Photograph by Paul Myers
Former Gallery Saratoga member Joan Foster, now a guest artist, crafted whimsical ornaments called Ivy Balls for the gallery's holiday show.
'Tis the season at Gallery Saratoga
By Shari Kaplan
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Saratoga. Although no freak storms have blown in to blanket the area with an early snow, there is one place where the holiday spirit is already alive and well: Gallery Saratoga.
The gallery, at 14531 Big Basin Way, Unit 3, is decked out now through Dec. 30 with 'Tis the Season, the annual show in which the majority of its member artists--together with a handful of guest artists--contribute arts and crafts chosen especially with holiday gift-giving and decorating in mind.
Among the more standard items are paintings with seasonal themes, such as the craggy "Winter Tree," an oil painting by Saratogan Gloria Watson; the bright watercolor "Poinsettias" by Dori Simmons of Cupertino; the ethereal, wreath-encircled "Night Angel" by Saratogan Lillian Isaacson; and "Winter Thaw," an intriguing melange of natural fibers, gold thread, watercolors and handmade paper by Los Altan Avie Urch.
Perhaps as a foil to this imagery, some very "springy" art hangs nearby, including a bright and cheery butterfly and flowers on Los Gatan Margaret Magill's hand-painted silk and the watercolor "Hummingbirds" by guest artist Judy Y. Chiu. Beautiful nature photography by Saratogan Luisa Tosi Claeys and Don del Castillo of San Jose are also on hand.
Getting back to the winter holidays, San Jose artist ShaRon Haugen offers a festive touch with miniature clay flowerpots decorated as elves--fortunately they're not impish enough to eat the silvery Hershey's kisses tucked inside.
Hand-painted tile trivets and fragrant, hand-appliquéed candles by Los Gatan Margaret Magill add to the holiday spirit, as do painted tin ornaments by Deborah Woods of San Jose and whimsical ornaments of guest artist Joan Foster of Soquel, including lace bells and "Ivy Balls," the latter filled with miniature Christmas lights, Santa hats, candy canes, gifts and iridescent ribbon.
If that weren't enough, guest artist Anna Stout of Sunnyvale has made her annual batch of cute stuffed cats, dogs and Santas, while Judy Y. Chiu has combined warm, homespun fabrics with petite buttons to create collages well-suited to a country kitchen or den.
Gallery artists even had the forethought to include greeting cards as part of the exhibit, including del Castillo's "Season's Felicities" series, eclectic mixed-media cards by Los Gatan Linda B. Spencer and traditional Japanese katazome cards by Saratogan Chie Kurahashi Goldsmith.
The public is invited to a gala artist reception, with refreshments, Nov. 25 from 1 to 7 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 408.867.0458 or visit www.gallerysaratoga.com on the Internet.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
