GALLERY HAPPENINGS
February 2008
Original Art in Downtown
Moab
Cat’s
Lair Collection, located in McStiff’s Plaza, is a new
art gallery in Moab, Utah. This is a fine art gallery and
unique gift shop featuring local, regional, and international
artists. You will find here beautiful and unique works of
original art: jewelry, pottery, wood and metal work, paintings,
drawings, photographs, sculptures, fused & blown glass,
azurite crystal roses, hand-spun wool & silk, light & color.
We are starting our second season with the newest work of
Goedele Vanhille, interesting new jewelry by Olga Martinova
and a beautiful pottery by Sharon Brown Mikkelson.
Goedele Vanhille
Goedele
Vanhille’s mother tongue is Flemish, and her work
is born of schooling in Belgium followed by association
with the likes of Dennis Parks and Paul Soldner in the
United States.
Goedele always works a lot of high-fire “Crackled” glaze,
old chinese type of glazes, called “Oilspot,” “Teadust” and “Shino” -
a Japanese type of glaze. She has also worked with a very
unique type of glaze called “ Crystalline”. Which
at certain temperatures crystals start to form in the glaze
and produce some of the most spectacular and unique designs
on every piece.
While producing functional ceramics as a staple, she has
pursued an ongoing interest in the concept of the “Pitcher
(called “Jug” in Britain) and has exhibited in
shows as far away as New Zealand and Italy.
“My pieces are inspired by a fascination for the natural
world. I am intrigued by the ideas of containing but being
willing to give, of winking at functionality, of hovering
between pot and sculpture. Thrown pieces ‘grow’ into
a fusion of form, texture and essence, evoking ponderment,
wonderment and smiles.”
In a last few years forms of her pottery are constantly changing,
reflecting transformation in her and her life. Every time
we visit her studio and see her new work, we always think
- this is the best, but the next visit she will amaze us
with something even more unique. We are glad to have her
newest work now for every one to enjoy.
Olga Martinova
Olga
Martinova is a canyon country artist who designs and
creates fine art jewelry using many of the metals, semi-precious
stones, and minerals found in the desert, including the
rare and wonderful Azurite crystals that come from a
mine in Lisbon Valley south of the La Sal mountains.
A native of Leningrad, USSR. (now St. Petersburg, Russia
once more), a vibrant city with a rich artistic tradition,
Olga grew up surrounded by art and artists. For the past
three years,she sold her jewelry from Accent Creations, her
gallery and studio that was located on the mezzanine above
the old Slickrock Cafe.
Olga’s jewelry expresses many dazzling and powerful
designs, which are inspired by the light and colors of the
spectacular, red-rock desert of southeastern Utah. Her beaded
chokers and pendants and bracelets are delicate yet substantial;
there is a tactile pleasure in the heavy coolness of the
stones and beads against ones skin. Olga fashions the materialsthat
have been used by humanity for adornment for thousands of
years, into beautiful, wearable art with a 21st century edge.
Her strong designs are naturalistic, resembling leaves and
vines and desert thunderstorms, but her materials and techniques
result inpieces that are sleek and modern. Her new designs
are incorporation of fiber techniques into a metal.
She also spins wool and silk. Often you can see her spinning
when you walk into the gallery. She give demonstrations to
customers who never seen this ancient art practiced in real
life.
Sharon Brown Mikkelson
Sharon,a
Utah native, completed her MFA degree in Ceramics and
Textiles from Utah State University. Sharon works with
high fired porcelain. Porcelain is a hard durable ware
designed to be used and last a lifetime, yet refined
and beautiful. Sharon’s work is designed to be
used as well as being aesthetically pleasing. She feels
the function of the work enhances its value. She enjoys
the connection and intimacy of knowing her work is being
used daily and appreciated by others.
“The potter as an artist faces the unique challenge
of drawing or painting on a three dimensional surface. As
images of horses encircle the surface of my pots, I see them
in continual motion. I am interested in creating movement,
rhythms, and textures on my pottery that reflect my natural
surroundings. This fascination with natural images and movements
compels me to keep exploring the possibilities,” Sharon
said about her work.
Of course we have something special for people who love to
play and create with fibers - hand-spun wool and silk!
We also have a nice selection of stone and glass beads for
all the people who like to express their creativity in jewelry
making.
If you’re passing through Moab, we’d like to
invite you to take a few minutes to
stop in and enjoy the refreshing experience of original art!
In Eddie McStiff’s Plaza, when you see the big yellow
cat above its rocky lair, you know you’re in the right
place! Cat’s Lair Collection, 59 South Main St.,Moab,
UT 84532,(435) 259-2458 www.catslaircollection.com
Cat’s Lair Collection
59 South Main St.
Moab, UT 84532
(435) 259-2458
www.catslaircollection.com |