Thursday, December 9, 2010

ASiF's 3rd Annual Holiday Celebration, Saturday, Dec 11th, 10am-5pm!

Over 300 people attended the opening reception in November for the Smallworks in the Foothills Holiday show, during which over 200 of the original 500 artworks were sold! Artworks are being "sold off the wall, though, one would never know it, as new works continue to arrive daily, filling the walls shelves and pedestals for this exciting show! And, as the list of participating artists also continues to grow, the center's vision of an "ever-changing (never-waning) holiday show" has become a wonderful reality!

This weekend, the Artists' Studio in the Foothills invites the public to come enjoy a cup of hot spiced cider and share the in the excitement for the center's 3rd Annual Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 11th from 10am-5pm.

The Smallworks in the Foothills Holiday Show features fine artworks in a variety of media, all under 12 inches in size... these are very affordable original artworks created by local artists! The new ASiF GiFT Gallery features cards, prints, jewelry, scarves, pottery, glass and sculptural & functional works, all by local artists. The list of participating artists for this show has grown from fifty to seventy since the opening reception on November 12th!

Participating Smallworks in the Foothills Holiday Show Artists: (70 and counting!)

Denise Abella
Stephanie Adams
Cindy Bair
Andrea Baron
Cindy Barry
Alicia Berardi
Rebecca Bleau
Eileen Blodgett
Carolyn Bloom
Lugene Boyd
Deborah Bridges
Sarah Brink
LeeAnn Brook
Carin Brooks
Pam Brown
Phil Brown
Odette Brush
Liz Collins
Susan Crocenzi
Dallas Cruickshank
Jennifer Rain Crosby
Jackie Davis
Heather deVivieros
Flo Fahrenheit
Audrey Farina
Karen Fulk
Leslie Guinan
Vicky Haden
Sarah C.V. Hendrickson
Barbara Hoffmann
John Hoft
Tatyana Holodnova
Paul Honatke
Claudia Jeffers
Jeanne Jabbour
Susan Jakubik
Don Johnson
Kris Johnson
Valerie Kack
Kathleen Kershaw
Max Komissarchik
David Lewin
Betsy Lombard
Jenny Long
Chic Lotz
Jill Mahanna
Ruth Mazur
David Mckay
Susan Michalski
Victoria Mora
Anita Morgan
Rick and Janet Nicholson
Mindy Oberne
Amanda Paoletti
Penelope Partch
Jean Patterson
Denia Pearson
Heather Peck
Clay Platner
Marsha Rafter
Judi Robison
Suzanne Ropiequet
Risa Roseman
Mary K. Deleray Russel
Jim Stettler
Liz Swindell
Mary Thelander
Josh Unterman
Robin Wallace
Jane Welles
Denise Wey
Cheryl Wilson
Kathryn Wronski

Monday, December 6, 2010

Smallworks in the Foothills Holiday Show at ASiF

The Artists' Studio in the Foothills Gallery, and Visual Arts Center of Nevada County is thrilled to announce its third annual Smallworks in the Foothills Holiday Show! This has become ASiF's signature show, and works well to define the center's vision of becoming a conduit for the great number of talented visual artists in Nevada County. For this show, the gallery is brought to life with some five hundred original works of art. Each carefully composed gallery wall, consists of a peppering-in... a smattering if you will, of each of the fifty participant's - up to ten art entries. Paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, multi-media collages and sculptural & functional works, all under twelve inches, line the walls, shelves and pedestals for an absolutely stunning effect.

Each wall is a work of art in itself... Participating artists who share in the work of hanging this show will agree, that composing the walls with these small art works is a huge part of what makes this show a success. Several of the show's participants look forward to volunteering for this occasion each year, becoming engaged, and somewhat changed, by this expressly new and exciting way of hanging art! "It's pretty exciting", says Amanda Paoletti, owner, director of ASiF, "Guests and patrons have told me, that the style and manner in which we hang this show, has become contagious... a few have even begun trying to re-create the effect on a chosen wall in their own homes, and look forward to collecting a new favorite Smallwork each year!"

Another exciting note on this show, is that over the fifty-day course of the exhibit, art works are sold "off the wall". This means, that unlike the rest of the center's gallery shows, where sold works are left on display until the close of the show, customers are encouraged to buy smallworks for holiday gift giving, and to take them right away! "The most exciting part of this", offers Paoletti, "is that each time a piece is sold, a special gallery elf, left in charge of the center's secret smallworks stash, replaces it with another completely different one!"

Sharing the excitement for this show, is the new ASiF GiFT Gallery, for which the center will celebrate its Grand Opening on the evening of the opening reception of the Smallworks Holiday Show. Early this summer local artists began filling the shelves and jewelry cases, with beautiful handmade original, functional and sculptural works, to create what ASiF GiFT is now calling, the destination for handmade gift-able art by local artists. The gift shop offers cards, prints, jewelry, pottery, hand painted scarves and carved wood and glass works, and features on its walls, local fine artist's paintings and multi-media art, for a classy museum store-like feeling.

ASiF invites the public to celebrate the Smallworks in the Foothills Holiday Show, and ASiF GiFT's grand opening event, on Friday, November 12th, from 5-8pm. Fine art, food, wine and live music to be enjoyed by all!

The gallery and gift store are open Monday - Friday, 10am-5pm, Saturdays from 11am-4pm, and by appointment on Sundays. The Smallworks Holiday Show will hang through January 8th, 2011.

The Artists' Studio in the Foothills is located at 940 Idaho Maryland Road, in Grass Valley. For more information go to www.asifstudios.com or call 530-274-7000.

Participating Smallworks in the Foothills Holiday Show Artists:
Denise Abella
Stephanie Adams
Cindy Bair
Cindy Barry
Alicia Berardi
Rebecca Bleau
Eileen Blodgett
Lugene Boyd
Deborah Bridges
Sarah Brink
Odette Brush
Jennifer Rain Crosby
Heather deVivieros
Flo Fahrenheit
Audrey Farina
Sarah C.V. Hendrickson
Barbara Hoffmann
John Hoft
Paul Honatke
Jeanne Jabbour
Susan Jakubik
Don Johnson
Kris Johnson
Valerie Kack
Max Komissarchik
Betsy Lombard
Jenny Long
Chic Lotz
Jill Mahanna
Ruth Mazur
Susan Michalski
Victoria Mora
Anita Morgan
Rick & Janet Nicholson
Amanda Paoletti
Penelope Partch
Jean Patterson
Denia Pearson
Clay Platner
Marsha Rafter
Mary K. Deleray Russel
Jim Stettler
Mary Thelander
Josh Unterman
Robin Wallace
Jane Welles
Denise Wey
Cheryl Wilson
Kathleen Woolsey
Kathryn Wronski

3rd Annual Open Studios Art Tour Event at ASiF Studios

The Artists Studio in the Foothills Gallery and Visual Arts Center invites the public to its 3rd annual Open Studios Art Tour Event! ASiF Studios is home to more than 20 resident artists, each with private or shared studio space. The center is open daily - year 'round, offering the public a candid look into the creative spaces of working artists.

During the Open Studios Art Tour, ASiF residents take special care to create beautiful displays of their art work for fans to see. In addition to the displays of finished works, resident artists and instructors have prepared demonstrations in a huge range of media. This is a fabulous opportunity for the public to see how artists create their work, and a great way for prospective students to get a taste of the many classes and workshops offered at the center!

This year the studio will feature demonstrations by resident artists and instructors, Rebecca Bleau, Eileen Blodgett, Claudia Jeffers, Bob Martin, Josh Unterman & Denise Wey, in drawing, painting, printmaking, wheel-throwing & ceramic sculpture. Demonstrations will be loosely scheduled on an ongoing basis throughout the two Open Studios Art Tour weekends, October 9th, 10th, 16th & 17th.

ASiF will feature the following demo's by resident artists and instructors:

Rebecca Bleau: Silk-Screen Printing
Eileen Blodgett: Mono-prints - Sunday, October 10 & 17th)
Claudia Jeffers: Sculpting the Head & Face (Saturday, Oct 16th)
Bob Martin: Figure/Portrait Drawing & Painting (Saturday, Oct 9th & 16th
Josh Unterman: Wheel-throwing (Sat & Sunday, October 9,10,16 & 17)
Denise Wey: Acrylic Painting (Saturday, Oct 9th)

Though you may find up to twenty resident artists working in their studios on any given day at ASiF... six of the center's resident artists are officially on the tour and are looking forward to receiving art tour guests!

ASiF Resident Artists on the Tour:

Rebecca Bleau
Eileen Blodgett
Deborah Bridges
Roseanne Burke
Jill Mahanna
Kathryn Wronski

The Artist's Studio in the Foothills is a fully equipped studio arts facility with more than twenty resident artist's private and shared studio spaces, and two large community studio spaces for ceramics & painting, drawing and printmaking. Resident instructors offer classes in painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramic sculpture, wheel throwing, and glaze chemistry. The Center offers drop in studio use, and is devoted to promoting local artists of the Nevada County area in themed gallery shows every six to eight weeks.

Mythic Beasts & Sacred Altars Show at ASiF Studios

The Artists Studio in the Foothills Gallery and Visual Arts Center is proud to present their October Gallery Show - Mythic Beasts & Sacred Altars. This show will feature mythical creatures by more than 30 local artists inspired by classic to modern myths... and altars designed to inspire great intention and place of being.

"Why do humans make art?" This age old question is at the core of this month's show at ASiF gallery. We know from the earliest evidence of humans, that art fulfills sacred purposes for us. Whether these were practical (depictions of good luck in a hunt), or more mystical (the spiritual leader as half-man, half-animal)... the mysterious nature of animals has empowered us since the beginning of time.


From shamanistic images of prehistoric times, to the latest teen fascination with vampires, humans have created art that delves into our dreams, fears and special connections with the animal world. Even the word animal, from the Latin anima, meaning "breath, soul", in and of itself touches on why the subject of animals holds such purpose for artists.


Altars exemplify another special purpose for art, as loci of the sacred... artists create unique spaces endowed with special human meaning.

ASiF's Mythic Beasts & Sacred Altars Show will open with a reception for the artists on Friday, October 1st from 5-8pm, featuring, fine art, food, wine, and live music! The show will hang through October 30th. The gallery is open daily from 10am-5pm, Monday - Friday, and 11am-4pm on Saturdays.

Mythic Beasts & Sacred Altars Show Participating Artists:
Cindy Barry
Colin Barton
Sandy Berliner
Rebecca Bleau
Eileen Blodgett
Calvin Bohner
Deborah Bridges
Ruth Chase
Joyce Currie
Willem deGroot
Heather deViveros
Lauren Drutz
Flo Fahrenheit
Jerry Hall
Sarah Hendrickson
John Hoft
Richard Hotchkiss
John Hughes
Elizabeth Jens
Valerie Kack
Teddy Kell
Kathleen Kershaw
Marin Lipowitz
Mandy Lucchese
Michael Marx
Michael Moerman
Victoria Mora
Anita Morgan
Amanda Paoletti
Jennifer Rain Crosby
Terrie Rockwell
Risa Roseman
Jeff Strain
Peggy Wright
Kathryn Wronski

ASiF Studios Student & Teacher Show

The Artists Studio in the Foothills (ASiF) Gallery and Visual Arts Center
is proud to present their First Annual Student & Teacher Show! The show will feature the works of over 75 ASiF students and their teachers, showcasing just a handful of the centers' fine art program offerings.

Adult and childrens' student art work, from papier mache to fine ceramic sculpture, oil, pastel and acrylic paintings, will be displayed. Though only some of the art will be for sale, all of the work on display is a testament to the high quality art instruction offered by resident instructors at the center.

ASiF Studios opened its' doors in June of 2008, with a vision of becoming The Visual Arts Center of Nevada County. Offering professional art instruction and state of the art facilities for resident and visiting instructors, private and shared studio space, drop in studio use, community classrooms for painting, drawing, printmaking, mosaics, wheel throwing, and sculptural ceramics, and a gallery, to promote residents and local Nevada County artists.

Since the beginning the community has fully embraced the centers' efforts, calling it the number one, and highest quality local fine art venue in the area. With over twenty resident artists with year round open studios, the center features themed gallery shows every six to eight weeks. These art events are celebrated with opening receptions, offering fine art, food, wine, and live music. Bringing hundreds of local artists and art patrons together, the center continues to grow a community dedicated to promotion of visual artists of Nevada County.

ASiF's First Annual Student & Teacher Show will open with a reception for the artists on Friday, August 6th from 5-8pm. The show will hang through September 10th, 2010. The gallery is open from 10am-5pm, Monday - Friday, and 11am-4pm on Saturdays.

The Artists' Studio in the Foothills is located at 940 Idaho Maryland Road, in Grass Valley. For more information and a list of program offerings go to www.asifstudios.com or call 530-274-7000.


Student Teacher Show - Participating Artists:
Cherie Adams
Yvonne Bartlett
Amy Biddinger
Eileen Blodgett
Lugene Boyd
Deborah Bridges
Greta Broda
Alexi Brooks
Carin Brooks
Kaylie Brooks
Lori Brooks
Phil Brown
Indiana Clark
Kristin Comeaux

Dallas Cruickshank
Kathryn Davis
Cathy Diamond
Nancy Donahue
Linda Drew
Fiona Duggan
Carol Dunbar
Andrea Eiermann
Bailey Gannon
Cathy Gerstung
Molly Gomes
Sharon Griffiths
Monique Hanson
Barbara Harris
Elana Hierman
Francene Holland
Betsy Hufnagel
Claire Jeffers
Claudia Jeffers
Jessica Jennings
Linda Johnson
Vivien Kane
Aiden Keller
Kathleen Kershaw
Karen Klayman
Caren Lake
Shelby Lampson
Diann Lane
Angela Lazarow
Hayden Leach
Tonya Marie
Judy McAuliffe
Sophia McKean
Callum McKean
Daly Merrill
Susan Michalski
Cindy Moffatt
Gwen Moore
Susan Murphy
Kathleen Newland
Mindy Oberne
Daniel Peck
Gordon Pelton
Anthony Pritchett
Elany Prusa
Linda Rachmel
Garret Reeser
Kristine Ringland
Mariah Sanford
Katherine Scourtes
Paige Shatto
Lois Shelton
Jane Swan
Arkady Unterleidner
Josh Unterman
Karen Voors
Jacquie Wallach
Teri Webb
Jill Wiggins
Denise Wey
Chase Yantis
Lauren Yantis

Nevada County Plein Air Painters Show

The Artist's Studio in the Foothills Gallery & Visual Arts Center
is proud to present The Nevada County Plein Air Painters (NCPAP) Show!
Early this year the group joined ASiF Studios, gathering weekly in the center's community classroom to paint, share ideas and techniques, and become part of the greater, and ever growing community of Nevada County visual artists seeking a centralized local art venue.

A great resurgence and new appreciation for plein air painting brings this group of painters together each year to celebrate and carry on this much loved tradition with an annual group show. Many of the artists have been painting together for over ten years. This year's show at ASiF will be NCPAP's 6th annual exhibit.

The NCPAP follow closely in the footsteps of some of California's ealiest painters, the french impressionists, who discovered this gorgeous landscape during the turn of the 19th century. Venturing out to paint on location, their ongoing challenge is to capture a scene in about 2 hours before the light changes. Their inspiration comes from being totally immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of nature while coping with wind, heat, and bugs.

Painting outside rather than from photographs, means learning to edit a 360 degree view. This does take some practice, but most plein air painters will agree, that in order to capture the true experience, the magical presence of the landscape, you need to be in it!

The show will feature fourteen artists works, mostly landscapes... any place within a day's drive is fair game, Tahoe, Napa, the Sierra Buttes, Hope Valley, and, of course, Nevada County! "There is so much natural beauty in this area", the artists say, "One thing we can promise, is we'll never run out of things to paint! "


The Plein Air Painters Show at ASiF will run from June 25th through July 24th, and will open with a reception for the artists on Friday, June 25th, from 5-8pm. Food, Wine and live music to be enjoyed by all!

The gallery is open 10am - 5pm, Monday - Friday, 11am - 4pm on Saturdays, and by appointment on Sundays.