January Show

Photo by rawpixel.com

January 2018
New Student Work
TOPS Program - Transitional Options

TOPS is a one-of-a-kind program for adults with Asperger Syndrome, high-functioning autism and other related conditions. Students receive education and support for navigating many of life’s transitions such as higher education, independent living, employment and social relationships.

Join us for the Closing Reception
Saturday, January 27, 2018
2-4pm

December Holiday Boutique

art cottage concord holiday boutique

Sixth Annual Holiday Boutique
December 1-22, 2017

Artist Reception - Saturday, December 2    2-5pm

Join us for refreshments and holiday merriment - plus great shopping
for original art and handmade gifts from local artists!

art cottage holiday boutique
Photo by Jill Heyer

aRt Cottage will be closed from December 24 through January 2, 2018.

November Show


REMEMBERING VIETNAM

Honoring our veterans through art
November 1-25, 2017

Featuring work by Tim Dallas, Jim Hardy and Steve Burchik

Artist Reception
Friday, November 10    6-8 pm




October Show


October 3 - 27, 2017
Joy Broom and Jerry Leisure

Correspondence

ARTIST RECEPTION
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7th   2-5pm
Refreshments and ukulele music from Phoe 'a Va


Art fills their life, this husband and wife! 
Explore a mixed media wonderland of their individual works.
Sculpture, collage, encaustic, sketchbooks and more.


September Show

art cottage cc14 show september 2017

CC14 - Eclectic Exhibit

September 1-28, 2017

Artists' Reception
Saturday, September 9th 2-4pm
Live music and refreshments
Free and open to the public


CC14
 is a group of Contra Costa artists who curate gallery exhibits and support each other through critique, education and camaraderie.

This group's original 14 artists attended art classes together at Diablo Valley College. At an instructor's suggestion, they formed a group outside class to critique and curate each other's work for exhibition. CC14 has been meeting monthly since 2002. This exhibit promises to be a true representation of professional work by dedicated artists.

Read more about it in this month's Diablo Gazette on page 10.

Featuring:

- Jim Jordan
- Florie Baumann
- Mike Yashar
- Randy Stansberry
- Terry With
- Walter Crew
- Kath Balamuth
- Joan McCarthy
- Judith Rohrer
- FROgard

August Show

quinlavin art cottage concord
quinlavin.com

QUINLAVIN
Large Paintings
August 1-28, 2017

Artist Reception 
Saturday, August 5th  2-4pm
Wine and Refreshments

This one-man show is a must-see with twelve larger-than-life paintings. 
 Each and every piece is bold and striking, full of deep colors and rich textures.  

July Show

concord art association art show
CLICK HERE to download a flyer

This month, we are partnering with the Concord Art Association to feature new works from their members. Watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, photography, jewelry, prints, greeting cards and more - come find that perfect gift or treat yourself to something new.

Please join us for the Artist Reception 
Saturday, July 15  •  1-4pm
Enjoy live music, wine and cheese, plus creative conversation!

Participating artists include Amy Eikner, Anamilena Ayala, Cathy McNutt, Catherine Hensiek, Julie Limberg, Kathy Robinson, Laurie Mansur, Lisa Fulmer, Michelle Mattea, Monica Meza, Pat Calabro, Pat Viera, Phyllis Brady, Renaye Johnson, Sandi Sherwood, Sandy Leonard, Sharon Petersen, Stella Advani and Yumiko Nishizawa.

This show runs July 5-28, 2017.

June Show

Viridescence by Sarah Morrison
Viridescence by Sarah Morrison

The nudes are back! This month's exhibit, The Body Revealed, runs June 6-30, 2017.

Open House and Artist Reception 
Saturday, June 17th from 2 - 4pm 
Refreshments and live music - don't be shy, join us!

The artists featured in this show have painted together for more than 15 years, meeting weekly with professional models, some from the Bay Area Models' Guild.

You'll be amazed at the different techniques these talented artists use to express themselves and create their masterpieces. You'll see uncensored, professional work from Jackie Carroll, Pam McCauley, Sarah Morrison, Lynn Glenn, Beryl Glen-Reiland and many others.

Torn by Pam McCauley
Torn by Pam McCauley

As owner of aRt Cottage, I often ask myself - why are other galleries so afraid of revealing the beauty of the human form? What is it about our society that causes some galleries to exclude nudes from their shows? Is it because we're afraid that it might damage the minds of our children? Just walk around on a summer's day and see how much skin is really revealed here in California! There are many TV shows and video games that are worse for our society than looking at beautiful art as "landscapes of the body."

We hope you'll come and see how beautiful the human form is and how well these artists have executed the subject - whether it be with oils, acrylics, watercolor, collage, or graphite and charcoal. 
Fashionable Nude by Beryl Glenn-Reiland
Fashionable Nude by Beryl Glenn-Reiland

May Show

art cottage current show

This month, we're featuring art from the talented students of Leo Bersamina, art professor at Diablo Valley College. This will be a great exercise for Leo's class to learn all the ins and outs of presenting their work in a gallery.

Join us for the Artist Reception on Saturday, May 13th, 2-4pm - during Concord's 5th Annual Art, Wine & Beer Walk!

Fro (left) and DVC students delivering their work

April Show - John Nicolini Retrospective

john nicolini art show

Don't miss this posthumous retrospective of John Nicolini's watercolors and oil paintings, on display at the aRt Cottage for the month of April. Thanks to his wife and family, John's wonderful work is being kept alive to inspire future generations of artists.

Come to our opening reception on Saturday, April 8th (2-4pm) with live music, food & wonderful art - meet John's wife, Edy!

John Nicolini received his BFA degree in 1959 from the College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, where he studied with Richard Diebenkorn, George Post, Gordon-Onslow Ford and many others. John also had the opportunity to study illustration in New York with Bernie Fuchs, Bob Peak and Robert Heindel.

Following graduation, he worked for about ten years in advertising as a graphic designer and art director. Then in 1968, he transitioned to being a full-time artist, painting every day in his studio until his death in 2014. Throughout his art career, he exhibited in many invitational and juried shows locally, nationally and internationally.

His thoughts on working with watercolor...
"I strive for a spontaneous feeling, reflecting the character of the medium by allowing splashes of color washes to form their own shapes. The intent is to improvise on a given theme."
...and on painting with oils:
"I use the texture of brush strokes to form rhythmic patterns of color movement, continually improvising regardless of subject matter."

March Show - Mark Jezierny and Students

Sierra Nevadas by Mark Jezierny
East of the Sierra Nevadas by Mark Jezierny  (Oil)

Our March exhibit featured the work of Mark Jezierny and his art students.

February Show - Feel the Love

art cottage concord february show

Our group show for February will be all about our special Valentines, as well as the people, places and things that our artists love.

Join us for the Artist Reception on Saturday, Feb 4, 2017 from 2-4 pm, with live music and refreshments!

New Workshop - Puffy Hearts

art cottage puffy heart valentine

Come to the aRt Cottage to make puffy hearts for Valentine's Day!

Saturday, February 11, 2017
1:00 - 4:00pm
 $ 45.00 (supplies included)
Instructors:  MJ Coleman and Fro
Call 925-956-3342 to register

We have lots of craft supplies so you can make as many artful hearts as you want - such a wonderful way to create a handmade Valentine. This class is for adults only and space is limited, so reserve your spot today!

art cottage puffy heart valentine

We'll start with upcycled plastic bottles for the foundation, then you can form your dimensional heart with tissue paper, ribbons, mesh, yarns and fibers, paints, markers, stamps and stencils!

Come make Valentines with Fro!

ANYTHING GOES by Local Artists


aRt Cottage is at a new beginning point.  2017 will be the 6th year of this funky little gallery in beautiful downtown Concord.  Many Concord residents do not even know we are here - just 2 blocks from the Todos Santos Square.  And, when these newbies find us they are delightfully surprised. There are nine new artists to aRt Cottage this month, showing some very interesting work.

We hope you will come and enjoy the reception on Saturday, January 7th (2-4pm) and continue to frequent us throughout the month. The receptions are always fun and lively with a musical performance, food, and beverage.
 
ANYTHING GOES exhibit is up and running and open until January 28th.   This is a free event.

image by Judi Carroll