Saratoga News Photograph by George Sakkestad Among those showing at the new exhibit at the Aegis Gallery are (from left) Mel Rabedeau, Pat Puder, Judith Marshall, Lynn Bowen, Mary Ann Henderson, Jeanne Tillman and Starr Davis. Aegis Gallery starts over with new group show By Shari Kaplan For their first exhibit of 1999, the members of Saratoga's Aegis Gallery present "Starting Over." According to artist Nancy Jo Lopp, the group show is characterized by new, experimental and sometimes dramatic works. Some of the artists' older works, also on display, are on sale at a discount. Lopp enjoys the Polaroid emulsion transfer process. This involves "cooking" a photograph in hot water until its emulsion layer peels off, then carefully spreading the image on absorbent paper for a unique look. Joining Lopp's small emulsion transfers--which include flowers, stained glass windows and still-lifes--are enlargements of some of her favorite photos. Photography is a favorite medium of Erik Durfey, John Howard and husband-and-wife teams Bruce and Lynn Bowen and Mel and Ronnie Rabedeau. Durfey, who frequently visits the historic California ghost town of Bodie, documents its relics with Ilfochrome photos such as "Chair" and "Bath Tub." Howard captures a variety of topics with his camera, including markets and a pub. Among the Bowens' trademarks are crystal-clear Ilfochrome photos of undersea plants and animals throughout the world. On land, they take snaps of scenic vistas and landscapes. The Rabedeaus' equally engaging photos include scenes of San Francisco and Yosemite. There are also plenty of artists who express themselves with inks, paints and pastels. In "Tide Pool," Judith Marshall uses predominantly mauve, green, blue and reddish-brown in her painting of a seaside tidepool. Kay Duffy combines watercolor and ink in paintings of Point Lobos in Carmel. Rocky outcroppings and windswept cypresses leave little doubt this is the California coast. In the humorously titled "The Pedicure," Nancy de Weese's watercolors create a softly focused look at the life of a farrier, hard at work on the hoof of a patiently waiting dappled-gray horse. Among the many still-lifes are the airy watercolor "Jerusalem Cafe" by Bonnie Epstein and "Still Life with Jellybeans" by Mary Ann Henderson. Some artists make art in three dimensions. Starr Davis exhibits raku vases, fans and other ceramic pieces and a mixed media piece titled "Squid Row" that merges driftwood, seashells, seeds, twine, a painted bowl, a fake squid and metal. Tom Azevedo crafts fanciful "Magic Wands" of clay and crystal; Jacqueline Butts makes useful bowls of porcelain and stoneware; and Bill Sawhill sculpts and fires porcelain vases and plates by a method that produces unusual crystallization. Aegis Gallery is at 14531 Big Basin Way, Unit 2. An artists' reception takes place Jan. 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 6, 1999. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.