I will never forget the look on the girl’s faces when they entered the gallery and saw for the first time their work displayed on the walls of the Tracy Park Gallery. It was jubilation along with teary eyes for us all. I was so proud of them for their honesty and purity of heart. It was heartwarming to see how proud they were of their work and know that I had somehow made a little difference in their lives. Hopefully it was to be a steppingstone to a more positive self image.

Here they are seeing their work for the first time

I just got back from hanging the girls art work at the gallery. It looks amazing, I think they are going to be quite surprised at the work they did and to see it in a real art gallery. I am honored to have been able to participate as a photography workshop leader to a group of teenage girls at the Aviva Family and Children’s Services. I hope you can join us, it will certainly be a worthwhile evening.

Art Explosion is an exhibit for the community to experience artwork created by some of the children and families participating in Free Arts for Abused Children’s creative expression programs.

Saturday, June 14th
7 to 10pm

TRACY PARK GALLERY
1431 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica
(between Broadway and Santa Monica)

The theme for this year’s exhibit is
“The Story My Heart Has to Tell…” including sculpture, mixed media, photography and more.
Including a silent auction with artwork from the volunteer artists inspired by their work with the children.

I had a great show in Sedona, sold a couple of pieces. One was a brand new image, I had just made the plate and printed only one print a couple of weeks prior. A nice young man bought it for his wife.

Of course it’s always fun to see Gary and Andrea Smith. Here we are at my artist reception Saturday May 24th.

I have been invited by the Andrea Smith Gallery located in the famous and quite charming Tlaquepaque Gallery complex, to exhibit my Buddha images.

The opening is Saturday May 24th 11 AM ~ 4 PM. I will also be there on Sunday during the same hours. I hope to meet some of you there and to share my passion for my art.

Some of the images are photographs printed on canvas and on museum stretcher bars others are photo polymer etchings, intaglio prints that I have hand printed on my new etching press. I’m excited to see what Sedona has to say about the art.

It’s Memorial Day Weekend, and even though the weather changed from 90 degrees last week to 60’s cool and today a little drizzle, I am told that the town gets busy on holiday weekends.

I am grateful for this opportunity and extend a warm Mahalo to Gary and Andrea Smith. I look forward to a great show and hope to see you there.

Aloha

Christina

I have 2 wonderful announcements to make, I am going to be in 2 shows simultaneously in Santa Barbara.

Spring is always a special time for me, not only is it my birthday time (April 4th) but it just seems like it’s a new beginning, new and fresh energy. Us Aries love new beginnings! I might even be in another show in Ventura, I’ll keep you posted.

The first show will be through the Santa Barbara Art Association (of which I’m a member) at the Gallery 113 in Santa Barbara. My show’s theme is REFLECTIONS. I will be exhibiting 10 of my monotypes that I have made in my studio on my new press and I ‘m excited to be able to share these. I had a lot of fun working on this project as I had no time constraints and just go lost in the moment that usually ended up to be several hours.

The opening reception is Thursday April 3rd from 5-8 PM. Santa Barbara has ART NIGHT on the first Thursday of every month, go check it out. There are special exhibits, demonstrations, music, food and lots of art at all the galleries. It’s a very festive and fun evening, a great date night.

The “Reflections” exhibit will run until Saturday April 26th

Gallery 113
1114 State Street
No 8 La Arcada Court
Santa Barbara

Gallery Hours
Mon ~ Sat 11am ~ 5 pm
Sun 1 am ~ 5pm

AND today I got juried in to the Buddha Abide Show also in Santa Barbara at the Frame Works /Caruso Woods Art Gallery located at 813 Anacapa Street This is the 8th year of this incredible show, I have been fortunate to be selected to participate in the last 3 shows. It’s great show with 20% of the profits being donated to Santa Barbara Domestic Violence Solutions and Tibetan Children’s Village.

Hope to see you in Santa Barbara, would love to hear from you

Christina

I went for a long walk this morning at the beach in Ventura where I live. After all the rain and cold weather, everyone was out. Couples, moms with their strollers, the surfers, young and old(er) with their long boards and wetsuits. The surf was way up today and it was crowded in the water. You could hear the surfers on shore yelp when a big one was caught. In the distance was one of the tall ships that docked in the Ventura harbor this weekend.

It was so invigorating and inspirational. After my walk I could hardly get back home fast enough to get started on my printmaking. I recently got a press and have been anxious to use it. I totally lost track of time and ended up spending 6 hours this weekend printing.
This is one of the prints I made yesterday. When the others dry I can go ahead and upload them as well.

This is where I’ll be letting you know about my upcoming shows. I have already participated in a number of shows and won first place at the Santa Barbara Jazz and Art Festival last October with this image of Orchids. I am now also a member of the Santa Barbara Printmaker’s Association.