Artist Vicki McClay, Set to Show at Upper West Restaurant...Opening Reception, Sun March 9th!

Vicki McClay is set to show her art at Upper West in Santa Monica. The opening reception will take place on Sunday March 9th from 4-6pm. Gino Paino curated the show. He explains what inspires him.

“In most cases, (he looks for)...Artists that have been working for several years have already a very
good idea of what the community around them looks for in their Art Work,” says Paino. “I gravitate to someone with a good understanding of contemporary Art, with great technical qualities and above all the passion for Fine Arts.”

The artist, Vicki McClay met the owners of Upper West through an artist friend, Imelda Healy. McClay was schooled at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker Art Center. She continued her studies at the University of Minnesota and The College of Art and Design.
McClay’s mother played an active role in fueling her desire to be an artist. “When I was about 12 or 13 years old she gave me a small oil painting set which came in a wooden box,” recalls the artist. “To this day, I always keep in my studio. She was a single mom with two children, so it was quite difficult for her to find the resources for classes and supplies, but she saw how important it was to me and made it a priority.”

McClay’s wish is to welcome her audience into the each painting. To allow them the opportunity to explore the contrasting worlds that she creates.  She explains, “I've been very fortunate to see a great deal of the world and each new environment has brought something different to my paintings. Some experiences immediately impact my work and others gestate for a considerable time, but everywhere I have gone I have discovered we live in a world of such amazing color and light, which is in constant flux. There are endless qualities to the elements that surround us - the air, land and water - and I see these elements impacting each other all the time. At times it seems as if we are unsure where one element ends and the other begins.

She continues, “I think of these paintings as dream-like abstractions; they are my inner reality of the things I have felt about the places I've been.  They are an interpretive landscape and are often spatially ambiguous.  I strive to convey a sense of movement, a kind of involvement in the sense of light and color springing from the world that surrounds us. I find the constant shift of light and the transformation of color happening right before our eyes throughout the course of the day to be endlessly fascinating.”

She currently works out of her studio in Santa Monica. She also lives in Santa Monica with her husband and daughter.

The opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 9th from 4:00pm to 7:00 pm at Upper West located at 3321 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica. http://www.theupperwest.com/  http://vickimcclay.com/ To Find out about more art openings in the LA area, see www.LAArtParty.com

Written by guest writer, Libby Lancaster

The Michael Stearns Gallery Presents "Love and Other Considerations" ...Part of the San Pedro ArtWalk Feb 6!

On Thursday, February 6^th, the Michael Stearns Gallery presents "Love and Other Considerations" in conjunction with the San Pedro ArtWalk. The opening reception will take place from 6-9pm.

Stearns has had his gallery/studio in San Pedro for the last 2 years. He is an active participant of the San Pedro ArtWalk. Each year Stearns hosts a Valentine show. This year, Stearns put out an open call for artists and was quite pleased with the turnout. Thirty artists will participate in the show featuring paintings, giclee, sculpture, photography, assemblage and books. When asked what he looks for in the work, he answers, “Knowing their medium. Seems kind of simple sounding I suppose, but that and telling the story/sharing the messages we receive the best way we can. People don't have to get it, many won't.”

Sculptor Hadiya Finley’s work will be featured. “I like the whimsy, says Stearns, “I think the pieces are deeper than they appear. Great talent. She seems to know her medium quite well.”

The sculptor has been traveling to China since 2004, staying two to six months at a time with her son and Chinese daughter in-law. Finley had participated in an art residency in the seaside city of Xiamen and has had one of her sculptures included in a show at Fei Gallery in Guangzhou.  She explains, “I have been getting to know other people here including some artists, among them a famous Chinese sculptor, Xu Hongfei.  I have found that bronze casting is very reasonable in China and work in wax to create small-scale bronzes.“

While in China, Finley was commissioned to create a piece of public artwork in the Northern part of Guangzhou. Her sculpture “Tree People” had a successful unveiling this month. Her next project…she’ll be creating a bicycle rack sculpture of a runner titled “Sculpture with Purpose” at Purdue University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Hadiya’s art was recently seen at bG Gallery in Santa Monica. For more information on the artist, see her website at http://www.barefootbird.com/

Also participating in “Love and Other Considerations” is photographer Scott Tansey. The artist has been taking photos for over 40 years and has traveled all over the world.  However for this show he will not be showing his panoramic photos that he has become known for, but will be showing a black and white up close rose that he caught just after a rainfall.

In addition to his photography, Tansey has been busy with post-production. “My process is first to take the images and then work on post production,” explains the photographer.  “Sometimes I work in High Dynamic Range (HDR), where I take five images of the same image, so that I can get the full range of highlights and shadows in the same image.  Over the past 3 years I have spent more time improving my post-production skills.  Now I am responsible for my images from capturing the image to the print.”

Tansey has participated in group shows at galleries such as Trunk Gallery, Santa Monica Art Studios as well as the Venice Art Crawl. His work is also featured at Figtree’s Café, (429 Ocean Front Walk) in Venice. His photography was recently accepted to show at haleARTS S P A C E in Santa Monica in October of 2014. For more info about Scott Tansey, see his website at http://scotttanseyphoto.com/

Don't miss the opening reception of "Love and Other Considerations" this Thursday,  February 6th from 6pm-9pm at the Michael Stearns Gallery (347 W. 7th St., San Pedro 90731).  The show will remain on view through March 31st. For more information about the gallery and the artists see http://www.michaelstearnsstudio.com;

 http://www.barefootbird.com/; http://www.scotttanseyphoto.com/

Thursday, February 6th, Upper West Restaurant Offers a Herradura Tequila pairing.

Thursday, February 6^th, Upper West presents a Herradura Tequila pairing.

The event will take place in the front room, which makes for a more intimate setting as the Herradura ambassador explains the pairings. These very popular dining events at Upper West have been selling out consistently from inception. As always, Chef Nick Shipp designs a menu specifically for each spirit to bring your taste buds alive. It was an exciting menu to prepare for the chef…”It’s actually my favorite tequila,” admits Chef Shipp. 

“I chose the Oaxacan region of Mexico, because of they're use of some not so traditional ingredients and techniques. Plus, 98% of my employees are from there which helps me to keep things authentic,” continues Shipp. “Goat is commonly used there as well as the grasshoppers. We're also going to be using huetlacoche also known as the truffle of Mexico.” 

The first course begins with a coconut poached pescado blanco and a chipotle carrot purée topped with a lime-tomato jam and toasted cumin breadcrumbs. Herradura Silver will be served. Next enjoy a braised leg of goat with chorizo-sweet corn flan in hoja santa-tomato broth along with Herradura Repasado Pezole de Chivo. Next Herradura Anjeo makes an appearance along with Memelita, a traditional oaxacan pizza with queso quesillo, black bean-huitlacoche spread, roasted tomato, parsley oil. If you’re feeling adventurous, the crunchy grasshopper is optional.

Chargrilled quail with jalapeño & citrus marinade is next to be featured with a yellow curry mole, sauce guajillo, and cilantro-raisin pistou. A Herradura cognac Cask Finish Repasado has been chosen to accompany the main entree. And finally for dessert the Herradura Port Cask Finish Repasado will be served with a delicious coconut pudding with oaxacan chocolate shell, cinnamon, as well as a peanut butter praline.

Make your reservations quickly as these pairings always fill up. The Herradura Tequila event will occur on Thursday, January 6th at 7:00pm and price for this special pairing is $55.00. Upper West Restaurant is located at 3321 Pico Blvd., in Santa Monica. Call now to make your reservation for this event 310 586-1111. For more information see their website at http://www.theupperwest.com/