My EXTINCTION AVIARY series is included in the Artistry in Wood Exhibit at the Museum of Sonoma County. The exhibit will be up through 7 January 2024.
My Passenger Pigeon piece was awarded Best of Art. The judging panel included the Sierra chairmaker Robert Erickson, and Gary Smith, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American Craft Council.
The museum is located at 425 Seventh Street, Santa Rosa, California. For more info call the museum at 707.579.1500.
I’ll be showing giftable items at the LOOK show this Sunday, December 10th. Wearable art such as pendants and earrings, along with cell phone holders, and toaster tweezers (which were the hot item during Open Studios this year!)
There will also be handknitted hats and fingerless gloves by Donna Thomas, clothing by Christina MacColl, paper arts by Felicia Gilman, paintings by Dave Gardener, jewelry metalsmithing by Albion Smith, photography by Janet Fine, wood cut prints by Bridget Henry, ceramic tiles, light switch plates & clocks by Beth Sherman, and handmade soap by Kachina Schoos.
Plus, food and drink, a cozy fire pit to warm up by, and live music. I hope you can make it, it would be lovely to see you.
LOOK show, Sunday 10 December 2023, from 11am to 5pm, at 5221 Coast Road in Santa Cruz, 5 miles past Western Drive.
I will be participating in the Open Studios Art Tour on two weekends, October 14, 15, and 21, 22. Hours are from 11am to 5pm. I’ll have new work, including music stands, wall art, and wearable art such as pendants and earrings, and I will be doing marquetry demos throughout the day.
I will also be hosting two guest artists out in the garden: Sally Fuess (paintings) and Pete Koronakos (found-object sculptures).
Open Studios is a program of the Arts Council of Santa Cruz County. Hours are 11am to 5pm, October 14, 15, 21, and 22. Artist numbers 180, 181, and 182. Sally will be here both weekends, and Pete will be here the first weekend only.
Thanks for looking. Hope to see you this weekend or next!
Matt
The marquetry class in June went so well that I am offering another one in September. It will be held over the last two Saturdays, 23 and 30 September 2023, from 9am to 5pm in my shop near Scotts Valley, CA. We will learn double bevel marquetry using handheld scroll saws, and explore advanced techniques and design options. I have two powered scroll saws in the shop that students can also try using (a Hegner and an Excalibur). The cost is $395 for tuition, plus a $55 materials fee. Each participant will take home all the tools and supplies they need to continue to practice the art and craft of marquetry.
There is a pdf file with more information here, or send me an email if you are interested and I will provide more details.
I created an Etsy site where you can peruse and possibly purchase my custom marquetry pendants. Check it out and let me know what you think!
www.etsy.com/shop/WearableWoodwork
Confluence: a flowing together; the act of meeting or gathering together; a place of meeting, as of rivers.
I, along with eleven other far-more talented artists, will be hosting a First Friday Reception at our Confluence Exhibit. Its at the Blitzer Gallery on the Westside of Santa Cruz.
Here is a sneak-preview of my first-ever mobile, an object too large to fit into one email, so you’ll have to come take a look yourself.
This eclectic exhibit includes paintings, jewelry, mixed media, sculpture, woodwork, and glass, from Alanni Lanni, Dana Weigand, Sally Fuess, William Winkler, Rachel Smith, Yeshe Jackson, Keith Millar, Cheryl Moreno, Biagio Scarpello, Russell Brutsche, Matthew Werner, & Chris Johnson.
First Friday Reception, December 2, from 5 to 8pm.
Quick heads up too that there will be a Holiday Art Show at the gallery on Saturday, December 10, from 11 am to 3 pm. I am putting the finishing touches on some new Wearable Art (pendants, possibly earrings) that I will be offering at that time.
Show runs until December 29. Special Holiday Art Show December 10, 11 am to 3 pm. R. Blitzer Gallery hours: Thursday through Sunday 1 to 4 pm.
R. Blitzer Gallery, 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz , 95060
I may have been quiet for the past few months, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy. I had the amazing opportunity to design and make multiple pieces for my client’s remodel project for their home in San Francisco. Every piece had marquetry, and I think it’s some of the best work I’ve done. Now that the project is nearing completion and the building is getting cleaned up in preparation for move-in, I had a chance to go up and have the work photographed. I’ll show a few samples below, but be sure to click on the link to go to my website and see the full project.
Star Jasmine and Banks Roses are the theme for this pair of dresser cabinets that flank a walk-in closet, with a wall panel over the door that completes the garden trellis look. Figured cherry for the cabinets, bigleaf maple on the fronts, and custom wenge pulls.
Just a few details to whet your appetite for more. Living room bookcase trimmed out in red roses, made with bloodwood, carob, vera, and wenge, and trimmed in black walnut.
Fireplace mantle adorned with orchids made from satinwood, yellowheart, holly, and bloodwood.
Mandevilla mirror over the fireplace, bloodwood and carob flowers with yellowheart centers, and vera foliage.
Thanks for looking. I’ll be doing Open Studios in October, and hope you have a chance to visit then.
Matt
I recently provided content for a UCSC student video project. Its an edited interview over still images they captured in my studio, runs 2 and a half minutes. I expected it to be cringe-worthy, but I think its actually rather sweet. Thanks to Edgardo Chavez and his partner Dale.
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 These panels were installed into existing walnut door frames to replace cracked glass. Click on the chickadee to see an image of the complete doors. The bigleaf maple background has a beautiful tight ripple, and the trees depicted are bigleaf maple in the upper left corner, and hazel, both local natives, along with the chestnut backed chickadees. |
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And if the 2 day class is more than you are ready to sign up for, there is also an “Artist’s Doorstep” program with 90 minute visits in art studios. Sign up here for Sunday 20 May visits to my studio.
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Thanks for reading. Wishing everyone a wonderful spring!
