Illuminations

Alamo Danville Artists’ Society will host the opening of Blackhawk Gallery’s new Exhibit ‘Illuminations’. Gala Reception will be held on Saturday December 5 from 5 to 7pm with wine and Hors d’oeuvre. The exhibit will be on view seven days a week from December 4, 2015 to February 14, 2016. The Reception and Exhibit are free and open to the public.

The ‘Illuminations’ exhibit features gourds by guest artist Ray Baldonado, woodturning sculptures by guest artist David Goosman, ceramics by Jacqueline Proulx and works by forty three member artists. Members’ artworks include paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, and wearable art.

The exhibit is curated by Pete DeFao, Debby Koonce, and Kerima Swain.

Blackhawk Gallery is located at 3416 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville, California, in the Blackhawk Plaza. Telephone: (925) 648-8023.

Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday 10AM-8 PM and Sunday 11AM-6 PM. The gallery will be closed early on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (5PM), and closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

For more information please contact Blackhawk Gallery Director Kerima Swain at swain.kerima@gmail.com

 Guest Artists

David Goosman Fine Woodturning

I am a retired experimental physicist who lives in Livermore, California with my wife Bettie whom I met while working at Brookhaven Lab on Long Island. Attending many of her art events exposed me to art and stimulated my interest since I have always liked to create things.

At one show in 1993 she wanted me to buy her a small woodturning piece but I thought I could make something similar and read a book. Then in 1995 a storm blew down our Sweet Thorn Acacia tree. In trying to preserve some of it as much as I could I naturally started turning and entering fine art shows in 1996.

I have won several gold and silver awards at the Alameda County Fair Fine Art shows, and various art shows in Livermore, Pleasanton, Danville, Modesto and Tracy.

Woodturning is a time consuming process involving initial turning, up to nine months of drying out in a special environment, while partially turning it in between. Final turning takes several more hours and five to ten hours of finishing with 10 grades of abrasives and a coat of carnuba wax.

BETTER TO TURN IT THAN TO BURN IT.

 

Jacqueline Proulx Ceramic Artist

I have been in love with pottery since I was sixteen. I discovered it as I was discovering different life styles, free and vibrant, something totally unique and creative. It smelled of old Quebec City houses with only cushions as furniture, it tasted of sublime vegetarian food, it sounded like deep bass in music, it charmed like poetry, it felt like wind in our hair when riding on a motorcycle. It felt like my new life was beginning and it would be exhilarating.

In my thirties, I finally had access to a studio where I could work. I got formal training and diplomas and opened my own personal studio, first in Montreal , and then on the beach on Orleans Island near Quebec City.

I thoroughly enjoyed this life style.

Then my first grandson was born…..

I moved to beautiful California and have been living in San Francisco and the East Bay for nearly ten years now. It is a blessing to be here, near my family, and my pottery is getting more and more joyous.

With every vase and sculpture I design I wish to bring a little more beauty into everyday living.

May it bring happiness and pleasure to anyone using them.

 

Ray Baldonado Gourd Artist

Ray has been doing gourd art since 1/2003. He is a member of Livermore Association. Prior to doing gourd art he had taken art classes in watercolor and pastels from local artists.

Ray enjoyed carving pumpkins on Halloween for the kids and parents to enjoy. He would sometimes carve up to 8 pumpkins the night before Halloween. The kids and parents enjoyed seeing the different pumpkins, and then two days later they would all be thrown away.

Ray and his wife Connie first saw a gourd at art shows in Santa Cruz and also in New Mexico. He thought it was fantastic that you could carve, paint, and do many things to the gourds and they would last more than three days. Ray started taking classes at Asilomar, Canning Shop, and from private gourd artists. He tried different methods of finishing and different techniques to the gourds. As they accumulated they became gifts to friends and family.

Since joining LAA Ray has been in Art Under the Oaks, LAA Spring Show and at several of the local wineries for the different festivals. He has won several awards at different shows. One of his gourds was photographed for a “Spirit Doll Gourds” book by the Caning Shop in Berkeley, California.

Ray enjoys working with gourds because there are no two alike and the 3D aspect of the gourd. He lets the gourd talk to him as the art piece is worked on to completion.

Member Artists

Akio Aochi, Phyllis Brady, Doug Brown, Loralee Chapleau, Don Cresswell, Barbara Davies, Peter DeFao, Patricia Devitt, Elena Doronkina, Kathy Flint, Bobbi Garrop, Linda Geniesse, Lynn Glenn, Gene Gracey, Greg Gutbezahl, Kathie Hackler, Debby Koonce, Roseann Krane, Walter Krane, Tom Lemmer, Andrea Markus,  Linda McSweeney, Elena Morris, Gayle Muehring, Julia O’Reilly, Lin Padden, Marie Pascal, Harika Piccone, Srisha Radhakrishnan,  Julee Richardson, Dan Riley, Joanne Robinson, Goldie Schnitzer, Pat Smith, Greg Starnes, Mary Claire Stotler, Kerima Swain, Beverly Turner, Judy Uffens, Ranjini Venkatachari, Norma Webb, Charles White.

Image Gallery

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