On The Arts
"Women in Art" opens this Thursday at Sunbird Gallery, 333 First St., with an artists' reception from 5:30-8 p.m. This exhibition, featuring paintings and sculpture by Peggy Kroll-Roberts, Victoria Reece, Nancy Norman, Cari Sokoloff and Ingrid MacDonald, promises to be a lively show for several reasons. "Women in Art" marks a new artistic direction for Sunbird Gallery and for owner, Ingrid MacDonald.
Although MacDonald has been selling her paintings for years, this is her first gallery show. A visible and staunch supporter of the arts in Los Altos, MacDonald is excited about the show because of the theme - women in art - and that she is showing with first-rate artists. "I have worked hard to define my style," she said recently.
"I feel very good about my artwork and Sunbird Gallery. Both are an important part of me and this show is bringing both together. It's very important for me to have a purpose and to feel that I'm growing as an artist. It is also important that I give back to the community. I'm a business person and an artist. I'm also optimistic. My optimism and enthusiasm comes out in my art and in my gallery shows."
MacDonald is serious about bringing art to the community. She is especially pleased about re-introducing sculptor Cari Sokoloff to the community in "Women in Art." Sokoloff, who grew up in Los Altos, won first prize in the downtown Halloween window contest when she was a kid. She went on to study art at University of California, Santa Cruz, earning a degree in both sculpture and theater design.
Sokoloff, who lives in San Francisco, successfully combines her fondness for designing interiors with her art. She has several figurative and abstract pieces in the Sunbird exhibition.
ART BITS: The "Kasimir Etching Show" opens Thursday evening, 6-9 p.m., at ZYT Galerie, 923 N. San Antonio Road, in Los Altos. This large exhibition features more than 200 etchings by the Kasimir family. Additionally the exhibition includes a substantial number of etchings by Josef Eidenberger and Herta Czoernig. The exhibition continues through March 14. Call 948-6770 for more information.
Gallery 9's new exhibition, "Special Textures," is on display at 143 Main St., featuring abstract acrylic prints by Bay Area artist Sydell Lewis. The exhibit runs through Feb. 28. Call 941-7969 for more information.
Los Altos Hills Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road, features paintings by Joyce Vincenti and porcelain dragons by Mary Jane Johnston through March 8. Call 941-7222 for more information.
Viewpoints Gallery, 315 State St., celebrates 25 years in Los Altos with a special exhibition through Feb. 28. Call 941-5789 for more information.
"Giverny: An Artist's Visit" features pastel paintings by Judi Keyani through Feb. 28 at the Bechtel International Center, Stanford University. Call 948-2961 for more information.
Two exhibitions featured at the Palo Alto Cultural Center, 1313 Newell Road, (Palo Alto) through April 26 are also noteworthy: "Of Princely Courts & Pleasure Gardens: Indian Miniatures," which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Republic of India's independence, offers an historical and cultural overview through 50 paintings of princely courts, spanning the 16th through 19th centuries. The second exhibition, "Timothy Berry: Pageant," features fanciful and luminous paintings and prints by Timothy Berry. Call 329-2366 for more information.
Agnes Derbin is a Los Altos artist and resident.