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When May peers around the corner, artists across Willow Glen get busy--real busy. They turn out some last-minute paintings and apply a few touch-ups. They arrange, assemble and frame their work as much as they scrub, dust and de-clutter their homes for the stream of visitors expected during the annual Silicon Valley Open Studios event.
In its 19th season, the upcoming event has become a Bay Area tradition that allows the community to connect with local artists and their work. Open Studios traditionally takes place the first three weekends in May, featuring artists from across the San Francisco Bay Area. A total of 405 artists are participating in this year's event.
For many years fine arts painter Katherine Kindig was a regular visitor of Open Studios, where she would often hunt for bargains on original artwork.
Five years ago, the Willow Glen resident started exhibiting her own work--abstract pastel paintings that often resemble impressionistic landscape scenes.
"Some people were so jazzed up about my art," she says. "It was really rewarding."
For the past 15 years she has painted regularly in her free time, while working full time in the high-tech industry. Having the yearly deadline of Open Studios, she says, has kept her creative juices flowing.
"It's kind of like practicing for a run," she says. "You exercise all year for Open Studios."
Kindig has also been active in the Willow Glen Arts Guild since its founding a year ago. The organization, which has 45 members, allows local artists to promote their work and to network.
It was at one of the guild's monthly meetings where Kindig came across Ann Elliot Artz, a fellow fine arts painter who is now teaming up with her in this year's Open Studios. The two women will show their artwork together in Kindig's backyard.
For Artz it will be the first time to exhibit her work. The freelance graphic designer recently picked up painting again after putting it on the back burner to raise her daughter, who is now 9 years old.
While specializing in abstract paintings of images and shapes in her youth, Artz has now taken to depicting rural themes in a bold, expressionistic style. She paints brightly colored oils of chickens, barns, cows and pigs, which she says convey the peace and quietness of rural life.
The Sacramento native often finds herself taking off to the countryside to paint. A couple of hours in solitude and quietness, she says, are essential to her work as an artist. Artz considers painting as her personal time.
Artz is looking forward to showing her work together with Kindig, whose paintings she admires and likens to the simplicity and quietness of her own work.
While many Open Studios artists exhibit their work individually, an increasing number see the advantages of teaming up with colleagues.
"It's beneficial for everyone," says Willow Glen resident Kayomi Harai, who for the first time is showing her signature paintings of cats and tigers with two other artists this year.
Visitors prefer places where they can see more art at one time, she says, and exhibitors are happy about the larger crowds. This year will be the third time for Harai to participate in Open Studios. Its cultural value, she says, is indisputable.
"People become more aware of what's going on in the art world in their own neighborhood," she says. "They get to see what local artists are doing."
While Open Studios has become somewhat more commercialized over the years, Kindig says it has never lost its grassroots appeal of making art available to everyone in the community.
"The most exciting is when someone who has never bought art before buys," she says. "It's like introducing them to fine wine."
Artists at a glance
Willow Glen artists will participate in the annual Silicon Valley Open Studios May 21-22. Artists will open their studios from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and a map of locations, visit www.svopenstudios.org
Katherine Kindig, 408.286.6254, emmettharp@aol.com, showing at 938 Willow Glen Way.
Ann Elliot Artz, ann@studioartz. com, showing at 938 Willow Glen Way.
Amy Brown, 408.947.9183, amybelize@yahoo.com, showing at 1215 Mildred Ave.
Mark Nelson, 408.265.9432, sjmarky@earthlink.net, showing at 1564 Garden Glen Way.
Alison Pangburn, 408.265.8192, a.pang burn@comcast.net, showing at 2213 Radio Ave.
Judith Enright, 408.448.4597, Judith@bleopart.com, showing at 2213 Radio Ave.
Theresa Hanson, 408.993.0578, teresa_hanson@comcast.net, showing at 1310 Cherry Ave.
Clark Gussin, 408.256.2219, clark_gussin@yahoo.com, showing at 2517 Plummer Ave.
Kayomi Harai, 408.266.1634, kayomih@ aol.com, showing at 2517 Plummer Ave.
Lucy Liew, 408.267.7908, lucyliewart @yahoo.com, showing at 2517 Plummer Ave.
Dixon Lau, 408.292.8878, webmaster@laugallery.com, showing at 2351 Heritage Court.
Nancy Walters, 408.978.0984, nlwalters@comcast.net, 2351 Heritage Court.
Gary Coleman,408.266.4656, garioski@pacbell.net, showing at 948 Emory St.
Karen Ford, 408.264.7353, karensplace@sbcglobal.net, showing at 2366 Valencia Court.
Nathalie Galvin, 408.377.9941, openstudio@lesgalvin.com, showing at 1616 Sheffield Ave.
Willow Glen artists showing elsewhere:
David Lippenberger, 408.287.8693, dvdlip@yahoo.com, showing at 1068 The Alameda.
Mary Medrano, 408.288.8220, mary@MaryMedranoGallery.com, showing at 1793 Lafayette St., Suite 110, Santa Clara.
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