Local artist falls for Salvador Dali
First Friday
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On First Friday, Oct. 2, from 5-8 P.M. at Gallery 'n' Gifts, featured guest artist, Jenny Zur will open our minds to the possibilities awaiting the artist in each and every one of us.
After a glorious trip to Spain, Zur stated "I have fallen in love with Salvador Dali. Three artists captured my heart and I was forever changed. Their bold experimentation, colorful and rich exploration of styles and materials inspired me to grow wings and explore Tehachapi's beautiful birds with paint, canvas and joyful abandon. The trip to Barcelona and Catalunya (Spain) where I visited the museums of Dali, Picasso and Miro earlier this year, along with several of the buildings by Gaudi, including the Sagrada Familia Cathedral were so invigorating and freeing to me."
As a child, Zur's mother would stop by the local printers and buy boxes of paper scrap for her six children to draw on. The paper and an old cigar box overflowing with a myriad of colorful crayons, fueled her fertile imagination, when it could no longer be contained within the confines of the heavy black and defining lines of a childs coloring book. A daydreamer, Zur said she would lose herself in wonder, watching the world around her, as she would take in how a leaf twisted on its stem or the countless 'diamonds' twinkling on a lake infused with sunshine. "I didn't realize it then but I was learning to see the world through the eyes of an artist," stated Zur.
In her spare time and, as she so aptly put it, "when not daydreaming, I managed to partner in a successful pottery business, finish up college degrees in art and graphic communication and become the illustrator for Nike's apparel division." She went on to say "it was once said to me that the arts feed off each other and that was true in my case: solutions to design dilemmas have been discovered while playing the piano; elements of advertising were used to compose fine art and the skill honed in the dress design studio incorporated into paintings." Zur says her art begins with realistic images and the way she sees and feels about it is introduced and finally allowed to evolve and tell its own story. "I love the feel of the paint as it glides beneath the palette knife, aware and open to the visual effects created and the willingness to let go as I am lead to the next step." Her zest and love for painting shows in the gleam of her eyes as you talk with her. Oct. 2 from 5-8 P.M. you will have the opportunity to let Zur open your mind to the possibilities awaiting the artist in each one of us.
Gallery 'n' Gifts is open daily from 10 to 5 and is located at 100 W. Tehachapi Blvd. For further information please call (661) 822-6062. As always decadent hors d'oeuvres will be served and you may chat with talented guest artist, Jenny Zur.
Paul Cooke at Treasure Trove
First Friday Fun Fest will be celebrated at Tehachapi Treasure Trove, on Friday evening, Oct. 2, from 5 to 8. The featured artist will be Paul Cooke. Paul works in many different artistic media. On display will be some of his sculpture and other art works. Join us to greet Paul, enjoy food and wine and listen to music by Art Larson on clarinet.
Paul Cooke, a sculptor of British origin, began propelling himself on the artist's path at age 15. He chose a five year intensive in all aspects of plaster from the very basic to Europe's most decorative and ornate. Living in South Africa in his twenties his plaster skills expanded to other mediums. Extensive travel also added to the many artistic impressions of the early years. “Over the years, I have traveled and studied in various parts of the world with many diverse teachers (plants, insects, animals, people, etc...)” Paul migrated to Santa Barbara, CA where he focused on sculpture, especially in marble and alabaster, and metals like bronze and aluminum. Shows, galleries, private sales and commissions have helped Paul deepen his abilities and focus on his art work. Other mediums include welded figures, large outdoor sculpted bread ovens, paintings, wood and plaster furniture, and Egyptian and Celtic wall hangings. “I am fascinated with the mysterious and the inexplicable, and strive to express these qualities in my work. My major forte is carving stone of color and character.” He considers that he is a "co-creator" using intuition to let the stone show what it wants to be. " I chip away at the unwanted parts to reveal the organic beauty within " . He considers this a parallel for his own life, chipping away at the unwanted parts to reveal a more simple interior beauty. "He can make stone move" is often said by others upon seeing his work. Recently Paul has focused on fabricating stone, metal, and wood creating his signature organic stylized forms.
Paul was born in the United Kingdom and has lived in South Africa and India. He moved to the United States in 1979. Initially he lived in Phoenix and after a couple of years moved to Santa Barbara. Paul has made is home base in Bear Valley Springs for the past nine years with his wife, Katy Jacobson, and their horses.
Tehachapi Treasure Trove is located at 116 E Tehachapi Boulevard, right across the street from the water tower in Railroad Park. Hours are daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Sundays 11 to 4). Be sure to stop by and see our collection of uncommonly eclectic and unusually unique stuff. Remember we also carry an extensive line of art and craft supplies and artist services along with books and music. For additional information on any of our activities, classes and events, please call (661) 822-6794 or visit http://www.facebook.com/Tehachapi Treasure Trove.
