MendocinoArts - Mendocino Art Center

Fall 2011 / Winter 2012
COMPLIMENTARY
MendocinoArts
art AND Culture
In Mendocino
County
PUBLISHED BY THE MENDOCINO ART CENTER

Blooming Every Day!
r
www.GardenByTheSea.org | 18220 North Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 | 707-964-4352
GALLERY OF DECORATIVE
AND FINE ARTS
Mendocino County Museum
SPECIAL EXHIBIT:
Carl Purdy:
A Passion for
Plants & Place
Through
March 2012
Discover unique artifacts and exhibits that reflect our
heritage: Frolic Shipwreck, Wine History, Stagecoaches
and Wagons, Traveling Exhibits and much more.
For the Art Collector
and the Craft Lover
45052 Main Street, Mendocino, CA
707 937-3132 • www.thehighlightgallery.com
ROOTS OF MOTIVE POWER, Inc
See restored and working steam
machines:
· Historic Logging Equipment
· Steam Engines and Caboose
Browse in our Museum Shop
400 East Commercial Street, Willits, CA
Call 707-459-2736 for more information
Email us at Museum@co.mendocino.ca.us
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00am–4:30pm
www.MendocinoMuseum.org

The Mendocino Art Center Needs You!
Support the Arts by becoming a
Member, and give yourself
the gift of art…
Become a Mendocino Art Center member — and a “MAC Insider” — with
newly added benefits for joining, and please consider joining at the highest
possible level.
Your membership directly supports the Mendocino Art Center, bringing
vital cultural programs to the community, including unique gallery shows,
youth programs, low-cost open studios, art fairs and musical concerts,
world-class art workshops taught by some of the country’s finest instructors,
and exhibition opportunities for local and national artists.
Benefits at all levels:
❖❖
10% discount on each workshop registration. 15% discount for Mendocino County MAC members.
❖❖
Artist exhibit opportunities in the gallery and gallery shop.
❖❖
Special artist invitations to participate in Members’ Juried Exhibits.
❖❖
Members only discounts at participating businesses — lodging, art supplies, etc.
❖❖
Mailing of MAC publications and event information.
❖❖
Waiver of $15 per workshop registration fee.
❖❖
Voting privileges for seats on the board of
directors (up to two members per year).
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES:
Individual
Member: $50
All of the above.
Household
Member (maximum two
members): $90
All of the above.
Student (16+ with
student ID): $25
All of the above.
Senior (70+): $25
All of the above.
Supporter: $150
All of the above and recognition
in a Mendocino Art Center
publication.
Sustaining: $250
All of the above and invitations
to special gallery events.
Patron: $500
All of the above and your
name on a gallery plaque.
Champion: $750
All of the above and a commemorative
tile with wording
of your choice on the Zacha
Tile Walkway.
Business Partner:
$100
Listing on the Mendocino Art
Center Web site.
Business Web Site
Sponsor: $500
Listing on the Mendocino Art
Center Web site home page.
ZACHA LEGACY
SOCIETY: $2,500
• Name included on the annual
Zacha Legacy Society
plaque.
• Invitations to special events
with VIP privileges.
• Invitations to enticing quarterly
member evenings.
Sign me up to be a Mendocino Art Center
Member today!
❏❏Individual $50
❏❏Household $90
❏❏Student $25
❏❏Senior $25
❏❏Supporter $150
❏❏Sustaining $250
❏❏Patron $500
❏❏Champion $750
❏❏Business Partner $100
❏❏Business Web Site
Sponsor $500
❏❏Zacha Legacy Society
$2,500
Name
Address
City
State Zip Phone
E-mail
___ Check (payable to Mendocino Art Center)
___ Bill my q Visa q MasterCard
Billing Name
Billing Address
Account #
Exp. Date
Authorized Signature
Mail to:
Mendocino Art Center
P.O. Box 765
Mendocino, CA 95460
2 Mendocino Arts Magazine

Table of Contents
Published by the Mendocino Art Center
Vol. XLII, No. 2, September 2011
Editorial: From Our Board President. 5
6
Paul Reiber: Mythmaker in Wood. 6
The Wooden Toy Show . 8
Mendocino Eco Artists. 9
Marion Bush . 10
David L. Cross. 13
“To Go” Ceramics Exhibit . 15
13
MAC Fall-Winter Workshops. 16
Meet Ceramics Director Derek Hambly. 18
Meet the Teacher: Mike Edwards . 20
Meet the Teacher: James Maxwell. 21
Meet the Teacher: Susan Else . 22
Meet the Teacher: Billy Ritter. 23
15
Meet the Teacher: Jeff & Jonathan Schwarz . 24
Morgan Daniel. 28
Artists Open Studio Tour. 32
Gallery Guide. 34
Picturing Mendocino Wildflowers . 38
Restaurant Guide . 44
Gallery of Artists. 46
28
David Weitzman. 50
Calendar of Events . 53
Thanks to MACs Donors & Members . 55
Poetry. 56
Mendocino Arts promotes the arts by offering space to artists, writers, craftspeople and performers and
by providing information on arts and entertainment in Mendocino County. Submissions of unsolicited
non-fiction articles, photographs or artwork for consideration in Mendocino Arts must include a SASE
or we cannot be responsible for their return. We welcome announcements of upcoming events to be
included as space permits.
38
Fall 2011/Winter 2012 3

FAMILY
HANDS
• Discover
• Decorate
• Design
A gallery of unique furnishings for your home!
Lighting • Art Rugs • Furniture
Gifts from around the globe
At the corner of Franklin and Redwood,
Fort Bragg
707 961-0236
4 Mendocino Arts Magazine

MendocinoArts
ART AND CULTURE IN MENDOCINO COUNTY
FALL 2011 / WINTER 2012
PUBLISHER
Mendocino Art Center
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Mike McDonald
EDITOR
Peggy Templer
ART DIRECTION / GRAPHIC PRODUCTION
Elizabeth Petersen, RevUp Creative Media
SALES
COAST: Steven P. Worthen – 707 964-2480,
707 813-7669
INLAND: Jill Schmuckley – 707 391-8057
LAKE COUNTY: Linda Kelly – 707 367-9038
Gallery of ARTISTS ADS: David Russell – 707 513-6015
FALL/WINTER DISTRIBUTION – 15,000
SPRING/SUMMER 2012 DEADLINE – December 15, 2011
MENDOCINO ART CENTER STAFF
INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Lindsay Shields
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Mike McDonald
EDUCATION COORDINATOR: Phyllis Weeks
GALLERY DIRECTOR: Jessica Jade
REGISTRAR/CASHIER: Michele Cheyovich,
Kath Disney Nilson
PROGRAM COORDINATORS:
Ceramics — Derek Hambly
Fiber Arts — Nancy Collins
Fine Art — Arlene Reiss
Jewelry — Marge Stewart
Sculpture — Gert Rasmussen
HOUSING MANAGER/EVENT COORDINATOR: Liz Jacobs
FACILITIES: Gabe Arreguin
MENDOCINO ART CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT: Liliana Cunha
VICE PRESIDENT: Patrick Keller
TREASURER: John Cornacchia
SECRETARY: Dale Moyer
Janis Porter
Eileen Robblee
Nick Schwartz
Marge Stewart
Bob Treaster
Lucia Zacha
MENDOCINO ART CENTER
45200 Little Lake Street • P.O. Box 765
Mendocino, CA 95460
707 937-5818 • 800 653-3328
FAX: 707 937-4625
register@mendocinoartcenter.org
www.MendocinoArtCenter.org
Mendocino Art Center Mission Statement:
The mission of the Mendocino Art Center is to be a vital
cultural resource, providing a broad range of the highest
quality educational and exhibition opportunities in the arts
to all people.
Founded by Bill Zacha in 1959 as a nonprofit organization
to support, foster, advance and promote artistic awareness
and participation.
COVER IMAGE: Marion Bush, The Offering, mixed media
collage.
From Our Board President…
Summer sizzles at the Mendocino Art Center (MAC); from the weekly
barbecue and lecture series to the Summer Arts Fair, from classical
guitar concerts and jazz concerts to the swing dance event, to the steady
comings and goings of students and instructors that infuse our lives with
the beauty and energy of creation.
Classes and instructors at the Art Center are brought to us by the
coordinators in each of the art disciplines. This year we bid a fond farewell
to Marge Stewart, who has retired as coordinator for both the Fine Art and
Jewelry programs. Marge, a painter, enamelist and graphic designer, has been
at the Art Center since January, 2000. She was employed as coordinator of
our Digital Arts program and was responsible for the development of the
entire program with grant funding from AT&T. In July of 2001, she became
our graphic designer and coordinator of the Fine Art Program. The cover art
and graphics she produced for our posters, catalogs and this magazine are
a hallmark of her talent. In 2009, she added the responsibilities of Jewelry
coordinator to her duties. Marge brought many luminaries in the art world
to teach at MAC, including Ted Nuttall, Loren Hammer, Sandi Miot, Jan
Sitts, Jeannie Vodden, Lian Quan Zhen, Brian Davis, Erik Tiemens, Birgit
O’Connor, Michael Markowitz, D. X. Ross and Patsy Croft to name just a
few. Joining the Board of Directors of MAC in December of 2010, Marge
continued her role as coordinator of those programs on a volunteer basis,
for which we are heartily thankful. She now graces the Board of Directors
as Chair of the Education Committee and member at large of the Executive
Committee, where her knowledge of the recent history of the Art Center
is an invaluable resource.
We are pleased to announce our new Fine Art coordinator, Arlene
Reiss. Other coordinators at MAC are: Fiber Arts, Nancy Collins; Ceramics
and Artists-in-Residence, Derek Hambly; and Sculpture, Gert Rasmussen.
If you missed us this summer, don’t worry, our fall line-up of classes
and artists-in-residence, who will join us from all over the world, is just as
exciting. Not to mention more musical events, the Art and Abalone wine
tasting and food experience, and our Thanksgiving Arts Fair. Join us in
magical Mendocino for the art experience of a lifetime!
~ Liliana Cunha
Board President
Correction: Rita Crane’s Web site address listed in the Spring/Summer
2011 issue of Mendocino Arts was listed incorrectly. The correct address is
www.ritacranestudio.com.
Fall 2011/Winter 2012 5

PAUL REIBER:
MYTHMAKER
IN WOOD
Man with Calla, 25” x 6” x 6”,
War Memorial, 23” x 12” x 8”, California nutmeg.
By Peggy Templer
For nearly forty years Paul Reiber has been on a journey, evolving
from student of Greek and mythology to wood carver, fine furniture
maker and wood sculptor. All along the way his work has revealed a
continuous thread, incorporating and refining the ideas, designs and sensibilities
he acquired early on.
Paul grew up in an “artistic/intellectual milieu” outside of Washington,
D. C., where the wealth of museums and galleries, as well as trips to Europe,
sparked his interest in art, particularly sculpture.
Paul attended Boston University and studied Greek and comparative
mythology. In the early 1970s, he came to the Bay Area to attend
Star King School for Religious Leadership. As part of his theological
studies he enrolled in a class in Totems taught by a Jesuit trained in
the European tradition of woodcarving. The teacher brought a large
block of wood into the classroom and worked with the class to identify
a group totem and realize it in wood. The challenge of translating
his intellectual understanding of a theological concept
into a physical form captivated Paul. By this time
Paul had realized that religious leadership was “not
his thing,” but the wood carving aspect of the Totems
class definitely was. It played right into his lifelong
desire to be working with his hands. This introduction to
wood was a turning point in his development as an artist. Although he had
6 California bay laurel. Photos: Paul Reiber
Mendocino Arts Magazine

een drawing and painting since
childhood, until then he had not
really understood the great power
that lies in “Making.”
When the College of the
Redwoods S chool of Fine
Woodworking announced that it
would open in 1980, Paul was living
in Anchor Bay. Thinking the
program would help with his carving,
Paul applied and was accepted
pieces. He describes the difficulty in
making this decision: “It was hard to
let go of the craft tradition of functionality
that I learned from Jim
(Krenov), and just make beautiful,
thought-provoking pieces.”
Paul’s medium is mostly wood.
He prefers to use local woods whenever
possible, rarely using imported
wood. He favors California bay laurel,
nutmeg and walnut. His process
for the year-long program. The Photo: Larry Wagner
begins with a conversation within
program’s impact on him was profound.
himself, in which he considers the
“James Krenov taught us about the importance and
meaning of hand work, and about the attitude of the artist
toward his work. The program gave me a more hands and
eyes approach to my own intellectually based aesthetic.”
After graduating in the spring of 1981, Paul worked
for a year at the Gualala-based studio of David Starry
Sheets. He then moved back
to Fort Bragg and opened the
first of several shops in the Fort
Bragg area before building his
own studio in Caspar. Doing
a mix of speculative work and
commissions, he developed his
carving skills and incorporated
them into his furniture work.
In 1991, he had his first solo
exhibit at Bill Zimmer’s Gallery
Fair in Mendocino featuring
“The Goddess Series,” sculptural
chairs based on a variety
of Goddess images. During
the 1990s his work was shown
nationally. He was invited to
join the Baulines Craft Guild
and he helped found the
Mendocino Furniture Makers
Association.
After September 11, Paul
says, “the financial bottom
dropped out of the studio furniture
world.” Paul used this
opportunity and responded
by moving away from making
functional furniture and exploring
wood, all he has studied and done before, and his relationship
with this individual piece of wood. His process
– which he refers to as a “spiritual practice” – begins with a
sketch and a piece of wood, working with his vision and in
dialogue with the wood’s characteristics until he has a fairly
good likeness of his vision. Then he creates a clay model
of this image. Next he begins
to carve the wood, imagining
the figure emerging from the
inside out, concentrating on
what it feels like for the figure
to assume a particular posture
and orientation, rather than
what it looks like. Describing
his approach to his medium,
Paul uses the analogy of driving
down a fog-enshrouded highway,
as shapes slowly emerge
here and there, and eventually
coming into the light. His work
is a product of his personal process.
“What truly matters to me
is the process of making art. It
is certainly my hope that my
work will resonate with others
and trigger little harmonies,
but that is not the focal point
of my artistic concern.”
Throughout his career Paul
has created both speculative
work for his own pleasure and
commissioned pieces. “I particularly
enjoy working with
a client to identify images that
non-functional sculptural Fish Bench, 65” x 48” x 14”, walnut, basswood, ash, have potency to the client and
pigments, gold leaf. Photo: Jay Odee
Fall 2011/Winter 2012 7

incorporating them into the piece being made, whether this be a headboard, a
church door, a domestic sculpture or an urn for cremated ashes.” Paul currently
accepts a wide range of commissions for sculptural pieces including functional
art such as headboards, mantels, and doors.
Paul’s work shows a wide range of influences. “I am drawn to art that
addresses issues of the soul. This can equally be the exotic intensity of tribal art
or the familiar magnificence of Michelangelo. The work of the German sculptor
Ernst Barlach and the American Leonard Baskin have helped me see unpainted
wood as a powerful sculptural medium.” He is particularly drawn to work with a
narrative quality, generally speaking to the internal relationship between people
and the natural world. His unique, compelling figures and animals all strive to
invoke narrative content.
Paul has shown his work at the Mendocino Art Center, and will do so
again in December, where his work will be featured as part of an exhibition of
handcrafted wooden toys. His toys are playful and whimsical and embody that
distinctive Paul Reiber aesthetic.
Paul teaches woodcarving through the Fine Woodworking Program in Fort Bragg, at
Anderson Ranch in Aspen, Colorado, and in private classes. His work can be seen on the
Mendocino Coast Furnituremakers Web site at www.mendocinofurniture.com.
Woman and Owl, 25” x 11” x 7”,
walnut. Photo: Paul Reiber
The Wooden Toy Show
Handmade wooden toys by the Mendocino Coast Furniture Makers
Nichols Gallery, Mendocino Art Center, December 1–31, 2011
Mendocino Coast Furniture Makers will be hosting their the toys are made with local woods and inspired by local
third annual wooden toy show this December. The show is themes.
inspired by the Christmas bazaars that are held in Northern Founded in 1997, the Furniture Makers Association
Europe during this time of year, when families come in is dedicated to the preservation and evolution of the fine
from the cold to have something good to eat, warm to art of furniture making and now toy making. In their nonholiday
drink and to purchase beautiful
life, they specialize in
handmade gifts. Because
custom-designed, one-of-akind
children have an early sense
pieces in both tradition-
of what is finely made, these
al and contemporary styles.
toy makers believe that finely
Using the finest materials and
made things should not be
proven hand techniques, they
limited to adults. Like knowing
provide customers with fur-
where their food comes
niture designs that enhance
from, children should know
their homes’ interiors. You
who makes their toys.
can contact individual members
As this group of furniture
to purchase an exist-
makers has now been working
ing piece or commission a
on this project for three
Articulated toys by Paul Reiber
design that will be uniquely
years, the inventory is expanding. There are puzzles (for yours. Members include Taimi Barty, Michael Burns,
the young and old), educational games, rocking horses Michael Carroll, Les Cizek, Ken Davis, Stefan Furrer,
and pull toys that flap and clack as they are pulled along. Graham Gilbertson, Kerry Marshall, Paul Reiber, Robert
The sound of the wooden clack feeds the soul and the feel Sanderson, Greg Smith, Dan Stalzer and Judy Tarbell.
and smell of smooth wood satisfies the senses. Many of
8 Mendocino Arts Magazine

Creatively Supporting the Environment d
Mendocino Eco Artists
Mend o c i n o E c o
and promotes the restoration and
Artists (MEA) is an
organization of artists
who have the common goal
of applying their talents to help
conserve and restore the natural
environment in our area. MEA
forms partnerships with local environmental
groups and uses the
members’ artwork to help increase
public awareness of threats to the
environment, and raises funds to
conservation of park structures.
Restoration targets this year are
Ford House, MacKerricher Park
and the Spring Ranch Barns.
MEA will highlight the importance
of our state parks and raise
funds to support MAPA’s projects
with a large benefit exhibit, “Save
Our Parks.” Artwork will focus on
the seven local state parks which
are at risk of closure. The exhibit
support partners’ projects.
will be at the Mendocino Art
Fall Along the Navarro, oil pastel, Eleanor Harvey
MEA members are Juriaan
Center from September 2–24 in
Blok, Maeve Croghan, Eleanor
Harvey, John Hewitt, Julie Higgins, JoAnn Hagerty Humphrey,
Joe Janisch, Debra Beck Lennox, Suzi Marquess Long, Keith
Middlesworth, Jim Moorehead, Deborah Nord, Janis Porter,
Bob Rhoades, Nick Schwartz, and Cynthia Crocker Scott.
MEA’s new partner is the Mendocino Area Parks Association
(MAPA), a non-profit organization formed to benefit the
local state parks. MAPA provides educational activities, interpretive
programs and informative exhibits in our local parks
the Main Gallery. The pieces will
be exhibited for sale with 30% of the proceeds going directly
to MAPA.
Raffle tickets for a beautiful oil pastel painting by Eleanor
Harvey, “Fall Along the Navarro,” are on sale at MAC. The drawing
will take place at the end of the show. Every dollar from the
raffle ticket sale will go directly to MAPA.
Visit www.mendocinoecoartists.org and www.mendoparks.org
for more information.
Fall Along the Navarro, ----------- , Eleanor Harvey
Fall 2011/Winter 2012 9

MARION BUSH:
Portraying the Joy, Beauty
and Wonder of Our World
Photo: Larry Wagner.
“My inspiration comes from nature,
from my soul, from the materials I use,
and very often from other artists.”
– Marion Bush
By Debbie L. Holmer
Marion Bush’s art is one of personal exploration. She
does not express her political or social beliefs in her art.
“I am not inspired to paint anything reflecting world problems
or human misery; instead I hope to portray joy and the beauty
that exists in the world.”
Marion has always been interested in art and in making
things with her hands. “I was four years old when I saw my
mom knitting and I wanted to learn. By the time I was five
I had made some knit squares. A few years later I knitted a
doll blanket with all the mistakes covered with embroidered
flowers. Not exactly a perfectionist!”
Marion “very much enjoys the process and the learning
involved in creating a new work of art.” In the past her
subject matter has been mostly flowers, birds, waterfalls and
landscapes. Lately, however, Marion has enjoyed using collage
papers, tissue paper, photos, plant fibers and string along with
paint to create iconic female images. After taking a course
Malian, 15” x 22”, mixed media collage.
10 Mendocino Arts Magazine

in combining collage with
you really want to do art.
watercolor, a whole new
Even if some days you feel
world of texture opened up
uninspired, just go to your
for Marion. She then took a
workspace, doodle if nothing
comes to you; clean your
course in acrylic paint and
collage which “helped to free
brushes, etc. Some ideas will
me from my more traditional
and realistic approach. I
Marion regularly shows
start to generate.”
Dominique, 15” x 22”, mixed media collage.
love the flow that results,
at the Mendocino Art Center
allowing for a more textural dimension.”
in Mendocino, CA, and the Spiral Gallery in Estacada, OR.
How does she begin a work? “Generally the concept In November, she’s been asked to show some of her work
comes first, then the pose or body language, then the at the Edgewater Gallery in Fort Bragg.
composition or design. I’m very interested in design. After “Ever since I became serious about my art I’ve been
that it’s all about the colors. It is not always cut and dried involved with an art center both here at MAC and on the
and can change during the process. The collage paper often east coast. There have been many opportunities for me as a
will tell me what to do. I’ll find some odd scrap buried in beginner to show in an art center.” Entering competitions
my mess of papers that says, ‘use me.’”
has been another avenue for Marion to show her work.
Formal training has helped Marion enormously. “It “I’ve been part of the co-op gallery in Mendocino in the
energizes me and inspires new ideas even if they are not past. Right now I’m able to show my work at a co-op gallery
in Oregon.”
just like the instructor’s ideas. I love taking classes, and
then afterwards going home and practicing new techniques
or ways of thinking. Even if I never do another Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Johannes (Jan) Vermeer,
Other artists that Marion most admires are John
painting remotely like the instructor does, something and Gustav Klimt.
helpful always sticks.”
What does Marion want the viewer to see when he/she
For the beginning artist, Marion believes the desire to looks at her work? “A recognition of something personal,
create something is key. “You really have to want to put in hopefully something beautiful that makes them smile.”
the time and stick to it. Have a schedule if at all possible, I asked Marion where she thought art “fits in” in our
a place to work no matter how small. This can be difficult ever-changing, turmoiled world. “Art is the reflection of
as we all keep pretty busy. This is a test of how much our personal world and the world in general through the
Fall 2011/Winter 2012 11

“I am just beginning to
understand abstraction and paint
from within instead of actually
looking at my subject matter.”
– Marion Bush
Shizuko, 15” x 22”, mixed media collage.
various media and our travels and reading… art can give
us joy, make us think, make us weep, and give us hope. I
think art and the creation of it is part of what it is to be
human. It is part of our lives, in nature, our homes, our
clothing, music, dance, writing. It enriches and makes life
worth living. It’s a tragedy for all this to be buried in the
rubble of horrible wars, disastrous tornadoes, tsunamis,
earthquakes, floods and fires.”
Marion was born in Manila, Philippine Islands, and
raised there and in Berkeley, CA, and Garden City, NY.
Her husband is Charles “Chuck” Bush – not to be confused
with the other Charles (Chuck) Bush who runs
the senior center in Fort Bragg. Marion’s Chuck writes
historical articles for The Mendocino Beacon. They have
three children and four grandchildren, all living in the
Portland, OR, area.
Marion and Chuck “found” the Mendocino Coast by
visiting from the east coast to see her parents in the Bay
Area and then driving up the coast to Portland where
their daughter lived, stopping in Mendocino. “We did this
several times and finally moved here over 20 years ago.”
What does Marion like best about living here on
the Mendocino Coast? “Endless reasons: The obvious
– the scenery of sea rocks, ocean, redwoods and pines;
Christmas lights in the village on a quiet night during the
holiday season. The small community of interesting, loving,
quirky and sometimes contentious people and most
of all, our wonderful friends.”
If you want to know something about an artist, look at
their work. Marion Bush is a lovely lady with a beautiful
spirit who has the ability to portray in her art, “the joy,
wonder and beauty that exist in our world. “
12 Mendocino Arts Magazine