The reception to my solo art show “Muse” at Arts Outreach Gallery this Saturday brought a steady stream of both new and familiar faces. I’m grateful that people came to the event,
and that they were all fashionably late, as I finally finished prepping the space literally moments before the doors opened! I’m also very appreciative of Luis Ramirez’s expertise and help in installing the show, of Sandie Mullin’s energy and help guiding me through the ropes, and of A Sign By Atto in Solvang for a great looking decal for the title! Because
Arts Outreach is a non-profit, the gallery is open on a volunteer basis, and I have decided to paint in the gallery on most Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 4 pm in order for it to remain open. I will field questions and process any purchases during those times. The gallery’s commission goes directly into funding art programs for kids through Arts Outreach, as the gallery space is donated through Coghlan Vineyard and Jewelers, so this is a terrific place to purchase art, while supporting creative learning all over the region.
On a slightly different note, the 40 Days of Painting and Writing Challenge continues to draw forth many different reactions from me on a daily basis. It commenced with enormous energy and excitement at the opportunity to actualize all lot of the works that had formerly only lived in my head. That was followed by extreme resistance. How to put to practice a new regimen and discipline when there were so few rules and so little structure? I even found that I forgot to paint on one day— the day of my solo art show reception. I’m fairly certain that I wrote at least text messages or emails daily, though I’m equally certain that’s not what I had in mind when I took on this challenge! Consequently, I have realized a need to create structure for myself and write out rules and a schedule for the following days of the challenge. It is my homework for today, along with finishing a small painting I worked on yesterday. Below, a virtual reception for those who couldn’t make it to the show opening night:
Arts Outreach Gallery: 2366 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos, CA 93441
A view from the back of the gallery.
Ceramics is the subject that I taught through Arts Outreach at Dunn School. As you can see, I like to work on an intimate scale.
Two lovely people who helped me organize the show.
With Rebecca and Allen, artists and thinkers who spark interest in the Santa Ynez Valley’s creative community.
With Terra Jean, a photographer.
With an inspiring creative family from Santa Barbara.
With painter,
Gwen Cates.
