fury during a high surf warning.

“Surf Beach” by Susanne Schenk

Moving on to our renowned flower fields, sadly diminished in quantity but not quality, several artists have contributed colorful beauties of the subject. Photographer Bill Morson has chosen to represent their workers. In both “Harvest Time” and “Flower Harvest,” a powerful man strides through the colorful rows of stock, carrying an enormous bundle of the glorious blooms on his shoulder. Morson’s images, printed on aluminum plates, are vibrant, clear and true.

“Harvest Time” by Bill Morson

Several of our members are plein-air painters, who explore our local parks for scenes and vistas to paint. Ken Adam Park, River Park with its picturesque Kiwanis Lake, and Beattie Park, are among the favorite haunts of Neil Andersson, Deborah Breedon, C. Wood, George Kreutz and Joe Gliebe-Goetz. These artists take us to the “south of France” in our own backyards.

La Purisima Mission is also an idyllic subject, with its acres of pastoral scenery and magnificently restored buildings. Claudette Carlton and Vicki Andersen lovingly depict the light and cast shadows on cream colored adobe walls and tiled roofs.

“La Purisima Mission” by Claudette Carlton

And what about our skies? Not many communities can claim the heavens above pierced by rockets. Mary Ann Mosley’s acrylic “SpaceX Launch Vandenberg“ recreates the jellyfish-like light display of the launch  and descent of our first Falcon 9 event. Lompoc’s luminous skies, cloudy skies, rain filled skies, sun kissed skies, and even a “zebra sky” by Beverly Messenger-Harte are all on view.

SpaceX Launch Vandenberg, MaryAnn Mosely

Collage artist and bookmaker Kathy Badrak has put together several handmade accordian-style books, featuring historical photos from a private collection, and the Lompoc Historical Society. The handsome books are arranged by theme, beautifully crafted, and feature handmade buttons and classic black photo corners.

“Life in Lompoc” by Kathy Badrak

Photographs on loan from the Lompoc Historical Society make one marvel at the passage of time. Some of us may remember dancing in the bar of the old Sherman House, and the sound of walking on the woooden planks of the front porch. Lompoc onced looked like a movie set of the wild west.

Of note in the back room are ambitious watercolors by new member Dolores Gonzales. “Sea Turtle” is nuanced with layers of color and texture. Hand-painted silk scarves by Emily Abello are decorated with images from nature, including large golden carp on a blue background. They make for truly special apparel. Come in and visit your own Lompoc community, as seen  through the eyes of artists!

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valleys. 119 East Cypress Ave, Lompoc (805) 737-1129 Open Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM www.lompocart.com

 

All photos by Bill Morson

  • Suzanne Schenk “Surf Beach” photograph

  • Bill Morson “Harvest Time” photograph on aluminum

  • Elizabeth Monks Hack  “Rogue Swell, Surf Beach” oil painting

  • Mary Ann Mosley’ “SpaceX Launch Vandenberg” acrylic painting

  • Kathy Badrak “Life in Lompoc” handmade book

  • Dolores Gonzales. “Sea Turtle” watercolor painting

Share

Art  As Adventure

by Elizabeth Monks Hack


Each month, the Cypress Gallery brings to our community an engaging show of art, planned and arranged by its members, for your viewing pleasure. This month, gemstone artist and painter Joe  Gliebe-Goetz has hung a particularly unique exhibit, entitled “Gemstones and Landscapes.” His work demonstrates the concept of art as an exploratory adventure, in which the artist sets off on his own particular journey and is willing to engage with what crosses his path. He is open to influences. He is guided by his own sense of beauty and wonder.

Originally trained in technical illustration in Southern California, Goetz settled on a teaching career in Visalia, where he raised his family. He always had his eye on the California coast, however, and wished to devote more time to art. Upon retirement, both dreams came true.

 Throughout the years Goetz has also developed his skill in the art of lapidary. Using first rate gemstones, he hand-polishes pieces that will eventually be incorporated in wire-wrapped jewelery, mounted decorative plaques, and paintings. Ten years ago his path led to the merging of lapidary and the art of painting, developing a style that is uniquely his.

Goetz noticed, as he polished his stones, that their mineral designs were similar to what he experienced with oils and acrylic, watercolor and pastel. Looking for the best angles and taking note of their intricate compositions and subtle colors, Goetz found in the gems a wellspring of inspiration. 

His paintings have evolved from color saturated realism to an expressionism that proclaims the artist’s unique and subjective approach to subject matter. Goetz has tilted the picture plane and distorted natural perspective. He uses color and texture for emotional effect. He is opening yet another door into the realm of the mind. This evolution is on view in its entirety. “Landscapes and Gemstones,” a straightforward title, is in reality a remarkable adventure.

In the rear galleries, work has been installed in groupings that showcase the individual styles of each artist. Some of our artists have been with the gallery for many years, producing work that is confident and distinctly recognizable. Linda Gooch has wall of exquisitely rendered watercolors in delicious pinks and greens. Vicki Andersen’s palette of intense color and inviting shadows consistently proffer a rich tactile beauty. Diane Atturio’s velvety watercolors of local flora beckon from the wall. Chris Jeszeck continues to explore the art of acrylic pouring. This month she visits outer space with an  an alien and a UFO. Painter and guitarist Neil Andersson has a wall of abstract works that sing like a piece of music.

Individual treasures can also be found. Emily Abello’s delicate watercolor “Foggy Morning in Santa Ynez Valley” is a sensitive arrangement of delicate forms, empty space and restrained color. Beverly Messenger-Harte’s wall piece “Bamboodha Bones and Stones” could be categorized as a sculptural collage, with meditative components from the Japanese traditional arts, each arranged to perfection.

Come in and explore! We also feature handmade gifts, jewelry and cards stamped with the personality of individual artists. We have an Arts Education program featuring art classes in various media taught by gallery artists. To find out about our classes and events, refer to our website. Come in and walk the trail of your own adventure.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

All photos by Bill Morson

  • Joe  Gliebe-Goetz New Beginning

  • Joe  Gliebe-Goetz  Meditation Sunset

  • Emily Abello Foggy Morning in Santa Ynez Valley

  • Chris Jeszeck I Need My Space

  • Beverly Messenger-Harte Bamboodha Bones and Stones

  • Neil Andersson Yardbird

Share

A Walk Through the Cypress: Pattern Pictures Paper Paint

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

Each month, the Cypress Gallery brings to our community a new show of art, planned and arranged by its members. The gallery is owned and operated by the Lompoc Valley Art Association,  an active community organization that has drawn local artists together since 1965. Desiring a permanent, public space to exhibit their artwork, LVAA established the Cypress Gallery in 1994, creating a local nonprofit and co-op art space for the benefit of all. 

Consider it a treasure box full of color and ideas that you can open and enjoy every month of the year. The front gallery room usually showcases the work of our featured artist, with the remainder of the gallery filled with submissions by individual artists; unless a special gallery-wide show is planned. This July, the treasure box metaphor is particularly apt.

C. Wood gifts us with “Paper and Paint,” a show that must be experienced in person to get the full effect. These works of art glitter and dazzle the eye, with pattern and color so richly applied the viewer is almost physically mesmerized. C. Wood is a multi-faceted and exuberant artist who sets no limits to her creativity. Previously, she has exhibited captivating landscape and still life paintings and pastels, rendered with keen perception and a deft hand.

In this show Wood explores her love of Japanese patterns and color combinations, with large, collage-paintings that are each three foot square. They depict a gallery of traditional Japanese portrait figures, each alone in an environment of paint, paper, foil, antique Japanese stamps and origami papers. In works such as “Geisha,””The Bride” and “Samurai,” the faces and exposed skin of the figures are painted, in contrast with their lavishly collaged costumes.

The large works are accompanied by smaller, abstract-expressionist pieces and objets d’art, using a similar color and texture theme. The small works are each spectacular, and demonstrate what an original and accomplished painter C. Wood is.

A truly enjoyable feature of the Cypress Gallery each month is the variety of work submitted by our artists. It is so often full of surprises. Steve Scolari, whose two-dimensional work is usually diminutive and realistic, has created a very large, abstract piece. Entitled “Barns,” and mounted in a wide black frame that functions as a continuation of the idea, the painting explores the geometries and colors of barn structures.

Jasmine Gonzalez's three-dimensional mixed-media piece also gives the viewer a start. Stable in its organization but full of contrasts, including a baby in utero and clown faces, it is entitled “All My Friends Are Having Babies.”

So much to explore! We also feature handmade gifts, jewelery and cards stamped with the personality of individual artists. Come in and interpret the works of art for yourself. Visit “The Cypress,” your friendly local art gallery!


All photos by Bill Morson

  • The Bride by C. Wood

  • The Official by C. Wood

  • Crazy Layers by C. Wood

  • Barns by Steve Scolari

  • All My Friends are Having Babies by Jasmine Gonsalez

Share

June Luminations

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The bright side of June gloom is the burst of sunlight that sometimes appears towards the end of the afternoon. Colors seem to bounce off one another as they are absorbed, reflected and transmitted, bringing joy to the heart. The effect is similar to that found in the work of glass artist Kristine Kelly, who is our featured artist this month. In her exhibit “California Pathways,” Kelly showcases paintings of glass, a unique and captivating medium. Its effect is altogether different than that of traditional painting.

Kelly has been a glass artist for almost thirty years, delighting in its luminosity, iridescence and color. Using opalescent, transparent and diachroic glass – glass that has shifting colors depending on the angle of view – she began with fused glass jewelry, later developing decorative pieces using molds.

Kelly then took a class on creating landscape paintings with glass, which ultimately led to the richness and abundance of the Cypress Gallery show. The laborious technique she used to create the varied textures of her pieces include multiple kiln firings at various temperatures.

Though the works are referential in nature, in which the trunks of trees, the moon, pathways and mountains are clearly featured, they are abstractly expressed with sprinkles of glass and various textures, depths and shapes. In some pieces it is as if the world has been created by fairies who cast a magic wand to create jewel-like environments.

Other works, such as “Moon River,” remind one so much of sumi ink paintings. Kelly’s draftsmanship is superior, the line flowing easily to create soft shapes in evocative settings. Birch trees and mountains inspired by the Sierras are arranged in convincing compositional patterns. The work is most fully appreciated in person, so be sure to make “California Pathways” a destination this month.

The rear rooms of the gallery features a few surprises. “BFF,” an enormous white chicken by C. Woods, calls your name as you turn the corner. It is freshly painted with masterful brushstrokes. Realist painter Lee Hill has taken a new direction, and is exploring the “funny stuff” of abstraction. His three horizontal compositions of two simple shapes imply landscapes, but his remarkable paint handling suggests other worlds.

C Wood, BFF

Claudette Carlton’s subtle watercolor “Ladybugs” has softly colored blooms that you will be tempted to pick. Likewise, gourd artist Tammy Evans has contributed several “Spirit Figures” that are irresistible. The whimsical creativity in putting together the various elements of her pieces belies their strict craftsmanship and skill.

Claudette Carlton, Ladybugs

Tammy Evans, Spirit-Figure

Our photographers Tom Chrones and Bill Morson have several striking color-saturated works on display. They have been joined by new member Diana Diaz, whose black and white photo “Cold Springs Deer Skull” provides a haunting contrast.

Mentioned here are just of few of the many fine works of art and gifts that you will encounter in the gallery this month. Art offers luminosity to pierce the gloom that too often visits us. Seek it out. Enjoy it!

PHOTO CREDITS: All photos by Bill Morson

Share

Elemental

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

Somehow, upon walking into the featured show at the Cypress Gallery this month,  the states of matter that constitute our existence here on earth are magically called forth. In “Water and Wood,” artists Neil Andersson and Chuck Klein have conjured earth, water, air and fire –  scientifically referred to as solid, liquid, gas and plasma – and transformed them into  objects one hangs on a wall, or places on a table. The show is less like an exhibition, and more like a natural environment  in which one yearns to linger.

Andersson and Klein are receptive artists, exceptionaly attuned to their surroundings and the workings of nature. Both men have spent a lifetime experiencing and assimilating ‘”the ebullience of the natural world,” and recreating it as art. They view art as a process and expression of creative self discovery. It’s an endeavor that begins with each new piece, and doesn’t end once the piece is finished. “Water and Wood” features new work from the artists, and is their first collaboration together. 

Born in Tacoma, Washington, Neil Andersson hails from the wooded northwest. His love of the visual arts parallels an ongoing, successful music career as a renowned jazz guitarist. Following an MFA degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he returned to Washington to teach art, exhibit, create music, and learn the ins-and-outs of the sometimes difficult activity of plein-air painting. The works on view here invite contemplation, as they glow and pulse with the immediacy of the natural world. Sky and water reflect the fire of our sun in “Equilibrium.” As a painter and pastel artist, Andersson continues to develop his impressionist painting techniques. In “Lakeside Harmony” water, air and earth reverberate in suspended tension. 

Chuck Klein is a California native, born in Santa Barbara. He became an avid outdoors explorer, engaging in sporting activities and travel across the globe. His life as an artist follows a career consulting for national non-profits. Klein’s work has been profoundly influenced by cultural studies in Europe, South America, and especially Asia. Referring to his artistry, he is a Wood Weaver, and his pieces are living things. 

Much of Klein’s work can be viewed as a vehicle of spirituality. Bowls, lidded vessels, sculptural objects and wall pieces are beautifully lathed, and adorned with sacred beads, feathers, carved ivory and stone. In the wall piece “Ganesha,” two heavy arcs of wood with a gap between them are joined by slender bands of inlaid wood. The Hindu deity Ganesha is mounted in the sculpture’s center. The bowl “Neuton Star” in deep reds and midnight green, seems to convey a sacred orb encapsulating a glimpse of the cosmos. 

Our rear galleries feature several works that continue the nature theme, and as you wander through them, keep the notion of our world as “matter” in mind. Kathy Badrak, ever playful and experimental in her pieces, has brought forth “Reflecting Spirit,“ a mixed media piece featuring a silvery oak tree. Sometimes the artist’s strokes and marks of paint and pastel seem to illustrate the nervous system of nature. This is true of Deborah Breedon’s “Inlet at Refugio Beach” and Joe Goetz’s “Surf Beach Tree,” both done on location. All of our gallery artists are on the journey that never ends – the  elemental journey of art and nature. Despite of the frustrations of the process, in the end it always brings joy. 

Water and Wood” featuring plein-air painter Neil Andersson and Wood Weaver Chuck Klein. On view through April 21, 2023

PHOTO CAPTIONS

  • All photos by Bill Morson

  • Ganesha by Chuck Klein

  • Neutron Star by Chuck Klein

  • Equilibrium by Neil Andersson

  • Lakeside Harmony by Neil Andersson

  • Reflecting Spirit by Kathy Badrak

  • Inlet at Refugio Beach by Deborah Breedon

Share

Hidden Gems

by Elizabeth Monks Hack, Cypress Gallery reporter, “A Walk Through the Cypress” monthly column

After more than twenty-seven years in business, members of the Cypress Gallery still encounter folks who exclaim, “Wow! I didn’t even know this was here!” Is this perhaps because we are a hidden gem, even though we are located on the corner of H Street and Cypress Avenue, bordering Centennial Park? This month, the hidden gem that is the Cypress Gallery, announces its February show by featured artist Susanne Schenck, entitled “The Quest for Hidden Gems in California.” You can start right here.

Schenck is a photographer, as well as an intrepid traveler, hiker, and camper. As an explorer of nature and her environs, Schenk uses her camera to document her adventures, and to further discover and appreciate them through the lens of art. She enjoys sharing her experiences, stating she would like the viewer to “feel like you're coming along on the trip with me, and seeing the wonders I see.” 

Susanne Schenk, Light Under the Pismo Beach Pier

Schenck was born in Sweden, but is now a long-time Lompoc local, who loves to load up the 20 ft trailer and go hunting for hidden gems. The subject of light falling on the objects in nature is a primary theme of her photographs. Rendered beautifully, it defines place, time and experiences. Complete immersion in the story of “a stark cliff dropping down in a wondrous blue ocean at sunset,” or “iced-over lakes in red beautiful sunset lights mesmerizing you,” is what the artist hopes for.                           

Schenk’s gift for framing and defining light is apparent throughout her work. In “Light Under the Pismo Beach Pier” a pathway of oblique pier columns lead towards a symmetric door of pure light, opening at the end. Light is used to transform an ordinary cow into the sacred bull of antiquity, solemnly making its approach, in “Dusty Cow.” The goal of Schenk’s quest, “to convey a sense of awe and wonder of nature's beauty,” has been accomplished in this show. 

Susanne Schenk, Dusty Cow

After exploring  Schenck’s world, viewers can continue the search for gems through the diverse viewpoints of our many gallery artists. Our community gallery is a treasure trove of various painting styles, subject matter and media. Vicki Anderson’s rich, compact floral “Red and Pinks” is a glorious bouquet for your Valentine. “African Mask” by Valerie de Mille will knock your socks off. Conversely, the serenity of Tom Chrones’ photograph “Great Blue” heron will take you to a motionless space. 

Artists working in three dimensions this month have contributed a wealth of intriguing beauty and surprise. “Billy the Squid” by Steve Scolari is a witty, sculptural construction of carved wood and twigs. Beverly Messenger-Harte’s dense, intricate design around a convex mirror, “Balance and Harmony,” is a bamboo assembly that allows one to look into oneself. Sculptor Chuck Klein amazes us this month with a new series of carved and shaped wall pieces. “Tree Frog” intertwines the world of forest and spirit through a precise mounting of rendered wood and bead assemblage. 

There is so much more to explore, this month and every month, in the world of art, right here in the middle of town. We also have gorgeous little works of art in the form of jewelry, cards and other gifts. We announce all of our shows, and events and classes monthly, in print, online and on social media. So now, if you didn’t know before about the Cypress Gallery, you know! 

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valleys. 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, or call for an appointment (805) 737-1129 <lompocart.org>  <facebook.com/CypressGallery>




IMAGES by Bill Morson

  1. Susanne Schenk_ Light Under the Pismo Beach Pier

  2. Susanne Schenk_ Dusty Cow

  3. Vicki Andersen_ Red and Pinks

  4. Valerie de Mille_African Mask

  5. Chuck Klein_Tree Frog

  6. Beverly Messenger-Harte_Balance and Harmony

  7. Steve Scolari_Billy the Squid

  8. Chris Jeszeck_There You Are!

  9. Carol Wood_Storm Drain

  10. Lee Hill_Pride of the Coop

  11. Kelly Ranger_Hendry’s Beach

  12. Elizabeth Monks Hack_Third Room

Share

Cypress Gallery January Show

by Marga Cooley and Elizabeth Hack

The Lompoc Valley Art Association would like to begin the New Year by looking back. We are celebrating the artist Betsee Talavera, one of our cherished members, who quite suddenly passed away in October. Betsee was a prolific artist not only in her work but in her life as well, with an output of creativity that branched into a variety of endeavors. She was joyful, inquisitive, thoughtful and  generous in each. This month the Cypress Gallery is featuring Talavera's paintings as a tribute to her talent, beauty and memory. Please be sure to visit the Gallery and take in the beauty of her work. All proceeds from sales will go to Betsee's granddaughter Arwan's college fund. 

The remainder of the Gallery is awash with color and energy. Take your time looking at everything adorning the walls, the pedestals and in the bins. We have originals, giclee prints, photography prints and more!

Some new artists have joined LVAA and their work is featured in January's show. One of them is photographer Kristine Sorrell, who adds a fresh set of eyes to the camera lens with her unique perspective. Our legendary Bill Morson excites us with some dramatic photography of rocketry taken at VAFB. The crisp images of his metal prints are powerful and striking. 

Dianne Atturio has painted two magnificent trees in watercolour. Trees connect humans to memories, be it a landmark, a scent or feel. "Old Man of Sedona" roots have wrapped themselves in the earth and the branches reach toward heaven. Also know for her foliage painting is Vicki Andersen, who provides a feast for the eyes with her paintings of Savannah and New Orleans, rich with Spanish moss and stately architecture. 

Julia Nash has two paintings in the Gallery this month; one of her reclining nudes, this one in bold colorblocks and the other is an eye-catching floral, fearless in texture and hue. Both Barbara Schmaeling and Claudette Carlton have painted a favorite subject of lighthouses. Claudette will be teaching a beginning watercolor class at the Gallery later this month. 

We have some excellent glass artists in Joellen Chrones and Kristine Kelly. Joellen's whimsical style is easily recognized and Kristine continues to amaze with her fused glass landscapes. Much more awaits you...please stop by!

Photo Credit: Bill Morson

Share

A Gallery of Gifts

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The welcoming sights and sounds of the holidays can be found at the corner of H and Cypress. Along with the towering city Christmas tree and the gazebo decorated with lights, is the Cypress Gallery, full of gifts. Our artists have created a myriad of little jewels for you to choose from this month. Hand-crafted objects of personal adornment glitter in their cases, luscious little paintings and glassware glisten on the walls and pedestals. A Christmas tree is hung with ornaments made by creators. And a smiling yellow moon, crafted from a wooden bowl by Linda Gooch, adds a most welcome dose of whimsy and good cheer.

The gift items are placed throughout the gallery, and offered to art lovers in a variety of price ranges, all of them holiday wallet-friendly. Carol Wood has an entire wall of small exquisite oil paintings on display. Still-life, florals and landscapes, of isolated objects and scenes, are painted with deft paint strokes and jewel tones that are irresistible. Kathy Badrak, using the malleable gourd as her medium, transforms what is essentially a plant into objects of art. Delightful figurines, vessels, and even a hanging lamp are on display.

Larger works by your favorite gallery artists deck the halls as well. Neal Abello’s nature photography is breathtaking. The artist’s excitement of searching for and finding his spellbinding subjects is evident. We feel the wonder of a breaching humpback whale, and of a snowy egret making contact with its prey. Charlton Heston as Moses makes an appearance too, in a powerful predominantly white acrylic by Douglas Clark. “Holiday 2022” by Michael Corob is a peaceful pastel of seasonal lights, incorporating the artist’s personal iconography of doves and their wings. The Cypress Gallery is indeed a place of contrasts.

We are especially proud of our jewelry selection, with pieces not be found elsewhere. It is a joy and honor to wear the polished and cut stones of nature, the painstaking bead work, and hand-wrought metals created by gallery artisans. That they make great gifts is an understatement.

A marvelously large and wonderful door decoration by Chris Jeszeck is probably the most unique piece in the show. Come and see for yourself this three-foot Christmas ornament,if it is not already sold! We’re fast approaching the halfway mark of December. Visit the gallery soon for first dibs.

Share

Gaze and Wonder

by Elizabeth Monks Hack

The newness of January has a childlike quality. It’s rain-washed fresh and full of possibilities. We want to look at the world as we did when we were very young; full of color, light and impressions, without judgment. A walk through the Cypress Gallery this month will bring you to that place if you let it. I was captivated by the variety of artworks on display, and found myself in that blissful state that allows us to gaze and wonder.

Instead of our usual featured artist, January showcases the work of all  members throughout the gallery. The work of art that seems to represent most clearly the concept of renewal is “Jalama Seagull” by our gallery photographer Bill Morson. It is a small print on aluminum. Its straightforward composition, of a seagull with outstretched wings against a piercing blue sky,   seems to glow with promise. Another Morson photograph, entitled “Haleakala Caldera,” shows the passage of eons of time. The vast rim of the extinct volcano on Maui holds worlds within it, and truly represents its name, which means “house of the sun.”

“Notes” by Kathy Badrak is an abstract piece that demonstrates the wonder of creativity, once you let go of the demands of realism. The artist has organized strokes of paint and found objects into a grid format, which happily play across the canvas like a song. Diane Atturio experiments in this vein with her intriguing collage “Eucalyptus.” The eucalyptus leaves mounted on bark cloth are comprised of paper and colored pencil, or are they? I never did decided which. The gum-nuts are real.

“Winter Sleep” by Steven Scolari, shows another side of the new year; the persistence of dark, cold weather. A small-scale vertical panel of bare trees against a moody sky, it speaks to those of us who can’t wrap our heads around renewal just yet. “The Old Theatre at Sunset” by yours truly received the People’s Choice ribbon for December. Re-looking at it in January seemed to give it new meaning.

Numerous works of glorious art, cards and gifts by your favorite gallery artists await your presence. Take a few minutes to revive your spirits, now that the holiday rush is over. Allow yourself to gaze and wonder.

The Cypress Gallery is operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valleys. 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 – 4:00 pm. (805) 737-1129 <lompocart.org> 

CREDITS

  • All photos by Bill Morson

  • Bill Morson “Jalama Seagull”

  • Kathy Badrak “Notes”

  • Diane Atturio “Eucalyptus”                                                                                                          

  • Steven Scolari “Winter Sleep”

  • Elizabeth Monks Hack “The Old Theatre at Sunset”

Share