America’s Top Artists and Craftmakers
Take Center Stage
Anne Lewis teapot |
Ashton Carey fireplace
tool set |
Tom and Sharon Miller wine glasses
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Karen Mumford painting "Of Peace" |
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MIchael and Joan Sheridan photography "Gerenuks" |
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Gorgeous jewelry, leather sandals and belts, hand-blown glass vases, handmade quilts, panoramic photographs, whimsical sculptures, handpainted clothing, colorful ceramic vessels, contemporary pop art, handcarved woodwork and unusual sculptures made from recycled material — at affordable prices — you’ll find all of this incredible variety and lots more at the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival, September 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Castro Street. Enjoy a sun-splashed weekend browsing and strolling among colorful, well-stocked booths and meet 600 of America’s finest artists and craftmakers showcasing their latest work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art at this nationally renown festival. It’s the perfect opportunity to stock up on one-of-a-kind gifts.
Functional Art
The seasons are about to change, and it’s not too early to think about setting the holiday table. Mountain View’s Jodi Timm will sell her popular line of Lazy Susans at the fairSaratoga ceramicist Anne Lewis has a passion for wheel throwing and developing shimmering glazes for her high-fire stoneware and porcelain pottery. She makes functional pottery and intricate teapots that can be used every day. Artisan blacksmith Ashton Carey is passionate about his old-fashioned craft. His gates, towel hooks, serving bowls, wine racks, garden sculptures and pot racks begin in a coal fire and are formed with a hammer. The Oregonian spent two years in a formal apprenticeship and has traveled extensively to learn from blacksmith masters in other parts of the world. Ceramicists Tom and Sharon Miller make functional dinnerware, wine glasses, nesting mixing bowls and casseroles. The Los Gatos residents mix their own colors and use solar-generated electricity to fire their pieces.
Gayton Arrigotti "Sun Above the Fields" copper, brass and silver brooch
Paul Gordon giclée print "Sierra"
Dori Bolen King Louis XV box
Wenlan Lu pressed flower wall piece
Wendy Colombo and Gig Everett bubble art fish |
Wearable Art
San Mateo resident Crickett Brown designs jewelry every day. Her colorful pieces are made with semi-precious stones, Swarovski crystal, hand-stamped beads, copper, silver, brass and bronze. Pretty brooches are trend-forward this fall! Moss Beach resident Gayton Arrigotti makes stunning contemporary pins and jewelry using fabricated gold, silver, mixed metals and colorful gemstones. Stop by Robbin Lacy’s booth for sun protective hats and clothing in styles ranging from classic to modern chic. Robbin also sells sunglasses, skincare products and, you guessed it, sunscreen. Slip into a pair of comfy leather summer sandals by Rhett Risler. The Lucerne Valley resident designs assorted styles in several colors, perfect for casual strolls and shopping at the fair.
Fine Art
Sunnyvale abstract oil painter Karen Mumford is inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe. She begins with a sketch derived from shapes found in free-flowing leaves, rocks and flowers. Mumford creates an organic flow of vibrant colors while illustrating a peaceful connection to nature. Paul Gordon will sell stunning acrylic and fine art giclée prints. His aerial view subjects include the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco skyline and Mendocino coastal cliffs. The Mill Valley artist used to be a private pilot. San Jose photographer Michael Sheridan and his wife, Joan, travel to exotic lands to photograph tribes, markets and people in native dress. Their favorite spots include Ethiopia, Burma, Vietnam, Kenya and India. The Sheridans are mesmerized by the unusual colors and customs of foreign lands. Union City artist Ken Smith has been painting for 60 years. He begins with a photo and recreates the image on pre-gessoed panels. Smith’s scenes include farms in Virginia, national parks, rustic buildings and special life moments.
Sculpture and Mixed Media
Hollister artist Dori Bolen will sell decoupage bracelets, dollhouses, chests, trinket boxes, music boxes, wall plaques, bracelets and pendants. The 20-step decoupage process takes about two weeks to complete. Bolen’s wooden and porcelain pieces have a vintage feel with a contemporary twist. Novelist Todd Borg will be on site to discuss his latest mystery novel, Tahoe Heat. This is Borg’s eighth story about Owen McKenna, a police detective who solves cases in Lake Tahoe. San Jose artist Wenlan Lu makes beautiful wall art and accessories from pressed flowers. She grows a myriad of blooms in her garden. The old-fashioned art is a simple process but takes weeks to complete. Mountain View artists Wendy Colombo and Gig Everett have a fan following for their BubbleArt. The digital art process begins with an image scanned into the computer. The artists add a pop of color to their subjects, which include fruit, fish, tea sets and flowers. Colombo and Everett are excited to share their new book of poetry, The Life and Rhymes of Sea Creatures.
“The Mountain View Art & Wine Festival is considered among the premier art shows in the country,” said Nancie Allie of California Artists, the company in charge of managing the artisan exhibitors. “It’s the perfect opportunity to meet and buy from artists actually doing the work. Everything you see is handcrafted from beginning to end by each artist … we call it ‘art with soul’ and what’s special is festivalgoers get to take a piece of that home and make it part of their life.”
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