Love, Death, Transformation and Consciousness

The Dolphin Gallery in downtown Gualala will open a new exhibit on Saturday April 6 from 1-3 p.m. featuring the works of Ling-Yen Jones and Madeline Kibbe. The exhibit, titled “Love, Death, Transformation and Consciousness,” will showcase sculptures and jewelry inspired by universal themes and personal expressions.

Kibbe makes sculptures with found objects and materials that have symbolic meanings. She uses text and symbols to start a conversation about love, death, transformation and consciousness. She says she is influenced by the works of Montien Boonma and Noah Purifoy, two artists who used recycled materials and cultural references in their art.

Jones creates rings, necklaces and earrings that draw inspiration from the rich history of circular adornments. She cites Diana Scarisbrick’s book “Rings: Symbols of Wealth, Power and Affection” as a source of information about the role of rings in different cultures and times. She says rings can signify both faith and mortality, as well as mutual fidelity and love.

However, Jones’ approach to crafting rings is rooted in simplicity and joy. She says she finds inspiration in whimsy and playfulness, incorporating elements such as faces, windows and cranes in her designs. She aims to capture the essence of joy and individuality in each piece.

The exhibit will run through May 5 at the Dolphin Gallery, located in the Seacliff Center. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

About Ling-Yen Jones

I am a Mendocino County jeweler working mainly in silver, semi-precious stones, and pearls. My style ranges from the traditional to the modern, and is completely unique. All of my pieces are individually handmade, and are therefore one-of-a-kind or in small series with repeating motifs.

My training is with David Laplantz at Humboldt State University, at Monterey Peninsula College, and various Mendocino Art Center workshops and assistantships.

I am presently working with my company Ling-Yen designs and selling my work on etsy, and other exhibition and show venues. I am working as gallery coordinator of the Coast Highway Artist Collective in Point Arena.

I have curated and exhibited in several shows in the past. I also have shown in The Pacific Grove Art Center, Gualala Art Center, and The Mendocino Art Center. I have been honored with a second place award at the North Coast Artist Guild, Salon show in Gualala in 2017.

I define jewelry as creations, which are useful, artistic, symbolic, identifying, and an expression of personal ideas. In my earring line some of the motifs I use are leaves, birds, and windows. When these elements and others are integrated into a piece they can represent new beginnings, changes, hope, and further growth in ones self. The materials that I enjoy using most are sterling silver, copper, gold, pearls, and semiprecious stones. My intention for each one-of-a-kind piece are that it is clean looking, distinctive, and artistically rendered.

The pieces with the Asian like faces are inspired by the feminine, graceful, and romantic scenes of the Ukiyo-E period of Japanese art. The piece, “Unmentionables”, has different faces, all expressions of surprise, serenity, wonder, and ecstasy. On the back of the piece there are hidden hand cut flowers, roller printed leaf patterns, and scenes of paired lovers. Ukiyo-E, or images of the floating world, were representations of the everyday life of Japan in the 16th through the 19th centuries. This piece brings together my own interest in the expressive power of faces, while exploring the serenity and grace of the everyday in my own time.

About Madeline Kibbe

Madeline Kibbe grew up on the east coast and moved to Pt Arena after receiving a BFA from Rhode Island School of Design.  Since then the she has worked in various media participating in  shows locally, in San Francisco, New York and the Smithsonian. For eight years, she and her
partner ran the Lighthouse Peddler where she was in charge of layout and design and its original website development.