Kristin Coddington-Gordon of “What Now Ceramics” is a ceramic artist living on the Mendocino Coast. She is a fierce fighter for the environment, a mother of three creative, half wild daughters, and married to a guy who knows not to get in the way of what she is doing. Each sculpture is made by hand without the use of a mold, making each piece unique and individual. The sculptures are raku fired and waxed with beeswax. The wood used in Kristin’s sculptures is in collaboration with her husband, Bob Gordon. Bob mills local, reclaimed, and salvaged woods, and finishes these pieces with beeswax. By creating sculptures of struggling species, Kristin gives animals a voice. The message is left undefined, but is clearly in reference to environmental collapse. She hopes her art stirs up emotions, prompting others to do what they can to help the environment.

Lizzie Helbig was raised in New Jersey and attended college in Vermont. Now she is settled on the coast of Northern California in the village of Mendocino. She loves making thoughtful objects for everyday life, and finds both tactile and abstract inspiration in the environment that blankets our coast and forest and in the workings of our small town.

Kyoko Hirota was born in Chiba, Japan, and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her art practice began early in her childhood in Japan, when she began to attend a small oil painting atelier at the age of six. She continued to draw and paint through her school years and studied at University of California, Berkeley, where she graduated with a BFA in the “Practice of Art” in 2008. She currently lives and works in Fort Bragg.

Gail Jackson was born in Fort Bragg and has lived on the Mendocino Coast since 1984.”I am always aiming for cheerful and bright images! I like to share and show our local wildlife, nature, and landmark photography that captures the coast of Mendocino County. Staying creative is important for all of us. Natural treasures surround us on the coast, and there is always a chance you’ll find something golden or special. I share my pictures to cheer people up, to cheer them on, to remind them of what they can find on an adventure, and to encourage people to keep going. Every day brings changes; even well beaten paths can lead to new experiences.”

Tara Turner transforms what she sees on the forest floor into jewelry that is bold and playful. “Sawing, soldering, and forming metal with my hands allows me to make repetitive forms that can be assembled into many different shapes. Working primarily with sterling silver and gold, I also incorporate hand made felt with my metal work. Hand Felted shapes provide bright color and a tactile fuzziness. With simple, lively forms, I create modern jewelry that is fun to make and wear.”