Belmont Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival Celebrates Spring March 28-29

Carlmont Village Shopping Center in Belmont serves as an outdoor art gallery during the Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival taking place Saturday and Sunday, March 28-29, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. More than 20 celebrated artists will be on hand during this free event, giving visitors the opportunity to browse and buy unique and original pieces ranging from paintings, photography, ceramics, fine jewelry and much more. Among the artists showcasing their wares at this year’s show:

Gigi Erickson

Studio: Union City

Medium: Glass

Her Art: Blown glass, leaded glass and fused glass creations including bowls, lamps, windows, jewelry and much more.

Creative Process: Meticulously hand sculpted, Gigi’s one of a kind creations of art can take up to several days to produce due to the care and precision put into each piece of art. Gigi was introduced to hot glass after a very successful 15-year career in stained and art glass windows. After several notable commissions she was introduced to her passion, hot glass. As an apprentice to an accomplished glass artist, Gigi soon found such enjoyment in creating her own unique creations in hot glass that in 1990 she opened her own studio, where she still does leaded glass work along with hot glass.

Eileen Goldenberg

Studio: San Francisco

Medium: Clay

Her Art: Ceramic teapots, cups, bowls, vases and more

Creative Process: “I was five years old when I first touched clay and immediately fell in love. Clay is a very immediate and plastic medium that allows me to fully express my feelings and emotions. The clay absorbs and then reflects what is going on for me, as in most art; ceramics allows me to see how I am feeling. By combining texture, applied bumps, cut out windows and the graphic quality of ‘sgraffito,’ I can turn ideas into forms that are a direct link to my inner landscape. Sgraffito is a technique of carving through a black slip/glaze, revealing the clay underneath. I use either a very small loop tool, which results in a very fine line, or a larger tool, which gives me bold, wide lines. Since I am hand-throwing porcelain, the lines appear white. Sgraffito is a great way to draw on clay. I love to formulate new, textured glazes. My newest glaze is called Ice Flow, featuring a beautiful white, ice like pattern over black. This is a very popular glaze with collectors.”

Lanchi Vo

Studio: San Jose

Medium: Wood

Her Art: Lathe-turned wooden objects such as small vessels, lidded urns, plates and miniature vases

Creative Process: “As a wood collector and wood turner, I take pleasure in showcasing the incredible beauty found in the variety of timbers I have accumulated. My turnings usually have simple profile, minimal decorative accents--nothing to distract from the wood’s natural beauty. That said, the intricate details are hidden in the threaded caps -- my specialty. The screw-on cap adds a significant level of complexity and an element of surprise, an unexpected twist to the box. I take the surprise a step further, disguising the box in natural forms: acorns, mushrooms, eggplants...or small wooden pendants with secret compartment. The result is a whimsical, unique container for your precious things.”

The Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival is sponsored by the Carlmont Village Merchant Association. Carlmont Village Shopping Center is located on Ralston Avenue at Alameda de las Pulgas. For more information about the event, contact Pacific Fine Arts Festivals at (209) 276-4394 or visit www.pacificfinearts.com. You can also see more information on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/PacificFineArts and on Twitter @PacificFineArts.

(Image via Shutterstock)