Reception during Trinidad Art Night​
Friday, October 7th
​6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Music by: Howdy Emerson and J.D. Jeffries

    Howdy Emerson wears two hats at the Trinidad Art Gallery, musician and painter. He creates landscape paintings in oil and fine-line brush paintings in ink, working on location or in his studio. He also plays a beautiful Celtic harp and has CD's available. He is a Certified Music Practitioner and has worked as a hospital staff therapeutic musician.
​     
​      Emerson calls the sea his inspiration, "Finding her mystical essence is my goal. I explore the sacred narrow line where the land and sea interact.  I wish to honor the subtle and nuanced – the misty grey day of muted colors. In our busy lives my endeavor is to create works that allow the viewer to stop a moment and find a breath of calm."  Emerson's person connection to the sea, his art and his music is clearly reflected in all his work. There is no doubt that he is "seeking and finding a sense of being stopped by the mystery and discovering in that stillness its underlying spiritual truth.
​

     Musician J.D. Jeffries has been heard in a wide variety of musical formats throughout Humboldt County for many years. His styles have included rock, folk, blues, country, bluegrass, Motown, and a program of John Denver’s hits. Some of the many well-known musicians he has played with include Boz Skaggs, Jerry Garcia, Elvin Bishop, bluesman Roy Rogers, Al Rossert of the Moody Blues, Youngbloods, Buddy Reed, Stoneground, and the legendary Rose Maddox.

Reception during Trinidad Art Night
​Friday, September 2nd
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Music by: Penny Gun and Son
​

​   At the Trinidad Art Gallery, Diane Sonderegger, ceramic sculptor, and Oceana Madrone, fabric and beadwork artist will have work on display. They are both founding members of the gallery. Both create works that can range from whimsy to elegance and their art will be highlighted throughout this month. ​

     Sonderegger’s art often takes the form of ceramic sculpture which is almost in the form of comic sketch. Her charming animals often satirize the human condition. Her bears are engaged in yoga, her wildly varied hens hatch ceramic eggs, her otters are thoroughly enjoying a gourmet lunch that is perched on their furry bellies, her fish and her dragons wear shiny red shoes. It is nearly impossible to keep from laughing aloud. Every piece strikes a note of recognition in the viewer, either of their own or an acquaintance’s foibles and delights.

     To see this artist create one of her figures is an amazing experience. She starts with a lump of clay that looks a lot like a small potato and begins to pull and push, and soon the unmistakable shape of a familiar animal is seen to emerge.  A seal is sunning itself on an ocean rock, a dog is on point, a skunk is lifting its dangerous tail, a fish is swimming.  Much of Diane’s work is raku fired, a process where the piece is lifted by tongs red hot from the kiln and placed in a bin of combustibles to soak in its smoke. “A surprise always occurs. Sometimes it’s not so good but sometimes it’s fabulous. Kind of like gambling and I love it,” says Sonderegger. Recently she has been using the more usual techniques of high fire as in the fish shown here. This results in a shinier, slightly more predictable finish.