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Published on 06/29/1998 All articles from this issue

Festival draws local artists

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By Scott Fernqvist

Town Crier Editorial Intern

19th Arts & Wine Festival set for this weekend, features KIDZONE, food

nne Klocko of Los Altos specializes in a unique kind of art: colorful and whimsical pieces of three-dimensional vinyl framed clay.

Butterflies inspire artist Steven Albaranes of San Mateo. He displays them under Plexiglas, creating exotic butterfly art.

Mary Avery of Los Altos sees the world through a camera's lens. She captures her work with photography, which she frames for wall hangings and mounts onto greeting cards.

Klocko, Albaranes and Avery are among some 400 artists and craftspeople appearing in this weekend's Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival.

The 19th annual event is set for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in downtown Los Altos.

Klocko, a participant in the festival since 1992, said she sees this two-day fair as being a "a fun time to see friends and make money."

Albaranes, who has been part of the event for the past five years, "tremendously" looks forward to the upcoming festival, which is expected to draw an estimated 120,000 visitors.

"Los Altos, in my opinion, is one of the top three shows that I do and in terms of enjoyability, it's number one," Albaranes said.

Avery holds the festival in the same high esteem and said, "There's no doubt about it, it's one of the best.

I think the greatest shows are the ones with local people involved and with a lot of community support, which the Los Altos festival has."

This popular festival is known throughout California.

Framed clay

Klocko has always "done art," but for many years never pursued it as a career.

Three-dimensional art is her specialty and prior to creating clay-framed artwork, she made wedding cake tops, with animal brides and grooms. Klocko said her ideas are often "dream inspired."

In 1991 she decided to turn her framed-clay creations into a career.

"I was looking for a business so I started looking around at art shows, and no one was doing this type of art (vinyl clay art). I figured there would be no competition, so I went for it," Klocko said.

Each year, Klocko participates in 12-15 art festivals, traveling as far away as San Diego, Los Angeles and Arizona.

Three-dimensional vinyl clay-framed artwork is something the average festival-goer knows little or nothing about, Klocko said.

"Many times people think the clay is some type of fabric or wood."

Klocko hand-mixes most of the polymer modeling compound, or vinyl clay, to create up to 50 different colors, never using paint. She then cuts and forms all of the individual sections, creating layers, to make scenery, animals and characters.

"I like things that cheer you up and make you laugh," Klocko said.

After her work is baked hard, so the bold colors won't fade, she mounts the piece with a compatible glue and triple-mats it to create the 3-D effect.

The price of Klocko's work ranges from $70 up to $600. An average piece sells for $200, Klocko said.

Looking toward the future, "I can see myself doing this (her art) for years and be pretty happy doing it," she said.

Butterfly art

How Albaranes' career evolved is a different story.

For years, Albaranes sold eyeglass frames and enjoyed raising tropical fish as a hobby.

But from the moment he was "mesmerized" by the butterfly exhibit at the San Francisco Academy of Sciences, and after his fish died during the Loma Prieta quake, he knew his career path would change.

Albaranes first displayed his butterfly art at the Foster City Arts & Wine Festival, and said it was "an immediate success."

So successful that Albaranes participated in 32 shows his first year. Today, Albaranes works seven months out of the year, exhibiting at 18-20 local shows.

Albaranes said he buys only "perfect A-1 butterflies" from insect farms in Papua, New Guinea, and South America, so his work is of the highest possible quality. "A butterfly can cost anywhere from $3 to as much as $5,000," Albaranes said. The most he has ever paid for a single butterfly is $250.

People confront Albaranes, "all the time," about how the butterflies died and if they were killed. He tells people that the butterflies lived a full life and died naturally at the farms.

The radiant colors of the butterflies range from deep blues and violets to nearly translucent shades of yellows and oranges.

Sizes and shapes of the butterflies vary just as frequently as the colors.

Albaranes' art is a display of "nature's beauty." Nothing is done to the butterflies to alter their natural appearance.

In order to show their many colors, he spreads the butterflies' wings to make them look like they are flying and then mounts them in his own creative way.

"I still make everything as if I'm going to keep it," Albaranes said.

His home and studio where he works are situated on the Mariner's Island Lagoon. Trickling water can be heard throughout his house, creating a peaceful mood that is clearly reflected in his art.

The cost of Albaranes' work ranges from $13 for a single butterfly to $5,500 for a larger, more intricately arranged piece.

Artistic photos

Avery works in a small studio overlooking her garden flowing with a sea of flowers, varying in colors and kinds. "I have quite a few pictures that were taken in my garden," Avery said.

"I do a lot of florals and some scenes and small animals, stuff I like to look at."

Photography has been Avery's hobby since the '70's. After she took photo classes at both Foothill and De Anza Colleges during the early '80's, she decided to start a business.

This 76-year-old photographer exhibited her work in Mendocino, Fort Bragg, and at Expressions, the art store that recently closed on Main Street in Los Altos. She participates in art festivals located up and down the Peninsula.

"The shows vary greatly, they're fun, but a lot of work... I couldn't do them without the help of my husband," Avery said.

Nature inspires most of her work, and she enjoys going to gardens, Yosemite, Mendocino and the ocean, to find just the right shot.

"It's a matter of looking through the lens at things I like to see," Avery said. "My greatest joy and highlight of my hobby comes from taking the pictures, with all the colors."

Avery is responsible for the entire production process of her art. She takes all the pictures and mats and frames each piece.

Cards can be purchased with her photos on them for $2.50 and framed pictures cost up to $350.

Pondering what lies ahead, Avery said, "I'm not headed toward anything 'big,' but I will continue to enjoy photography for as long as possible."

Festival Roundup

In addition to artists, the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival features a full lineup of entertainment, from tap-dancing grandmas to blues bands.

The popular KIDZONE returns again this year with top children's entertainers on stage from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Acts include jugglers, banjo players, magicians, and storytellers. New activities for kids include a beanie baby raffle and a "Wheel of Fortune" game to win even more beanie babies.

This year's theme for the festival is "In Full Bloom," with fruit and flower carts lining Main and State streets.

Other original features will include "dunk-a-cop," where police officers are dunked in a portable pool and "Kettle Corn," which will be served from a giant farmer's kettle.

Seven Santa Cruz wineries will participate this year, including Storrs, Page Mill, Bear Creek, Galante, Woodside, Zayante and Cooper Jarrod, and beers from local micro-breweries will be on tap.

Gourmet shish-kabobs, sausages, veggie specials, fajitas and fruit smoothies are just a few of the foods to be offered by local restaurants and caterers.

Admission and parking to the festival is free. Handicapped parking and a festival shuttle are available at Los Altos High School at 201 Almond Ave. Bike Valet is available on 3rd Street.

"This event is an exceptional undertaking, it is entirely supported by the community," said Nancie Allie, Art Coordinator for the Los Altos Arts & Wine Festival.

For more information, call the Los Altos Village Association at 917-9799.