Summer/Fall/Winter 2020 Newsletter
Hello Art Patrons,
Happy and Healthy Holidays to you. This year instead of asking family around the holiday table what we’re thankful for, we might also ask what we’ll miss this year. It turns out they are often one and the same.
But I feel the beginning of Pandemic optimism. We know more about how to stay safe and the creative community output is growing beyond belief. Who knew our local business entrepreneurs had so many great ideas? And many others are trying to help those who cannot.
Last June, twenty-one Piedmont artists created The Piedmont Art Walk supporting art in local schools. City approved, spaced and masked, I had 5 people on my porch at all times from noon until 7 pm—several hundred not counting dogs and babies. Whew. Citywide posters with QR Codes, footprints on our front sidewalks and signs up my steps led people along flat box hedges covered with small framed prints and Bug Hotels; then to the upper porch with easels of larger art. Five more steps up, I sat behind a table in the doorway like the great masked OZ. No barking, no crying, no contact, no candy dish, only dog biscuits. Nevertheless, everyone loved it so we’re planning another Art Walk next May. It was good to safely share my new work with people walking, exercising and desperate to do anything at that point. Me too.
Postponed, were my exhibits for The Garden Club of America, Piedmont House Tour, Harvest Festival, and the 150th Anniversary Celebration of Golden Gate Park, ‘From Sand Dunes To Forest’. My Redwood painting was juried into that exhibition but the Celebration itself was juried out by a greater force! The committee has graciously posted the exhibit online along with historical information and photos about planting the Park’s eroding sand dunes with canopy trees all those years ago. They hope to reschedule the Park-wide celebration next Fall.
Here’s the link: www.sfbg.org/ggp150artexhibit
Click on the redwood (slice) thumbnail to bring up my page.
This summer I painted a triptych based on the fruit grown by Limoneira, a company my son works for. It was a special challenge because I painted on calf skin vellum (slippery to paint but luminous) and since we’re not holding art classes my teacher advised me online. I’m happy to finish a successful painting from home but miss my classmates and teacher. The UC Berkeley Botanical Garden will be displaying this piece all of February—no longer in the beautiful Julia Morgan building but in the comfort of your slippers. The virtual exhibit is called 12th Annual Plants Illustrated Exhibition and they remind us, no framing necessary. Too late. There will be a live Zoom opening reception, date yet TBD. www.botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu
Finally, as expected our Botanical Art class will not be holding our year end art exhibit/holiday party, but several of us contributed to a booklet called, A Cabinet of Curiosities. It’s an age-old concept for artists to create a composition painting notable objects, bits and pieces of favorite things. Our book emphasizes natural things. We are having a live Zoom reception December 13 at 4 pm where each artist will exhibit and describe their work in the booklet. I will forward the information when I receive it Dec 12, if you email me before to let me know you’re interested in attending.
Otherwise I have the booklets if you want a small gift for an art lover. My porch is open in December for anyone who wants to pick up holiday gifts. Besides framed and unframed numbered prints and Bug Hotels (see my website), there are: botanical art notecards, aprons, framed mini prints, wrapping paper, playing cards, Gardens of Alcatraz books and more. Let me know if you want to stop by—bring your masked bubble people. Or come by Rocky’s Market in the Leimert district of Oakland to see my paintings on their wall plus a selection of signed art cards. I’m sending those profits to the Alameda County Food Bank. Keep up the good work everyone!
Yours,
Bonnie Bonner
a.k.a. Joanne Palamountain
www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com
BonnieBonner.blogspot.com