The Willow Glen Resident

Painting by Joe Saxe

Artful Letter: Artist Joe Saxe painted 'Letter to Edward' in oils on bristol board.

A closer look at the art world

Art-lovers can pay a call to more than 300 artists during Open Studios weekends

By Rebecca Wallace

The classics of the art world--an ethereal Botticelli or a striking Rodin--are all well and good, but there's something missing. You never get the chance to hang out with the artist, to talk to him about what was going on in his head when he dotted that cerulean blob on the canvas. Or to ask what his sculpture was mulling over.

At the upcoming Open Studios of South Bay Artists, the artists are right there to bond with. Those who follow the free, self-guided tours around Santa Clara County during four consecutive weekends beginning April 18 get an intimate peek into more than 300 artists' working worlds, and a chance to view the work of local creators.

"When you look at a piece of artwork, you get a feeling for it," said Willow Glen potter and sculptor Peter Sheremeta, one of many Glen participants. "But when you start to understand what goes into it, you get a real appreciation for what it is."

Like Sheremeta, who creates bowls, vases and platters, as well as sculpting full-size torsos from body casts, many of the artists have studios in or near their homes. Some work in shared spaces or warehouse complexes.

Illustrator and painter Joe Saxe, who lives and works in his studio near Willow Glen, says he likes Open Studios because it cuts out the middleman of an art gallery.

"I think that might appeal to people who like art--to see me personally, with no salesman," he said. "The open studio will be very relaxed. I'm hoping to sell some paintings, but that's just part of it."

The first weekend of Open Studios, April 18-19, includes the studios in San Jose east of Route 17/Highway 880 (including Willow Glen) and Milpitas. On April 25 and 26, the event covers Campbell, Cupertino, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, western San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale. The following weekend, Open Studios moves north to the Palo Alto-Mountain View area; on May 16 and 17 it covers Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy and areas of San Benito County. Tours run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The first event in 1986 attracted 79 artists. Now it has grown, changing its name from Open Studios of Santa Clara County to expand its area, said coordinator Liz Kraft.

Free studio maps are available at many bookstores and galleries, including Willow Glen Books at 1330 Lincoln Ave. and University Art Center at 456 Meridian Ave. Catalogs with examples of the artists' work may be purchased at the same locations or from many of the artists.

Open Studios attracts a variety of artists, from those just beginning to show their work to creative types whose work has been honored by prestigious groups.

Glen painter John Simon Burnett said the event was especially meaningful to him because it represented "a beginning step in pursuing a lifelong dream that I have always had--to make my living as a painter."

"For many years I have had a lot of my own unframed paintings hiding in my closets," he said. "I finally bought a table saw last summer and have been very busy making my own frames and preparing for this important show."

Nancy Gano, a Glen artist who's taking part in Open Studios for the first time, creates "angels" from things she picks up at flea markets, chiefly pieces of broken furniture. One assemblage is called "Phantom of the Heart" and includes bone, wood and metal.

Glen watercolor artist Ruth Morrow, whose work has been honored by groups including the renowned National Watercolor Society, has participated in Open Studios for several years.

Recently her painting "If I Forget Thee, Oh Jerusalem," was again honored, this time by the American Watercolor Society, which Morrow describes as one of the country's oldest and most prestigious painting societies. Her painting is on view in the society's 131st Annual International Exhibition in New York City this month.

"It was a major goal for me," Morrow said of being accepted into the exhibition. She'll be home from New York just in time for Open Studios, she said.

Also showing work at Open Studios are students from Lincoln High School's "Saturday Academy," a district drawing, painting and design program; and its student National Art Honors Society. Their exhibit runs April 18-19 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Lincoln's rooms 51 and 52, said adviser Eileen Zamora.

Other Glen-area artists include Shawn Johnson, Virginia Ferguson, Therese May, Carole Westlund, Carla Mooyman, Lyn Orona, Judy Welsh, Joan Romani, Nina Koepcke, Chris Sager, Lucy Liew, Barbara Cressman, Mary Ann Gravitt, Sally McLeod, Kathleen Reeve, Elaine Frenett, Tamara Smith, Claudia Maciel, Egnalya Aznaran, Judith Enright and Suzanne Welch.

A preview exhibit will be held from April 9 to May 14 in Sunnyvale. For more information about this exhibit, or about Open Studios of South Bay Artists, call or fax 650/429-2117, or email ostudios98@aol.com.

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