From “Bugtown Boogie,” illustrated by Johnson & Fancher
What a whirlwind of a year it’s been and we couldn’t have done it without YOU!
A huge, gigantic and heartfelt thank you to our wonderful clients, our fantastic friends and our talented-beyond-measure artists and artisans! We are eternally grateful for your continued support since we opened our doors in 1978.
Wishing everyone happiness, health and peace for the coming year.
Here’s to a wonderful 2016!
The excitement is mounting as we move ever closer to our…
We’ll be introducing you to our featured artists and artisans over the weeks leading up to the big event, so keep your peepers peeled for our weekly updates!
We are honored to benefit City of Hope‘s breast cancer research center in memory of our dear friend, Emik Swartz, who used to make all of the delicious desserts & goodies for this event. We also dedicate this show to friends and family who have lost their fight with breast cancer, those who are currently battling & those who are survivors of this disease.
Joanna Craft
New!
Joanna Craft
You spin me right ’round, baby… We’re dizzy with glee for Joanna’s retro atomic jewelry made with sterling silver, gemstones, enamel, and more! Do you love them just as much as we do? (You’re in luck – Joanna Craft will be joining us this Saturday!)
David Van Noppen
New!
David Van Noppen
Swirling dynamic colors abound in David Van Noppen’s blown glass creations! This talented artisan was trained at the Penland School of Crafts, the Pilchuck School and the Corning Studio. Bowls and vases undulate with motion while glass ornaments deck the halls in style!
Choose your favorite one, two or three at our Holiday Artisan Faire.
Lori Lawson
New!
Lori Lawson
Add whimsy to your wardrobe with scarves by fiber artist Lori Lawson! With hand knit, woven, dyed and felted designs, you won’t see any others like this! Lori uses fine merino wool, silk, cashmere, and more. Her scarves are sure to be a hit this holiday season!
Luisa Chocolatiere
New!
Luisa Chocolatiere
We “heart” chocolate at Chemers Gallery – especially the delectable delicacies crafted by Luisa Chocolatiere! Discovered your new favorite confections like traditional candy bars and festive Hanukkah and Christmas themed chocolates at our Holiday Artisan Faire on Dec. 5th. Luisa’s chocolate is mouthwateringly magical!
Madstone
Madstone
Get some glitzy yet edgy jewelry from MAD by Madstone at our Holiday Artisan Faire! The brand’s lower price point, this collection features bold designs and bright gemstones – there’s even a skull or two for the goth glam in you! Madstone’s higher-end line featuring 18k yellow and white gold, diamonds and other precious gemstone will also be available at our show.
Ayala Bar
Ayala Bar
Colorful, unique, and dynamic jewelry by world-renowned artist Ayala Bar! Instantly recognizable and so fun to wear, her collection features unexpected combinations of colors, fabrics, & textures that add splashes of imagination and whimsy to any outfit. Although the artist herself will not be able to join us, we will have her gorgeous jewelry at our Holiday Artisan Faire!
ICON Handbags
ICON Handbags
Snag your own wearable work of art by ICON! Soft and supple leather handbags, wallets and pouches imprinted with masterworks from both established and up-and-coming artists for a look that’s as artistic as you are! Choose your favorite design by Miro, Prendergast, Picasso and more at our Holiday Artisan Faire on December 5th, 11a-5p.
Michelene Berkey
Michelene Berkey
A “sterling” selection of silver and gemstone delights from jewelry artist Michelene Berkey. Michelene works with a variety of metals, pearls and gemstones to produce textural pieces inspired by nature. We’re honored that she’s coming all the way from Colorado for our Holiday Artisan Faire on Dec. 5th with many more exciting options!
Suzanne Currie
Suzanne Currie
Ever wanted to match your jewelry with your wall art? Multi-talented artist Suzanne Currie is your woman! After experimenting with many subjects and mediums, her current bold & colorful collage work uses paper cut and paint arranged in graphic designs. Her artwork is sure to make maximum impact, whether on your arm or your wall!
Kozakh
Kozakh
Cyntia Kozak of Kozakh jewelry offers delicate, uncomplicated designs in sterling silver and gold-plate with gemstone accents. Her creations fit the trend of minimalist adornment. As the icing on the cake, this line is not only beautiful, but also affordable!
Sola Foods
Sola Foods
Sola Foods has a gourmet treat for everyone! From sweet jams and spreads to spicy salsas, relishes, and even pestos, Sola Foods has a delicacy to add pizzazz to your holiday – or any day – table! All of their products are made from natural ingredients obtained from local farmer’s markets. Plus, they are always made in small batches to ensure a flavorful treat for your taste buds!
Elizabeth Nadler
Elizabeth Nadler
Boho-inspired gems from jewelry artist Elizabeth Nadler! Betty pairs gold and silver metals with crystals and gemstones of all colors to create simply elegant and very wearable pieces. To top it off, her designs are so reasonably priced that you may be tempted to stock up on one of each! Betty will be joining us at our Holiday Artisan Faire on December 5th, so be sure to mark your calendars so you can snag one of her fabulous designs!
Spice Merchants
Spice Merchants
Get ready to “spice” it up with Spice Merchants of Laguna Beach, one of the participants offering epicurean treats at our Holiday Artisan Faire. Spice Merchants certainly know their stuff since they’ve been in the business for nearly a decade, sourcing the best ingredients from around the world. Owner Paul will be bringing a selection of olive oils, balsamic vinegar, sea salts, spices, and more to our holiday festivities on December 5th!
Monique Selwitz
Monique Selwitz
Working with sterling silver and unique gemstones, jeweler Monique Selwitz creates organic, inventive pieces are exclusive to Chemers Gallery! Her inspiration comes from her creative background surrounded by other artists, galleries, goldsmiths, and musicians. We especially love her clever pieces featuring tiny casts of succulents!
Lisa Mertins
Lisa Mertins
We’re celebrating the whimsical and the wonderfully wild with works by ceramicist Lisa Mertins. Her ceramics are as charming as she is! Lisa’s goal is to incorporate the world around her into her art, particularly that of her rural home. These unique ceramic works, with their more muted colors and textural elements, feel distinctively earthy and one-of-a-kind.
J.C. Milner
J.C. Milner
Meet JC Milner and her beautiful handcrafted jewelry! Capturing a variety of familiar and sentimental symbols like flowers and houses Jennie’s rings, necklaces, and earrings evoke a whimsical nostalgia. Her delicate detailing with resin and silver inspire us to take a closer look and teach us an appreciation for each one’s uniqueness.
Mary Hammond
Mary Hammond
Mary Hammond creates colorful and whimsical fiber scarves that are a fabulous addition to anyone’s collection. Local to the San Cruz area, Mary is inspired by the world around her. She intricately fashions her hand-sewn pieces using ribbon and thread to reflect the beauty found in a garden. Vibrant and jazzy, her one-of-a-kind designs can be used as a scarf or even a table runner! Come see her latest creations at our second annual Holiday Artisan Faire!
Claudia Berman
Claudia Berman
Kicking off our Holiday Artisan Faire “teasers” is jewelry designer Claudia Berman! Utilizing classical metalsmith techniques, Claudia’s jewelry line wows us with its understated simplicity. Her use of silver, 18k gold and semi-precious gemstones is balanced, contemporary and creative. Karen discovered Claudia’s work in San Francisco and found out that we already know her mother – jeweler Monique Selwitz!
Susan Horton
Susan Horton
We welcome back award-winning weaver Susan Horton to our Holiday Artisan Faire! You may remember Susan and her loom from our Summer Artist Demos – we’re so excited that she’ll be joining us on December 5th with her latest batch of woven scarves and clutches. Soft silk, tencel and linen fibers combine on Susan’s loom to form beautiful, stand-out pieces. We can’t wait to see what new patterns and color combinations she’s been playing with!
Tatratea
Tatratea
Back again for another year, Tatratea will be treating us like royalty with their delicious tea-based liqueurs! Slovakian-born alcohols make a great addition to hot teas, mixed into a cocktail or on the rocks. Tatratea’s secret is a unique fermentation process of Assam tea, hand-picked botanical ingredients and fresh fruits. The result is out of this world! Let our crazy friend Rado mix up the perfect libation for you and pick up a few bottles for your holiday parties and beyond.
Founded in 1913, City of Hope is one of only 41 of the nation’s comprehensive cancer care centers. Their mission is to transform the future of health care by turning science into practical benefit, hope into reality.
We are donating at least 10% of our net proceeds to City of Hope cancer research centers. We’re hoping to raise $10,000! Even if you can’t join us the day of the event, we will be accepting donations to help us reach our goal.
Save the date for our biggest event of the year! Chemers Gallery’s 2nd Annual Holiday Artisan Faire!
With 16 artists, artisans and gourmands confirmed and counting, this is sure to be an event you won’t want to miss!
Cathy Markowitz showing jewelry by Michelene Berkey
Handcrafted Jewelry
Michelene Berkey | Claudia Berman | Joanna Craft
Madstone | JC Milner | Elizabeth Nadler | Monique Selwitz
Wearable Fiber & Leather
Mary Hammond | Susan Horton | Lori Lawson | ICON Handbags
Ceramics & Glass
Lisa Mertins | David Van Noppen
Lisa Mertins displays her charming ceramics
Mixed Media
Suzanne Currie
Epicurean Treats
Luisa Chocolatiere – handcrafted chocolates
Spice Merchants – olive oils, balsamic vinegar & sea salt
Tatratea – tea liqueuer
Watch this space for updates including artist profiles, sneak peeks, new artisans and more!
Chemers Gallery and TACFA
Call to Artists
The heART of Orange County All Media 2016
April 23 – May 7, 2016
Juried Exhibition
Juror: Julie Lee, Bowers Museum
Deadline for entry is March 5, 2016
Click HERE to enter!
Calling All Artists
It’s that time of year again…that’s right, our next juried exhibition is right around the corner! It’s not a plein air landscape show any longer! You may remember past shows that depicted the beautiful landscape of Orange County, but we’re switching it up this year! Instead of landscapes, we’re making it all about the art!
The Yellow Scarf, oil on board by Dana Cooper
Please join Chemers Gallery and the Tustin Area Council for Fine Art (TACFA) for our 9th annual all-media juried exhibition. This is no longer a landscape/plein air show. We are seeking submissions that depict the vast variety of arts to be found in our wonderful Orange County. This could be an arts venue or people in the arts. Your entries might be (but certainly not limited to) musicians at work, actors in a play, a performing arts building, a dancer practicing in a studio, on-lookers in a museum, an artist’s studio (perhaps your own!). Amateur artists are welcome to enter. All artwork will be judged equally regardless of professional status.
Night at Vibratto’s, acrylic on paper by Joyce Lieberman
All media will be considered for acceptance. We want your oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, mixed media, photographs, etchings, monoprints, beadwork, glass, encaustic, sewing…everything! The more creative and innovative the better – you just might win one of the cash prizes!
Entries will all be pre-juried online at OnlineJuriedShows.com. For a full prospectus and links to enter, click HERE.
We are honored to announce that Julie Lee, Vice President of Collections and Exhibition Development at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, will be this year’s juror.
Laguna Playhouse
Your Inspiration Starts Here!
Spend a weekend driving around Orange County’s numerous arts venues and let your imagination run wild! Head down to Corona del Mar for an afternoon wandering the gorgeous grounds of the Sherman Library & Gardens before making your way to Laguna Beach to view a performance at the Laguna Playhouse. Don’t forget to try Chance Theater in Anaheim or South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa if you’re inspired by taking in theatrics.
Segerstrom Center
If it’s architecture that floats your boat, marvel at the geometric facade and sinuous interior of Segerstrom Center. This is also the perfect opportunity to listen to the Pacific Chorale or Pacific Symphony Orchestra and let the music stir your mind and soul. Stroll over to Noguchi Garden and view the public sculpture under its dramatic nighttime lighting.
Tangata Restaurant
We couldn’t leave the culinary arts out of the mix! Combine a trip to Bowers Museum in Santa Ana with a nosh in their award-winning restaurant, Tangata. Their beautiful presentation of edibles are sure to get your creative juices flowing. If you time it just right, you may just get to experience an amazing performance in the picturesque courtyard of Bowers. Or, simply sit close to the fountains for a calming, artful meditation.
Downtown Santa Ana
Stay around the arts district of Santa Ana during their “First Saturdays” art walk. Gallery-goers, arts enthusiasts and street performers will delight your eyes with the dozens of people-watching opportunities!
There is so much to choose from, and the sky is the limit! So put your thinking caps on…the deadline for entry is March 5th, 2016 and it will be here before you know it. For more information and entry form, please click this link. Good luck!
In typical dramatic flair, Ayala Bar has unveiled her newest line of limited edition necklaces, earrings and bracelets and we couldn’t be ore excited! Every 6 months, we anxiously await the change of the seasons to see what this talented Israeli designer has created. The Fall/Winter collection is here and wow, it’s a stunner!
Ayala began creating what would become her signature jewelry style in the 1980’s. Although she studied art, her education didn’t include metalsmithing or jewelry design. Instead she taught herself the art of “matchmaking” and began creating wearable collages that were reminiscent of Byzantine mosaics. As time went on, Ayala’s style evolved to incorporate seasonal colors and fashion influences.
Still Waters necklace by Ayala Bar
The artist’s primary source of inspiration stems from the unorthodox materials she uses. Ayala is a pro at using unexpected materials and pairing them in unique ways! Everything from beads, mineral stones and crushed glass to fall leaves, wood and fabrics from around the world finds a home in her glimmering, shimmering creations.
Ocean Blue bracelet by Ayala Bar
Colors this season capture the playful rays of late summer sun, the shift and shortening of days into autumn and the richness and glitz of early winter. Teal pairs effortlessly with turquoise and purple in the Aqua collection. Rich bronze, plum and gold shimmer together in the Ocean Blue color way. Motifs of flowers, leaves and pure pattern feature under cut glass and merge with Ayala’s other materials to tell a complete story. And who could forget her newer style of delicate silver filigree paired with just a hint of color? We are in L-O-V-E!
Run, don’t walk, into Chemers Gallery to view these stunning new creations in person! We promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Rocky Coast, Sonoma – oil on board
Who ever heard of an artist who is both a plein air painter and a children’s book illustrator? We have, we have! Paul Kratter is new to Chemers Gallery and we are so glad to carry his work! We were introduced to Paul’s refined-yet-spontaneous plein air oil paintings by our very own Jim Wodark, who brought his Kratter cypress landscape in for one of our very special arts & crafts style custom frames.
Jaguar – oil & acrylic
Paul brings a strong background in drawing and design to his current work. With a Bachelor of Arts in Illustration from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, he began his career in advertising and later moved on to wildlife illustration. He developed his passion for creatures and their habitats into several children’s books, including the award-winning The Living Rain Forest. You simply have to see the detail in these acrylic and watercolor illustrations to believe the realistic, “animalistic” textures!
Partners, Point Lobos – oil on board
Almost overnight, Paul’s painting style changed once he began exploring the world of plein air oil painting. With a plethora of subject matter outside his door in the East Bay Hills of northern California, Paul enjoys the challenge that painting outdoors offers him. Constantly changing elements of light, cloud and wind force him to make decisive brush strokes allowing the finished paintings to shine with a fresh spontaneity.
Paul makes annual excursions into the High Sierra Mountains with a group of fellow artists and illustrators. (You may remember Jim Wodark’s stunning paintings from those yearly trips!) The opportunity to explore the remote lakes, meadows and mountainsides has proven to fuel Paul’s creativity. Beautiful landscape, evocative atmosphere and the paintings of renowned artists Edgar Payne, William Wendt and Carl Runguis inspire Paul to stretch his imagination and explore the world though canvas and paint.
As spring turns to summer we are dreaming of long, lazy hazy days and soothing sea breezes – once this June Gloom wears off, that is! Step into these abstracted creations by two of our newer artists to experience the feel of this magical time of year with us.
Floating World 6, encaustic
Colorado artist Jane Guthridge delights with her enticing encaustic paintings. Using layers of rice and mulberry papers with her pigmented wax, Jane achieves a look of subtle depth. Ideas of light and shadow play off one another allowing her creations to glow with a life of their own. Nature is Jane’s main inspiration and she aims to evoke the very experience of the natural world in her richly hued pieces. Imagine dappled sunlight through leaves or sparkling across the surface of a pond – perfection!
Aqua 2, encaustic
Jane holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kent State University. She later traveled to Brissago, Switzerland to continue her studies with Swiss graphic designer, Armin Hofmann, and Paul Rand, designer of the IBM and ABC corporate logos. Her work has been included in many national and international exhibitions and is held in permanent collections throughout the US, including the US Department of State.
Over the Surface, pastel
Drawing on the saturated light and color of her native southern California upbringing, Victoria Ryan‘s pastel abstractions call to mind a dreamscape of mood and feeling. While influenced by the vivid landscapes and abstracted natural elements experienced during her sunny SoCal years, Victoria often turns to her subconscious for inspiration and then returns to her heightened sense of reality felt in her lucid dreams. Her goal is to translate the experience through her pastels. The results are simply stunning!
The Orchard #2, pastel
Victoria studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles before earning her BFA in Painting and Drawing from Cal State Long Beach. She has exhibited in many solo and group shows and is also an experienced drawing and painting instructor.
Experiencing Jane’s and Victoria’s work in person is a must! Come in to Chemers Gallery for the full effect of vibrant colors and intriguing textures.