June Art Happenings

After an incredibly lush spring, June finally approaches and we remain optimistic that summer is actually on its way. Surely it must be.

"Up on the Farm" at Graton Gallery.

Start the season by getting out and about to enjoy some art. There are some gallery shows to have a look at, a summer sculpture exhibit, and an open studio tour coming up.

Forestville’s Quicksilver Mine Co. presents “All the Pieces that Matter” from May 28 through July 4, with an artists’ reception Saturday, May 29, 4-6pm. The one-man exhibition features recent mixed media collage by Kirk Hinshaw. His collages are a fanciful incorporation of pages from antique books, old photographs, sewing patterns, antique papers and small objects.

Graton Gallery is showing “Up on the Farm” from May 25 until July 4, with paintings, block prints, and drawings by Pam Lewis, Rik Olson, and Hester Zoutendijk. Get a whimsical glimpse of farm animals through the eyes of the artists. Lewis took up painting in the last few years, expanding her horizons from a background in commercial arts as an illustrator and graphic design artist. Olson is well known for scratchboard, pen and ink, acrylics, linoleum cuts and especially wood engraving. Zoutendijk specializes in animal portraits, with a real knack for grasping their character. There is an artists’ reception Sunday, May 30, 3-6pm.

The Cloverdale Arts Alliance proudly unveils its Sculpture Exhibit, which will be on display through the summer from June 6 until September 29. This annual exhibit brings 18 works by talented local sculptors to Cloverdale’s downtown plaza. There is an opening reception on Saturday, June 5, 4-6pm, where a panel of judges will designate a Best of Show and two Honorable Mentions. The opening reception also offers an opportunity to build your own sculpture with 3D-Edddy, a local artist who works with artists of all ages using found objects in his Junk Art Workshops.

The open studio tour Art at the Source is a great chance to explore western Sonoma County and visit the artists on their own turf, over two weekends, June 5 & 6 and June 12 & 13. There are 127 participating artists and 73 studios this year, making up a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, glass art, photography, and fabric art. Pick up a free catalog with detailed maps at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts and local restaurants, coffeehouses, hotels, wineries, and bookstores. You can also find the catalog and map online at www.artatthesource.org.

Keep an eye on our event calendar for more things coming up in June and on into the summer.