Christmas ornaments made by local artists are among the treasures available at Gallery Saratoga.
Holiday treasures fill local galleries
By Shari Kaplan
Saratogans hoping to get a head start on holiday gift-giving need look no further than the intersection of Big Basin Way and Fourth Street in stuffing the stockings of art lovers.
On that corner are Aegis Gallery and Gallery Saratoga, two artists' cooperatives that are showcasing locally made arts and crafts and share the same address--14531 Big Basin Way, Units 2 and 3, respectively. Members hail mainly from Saratoga, Los Gatos, Cupertino, San Jose and communities in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Forgoing the holiday trees already springing up in shop windows, the Aegis artists have instead decorated two things that were once trees--old wooden ladders. Adorned with fragrant herbs and greenery, the rungs, steps and feet are covered with artwork. What can't fit there is displayed on tables nearby.
Among the creative finds are mixed-media paintings by Judith Marshall and Yoju (including some of Yoju's favorite cat series) and a variety of items featuring Nancy Jo Lopp's favorite herb, lavender. Lopp, who grows the herb on her Santa Cruz Mountain property, photographs it to create greeting cards and dries it for use in sachets and gift baskets. Another mountain resident, Jeanne Tillman, uses recycled papers, fallen leaves and errant threads--among other things--to fashion distinctive cast paper sculptures, including vessels, eggs and life-like recreations of the leaves themselves.
There are also pastels landscapes by Mary Ann Henderson and watercolors by Kay Duffy that include sites in Yosemite, Lake Tahoe and France. Donna Guzzetta also has a fondness for Tahoe, especially the North Shore, from which she collects smooth, flat stones and uses them to paint detailed images of animals, including horses, raccoons and scarab beetles, the latter inspired by her fascination with Egyptian mythology.
Christmas Treasures marks Gallery Saratoga's 21st group holiday show, with most of its two dozen members--plus several guest artists--contributing. Some items hang on or below the branches of a festive tree, while others fill a wooden bookcase that looks like Santa's elves themselves stocked it.
Among the creative art and craft items are Lillian Isaacson's large twig wreaths dusted with silver glitter glue and decorated with dried flowers; hand-dyed silk scarves by Margaret Magill; and delicate needlepoint angels by Joan Foster, who also sews tiny stockings she calls "gift holders for very special little things."
Dori Simmons contributes painted wooden birdhouses and star ornaments and lacy white angels. Dori Phifer fashions small twig wreaths with whimsical trinkets tucked inside, as well as glass balls enclosing angels and gold glitter. Other items include Jane Garrod's intricate wheat weavings, crafted from grain harvested from her family farm on the shores of Honey Lake in Lassen County, and ShaRon's cinnamon sticks, which are rolled like little logs and tied with festive ribbons, pinecones and bells.
Aegis Gallery's Holiday Show runs through Dec. 26. Gallery Saratoga's Christmas Treasures runs through Dec. 29. Gift cards in different styles are also available at both galleries. Art items unrelated to the holiday season are also on display.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
