Shop local pop-ups for artful holiday
Shoppers looking for holiday gifts made by local artists will find a wide array of options at two upcoming pop-ups this season.
The third annual pop-up Holiday Art Gallery at San Marin Plaza in Novato, organized by Novato oil painter Marne Jaye, will run from Nov. 24 through Dec. 12.
She’s invited five of her talented artist friends to join her — ceramic dishware and fused glass artist Carrie Pebbles, of Novato; ceramicist Dorothy Lund, of Sonoma; ceramic sculptor Kurt McCraken, of Clayton; ceramic sculptor Chris Efstratis, of Sacramento, and recycled metal sculptor Phillip Glashoff, of Fairfield.
“I have an art relationship with each wonderful individual,” she says. “I met Kurt in the desert at the La Quinta Arts Festival over 20 years ago, and Chris and I show yearly at our friend Phillip Glashoff’s ranch art show. Glashoff and I have been friends doing art shows and galleries together over 20 years and Carrie and Dorothy are talented artists and friends. So, I am the common theme between artists, but we all share our profound love of the arts.”
Jaye says there will be a wide range of media from oil on canvas paintings, ceramics, fused glass and recycled metal to greeting cards, scarves and framed prints. Prices range from $20 to $5,000.
The gallery art, she adds, is fun, bright and contemporary, and is a great place to shop for unique pieces that are handmade by artists.
“We are only open for a short time, and definitely worth the time to come visit,” she says.
• The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 through Dec. 12 at 181 San Marin Drive, near Tuesday Morning, in the San Marin Plaza in Novato. Admission is free. For more information, call 415-250-7309 or go to marnejaye.com.
Fair fun
In Point Reyes Station, fine jeweler Shari Milner has gathered a group of artists and arti
sans for an Open Air Holiday Fair on Dec. 4 and 5 inside the barn at Toby’s Feed Barn. Items will range from $5 to $500.
“The event at Toby’s stems from the need to have a holiday show given that others are not being held (this year) due to COVID,” says participating artist Kathy Hunting, of Point Reyes, who creates polymer clay and beaded jewelry.
Point Reyes resident Loretta Farley is delighted that this holiday fair popup is happening, especially since the annual holiday craft fair at the Dance Palace is off the calendar this year.
Farley has been selling her social notecards ($5 for a pack of four with envelopes) in front of the Point Reyes post office recently instead of the Dance Palace fair, where there was always a good stream of customers.
Her notecards have been produced from the artwork of West Marin School students for the last 15 years, with the proceeds returned to the school to help buy art supplies.
“The students are in second through eighth grade and each year we produce new sets,” she says. “Many of the images are of butterflies, daffodils, but the most popular is one of a California quail drawn by fourth-grader Ryan Giammona, who I believe is now in college.”
Also from Point Reyes is Christine De Camp, an artist who makes whimsical paintings, cards and journals.
Bolinas makers include Eli Likover, who makes creative coloring books; Shari Milner, who handcrafts fine jewelry, and Katie Weber, who makes fine organic skin care products through her company, Sia Bella.
Liz Lauter, of Forest Knolls, will bring her Majolica ceramics to the fair, along with Shelley Rugg, of San Geronimo Valley, who will bring her portraiture of people and pets, and images of trees.
Berkeley’s Clive Brown will sell his organic designer chocolates, of Xocolate Bar.
• The Open Air Holiday Fair is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 at Toby’s Feed Barn at 11250 Highway 1 in Point Reyes Station. Admission is free.
Show off
If you have a beautiful or interesting Marin garden or a newly designed Marin home, I’d love to know about it.
Please send an email describing either one (or both), what you love most about it, and a photograph or two. I will post the very best ones in upcoming columns. Your name will be published and you must be over 18 years old and a Marin resident.
Don’t-miss event
• Discover the “20 Great Plants for Marin Gardens” when UC Marin Master Gardeners Arlene Banks and Geri Cooper discuss the shrubs and perennials that do exceptionally well in Marin. This free virtual talk will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 18. Email sleyland@ townofsananselmo.org for a link to the talk.