Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Los Gatos artist Bettye Naymark created 'Lita' with pastels on Canson paper.

Pen Women celebrate with Tait exhibit

By Shari Kaplan

For its latest exhibit, "Celebrating 100 Years of Women's Excellence in the Arts," the Los Gatos Art and Natural Science Museum is displaying works of members of the local Las Artes branch of the National League of American Pen Women.

The NLAPW's mission is to promote the development of professional women's creative endeavors in fields such as art and crafts, music, drama, writing and speaking. Pen Woman status is based upon professional recognition through awards, exhibitions, publication or presentation of works.

The Las Artes branch was established in 1987 by Los Altos resident Nettie Tays-Campbell and includes members from throughout the greater Bay Area. A prolific artist and exhibitor, Tays-Campbell has three bronze sculptures and three paintings in the current show. Among these is the watercolor "Spirit Tree," which at first appears to be made up of swirlings shades of red, orange, yellow and burnished brown and gold.

After a moment, the viewer may notice a brightly glowing, somewhat nebulous cloud of light emanating from the roots of a bare, lanky tree straddling it from above. The whole piece, in fact, seems to glow mysteriously from the presence of the Spirit Tree.

Los Gatan Bettye Naymark uses pastels to portray things with more of a realist bent. Among her favorite subjects are children. In her "Portrait of Girl with Giraffe--'He's Mine!' " Naymark depicts a little girl whose face is a plaintive reminder of the great personal value children can place on their toys.

"I like to work with photos I take of children; I don't expect them to sit still for a painting," Naymark says, explaining that she takes photos of each child she is commissioned to paint, then selects the best one for the portrait. She also enjoys painting still lifes and landscapes, as seen in the plain and simple "Avocados."

Pat Suggs, a San Jose resident, clearly favors flowers--at least for this show--as each of her eight paintings features them alone or with other objects. In some cases, the blossoms have a soft-focus quality, and in all cases they are beautifully colored and aesthetically arranged. Among these are "Camellias," "Callas and Glass" and "Decoy and Still Life."

Los Altos artist Marion Smith Ferri also likes flowers, but her portrayals take the form of macro-color photographs. Some of the most striking close-ups are those of a tiny scarlet pimpernel, a delicate African violet and the central structures of the exotic passionflower, which look more like something from a science fiction novel than like a plant.

Among the three-dimensional art is a graceful sculpture by Santa Clara resident Dawn Medd called "Patiently She Waits."

In contrast to the mood of Medd's piece is the mixed-media "Chair with an Attitude," by Pat Keefe of Half Moon Bay. Its velvety cushioned seat looks inviting enough--except for an array of nails sticking up from the seat. A white chain hanging from the chair's back looks painfully captivating.

The Los Gatos Art and Natural Science Museum is located at 4 Tait Ave. Hours are noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The exhibit runs through July 26. A closing reception will be held July 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, call 354-2646.

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