A special new exhibit has opened at Gualala Arts in the upstairs gallery, featuring the monoprints of Miriam Owen. All of the proceeds from this special show will benefit Gualala Arts. While there is no special reception, the upstairs gallery will be open during the Arts Center’s regular hours, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

Miriam Owen has been working in her Gualala Ridge studio since 1980. She began her studio life as a potter making mostly functional wares for over 25 years. In 1995, she refocused from only clay, to also making figurative driftwood sculptures. She considered her Kelp People, made with dried bull kelp for heads and driftwood for the bodies, to be regional artifacts. She also made figures she called Guardians, an exceptional piece of driftwood affixed to a wood base and embellished with feathers, leather and beads.

In 2015 she sponged years of clay and sawdust off the studio walls and painted them barn red and two different teals. The colors alone transformed the studio, but so did the addition of a large open spoke Conrad monotype press. Ever since, Miriam has been dedicated to printmaking.

Each of her prints are one of a kind. They are not duplicated. One print may resemble another, but each one retains its own distinctive characteristics. Owen adds, “The process is an exploration for me, full of endless possibilities, as I learned to use my eye in a whole new way.”  In addition to her original monoprints in the upstairs gallery, the art on display in the upstairs foyer are pieces from her personal art collection, most done by local artists.

Miriam Owen will be relocating from Gualala to Calistoga later this year and this exhibit is a wonderful way to support Gualala Arts while preparing for her move. More information is at GualalaArts.org.