“Time Shapes Us” and “Lost Leader”

Two exhibits open at the Dolphin Gallery in Gualala in November. “Time Shapes Us”, featuring the works of Ling-Yen Jones, and “Lost Leader”, the works of Liam Ericson, will both open Saturday, November 12 from 3 pm to 5 pm at the Dolphin Gallery in the Sea Cliff center, 39140 Highway One, Gualala.

Ling-Yen Jones presents “Time Shapes Us”, an exhibit featuring her jewelry creations. The Mendocino County jeweler works mainly in silver, semi-precious stones, and pearls, and her style ranges from the traditional to the modern, and is completely unique. All of her pieces are individually handmade, and are therefore one-of-a-kind or in small series with repeating motifs.

Jones’ trained 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, as well as other exhibitions and shows.” She defines 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.”

Jones adds, “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.”

Also exhibiting at the Dolphin Gallery is Liam Ericson. His works will be displayed under the heading of “Lost Leader.” Known to many on the Mendonoma Coast as an artist and naturalist, Ericson continues to be inspired by the natural environment of the beautiful lands in coastal Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.

For years, the Annapolis resident has been drawn to, and has explored, the wilds of the Gualala River watershed—including the area known as Preservation Ranch, seeking out old growth redwood trees to photograph and document; the trees and the wildlife associated with them are the inspiration for his art. For those who may not be aware of the area (which was saved from development almost a decade ago), a 2013 article by the San Francisco Chronicle documented the event. “A giant redwood forest in Sonoma County that was on the verge of being divvied up and plowed over into a patchwork of vineyards has been preserved by a public-private partnership that engineered what is being touted as the largest land conservation deal in California history.”

A visit to the Dolphin Gallery will give art lovers a unique perspective through the art of Liam Ericson and Ling-yen Jones, which will be on display. The exhibit continues through December 4, 2022.