WOODWORKERS' STUDIO TOUR AND ALL THINGS ORGANIC ART EXHIBIT

This summer the Arts Council of Mendocino County co-sponsored with the Grace Hudson Museum and the Mendocino Coast Furnituremakers a first ever Woodworkers' Open Studio Tour. This was held in conjunction with the museum's exhibition: "With The Grain, Mendocino Woodcraft." This self-guided tour of select woodcraft studios began with the exhibit at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah and traveled a circular route to Willits, then over Highway 20 to Fort Bragg and then back through Anderson Valley. Tour goers saw small individual studios to large shared spaces and a demonstration of 16th century greenwood chair making. On the tour one could see examples of fine cabinetry, furniture making, boat making and more sculptural pieces. Next year the Museum is planning a juried craft exhibit and a possible craft studio tour. If the interest in the Woodworkers' tour is any indication, a craft studio tour should be a great success.

The Arts Council also sponsored an exhibit at the All Things Organic Festival at the County Fairgrounds in Boonville this past August. This first ever Arts Council sponsored exhibit gave county artists an opportunity to display artworks that were created from organic materials, used organic forms or depicted organic subjects from the landscape to the human figure.

Some examples of the variety of artwork were the delicate, ethereal looking "quilts" by Philo artist, Robin Borgers made from used coffee filters, tea bags and onion skins, the lively, abstracted compositions of Ukiah artist Robert Gold and the earthy ceramic vessels of Covelo artist, Jay Leahy. Other participating artists were Julia Babiarz, Jennifer Barbato, Nadia Berrigan, Tedo Best, David Cross, Arthur Danner, Laura Fogg, Margi Gomez, Claudia Graham, Charlie Hochberg, Stephanie Hoppe, Via Keller, Barbara K. Lewis, Joy MacGregor, Ismael Sanchez, Marvin Schenck, Janet Seifert and Denver Tuttle.

What really set this exhibit apart from other art shows was the unique sculptural setting created by Boonville artist, Denver Tuttle. Tuttled borrowed old weathered & recycled wood, hand milled lumber, palettes and corrugated metal from various Anderson Valley residents and with the aid of several volunteers built a fantastic structure within the Fine & Home Arts building at the fairgrounds. The original installation completely transformed the space and created a unique environment for the artwork that was totally in keeping with the sustainable focus of the Organics Festival. Many thanks to Denver and his intrepid volunteers for this outstanding installation!