Moab Happenings Archive
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GALLERY HAPPENINGS September 2008

Cat's Lair Collection - Contemporary Art Gallery

Cat’s Lair Collection is a Contemporary Art Gallery in Moab, Utah, featuring local, regional, and international artists. Sculptures, beautiful pottery, glass, wood and metal works, most unique photographs and thought- provoking paintings, azurite crystal roses, hand spun wool & silk, light & color will be found here.

Moab is a small town located in the red rock desert of southwestern Utah. It is world-famous for its spectacular natural beauty and is one of the greatest places for hiking, biking, river trips and jeeping adventures. Nevertheless, in this beautiful surrounding there are many talented and devoted artists who live and work here, quietly interpreting the natural beauty around them into stunning works of contemporary art.

So, we are searching for the hidden and known talents in our region and beyond, so you, our visitors, will enjoy the refreshing experience of original art.

This month we would like to talk about two artists which we have enjoyed representing in our gallery.

Sandi Snead
Sandi came to the Moab area from Florida, where she studied at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Her artistic style ranges from hauntingly surrealistic with complex emotional and spiritual feelings, to a graceful beauty that comes from her background of modern dance.

Sandi first came to the canyon country in 1987 and fell in love with the area. For a while, when Sandi was busy building her house and studio in La Sal, she did not paint much. Now a wave of creativity and inspiration drives Sandi to produce series after series of the most interesting pieces that will overwhelm you with an explosion of creative force.

“I’ve just completed a 6 piece series called “Faces...in Unusual Places” that conceptually began from an image in a dream. That image is the one you see here Titled “Scream”. Soon more and more ideas come and I have truly felt great joy painting them. The images are visually strong in color and facial expression - to excite your senses and maybe even make you smile! I enjoy the candor and surreal aspects of this work and I hope you will too!”

Marea Goodman
Marea was born in London. From an early age plein-air landscape painting has always been her passion. She studied arts in Goldsmiths’ College of Art, where she became interested in ceramics and stooped painting. Later she received a degree in ceramics from Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. For years she was a member of the Art Department at Westminster School. She exhibited her work at Anatole Orient and other London galleries.

Her passion for plein-air landscape painting was brought forward once again, while living in the magnificent surroundings of the Lake District, England. At this time she started to bring her painting equipment on hiking and climbing outings.

In 1998 Marea moved to Western Colorado in search of wilder and more open spaces to explore. Many of her paintings now are the result of contact with the rugged, ancient landscape and invite the viewer to consider the physical reality of canyon and cliff-face.

Marea says: “I almost always paint in plein-air or in front of my subject and I hope to convey the freshness and intensity of my response to the viewer”.

As long as you are here in the gallery, check out the new and unique jewelry by Olga Martinova. Olga works at her jeweler’s bench and greets her customers, who appreciate the opportunity to meet the artist and watch her work. She makes many custom beaded earrings and necklaces upon request; you can watch her make your piece while you wait.

Her strong designs are naturalistic, resembling leaves and vines and desert thunderstorms, but her materials and techniques result in pieces that are sleek and modern. Her new designs now incorporate fiber techniques into metal.

She also spins wool and silk. Often you can see her spinning when you walk into the gallery. She will give demonstrations to customers who have never seen this ancient art practiced in real life.

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 beads for all the people who like to express their creativity in jewelry making. If you’re passing through Moab, we invite you to take a few moments to stop in and enjoy the refreshing experience of original art!....

We are located in the 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

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