The blank canvas is a daunting challenge for most artists: where to begin, and what to paint? For Anna Sidana, whose work is currently on display at the Pamela Walsh Gallery, the answer came by looking back at her childhood. Memories of time spent at her family’s farm in Rajasthan, India, inspired her large-scale botanical oil paintings that are lush evocations of what she calls “an oasis in the desert.” The exhibition, titled “Tall Cotton,” is on view through July 8.

This is Sidana’s first solo exhibition and reflects her circuitous route to becoming a full-time artist. Born and raised in New Delhi, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the British Computer Society and embarked upon a career in technology that would take her to Europe and eventually to California. The next 30 years would find her working for some of the biggest names in the tech world (including Netscape and Paypal) before pausing to take a step back when her two children left for college.

“It was time to think about all that has happened and what I was doing,” Sidana said. After taking a painting class in San Francisco, and then another, she found herself asking, “What if this could be my next chapter?”

It would be a huge pivot for Sidana, as she moved from Palo Alto to San Francisco and enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute. Although she loved her studies, she realized that, after years in marketing, “I didn’t even speak the same language — it was a huge learning curve.” She persevered because, “School was amazing; I just wanted to be the best artist I could be.”

She graduated with a master’s degree in Fine Arts in 2020, just in time for pandemic lockdowns. The bright side was that there was plenty of time to focus on her work. Realizing that she felt a sense of “disconnection” from her roots in India (most of her family lives here, and she has only returned to India for brief visits) she began to remember the happiest times of her childhood: playing freely with cousins among the mango and pomegranate trees and cotton plants on the family farm.

Sidana has depicted this tropical flora with bold, bright colors and sinewy lines that conjure energy and movement. They are not landscapes; Sidana said that she avoids a horizon line, but the works are too big and powerful to be considered still life. Lush, ripe pomegranates appear ready to burst open while fluffy, white cotton buds portend their future bounty. Standing before the canvases it is impossible not to feel a sense of immersion into this abundant environment. Everything is growing, heavily laden with fruit and deliciously fertile. But there is a backstory to all this beauty that Sidana also wants the viewer to know and understand.

Cotton has a checkered history here in the United States as the crop most closely associated with slavery and as one of the underlying economic factors of the Civil War. As the gallery press release notes, “Anna’s paintings depict cotton not only as a beautiful flower, but also as a crop with a deep history tainted by colonialism and human oppression.” The title of the show, “Tall Cotton,” refers to a phrase from the antebellum South that describes “bountiful crops, soaring prices and thriving prosperity,” according to the press release.

Sidana also was aware that in India, the cash crop had its own problematic history as a resource that was exploited by British colonialism over several centuries. So how does she bridge the dichotomy between the bleak history and the beauty she remembers from her childhood?

“I think that it is messy,” she stated, adding, “I want to create an enchanting world, a fantastical place. I want to draw people into the storyline and to be aware of the underbelly, the role cotton has played in the persecution of humanity.”

How important is it to her that people are aware of the underlying message? “It is quite important,” she stressed, “Art is one of the few bastions where you can speak the truth. I want them to understand the story — they don’t have to like it.”

“Great paintings reveal their secrets slowly. They do not need to hit you over the head with bold statements. They pull you in with sensual brushstrokes and sophisticated, jewel-toned palettes,” said Pamela Walsh. “It is so satisfying when an artist has depth to their work that goes beyond making a nice painting. These pictures are her heart songs and I am proud to share art in my gallery that has gravitas.”

Sidana’s oil-on-canvas paintings transport the viewer through the seasons and life cycles of the plants as though you are in their midst. Branches, leaves and blossoms create a dense jungle of forms that seem impassable and yet the valuable fruit is there for the taking. Some of the plants are rendered with great precision and accuracy, as in “Cotton for the Gods” but there is also a choice to allow free-flowing drips to remain on the canvas. In “Falling Apart, Silently,” for example, the blood-red tendrils of paint add to the feeling of the slow decline of the fully open flower and allude, perhaps, to the temporal nature of all living things. Sidana explained, “The drips are a final step; they are not mistakes, they are just part of the flow.”

After a career in technology where, as she said, “You are in your own lane running as fast as you can, all the time,” Sidana seems happy and energized about her new direction. She has had several pieces of her work accepted in prestigious competitions like the De Young Open and the London Art Biennale. In addition, she has been selected to attend numerous artist residency programs where, she said with a smile, “You don’t have to worry about a thing, all you have to do is your work.”

How would she like visitors to regard the paintings in this show? “I would like people to enjoy and engage with the art and ask, a step deeper, ‘Why would someone paint like this?’ Perhaps they might walk away with an ‘aha’ moment,” Sidana said.

“Tall Cotton” is on view through July 8 at Pamela Walsh Gallery, located at 540 Ramona St., Palo Alto. /pamelawalshgallery.com.

A new book digs into the histories of some of the world’s most iconic fare.

Earth’s Bounty and the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Center are not letting it rain on their parade with tonight’s Night Market still going on as planned.

Meanwhile Third Thursday, which was also set to take place tonight at Dumont Plaza in downtown Meridian, has been canceled.

Organizers are keeping a watch on the weather, but it currently looks like skies may clear later this afternoon so Night Market will go on as originally planned, said Craig Wilkes, administrative assistant for the City of Meridian’s community development department and coordinator of Earth’s Bounty farmer’s market.

Night Market will be held from 5-8 p.m. in the courtyard of the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Center, also known as The MAX, which is located on Front Street. If the rain continues, the market will be moved inside The MAX, said marketing coordinator Gabby Ortiz.

Admission to the event is free.

Night Market will feature many of Earth’s Bounty regular vendors who will offer an assortment of goods, including fresh produce, quail eggs, baked goods, canned goods, sweet desserts and treats. Joining them will be several local art vendors who will offer pottery, bath soaps and lotions and hand-crafted jewelry.

Mayberry Eatery, a popular dining vendor from Shuqualak, will be on site with a menu of rib tips, burgers, potato salad, fries and baked beans.

Providing entertainment for the event will be local favorite Daniel Houze, who will bring his blend of country and gospel music to the courtyard.

Sharon Pratt, past president of the Meridian Council for the Arts which sponsors Third Thursday, said the overnight storms and flash floods, along with continued rain today, has made it too difficult to carry out Third Thursday since it is held completely outdoors.

Third Thursday was set to feature entertainment from Nathan and Chesni Arnett, a Kentucky couple who competed on Season 16 of the reality TV show, “The Voice.”

With Juneteenth festivities set to kick off on Friday, it would not be possible to delay the event one night, so organizes are looking to reschedule the Arnetts for later in the year, Pratt said.

Flowers in gold luster and cobalt, small portraits of mythical creatures with feathers and polka dots, and various geometric motifs embellish Vipoo Srivilasa’s porcelain figures, which celebrate abundance and joy through opulent details. On view now at Edwina Corlette in the artist’s solo show Solitude and Connection, the sculptures are otherworldly in form as they meld human anatomy with flora and fauna, exploring “the diverse ways in which love takes shape.”

Born and raised in Thailand and now based in Melbourne, Srivilasa often explores how these two cultures overlap and diverge and what it means to occupy the space in between. Most figures in this recent menagerie hold two fingers in the air, a hand gesture with widely varied meanings depending on the location and context.

Evoking the divine and interconnected forces, the collection also references the unearthly features of deities, profuse growth, and the pleasure derived through simplicity. “Like a diverse array of flowers, love permeates various relationships, encompassing friendships, familial bonds, and the profound connection with nature,” the artist shares. “These relationships, like vibrant petals in a vast garden, remind us that love knows no boundaries or limitations.”

Solitude and Connection is on view through July 4. Find more of Srivilasa’s works and glimpses into his studio and process on his site and Instagram.

“Enduring Unity” (2023), glazed porcelain and gold luster

Back of “You Make Me Happy” (2023), porcelain with cobalt pigment and gold luster, 38 x 20 x 10 centimeters

“I Dream of Three Snakes and None of Them Are My History” (2023), porcelain with cobalt pigment and gold luster, 48 x 23 x 11 centimeters

“Harmonising Souls in Sweet Symphony” (2023), porcelain with cobalt pigment and gold luster, 37 x 22 x 12 centimeters

Back of “Enduring Unity 2/3” (2023), glazed porcelain and gold luster, 26 x 21 x 12 centimeters

“Self-partnered” (2023), porcelain with cobalt pigment and gold luster, 38 x 22 x 12 centimeters

Back of “Free As An Independence Bird” (2023), porcelain with cobalt pigment and gold luster, 38 x 23 x 12 centimeters

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Exquisite Porcelain Figures by Vipoo Srivilasa Express the Ineffable Nature of Beauty and Connection appeared first on Colossal.

There’s quite a bit more to ochre than the deep, golden hue squeezed out of a tube of paint. “Color is tied to matter, as much as light,” Heidi Gustafson told Colossal in a recent interview. “In fact, in the ochres and Earth pigments, it tends to be the metal elements (iron, copper, lead, etc.) that are responsible for our color experience.”

The Washington-based artist and founder of the Early Futures Ochre Archive (previously) marvels at the diverse hues of naturally-occurring minerals beneath our feet. In her new Book of Earth, published by Abrams, she takes us on a journey through rare pigments and their landscapes in a celebration of the what she describes as the “behavior, capacities, being-ness, language, needs, and concerns” of the material.

Each chapter of Book of Earth is dedicated to an aspect of the Gustafson’s archive, which contains more than 600 samples. The volume elucidates the world of natural color, challenging our perceptions of terrain and the inanimate world, and includes practical advice and techniques for creating your own pigments. Find your copy on Bookshop.

Photo by Chiara Zonca

Photo by Sheena Callage

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Heidi Gustafson’s ‘Book of Earth’ Embarks on a Visual Voyage Through the World of Natural Pigments appeared first on Colossal.

Sierra Marling

Throughout the summer, a partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association, Berea Kids Eat, and the Berea Farmer’s Market will be giving the community’s youngest entrepreneurs a chance to sell their wares at a unique market.

The Sprouts Youth Market is a chance for children aged eight to 18-years-old to sell their handmade or homegrown products. The program aims to promote youth leadership.

According to their call for applications on Feb. 3, Berea Kids Eat chose 10 families to participate. Those chosen were given the opportunity to attend workshops and receive supplies related to the development of their product.

“Through a grant through the Cigna Foundation, we’ve been able to use that for 10 families that we are supporting through the Sprouts Youth Market. We’ve been able to do some classes on growing and marketing, things like that, to help these young entrepreneurs,” said Taye Olwen, who serves as the nutrition education coordinator for Berea Kids Eat.

On Tuesday, June 13, five young entrepreneurs were lined up in the Chestnut Street Pavilion parking lot.

Some local artists, like Maximus Kingery and Samuel Dent, had tables full of artistic displays. Kingery, who sold spray paint art, and Dent, who sold homemade game packs, were both familiar with selling their wares.

Dent has recently appeared at the local Awesome Possum Festival and has been selling his Appalachian Pokémon cards online.

The popular franchise regularly releases new Pokémon maps and monster designs based on “regions” where they are from. Dent, an avid Pokémon fan, said he was inspired by others who have made their own creative regions and Pokémon monsters.

“I thought since I live in Appalachia, I should make an Appalachian region,” he said.

Dent spent time making sketches of his ideas, then he decided that he was going to move his process online and launched a YouTube channel. He said his sketches evolved into using more advanced tools, like Photoshop, to make card packs that he could sell.

Dent said he plans to expand on his collection, which will be available at his booth at the Sprout Youth Market.

Kingery’s YouTube channel featured homemade sounds. However, the focus of his Twitter, and his Sprouts Youth Market Booth, is his space-themed spray paint art. His table had various planetary designs in a range of colors.

He said he began practicing spray paint art and monetizing it after he saw the process on YouTube.

“A lot of the YouTube videos that were popping up in my recommended was all about this [spray paint art] and I thought that’d be fun, so I started out and just did a couple; it was fun. I kept doing it,” he recalled.

Kingery said he has been to a few markets himself and has sold “quite a bit” since he began selling his work late last year.

Also in the homemade category was Eleanor Solon, who sat with her parents’ Wildwood Farm booth selling her homemade cat toys for $2. Solon said that, while pondering what she could sell, she was fidgeting with some chicken feathers on the ground. Then, inspiration struck.

“So I got some sticks, some twine, and put them together. The funny part is, when I was making them, our cat Olive wouldn’t leave them alone, so she got in trouble for that because I didn’t want her to tear them up,” she explained, giggling.

Alongside her at her family’s booth was her brother, August Solon, who sat with a tray of paints ready for eager faces.

“It’s my first time,” he said of providing face painting at the market. “I’m not the best, but I mean, I’ve done a little practice. It’s really fun when you start out doing it!”

The siblings have also created colorful prints and cards for sale.

At the end of the row was 12-year-old Eli Windland, whose tea and herbal salt blends were made from his personal garden.

Windland said he harvests, mixes, drys, and bakes the items for his blends before selling them at the market.

He said he enjoyed gardening, and in true entrepreneurial spirit, decided to sell the fruits of his labor for profit.

“I’ve always been a fan of teas and salt. Really, I just like like cooking. I was like, ‘Well, I know how to make both of these and I have the stuff to do it. Why not try to make a profit off of it while also making people good products that taste good?’”

According to Olwen, the Sprouts Market will be at the Berea Farmer’s Market every other Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and on some Saturdays during the regular farmer’s market.

Father’s Day Happenings

Father’s Day Minturn Market

Even though the official Minturn Market doesn’t start for two weeks, the town of Minturn is kicking things off a little early with a special Father’s Day edition on Saturday. Bring Dad out to enjoy live music and try axe throwing with Wood and Steel Axe Company. If golf is more dad’s speed, the Vail Golf Club will be hosting a putting and chipping contest. Prizes from Yeti, the town of Minturn and Vail Golf Club will be handed out to the dads who bring their A-game. Toast dad with whiskey samples from Eagle River Whiskey, a new distillery in Minturn and try wine samples at Wild Mountain Cellars, also based in Minturn. The event runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Next week will be another themed event. The Makers Market will take place next Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and then the regular season will run every Saturday from July 1 through September 2. For more information, go to Minturn.org.  

Super Dad 2K Fun Run & Walk

Get outside and exercise this Father’s Day Weekend with the Super Dad 2K Fun Run & Walk at Nottingham Park in Avon from 9 to 10 a.m. Wear a costume and bring the whole family. The event starts at Metcalf Cabin neat Nottingham Lake. Crafts and refreshments will be provided. To find out more, go to DiscoverAvon.org.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

Spa Deals for Dad

Let Dad choose how he wants to be pampered at Spa Anjali at the Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa in Avon. Either book an appointment of buy a gift card at a discount for an upcoming treatment like the signature Gentleman’s Facial or the Mountain Man Pedicure. For more information go to SpaAnjali.com.  

At Exhale at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek this Sunday only, book two spa services and get the second one at 50% off. Call 970-748-7500 to reserve a time for dad to unwind. You can also save at Exhale with their gift card sale. 25% of all gift cards with code: FATHERSDAY25 now through Father’s Day.

Vines at Vail Winery

Does Dad like wine? Cigars? Charcuterie? All that can be found at Vines at Vail, stop by their location at 4 Eagle Ranch near Wolcott located about four miles north of Interstate 70. The first glass of wine and one cigar is free for dads. Dads also get 50% off wine and charcuterie and 15% off wine takeaway. There will also be a special 20% off goods for members’ wine takeaway. Make a reservation by calling 970-949-9463 from noon to 6 p.m. VinesAtVailWinery.com.

Vail Craft Beer Classic

This event isn’t necessarily for dads, it’s for anyone old enough to enjoy craft beer and other beverages at the 7th annual Vail Craft Beer Classic. For two days, Vail Village will be set up as an outdoor festival atmosphere and sippers can taste samples from over 30 breweries and beverage makers in Colorado. In addition to beer, ticket holders can try hard seltzers and ciders.

Get a full list of breweries and beverage companies and what they are pouring on the website. A Line up of bands will be listed, too. Tickets can be purchased on the website for the Friday evening session and the Saturday afternoon session. Early tasting tickets are available for purchase.

Never ask “What should we do this weekend?” again. Get a weekly rundown of all the best happenings in the Vail Valley sent to your inbox. Sign up here: VailDaily.com/newsletter

Did we mention there’s keg bowling at the event? Team Player Productions, the organizers of the beer festival, also produces Vail Oktoberfest in Lionshead and Vail Village, so consider this practice for the keg bowling in September.

Come early and go for a mountain bike ride or a hike and know that proceeds from ticket sales will go to help local nonprofit Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance, which supports the maintenance and construction of sustainable mountain biking and hiking trails throughout Eagle County.

Search for Vail Craft Beer Classic in Eventbrite and for more information on the event, go to VailCraftBeerClassic.com.

Vail Arts Festival

The 38th annual Vail Arts Festival returns to the Lionshead Mall and Arrabelle Square for a three-day outdoor art show featuring over 60 artists from all over the country, representing 22 states. Spend some time exploring the creativity of all sorts of mediums like ceramics, paintings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, graphics and printmaking, metal works, wood, mixed media and even fashion as art.

This show gives attendees a chance to speak to the artists about their works, techniques and inspirations. Some artists may even be currently working on a project, so you may be able to view the actual creative process up close.

Stop by after a hike or bike ride on Vail Mountain or before heading to dinner. There will be some live, strolling entertainment at the venue also.

This event is held rain or shine and is free to the public. Free daytime parking can be found in the Lionshead parking structure and Vail Village parking structure. Stop by on Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, go to VailArtsFestival.com.

B4BC’s Blues, BBQ and Boobs

When was the last time you’ve been out to State Bridge Lodge? Yes, that State Bridge Lodge along the Upper Colorado River. This weekend is your chance to not only visit a landmark location, which has beginnings that date back to 1890, but you’ll also be helping out the nonprofit, Boarding for Breast Cancer, more commonly referred to as B4BC. The organization has been working hard and teamed up with the “new” State Bridge Lodge to host Blues, BBQ and Boobs to benefit cancer survivorship programs. The event will include live music by Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes and premier chefs utilizing Traeger Grills to provide the barbecue.

Boarders for Breast Cancer was founded in 1996 and advocates for early breast cancer detection and a healthy, active and conscious lifestyle as the best means to prevent breast cancer. Megan Pischke, a former pro snowboarder who used to reside in Eagle County but is now living in Washington, is back this week hosting a B4BC wellness retreat, so this event ties into that long history as well. Pischke is the wellness and marketing director for B4BC and is a breast cancer survivor herself.

There are different ticket prices. A general admission ticket for $60 includes: 

• Doors open at 8 p.m. 
• Two drink tickets and two raffle tickets and the cocktail evening  
• Access to auction and two raffles  
• 8:30 to 10 p.m.: Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes 

VIP $150 ticket includes a VIP dinner served by Traeger Grills and their premier chefs Austen Granger and Amanda Haas, plus Tracey VanCuran with Foods of Vail.   

• Doors open at 5 p.m.  
• Two drink tickets plus five raffle tickets and Yeti Drinkware Cup 
• 5 to 6 p.m.: Acoustic cocktail hour with Kory Montgomery 
• Meet and Greet with Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes  
• 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Dinner by Traeger Grills  
• 6:30 to 8 p.m.: Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes  
• 8:30 to 10 p.m.: Eddie Roberts and The Lucky Strokes 
• Early Access to auction items and raffles  

To get tickets, search for Blues, BBQ and Boobs on Eventbrite.com and to learn more about Boarders for Breast Cancer, go to B4BC.org.

 Lifts open at Vail & Beaver Creek

This weekend also marks the start of daily lift operations during the summer at Vail and Beaver Creek. Gondola One (No. 1) in Vail Village and the Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19) will open on Friday and the Centennial Express (No. 6) will open on Saturday.

Beaver Creek summer 2023 operating dates and hours 

• Open daily: June 17 – September 4 
• Open Saturday and Sunday only: September 9 – 24 
• Centennial Express Lift, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

Vail Mountain Season Dates: 

• June 16 – Sept. 4: Open daily from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Sept. 8 – Oct. 1: Open Friday – Sunday from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

In addition to lift service, the resorts are also offering other activities at the top and at the base of the lifts. At the Lionshead base area, work on your short game with mini golf. This summer, tubing and the Forest Flyer will be available at Epic Discovery along with other activities like bungee jumping and the kid’s zip line. Fuel up at Talon’s Deck Outdoor Grill and Bistro 14 at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19) and at Mid-Vail Grill at the top of Gondola One (No. 1).  

Beaver Creek will have mini golf, bungee jumping, a climbing wall and gem panning at the base of the Centennial Lift (No. 6) this summer. At the top of the lift, Spruce Saddle will provide eats, lawn sports and lounge chairs so you can enjoy the view. Free family programming like outdoor yoga, live music and more returns this weekend as well.

To see ticket prices, trail maps for trail running, hiking and biking and a full list of summer offerings go to Vail.com. and BeaverCreek.com.

This summer at the New York Botanical Garden, celebrated contemporary artist Ebony G. Patterson alludes to the hidden histories of the garden in …things come to thrive…in the shedding…in the molting…, featuring thought-provoking sculptures and horticulture displays. The artist responds to the collections of the garden with a living work of art that sheds light on the historical relevance of our collective pasts and the potential for healing in renewal.

Patterson’s work embraces the lush, colorful, and enticing elements of the space while offering bold and provocative moments. Hundreds of glittering vultures descend like shadows to gather among wound-like ruptures in the landscape. Colorful plantings and ghostly cast glass sculptures represent extinct species that now exist only as specimens in the Herbarium, serving as a reminder of what we stand to lose. Displays in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library feature an immersive video installation, woven tapestries, and paper works that continue Patterson’s artistic viewpoint on gardens and wild, uncultivated nature.

You have never experienced the New York Botanical Garden like this before!

…things come to thrive…in the shedding…in the molting… is on view through September 17.

To learn more, visit nybg.org.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Don’t Miss Ebony G. Patterson’s Summer Art Exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden appeared first on Colossal.