Insider Art at The CAP Gallery is a must-see show
By M. “Charlie” Ferrazzi
Opening with a packed house, Insider Art at The CAP Gallery is a must-see. The show includes a juried selection of work from LOCA Arts Education teaching artists, board members, staff, students, and members in a wide variety of mediums of two dimensional and three-dimensional pieces.
As an extra feature, there is an exhibit within the exhibit: a selection of work by the residents of Glennwood House. These works were created under the guidance of LOCA instructors during ongoing classes with residents.
Paulette Adams’s piece Coastal Cools is very unusual. She was given a batch of the glass pieces that are popular in gas fireplaces. She loved the colors and came up with tumbling them to smooth the edges, then arranged pieces in horizontal rows, going from dark to light as the rows descend to the bottom of the piece. Done in shades of blue to aqua, they have a calming feel of the tide when it washes up on the shore.
Donna Ballard’s love of architecture and travel is evident in Cathedral of Cordoba. Done with watercolor ink and gouache, the piece is a perspective of looking upwards to the soaring ceiling of the structure. Donna’s architectural training gives her an eye for the beauty that can be found in the graceful lines and fine detail of the ancient building is apparent. Her image gives the feeling of looking at a piece of sculpture rather than a building.
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Submitted photo
“Cathedral of Cordoba,” Donna Ballard, Watercolor, Gouache, Ink on paper 30” x 40”
Laguna Tide Pools by Olivia Batchelder is a glimpse into the depths of a tide pool at low tide. The colors reflect the inhabitants and the strokes of color signify the movement within this small world. Painting with dye on silk, the placement of the strokes of color and the dots, are deliberate in their placement within the piece. The layering of these elements is what gives the depth to the piece and creates the feeling of looking into a tide pool. “Nature is the inspiration behind my work,” says Batchelder
Joan Gladstone told me, “I love to do portraits. No two people are the same.” She chose Laguna’s Michael the Greeter “because of his character and the fact Laguna people recognize him.” Being a person who is constantly on the move, she took a walk with Michael and her camera, shooting images of him. From these she was able to get images that she could work from. To show his character, she emphasized some of his wrinkles. I think she also emphasized Laguna’s sunny blue skies with the blue background.
Fish may be a simple title, but Diane Ortlieb’s work is not. The fish are done in acrylic on paper in brilliant, fresh colors, then collaged onto canvas. This “underwater snapshot” came about due to her love of light and the colorful fish in Hawaii. An interesting note is she started out with cats for her subjects, when she became serious about Art. She still does cats to help raise funds for Laguna’s Bluebell Foundation.
Superwoman, by Ellen Rose, is a large acrylic on canvas piece done in Rose’s strong, bold palette. A woman stands with hands on hips, wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Superman logo and looking directly out from the canvas. She is one piece of a current series on powerful women, depicting the fact “they come in all shapes, sizes and colors.” The figure is saying “I do dishes, kids and husbands, and at the end of the day I’m tired.” Rose told me that she doesn’t subscribe to the “Barbie ethic” of “women are to be beautiful at all times. It’s not about looks. It is about strength and confidence.” Something about this piece speaks in volumes. Rose feels that things are changing. She points out the fact that even Barbie’s image is changing: “skin color, hair styles, careers, more gender neutral than in the past.”
Club 87 by Paula Voss is a small work with a big comment on aging. “Staying strong, active, and appreciating the aging process” is what this little piece is about. Three figures of ladies, braving the rain with their plastic rain bonnets, big black handbags and determination are the subject of the piece. They are each “kind of a big deal.” Done in dry point etching, the piece is hand colored and embellished with silver leaf.
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Submitted photo
“Current Club 87,” Paula Voss, Drypoint Etch w/Silver Leaf 8” x 10”
Insider Art runs until May 30. Take some time to stroll the unique space of The CAP Gallery and enjoy the works of these accomplished artists and students. Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 4 on your calendar so you won’t miss the upcoming Artists’ Conversations.
CAP’s mission is to increase the visibility and appreciation of art and serve as a catalyst for art education. Ongoing exhibitions can be enjoyed at The CAP Gallery, in the unique Rotunda Gallery space located on the second floor of the Wells Fargo Building, 260 Ocean Ave.
Visit www.caplaguna.org for information about ongoing or upcoming exhibits, to be added to CAP’s email list, or to become a member and supporter of CAP.
CAP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by the member supporters, the Festival of Arts Foundation, the lodging establishments, and the City of Laguna Beach.