Two riveting shows at SV Museum of Art
By Jackie Lee | Sonoma Valley Sun
Sonoma Valley Museum of Art continues its tour de force of impressive exhibitions with two important artists headlining the new year in a combined show: “Judy O’Shea: Permutations” and “Valentin Popov: Modern Mixmaster.”
The gallery shows run through April 5. There will be an opening reception on January 25.
Judy O’Shea’s exhibition is an invitation into a world of discovery. The process of creating the suspended paper art entailed more than three months of development and research, followed by hand-crafting the paper creations in long sections. 54 pieces overlaid upon each other resembling gowns or shawls appear ghost-like with back-lit reflections. O’Shea says, “I start with the concept of the whole space involved, then light becomes the most important factor.”
A multi-talented creative, O’Shea is also a writer. Her entertaining and humorous book “Water, Paper, Stone” journaling her experience in renovating a chateau in France and setting up an artist residency program there with her husband, will be available at the SVMA gift shop.
Valentin Popov’s most widely known artworks represent a retrospective of forty years in art making. Several in the “Waves” series are displayed, among others, along with the “Faces” series, shown at SVMA for the first time anywhere.
Popov’s virtuosity with disparate styles is clear in his large portraits and seascapes. He says he experimented with waves some time ago and decided he didn’t like that format and put them aside, but later went back to them with oil sticks which provided the right touch of impasto. He finds the wave series metaphorical and metaphysical and has created a series of eleven in that genre.
A book of his paintings will be released this October.
Where: Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, 551 Broadway, Sonoma
When: Saturday through April 5. Hours are 11 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Reception for both artists 6-8 p.m. Jan. 25.
Admission: $5-$10; free for children 12 and under
Information: 707-939-7862, svma.org
