Steven Kennedy's signs of spring

It sounds like we're in for this again.

Don't get us wrong, we love Steven Kennedy's paintings. Even the ones he had to bundle up to paint. But we're really, really ready for spring.

It's almost March, so pretty soon we can trade this scene

for this scene.

Or maybe this. 

We're hoping for warmer weather because Steven paints en plein air and we don't want him to get cold. He doesn't complain, but the thought of him standing in the snow for hours makes us wish for spring.

We can practically smell the day this was painted. Can't you?

Spring is just around the corner, we know it! Right after these next few inches of snow.

In the meantime, Steven will keep bundling up and documenting these views just as he sees them. Since the early 1980s, Steven Kennedy has worked in the “plein air” tradition, painting directly from life outdoors in the many variations of weather and season.

He paints what he sees, staying loose while keeping the details. Steven calls his style painterly realism. (Those of us who sometimes forget our glasses think they look very realistic.)

Click here for a reminder of what the Cape looks like when it's warm. Steven's work is shown in Orleans and on Commercial Street in Wellfleet.

Tom and Nancy Giusti - a delicate combustion

We love seeing signs of the maker's hand in a piece of work - and we are especially mesmerized by art that lets the piece itself have the final say. Raku, for instance.

Tom and Nancy Giusti have been making Raku pottery since 1984, so they have the process about as fine-tuned as you can get something buried in combustible materials.

The nature-inspired vessels and wall pieces you see in the gallery are created by Tom and Nancy Giusti using the ancient Japanese method of Raku. Each piece is removed from the kiln when it reaches a temperature of 1400 degrees Fahrenheit and immediately plunged into a pit of combustible material such as sawdust or shredded paper. The resulting smoke and flames interact with the glaze creating shimmering metallic colors which enhances the gracefully drawn wildlife figures and plant impressions.

Nature Prints are made by pressing plant life into clay. Each piece is as different and unique as nature itself.

A batch of Japanese Maple nature prints, drying in the sun

As a team, with Nancy's drawing ability and Tom's technical ability, the two have created some bright, stunning and refined images to be used on the usually rough and primitive Raku Pottery. The copper base glaze is an ever-changing contrast surface, taking on the environment it's exposed to.

(If you'd like to know more about their studio assistant, Charlie, she has her own blog, here.)

The Raku Fire
Raku dates back to the early 1500s, when it was used in Japan for the tea ceremony. The word Raku in early times signified "enjoyment of freedom." Now, the pottery is more decorative than useful in the long term, as it is quite soft and fragile. Raku fired pottery made by Americans is heated and buried in combustible materials such as sawdust, leaves and newspapers, to give greater contrast and bright vibrant colors to the glazed surfaces.

Nancy spent several years teaching for the Peace Corps in Ghana, where she acquired a greater influence and appreciation for the creation of primitive pottery which led her into this art form.

While a member of the Nature Printing Society, Tom had an opportunity to also study the art of Gyotaku (fish rubbings) from a master Gyotaku artist of Japan, Mr. Takahashi. Tom's background includes many years as a machinist and welder, plus repairing and building many different types of equipment. With this technical background he has been able to design and build much of the equipment in their studio.

We think the early signification of raku applies as much now as it did 500 years ago. There's a freedom in Tom and Nancy's work that simply can't be replicated in manufactured pottery.

We love that.

Please note, all raku is for indoor décor only. The copper base glaze is an ever changing surface and it will take on the environment to which it is exposed. Please take great care of your art work and avoid excessive handling or cleaning. Exposure to strong sunlight or harsh air pollutants could adversely affect the surface colors. If cleaning becomes necessary, dry dusting with a clean soft cloth is best. Clean soft water may be used if necessary. At no time should cleaning detergents or scouring pads be used.

Glassblowing - Michael Magyar

Michael Magyar's glass is found in restaurants (including Pearl in Wellfleet), the Cape Cod Hospital lobby, and the Sandwich Glass Museum. It may also be found in your kitchen cupboard, where his sea bubble line captures the color and movement of water in glassware.

Sea Bubble lager glass

We also love his ocean balls. Filled with Cape Cod sand and shells, it's like Cape Cod take-out.

When we visited his studio (click for images), he wasn't demonstrating glass blowing, so we came home and found it on video. We thought you might like it, too:

 

Baby it's cold outside

Winter  We love how these artists capture the world as it is (even when it's cold).

JIM HOLLAND

ELLEN GRANTER

ED CHESNOVITCH

CHRIS KELLEY

DENISE ZOMPA

PHILIP KEOHAN

JOYCE ZAVORSKAS

STEVEN KENNEDY

TATJANA KRIZMANIC

TERESA MCCUE

FAY SHUTZER

MARY BOURKE

Draw your discount!

Back by popular demand...  The New Year's Day Fishbowl Discount in Orleans When you're ready to make your purchase,  draw a discount from the fishbowl.  Savings from 20 to 60%! Discounts do not apply to artwork or consigned items. The gallery at Cove Road, Orleans, will be open 12-4pm New Year's Day (Wellfleet galleries will be closed until Thursday)   Good luck!

Fish in the snow

You may want to bring your fish inside during the winter because they look as good inside the home as they do outside, but what a treat to see these swimming through the garden on a winter's day!     Tyson M. Weiss' ceramic fish can stay outside year round, even in cold climates. Stoneware clay fish that have been fired to maturity take on the quality of stone and do not absorb water.   Fish in the garden are sold individually or in schools of three and six. Made by hand in Maine (which is pretty close to locally fished).

being social

Have you found us on Facebook and Twitter?

We noticed on the gallery's Facebook account that there's a place to upload newsletter contacts so we can extend an invitation to connect on social media sites.

It seemed like a good idea, except that we promised to take good care of your email address.

So we're extending the invitation here: Would you like to join us on Facebook and Twitter? You'll get a glimpse of the gallery, an insider's view of the Cape and a taste of a few of our favorite things on any given day. 

(Eric Beck, hanging more Steampunk fish because they swim really fast.)

We post when new things come into the gallery, share information on what's going on in our community and try to make your newsfeed a more beautiful place (without cluttering your inbox). 

What Labor Day looked like in Wellfleet

On twitter we found out we were #1 on the Cape Cod A-list and discovered one of our Earth & Fire seagulls had made it on Apartment Therapy. Just this morning, we made friends with a quahog.

Won't you join us online? Click the photos above to go to Facebook and Twitter. We're looking forward to seeing you there!