Photograph by Paul Myers
Saratogan Noreen Christopher prepares her acrylic paintings with varnish. She will display them at her home during Open Studios.
Artists opening their doors to the public
By Shari Kaplan
It's down the road, across the street, or perhaps even right next door. More than 350 artists and craftspeople are opening their studios throughout the South Bay and beyond for the 16th annual Silicon Valley Open Studios, three weekends of self-guided public tours sponsored by Silicon Valley Visual Arts, a local nonprofit organization.
The mediums being exhibited--or in some cases, being created before visitors' eyes--are as different as the artisans themselves. Works include paintings done in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors as well as artwork made of ceramics, mosaics, blown glass, quilts, weavings, handmade books, black-and-white and color photography, digitally manipulated photography, stone sculpture, metal work, jewelry and calligraphy.
April 20 and 21 is the weekend for artists living in or exhibiting in the communities of Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Saratoga, Campbell, San Jose, Santa Clara and Milpitas. Some artists exhibit as collectives, such as the members of Blossom Hill Crafts at 15900 Blossom Hill Road or the Colorist painters gathering at Shangri-La, a park-like private estate at 15065 El Camino Senda in Saratoga.
There is also a group called the Mountain Mamas that is made up of local artists from both communities who exhibit together and raise money for the Los Gatos-Saratoga Observation Nursery School's tuition fund. They include Angela Davidson, Jeanne Dominguez, Jan Eby, Halina Gallagher, Blair Kilbey, Sharon Perry, Caitlin Pryce, Tani Pryce, Lily W. Soetarman, Jill Templeton, Laurie West and Dana Williams.
In the beginning, the event now known as Silicon Valley Open Studios was called Open Studios of Santa Clara County. As it grew, it became Open Studios of South Bay Artists. In its 14th year, it reorganized under the wing of a nonprofit artistic organization called Silicon Valley Visual Arts. With that came the name change to Silicon Valley Open Studios, but the event is far from limited to this valley. In actuality, it emcompasses 13 cities in San Mateo County as well as several cities in the far north and south of Santa Clara County, such as Los Altos, Palo Alto, Morgan Hill and Gilroy.
Studio visitors follow specially printed maps to find the studios that interest them in the various communities. They then have the opportunity to visit with artists and buy artwork. Many artists also offer demonstrations and refreshments. Studios may be located in artists' homes, or they may be public locations.
Artists who live in or plan to exhibit in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno are Gary Coleman, Daniel B. Dermer, Genie Even, Marian S. Gault, Ned Gault, Carole George, Ruth Geredes, Shannon Grissom, Elke Groves, Marlene Hirose, Polly Hughes, Jerry H. Hurst, Paul Jossi, Rachelle Kaldani, Ed Lucey, Maralyn Miller, Jana Morgan, Harley Newsom, Henri J. O'Connor, Phil Rosenthal, Linda Sieker, Lily Soetarman, Jennifer Wool and Marco P. Zecchin.
Exhibitors who are Saratoga residents include Chris Beck, Millicent Bishop, Don Bonnett, Christine Chatwell, Yun-Ying Chen, Noreen Christopher, Ruth Rainie Condit, Starr Davis, Sherie L. Drake, Kay Duffy, Elaine Frenett, Rosemarie A. Gorman, Oneida Hammond, Carolyn Hofstetter, Jane Hofstetter, Yen-Shen Kao, Glenn Krueg, Michael Linstrom, Sharon Lips, Judith Marshall, Linda Hansen Mau, May Miller, Bette Paris Mohr, Shelly Y. Monfort, Jacob Moradzadeh, Mel Rabedeau, Jerry Smith, Patricia Suggs, Mariko Suzuki, Vivian Taggart, Christy Tsai, Jeanette Turkus, Jean Warren, Judy Welsh, Yoju (known professionally by her first name only) and Floy Zittin.
Free maps--as well as catalogs for purchase--are available in Los Gatos at Elemental Arts Gallery, 104 University Ave., and Blossom Hill Crafts, 19500 Blossom Hill Road; and in Saratoga at The Mitre Box, 20605 Third St.
For the locations of places in other South Bay cities to pick up maps and catalogs, or for more information about Silicon Valley Open Studios, call 650.941.5337 or visit www.svopenstudios.org on the Internet.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
