Moab Happenings Archive
Return to home

GALLERY HAPPENINGS November 2008

Cat's Lair Collection - Contemporary Art Gallery

Cat’s Lair Collection is a Contemporary Art Gallery in Moab, Utah.

We feature local, regional, and international artists. Here, you will find sculptures, beautiful pottery, glass, wood and metal works, most unique photographs and thought- provoking paintings, azurite crystal roses, hand spun wool & silk, light & color.

Moab is a small town located in the red rock desert of Southeastern 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 three artists. Our newest additions - paintings by Gordon Talley, jewelry by Ester Ghillany and for one more month we will display sculptures by Andrea Metz.

Gordon Talley
Gordon Talley received his art education in Ventura College, California and U.C. Santa Barbara. Through that time he produced series of large paintings and also worked as a commercial illustrator for newspapers, magazines and other companies. His main emphasis at that time was on studying print making techniques, especially etching, intaglio prints, lino-cut and wood-cut printings. After moving around and have a printmaking studio in Idaho and teaching art in California and Washington, he once again came back to Idaho where he continue to enjoy his lifelong passion. “My passion is still with art and I try to create every day. At the moment I am working mainly with latex, acrylic and oil pastels as well as various print making techniques, with an emphasis on monotypes (one of the kind prints)”.

In 2007 Gordon become a resident artist for Arches National Park and was invited to create a Christmas ornament for the White House for the Blue Room tree for year 2007. That tree had the National Parks as a theme. He choose Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock to paint onto a six inch in diameter gold glass ornament that was provided by The White House.

Ester Ghillany
Ester Ghillany first came to Moab a few years ago and instantly fell in love with it. Now she makes Moab a permanent part of her life. Having been raised in close proximity to Manhattan, a deep love of arts was fostered in her. Frequent trips to Broadway and to the Metropolitan Museum of Arts with her parents and school planted the seeds that would drive her to seek expression in various media over the years. They come to fruition in the Utah desert. “You wake with the Sun and there’s this incredible play of lights on the rocks that makes your heart to sing. The only thing you’ll hear some days, aside from the wind is the song of canyon wren... how can you not be compelled to write a poem or pull out sketchpad?”
Her jewelry has become an outlet to explore the synthesis of universal archetypes as related in western mysticism, in the form of wearable art. She is using intricate stitching techniques to create her pieces and very successfully exploring different techniques in silver."

Andrea Metz
Andrea Metz comes from three generations of artists. Raised in Colorado, she studied with Daniel Rhodes, Pete Voulkos, (California) and Don Bendel (Arizona) in college. She spent a year working in NYC and two years in Europe and Greece, studying both the history and art of the region. The Greek culture became a major influence, rich in ancient mythology and classic archetypes. When she moved to Seattle in 1989 she found similar information embedded in the tribal cultures of the west coast, with animal and nature spirits assigned the god-like qualities in their myths. She spent time in Alaska and now has settled in Grand Junction to focus on her next phase of work.

The Journey Within: This mystical journey to the unconscious mind awakens the viewer to the fact that things exist of which we have little knowledge or understanding. It is the realm of archetypes. By turning portraits of the old masters into 3-D busts, Andrea refers the viewer to the heroic and to history. Within these forms is captured the struggle and grace that make a ‘heroic’ life. The viewer is compelled to ponder why these unique individuals have transcended their place.

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 appreciates 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.

She also spins wool and silk. Often you can see her spinning when you walk into the gallery. She will often give demonstrations to customers who has 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’d like to 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

Return to Archive Index
return to home
 
Return to home