The artists of Gallery Los Olivos have found a way to use their unique skills to help home-bound people cope with the emotional challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Various creative approaches have surfaced to fill the time as people advance their culinary skills, study new subjects, watch YouTube on endless demos, exercise, pick up an old hobby, finish a long forgotten craft project, or practice creative writing. Interestingly, one of the things that has trended during this time are coloring books — not just for children, but for adults who are also finding them comforting. AdAge has called them “one of the key creative trends to emerge from the pandemic.” 

Gallery Los Olivos is offering a free online GLO Coloring Book on its website, with works created by its artists. Website visitors can print out and color the images. The coloring book is available at www.GalleryLosOlivos.com/coloringbook. 

Since its introduction on May 15, response to the GLO Coloring Book has been very enthusiastic – as an activity both for adults, as well as children. Gallery Los Olivos has over 50 artists who work in all mediums and styles, and many have posted sample images to share. There are images for all ages and skill levels, covering a wide variety of subject matter. Anyone can enjoy creating their personal versions with crayons, or colored pens or pencils. 

Those who get the GLO Coloring Book are invited to share their colored images with on the Coloring Book webpage. To do so, go to “Please click here” on the webpage and email the image on a jpeg file. 

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Each spring the Santa Ynez Valley Star highlights students who have made an impact on the community or on their schools and who will be going on to higher education, military service, or trade schools. 

Today, we profile two seniors at Midland School, Eleanor Larkin and Chani Derbyshire.

Eleanor Larkin has been “gentling” a wild mustang for her senior project at Midland School.

Eleanor Larkin

Having the opportunity to be a kid and finding others who love the balance between fun and learning is what Eleanor Larkin loves about being a Midland School student. She found a way to have an outlet for her stress when she joined the school’s horse program, and now she wants a career involving horses.

“I’ve learned how to follow what I’m passionate about and how to make time for it, because our schedules are so filled up here,” she said.

Eleanor started riding when she was 6 years old but it was different in her hometown, where she had to find a way to get to a facility to ride. In her role as “Head of Horses” for the school, Eleanor is responsible for feeding all the horses in the mornings. She created her senior project to “gentle” a wild mustang from the Return to Freedom sanctuary, a nonprofit organization in Lompoc that preserves the freedom, diversity and habitat of America’s wild horses and burros.

Eleanor has been working with her mustang “Jerry” for several hours every day since last summer to get him comfortable with people.

“I didn’t set one goal and (have been) more exploratory to see what happens. I’ve been using research tools from talking with other trainers, reading books and watching videos to use in my training,” she said.

“Sending him out in a certain direction by using my active and neutral energy to communicate with him. It takes a lot of practice and patience,” she said.

In the beginning of her training his comfort zone ended at 10 feet and he would get a wild look. Now Eleanor can touch him all over and pick up his feet. Recently she was able to put a bareback pad on him, which is a huge step.

“I tend to carry a lot of stress in my body, but when you’re working with a sensitive wild animal you have to figure out how to let go. I have to ask myself, ‘Am I in the right place?’ and center myself,” Eleanor said.

Working with her horse has helped her in her other duties at school and has also transferred to her everyday life.

After she graduates she will be attending Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts because of its horse program, she said with a laugh.

Eleanor is interested in biology and is thinking of going into medicine, but she wants something that makes her happy and involves horses.

Chani Derbyshire found a passion for farming and sustainable agricultural while studying at Midland School.

Chani Derbyshire

When Chani Derbyshire first started at Midland School her freshman year, she was reluctant to participate in the outdoor programs, but after a few outings she decided that it was the best part about school.

“I started working in the farming program and I haven’t stopped, and my entire life revolves around being in the garden,” she said.

The Salt Lake City native got her unique name from a science fiction character in the book “Dune.” She followed in the footsteps of her brother, who also attended Midland.

“Being here really gave me my love for the outdoors, and I love doing manual labor and seeing the results of my hard work in the food we produce,” she said.

Chani is “Head of Garden,” which means she gets to feed the pigs and turn the compost every day. She then takes the compost and puts it into the garden. She says she has learned about soil health and about more varieties of produce than what’s offered in the grocery store.

“I love growing celery root because it reminds me of Chewbacca,” she laughed.

She also works in the school kitchen with meal preparation and planning.

“Agriculture is important, and I have found an appreciation for weeds, as most of the weeds in our garden are actually edible and we put them in our meals,” she said.

Chani has worked with the Chamberlin family just down the road from Midland, and has participated in their programs for soil science health and grazing practices.

When she graduates from Midland, Chani will return to Salt Lake City and attend the University of Utah, majoring in sustainable agriculture.

When she isn’t in the garden, Chani loves horseback riding, rock climbing and backpacking.

The post Midland Senior Spotlight appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Work by photographers George Rose and Felice Willat is featured until Dec. 31 in a show called “The Art of Travel” at Gallery Los Olivos.

Both photographers are artist-members of GLO. The exhibit features traditional photographic print-on-paper images as well as dye sublimation prints on aluminum.

Willat is an award-winning travel photographer and publisher whose images of Burma, Morocco, China, Vietnam and Argentina capture the beauty of human “lifescapes” across cultures. She is the author of “The Quiet Between, Song of Burma,” a book of her photography and poems.

Rose, an award winning photojournalist and Getty Images travel photographer, is widely known for his California wine country photography. He is the author of several books, including “Vineyard: Sonoma County” and the upcoming “Wine Country: Santa Barbara County.”

Gallery Los Olivos is a cooperative artist-member gallery in the heart of Los Olivos at 2929 Grand Ave.  December hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, go to www.GalleryLosOlivos.com or call 805-688-7517.

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Longtime friends and award-winning local artists Carrie Givens, Susan Belloni and Renée Kelleher will present “Cornucopia: Seasons & Scenery,” a show that celebrates the change of seasons and the abundance of nature.

The show and sale of their landscape paintings runs throughout November at Gallery Los Olivos. The public is invited to join the artists at a reception from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.

Art lovers can choose from original paintings in oils, pastels and acrylics. Painting subjects include a bounty of inspiration from local country vistas, barnyards and vineyards, towns, beaches, harvest still-lifes and more.

Since 1997, Belloni has exhibited in many local juried, invitational, benefit  and solo shows in galleries, libraries, businesses and even on the outside of the old Sedgwick Ranch house in the Santa Ynez Valley. Her painting of a Channel Islands scene was selected for a nationally juried exhibit at Solvang’s Wildling Museum and she has exhibited in Santa Barbara’s Museum of Natural History and at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.

She helped found Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment (SCAPE), which has raised funds for Santa Barbara County nonprofits since 2003. Her work can be seen at www.susanbelloni.com

For the past 15 years, Givens has been working furiously on pastel paintings, especially when she discovered the incredible rich color pallet, the variety of uses pastels had to offer, and the types of paper there were for pastels. She has also worked with watercolors, oils, ink, colored pencil and the airbrush.

She is a member of the Santa Barbara Art Association, the Goleta Valley Art Association, SCAPE (Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment), a signature member of the Pastel Society of the Gold Coast, the Pastel Society of the West Coast and a recent member of the Oak Group. Her website is www.carriegivensart.com

Kelleher has painted from coast to coast, capturing scenes from the splendor of Santa Ynez Valley sunsets to the blazing lights of New York City. Her subject matter covers a range as wide as her life, which has taken her all over the country and overseas.

She is a plein air and studio painter with a passion for strong color. Over her 30 years of painting she has honed her impressionistic realism style with prominent artists such as Matt Smith, Karl Dempwolf, Marilyn Simandle and Robin Hall.

She has been represented by Waterhouse Gallery in Santa Barbara, New Masters Gallery in Carmel, and Cody Gallery in Los Olivos. She has exhibited in The Wildling Museum and The Elverhøj Art Museum in Solvang, the Artwalk at the Museum of Natural History and the Historical Museum in Santa Barbara. She is also showing now at the Elverhøj Museum in a group show called “Past, Present, And Future.”

Kelleher is a member of Santa Barbara Art Association, Southern California Artists Painting for the Environment (SCAPE) and The American Impressionist Society. Her website is www.reneekelleher.com.

Gallery Los Olivos at 2920 Grand Ave. was founded in 1992 and is owned by an incorporated group of more than 50 member artists from Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. Members operate the gallery, which is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, go to www.GalleryLosOlivos.com.

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3

Santa Ynez Valley Tech Club Mixer – 6:30-8:30 p.m. Root 246 Hotel Corque, 420 Alisal Rd., Solvang. $15. For tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com.

5

Kids Rhythmic Dance Class Begins – Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA. Visit www.ciymca.org/stuartgildred.

6

5th Annual Charity Golf Tournament – 10:30 a.m. Sign-in. 12 p.m. Tee Time. River Course at the Alisal, 150 Alisal Rd., Solvang. Benefits Santa Ynez Valley Youth Coalition Drug and Alcohol Prevention.

“Sideways” Movie Viewing – Dusk. Kalyra Winery, 343 N. Refugio Rd., Santa Ynez. Food trucks, popcorn and wine for sale. Call 693-8864.

“Patrick Sweany” Performance – 7 p.m. Standing Sun, 92 2nd St., Buellton. $12/standing room or $17/reserved seating based on availability. Visit www.standingsunwines.com.

“Danielle Taylor” Performance – 7-10 p.m. Naughty Oak Tap Room, 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.naughtyoak.com.

7

Sisters Vintage and Antique Market – 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 349 Bell Street, Los Alamos. Refreshments and Vendors on site. Free. Food and beverages for purchase. Call 357-9415.

Cottage Hospital Health Fair – 10 a.m-12:30 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Marriot Hotel Ballroom, 555 McMurray Rd., Buellton. Free screenings and flu shots. Free. Visit www.cottagehealth.org/syvhealthfair.

“Different Strings” Performance – 7-10 p.m. Naughty Oak Tap Room, 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.naughtyoak.com.

8

“Marc Chagall and 20th Century Designs for the Stage” Field Trip – 8:30 a.m. Depart from Buellton Rec Center, 301 2nd St., Buellton. Travel to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Return 6 p.m. Visit www.buelltonrec.com.

Harvest, Art and Wine Festival – 12-3 p.m. Longoria Winery and Tasting Room, 415 E. Chestnut Ave., Lompoc. Live music, food, art and wine. Visit www.longoriawine.com.

Gallery Los Olivos Silver Anniversary Celebration Reception – 1-4 p.m. 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. Enjoy refreshments while watching artists work. Call 688-7517.

Artist Talk: Lynn Hanson – 4 p.m. Wilding Museum, 1511 Mission Dr., Solvang. $5/members or $10/non-members. Visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.

Exclusive Tour of Animals: A-Z – 5:15 p.m. Wilding Museum, 1511 Mission Dr., Solvang. Free for members or $5/non-members. Visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.

9

Diabetes and Exercise Seminar – 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Rd., Solvang. Free. For information, call 694-2351.

10

Valley Hearing Center Special Event – Oct. 10-12. Valley Hearing Center, 2027 Village Ln., Ste. 204, Solvang. Free otoscopic examination, product demonstration and cleaning of current hearing aids. Visit www.audiologicassociatesca.com.

11

Titanic Exhibition Trip – 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Departs from Buellton Rec Center, 301 2nd St., Buellton. Exhibit is located the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Ca. $39. Visit www.buelltonrec.com.

Santa Ynez Valley Women’s Network Meeting – 515 Myrtle Cir, Solvang.

13

Sleep and Health Connections Seminar – 12-1 p.m. Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, 2050 Viborg Rd., Solvang. Free. For information, call 694-2351.

“Conner Cherland” Performance – 7-10 p.m. Naughty Oak Tap Room, 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.naughtyoak.com.

14

Artisan Faire and Treasures with Flair – 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Atterdag Village of Solvang, 636 Atterdag Rd., Solvang. Arts, crafts, food, beverages, face painting and raffle prizes. Call 688-3263.

Faeriefest – 10 a.m-7 p.m. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. $12. Vendors and live performances. Visit www.solvangfestival.com.

Santa Barbara Funk Zone Artists Tour – 11 a.m. departure. Solvang museum lead excursion. $35. Reserve a spot at www.buelltonrec.com.

2nd Saturday Artisans – 12-5 p.m. Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado Rd., Los Olivos. Original handmade works of art for show and sale. For more information, contact info@santaynezvalleyarts.org.

The Great Grape Stomp –  Kalyra Winery, 343 N. Refugio Rd., Santa Ynez. Featuring Molly Ringwald Project Band, food trucks, Wine and Grape stomping. To purchase tickets, call 693-8864.

Kidkraft: Halloween Luminaries – 2-3 p.m. Wildling Museum, 1511 Mission Dr., Solvang. Learn how to upcycle household trash. $5/child. No fee for guardian. Visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.

Every Day

Summerset Farm and Dale’s Nursery – 9 a.m. Hwy 154 at Baseline and Edison, Santa Ynez. Pumpkin Patch now open. Call 245-0989 or 895-7902.

Cachuma Lake Recreation – Wildlife cruises and boat rentals, fishing, nature walks and Nature Center. Visit www.countyofsb.org/parks.

Zaca Creek Golf Course – Perfect little 9-hole course, daily from sunrise to sunset. No tee times. Call 691-9272.

Every Sunday

Bethania Lutheran Church Services 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.– 603 Atterdag Rd., Solvang. A time of worship and prayer in an inclusive and progressive community. Call 688-7927.

Every Monday

Weight Room – 6-8 a.m. and 1:30-8 p.m. Buellton Rec Center, 301 2nd St., Buellton. $3. Call 688-1086.

Senior T’ai Chi – 9:15 a.m.; Arthritis Class – 10:15 a.m.; Creative Coloring – 1 p.m. 1st and 3rd Mondays; Senior Issues – 1 p.m. 1st and 3rd Mondays at the Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive. Call 688-1086.

Every Tuesday

Knitting – 9 a.m.; Computer class 9:30 a.m.; Bridge and Poker – 1 p.m. at the Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive. Call 688-1086.

Country 2 Step Dance Lessons – 6:30 p.m. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez. Visit www.mavericksaloon.com.

Every Wednesday

Yoga – 9:15 a.m.; Bingo – 1 p.m., Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive. Call 688-1086.

Knit and Crochet – 1 p.m. at the Buellton Senior Center, West Hwy. 246, Buellton. Call 688-4571.

Creation Station Fabric and Quilt Shop After School Wednesdays – 2-5 p.m. 252 E. Hwy-246, Unit A, Buellton. Pre-registration and fee required. Call 693-0714.

Solvang Farmers Market – 2:30-6:30 p.m. Between Mission Dr. and Copenhagen Dr., Solvang.

Trivia Night – 7-9 p.m. Naughty Oak Tap Room, 3569 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. Visit www.naughtyoak.com.

Every Thursday

Chair Exercises – 10 a.m. at the Buellton Senior Center, West Hwy. 246, Buellton. Call 688-4571.

Arthritis Class – 10:15 a.m.; Poker – 1 p.m. at the Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive. Call 688-1086.

Brain Injury Survivors of Santa Ynez Valley – 12-2 p.m. Bethania Lutheran Church, 603 Atterdag Rd., Solvang. Jodi House Brain Injury Support Center is offering a support group for care givers and brain injury survivors. Visit www.jodihouse.org.

Line Dance Lessons – 6:30 p.m. Maverick Saloon, 3687 Sagunto St, Santa Ynez. Visit www.mavericksaloon.org.

Every Friday

Pilates – 10:00 a.m. at the Solvang Senior Center, 1745 Mission Drive. Call 688-1086.

Bingo – 1 p.m. at the Buellton Senior Center, West Hwy. 246, Buellton. Call 688-4571.

Live music – 5 to 7 p.m. at Carr Vineyards and Winery, 3563 Numancia St., Santa Ynez. Ages 21 and up. For more information visit www.carrwinery.com.

Firkin Friday at Figueroa Mountain Brew – 5-10 p.m. Every other Friday at the Buellton and Los Olivos Figueroa Mountain Brewery locations. For more information visit www.figmtnbrew.com.

Every Saturday

Guided Nature Walk – 10-11:30 a.m.; Junior Rangers – 12:30-1:30 p.m. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Highway 154, Santa Barbara. All Ages. Free. For more information visit www.sbparks.org.

Cachuma Lake Nature Walk – 10-11:30 a.m. Call 688-4515 or visit www.sbparks.org.

Coming Up – log onto www.cityofsolvang.com or www.buelltonrec.com to see the full schedule of programs and events from adult sports, youth sports, teen dances, field trips and excursions and more!

The post October 3 – 16 Events Calendar appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Gallery Los Olivos is looking toward the past with gratitude and the future with excitement as it celebrates its 25^th anniversary in October.

Sheryl Knight, “Silver Moon Rising”

GLO’s month-long juried exhibit will have the theme of “Silver,” evoking the traditional 25^th anniversary designation, which GLO artists will interpret through their art for the special show. Visitors are encouraged to vote on their favorite piece for a “People’s Choice” award.

GLO member artists work in a variety of genres and mediums, from canvas to paper, fabric, wood, stone and metal. Photography and jewelry artists are also vital members of the group.

Since GLO’s opening, the gallery has grown from a dozen artists to 46, all of whom play a part in running the gallery and maintaining its unique community of artists.

Martha Inman Lorch, a former GLO president and current Director of Jurying said that the gallery’s rigorous jurying process for new members and its strategic business approach have allowed GLO to maintain its culture of community for the artists throughout its 25-year existence.

“We have a strong identity of who we are and how we want to improve,” she said.

As much as GLO artists enjoy the cooperative nature within the gallery, they also strongly believe in being a part of the larger Valley community. The gallery participates in town events and rents affordable space to the Santa Ynez Valley Arts Association in the Guild Room at GLO.

Though the gallery has seen its share of changes over the years, such as the expansion of tourism in the area and the struggles brought forth by the most recent recession, GLO has always benefited from and enjoyed the visitors coming through its doors year after year.

“We provide a different kind of experience to visitors of the town … We want people to enjoy being in the gallery, looking at art,” Inman Lorch said.

With their commitment to the gallery, each other and the community, GLO artists have and will continue to bring unique beauty to the area: “We want art to have a place in the Valley,” she added.

Charlotte Valestra, “Silver Trees”

At the GLO 25th anniversary reception from 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 8, light refreshments will be served and local wines featured. Visitors can meet, mix and mingle with the artists who can answer questions about their work and reminisce about the humble beginnings of GLO above an old hardware store.

GLO will also participate in Los Olivos Day in the Country, a town-wide celebration now in its 38th year, on Saturday, Oct. 21, with artist demonstrations from 1 to 4 p.m.

Gallery Los Olivos is at 2920 Grand Avenue in Los Olivos. For more information, visit www.gallerylosolivos.com.

The post Gallery Los Olivos celebrating 25 years with special show appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Staff Report

Photographic artist and innovator Paul Roark will be the featured artist of the month with an exhibit of his stunning black-and-white images in the SYV Arts Guild Room at Gallery Los Olivos from Sept. 6 to Oct. 5.

Roark is an internationally collected artist, recognized for his contributions to advancing black and white printing technology via carbon pigments that result in the most archival photographic images.

The special exhibit in the Guild Room is coordinated with a second collection of the artist’s work, as he will also be the featured artist in the Gallery Los Olivos front room.  The displays will both showcase non-traditional black and white photography print media.

“The GLO front room will be called ‘Carbon on Canvas,’ which is my description of my process that uses inkjet printers to put my custom carbon inksets onto canvas substrates for large displays.  The Guild Room display will be called ‘Carbon on Cotton,’ which is how I describe my process of printing carbon pigments onto Arches watercolor paper,” Roark said

“While the canvas is appropriate for very large prints, the ‘Carbon on Arches’ is, in my view, simply the most archival photographic medium possible.  The carbon-carbon bond is the strongest in nature, and, as a result, the carbon pigments are the most lightfast and stable pigments we have.  Arches watercolor paper, particularly because it is uncoated, is also expected to have a far longer life than any coated or laminated photographic paper,” he added.

A reception for the artist will be held on Thursday, Sept. 10, from 2-4 p.m. at the gallery.

The Guild Room at Gallery Los Olivos is a space made available to member artists of the Santa Ynez Valley Art Association (formerly the Artists Guild SYV), a nonprofit arts organization with more than 30 years of history in the area.

The Guild Room at Gallery Los Olivos is at 2920 Grand Ave. For more information, visit www.gallerylosolivos.com or www.paulroark.com.

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Six of the extensive group of approved entries were chosen for awards by Juror Esther Jacobsen Bates,  Executive Director of the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art in Solvang. 

Following are the winning works and the comments of the Juror:

Juror’s Award: Michelle Ellis, Ocean Waves in Abstract, Acrylic/Mixed Media
Notes: As a viewer, I enjoy the challenge of abstract art and how the take-away can be highly subjective. I was captivated by the physical movement of paint across the canvas and the artistic manipulation of the media. The glints of shiny gold caught my eye and carried my attention across the canvas with stops to note textural variations and application techniques. The overall feeling of the piece spoke to me of motion, of the artist at work and in the subject matter.

First place: Mary Taylor Jones, Remembered Rhythms, Watercolor

First place: Mary Taylor Jones, Remembered Rhythms, Watercolor
Notes: This beautifully executed watercolor visualized the theme of motion, both literally and figuratively. I responded emotionally to the dancing figures in their bright colored clothes … a bittersweet feeling enhanced by the dark background.

Second Place: Allen Koehn, Baja Waters, Photograph
Notes: The contrast of light and dark in this photograph immediately drew me in. A sense of mystery seems to permeate, and create tension. I’m intrigued by the seemingly contradictory water flows.

Third Place: Belinda Hart, Sunlight on Water, Textile / Mixed Media
Textile art is very appealing to me. The overlapping layers of color and texture in this work are strategically supplemented with intricately applied stitching, enhancing the feeling of motion. Despite that it portrays an underwater setting, the artwork made me feel sunny and happy.

Honorable Mention: Randee Ward, On the Rocks, Mixed Media with photo core
Notes: The contrasting textures of the layers of collage create a wonderful sense of motion, both individually and collectively. The mix of media brought me back in for a closer examination and appreciation.

Honorable Mention: Jean Quintana, Joyful Light, Mixed Media
Notes: The motion of the hummingbird is captured with an interesting mix of color and texture. The layers of paint convey a sense of motion. I like the way the orange fades in and wraps around the edges 

The Guild Room at Gallery Los Olivos is a space made available to member artists of the Santa Ynez Valley Art Association (formerly the Artists Guild SYV), a nonprofit arts organization with over thirty years of history in the area. Monthly group shows may feature an Artist of the Month along with a group show, juried award group shows, or group exhibits reflecting a special theme. This is an excellent venue space for visitors and art lovers to experience the work of local artists.

The post “Motion” Juried Art Exhibit on view in Los Olivos appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Irina Malkmus has been selected by the jury committee of the Santa Ynez Valley Arts Association as the Artist of the Month for October. A special exhibit of her work, “Soaring”, will be featured in the Guild Room at Gallery Los Olivos from October 5 through November 2. This intriguing series of artworks reflects the artist’s rich imagination, eclectic style approach, and broad set of skills.

Malkmus was born and raised in Ukraine and moved to America after graduation from her university studies, and now resides in Solvang with her husband and children. 

Malkmus has had a passionate interest in art since she was a child, and she continued expanding her knowledge and talents while also pursuing a professional career. Malkmus now concentrates on her art, and has showed and sold work in many venues. She looks forward to continuing to create thought-provoking art, and to find growing success in the field to which she is devoted. 

The Guild Room at Gallery Los Olivos is a space made available to member artists of the Santa Ynez Valley Art Association (formerly the Artists Guild SYV), a nonprofit arts organization with over thirty years of history in the area. Monthly group shows may feature an Artist of the Month along with a group show, juried award group shows, or group exhibits reflecting a special theme. This is an excellent venue space for visitors and art lovers to experience the work of local artists.

The Guild Room at Gallery Los Olivos is located at 2920 Grand Avenue.

The post “Soaring” Show by Artist of the Month Irina Malkmus appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

To start, participants should drop by Honey Paper, located at 2933 Grand Ave, Ste E, in Los Olivos to pick up the map. Those who would like to join the guided tour should plan on arriving between 5 – 5:15 p.m., before the group heads out to visit Gallery Los Olivos, Artiste Wine, Wendy Foster, Inez, the Los Olivos General Store, and Avec Moi Décor.

Each location will offer beautiful works of art or entertainment. At Honey Paper, guests will preview Ojai artist Nic George’s exhibit “Imagineer”, containing original artwork from the children’s book “The Power of Henry’s Imagination” while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and sparkling wine.

Gallery Los Olivos features the work of many talented artists and their featured show “Forever Wild” which includes oils by Claudia Chapman and pastels by Ivanie Finsvik.

Artiste Wine will be pouring tastes of wines paired with cheese and offering a tour around the studio showcasing their blind artist, John Bramblitt’s, work.

Wendy Foster will offer Lafond wine and cheese and have botanical watercolor prints by Michelle Castle on display. Michelle Castle’s botanical works combine her fascination and wonder of vintage etchings and stylized text with hand-crafted paper.

Visitors to Inez will be able to taste great wine from Dragonette Cellars while enjoying gorgeous works by three talented women, Karen Bezuidenhout, Jessika Cardinhal, and Kimerlee Curyl, all of whom work with animal representation.

The Los Olivos General Store and Larner Vineyard & Winery will have guitarist and singer/song writer Luke Sundquist performing outside on their patio during the event, and will be pouring wines by the glass with special pricing.

Local artist, Suzan Hamilton-Todd, will be demonstrating her painting techniques at Avec Moi Décor and chatting with visitors. She will also have some small, reasonably priced pieces of her work for sale.
The Santa Ynez Valley Arts Association (SYV Arts) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Santa Ynez Valley. SYV Arts sponsors arts programs, events, communications, and other efforts that mutually benefit artists, businesses, residents and visitors to our Valley. To learn more about the arts in the Valley, visit our website and sign up for the monthly SYV Arts eNewsletter.

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