Art on the Ridge

Colleen Cotton

Colleen Cotton - Kiln Formed Glass

As an artist of many media since childhood, I became fascinated with fusing glass years ago. As a media, it is relatively scarce, and thus offers me the opportunity to explore an unusual material that has the creative tension of fluid and solid, soft and hard properties. Living and working in the country, I am inspired by the colors of nature. Oranges, reds, purples, yellows and greens are the palette that surrounds me every day.

Fused glass is an ancient art form dating back approximately 4,000 years. With this in mind, I insist on being a ‘purist’, using only the most basic of hand tools in an effort to explore the medium in its original form – no power tools such as grinders, saws, or polishers are used. Merging shapes, colors changing and transforming with the play of light and shadow or with the reactions to extreme temperatures are the foundation of my work.

The fusing process involves cutting, layering, repeated melting and cooling of compatible type glass. Each piece of glass used in the process is handmade, bringing its own character to the work. Each kiln firing takes 12-14 hours, at temperatures in excess of 1200°, and, most of the work must go through multiple firings to achieve the desired result. Thus, each work is a product of intense time and labor inputs.

As in nature, there is an element of surprise with every piece I create. Working with glass offers exploration and use of its innate qualities - visual, liquid and solid, and the reactions at extreme temperatures. Singing colors meet, merge, overlap. The shapes are organic, fluid and natural, as well as highly stylized. They contain elements found in nature such as the undulating edges, and at the same time exhibit enforced patterns and color variations. As in nature, each item is unique - even if attempted, no piece can be duplicated.

I frequently employ a 'mosaic' technique on many of the pieces that gives different views from all sides as well as through the layered works. Bold, inventive color combinations, constantly changing and intensifying with the surrounding light - the effect is like finding a hidden secret. I also enjoy embedding other compatible materials within the glass - yet another wonder to discover.

All products are individually created to inspire a sense of serenity and connection with the outdoors when viewed or used. Each of the materials has a distinct personality, often dictating the final form of the product. Hence, all items are markedly unique.

Treat these original, one of a kind works as you would fine china.

Art on the Ridge Event

Art on the Ridge is Around the Corner!
September 17th and 18th from noon to 5 p.m.

It's almost time for Bennett Ridge Community's Art on the Ridge Event! We hope you can join us for this year's two day, open studio tour! There are 13 artists in this year's event, and the artists are concentrated at five location. All locations are on Bennett Ridge and just a very short drive apart. Some of the locations serve refreshments.

Artists include: Mark Trombetta - digital photography, A.J. Trombetta - beaded and wire wrapped jewelry, Jerry Pugh - mobile sculpture, Heartfire - beaded jewelry and kiln formed glass, Monica Bettcher - glass drawings and vessels, Tom Berto - acrylic paintings, Anna Wingfield - aroma therapy, Colleen Cotton - kiln formed glass, Stan Sommer - paintings and drawings, Karen Sommer - monoprints and sculpted paper fragments, Kate E. Black - fused and cast glass art, Chuck Quibell, wood turning, and Sherry Parker - mixed media/collage.

Bennett Ridge is located in the beautiful hills of the Bennett Valley, roughly between Sonoma Mountain Road and Warm Springs Road. Nearby attractions include Matanzas Creek Winery, Benziger Winery and Jack London State Park.

Artist Tom Berto

Paintings and Prints

Almost all of my paintings are from photographs, generally slides. I use the photographs as color and light references, and to help lay out the paintings. All paintings are acrylic, on art board unless noted otherwise.

My paintings are done using a combination of airbrush and hand brush. The airbrush work varies between hard-edged, tightly defined masked work and free-hand, free-form right-brain work. These have totally different attributes, and I go back and forth as to which I enjoy most. I've found that the final appearance of a painting is heavily dependent on the processes, and in particular, the sequence of processes used to create it. Determining that sequence is one of the most enjoyable parts painting for me. There are no messages behind my paintings. They are intended only to capture and display the physical and visual essence of the objects and scenes being painted.

Giclée prints are all in signed and numbered limited editions of 100 or 250, created using an Epson or Roland printer with archival pigments on Somerset 250 gm Enhanced Velvet paper.
Framed prints are matted, behind glass in black sectional aluminum frames, and are ready to hang. I prefer regular glass because I've found that anti-glare glass reduces the crispness of the images.

Blue Line Gallery Beach Bash

Thank you to the Blue Line Gallery for their support of Art on the Ridge!  If you are in the Sacramento Area, don't miss the Blue Line Gallery Beach Bash the evening of June 11th!

A.J. Trombetta

A.J. Trombetta's jewelry is now available at the Blue Line Gallery gift shop! Thank you to Roseville Arts for including my work at your gallery!

Please take the time to visit the Blue Line Gallery if you are in the Sacrament area!

Thank you also to Joshua Moore and Joe McDonald for your patient assistance with photographing my jewelry!

Karen Sommer - Sculpted Paper Fragments

Monotype prints make up most of my work but printmaking produces many pieces that don’t make it for viewing. They go in a drawer and wait for other ideas to spawn.

The birth of Sculpted Print Fragments was an idea that became somewhat of an obsession. Cutting up these prints that didn’t quite make it for me gave them a new life. I have many ideas for new designs after making these pieces.

It isn’t easy and takes lots of time and patience to mold each sculptured element. Once a form is completed I apply several layers of a hard polymer medium.

These sculptural elements are meant to be decorative. They can be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Karen Sommer

Charles Quibell

We were pleased to see Charles Quibell's woodwork in the Marin Arts Council exhibit, "Paths in Studio Craft: Masters and Apprentices of the Baulines Craft Guild." Although the exhibit was in January, at the Marin Community Foundation Gallery in Novato, the Baulines Craft Guild Master Show video, provides an excellent example of this craft. The below photo is from the Marin Arts Council exhibit.

Charles Quibell will be at the Marin Art Festival, June 18th and 19th.

My Crazy Valentine

For the unconventional romantic - My Crazy Valentine. Fused glass and wire wrapped pendant by A.J. Trombetta

Heartfire & The Chalice Project Exhibition and Auction

Heartfire has been accepted into The Chalice Project Exhibition, and donated a glass chalice to benefit the project's charity auction! The Chalice Project is produced and hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Rosa, in partnership with The Arts Council. The exhibition runs January 15th through February 25th at the Glaser Center in Santa Rosa.

A charity auction and and party will be held on February 26, 2011 at 5:30 pm, at the Glaser Center! Proceeds from the Heartfire chalice will benefit the Unitarian Congregation and COTS, to support the lives of people in need. Jazz pianist, Roger Corman and musical group, Un Deux Trois, will be performing. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Copperfield's in Montgomery Village or on-line . Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Guests will have a chance to win a week of vacation lodging at the 300 year-old stone home of Carol Wantanabe in the medieval village of Soreze, in Southern France.

Thank you to Monica Boettcher and Patti Zimmer for thinking of Heartfire when The Chalice Project was announced.

The Glaser Center is located at 547 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa CA.
Telephone 707-568-5381