Ukiah Corner Gallery: ‘Visions of Water’ show featured in front windows.

Water is on all of our minds, thanks to the past year of abundant rainfall following one of the most severe droughts most of us can remember. A group of inland Mendocino County artists, the Seven Sisters, has decided to literally dive into the theme of “Water” for their upcoming show in the front windows of the Corner Gallery for the month of August.

The Seven Sisters formed as a group in 2017. Several women reached out to other artists they knew with the idea to do a show at the Willits Center for the Arts. Some of the women knew each other, but some did not. As women do, they decided to get together for coffee before hanging the show, just to get acquainted. They forged an instant connection. Over the ensuing years the group has celebrated their vastly divergent backgrounds, styles and techniques to explore both their differences and similarities with at least three group art shows.
Members of the Seven Sisters are Nancy Simpson, Nan Trichler and Carolyn Bakewell from Willits; Esther Siegel from Redwood Valley; and Julie Beardsley, Elizabeth Raybee and Laura Fogg from Ukiah. Their work addresses the theme of water with paint, mosaic, collage, assemblage, textiles and beadwork.

Nancy Simpson, a freelance architectural designer, sums up her inspiration for participating in this show… “Water,” she says, “is of course the most important resource we have, and is incorporated into my art out of my concerns for future life on this planet.”

Julie Beardsley, who is an artist and a scientist, echoes this sentiment… “ I am concerned about climate change and water, or the lack thereof, which is crucial to the survival of us all.” For Esther Siegel, a therapist and self-described ‘glass half-full person’… “It’s been a delight to honor the most basic element in the world, water, through this creative process of making work for this show.”

The Corner Gallery will host two additional guest artists in August. In the Mendocino County Art Association’s pony wall space will be Sarah Falk, a well-known local watercolorist. She has previously been featured in the gallery’s front windows. An additional section of the pony wall will display the work of Karen Falconer, also a watercolorist, for a second month.

The First Friday opening celebration for “Visions of Water” will be on Aug. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Corner Gallery. The gallery is located at 201 S. State St. in Ukiah.