Menlo Park Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival

The Menlo Park Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival will celebrate spring in downtown Menlo Park on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This annual free family event, sponsored by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, will take place outdoors along tree-lined Santa Cruz Avenue off El Camino Real.

The Menlo Park Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival will feature an exciting array of original works by 90 artists whose work includes jewelry, photography, ceramics, painting, sculptures and much more. All of the artists will be on hand to visit with patrons, while some will be practicing their art during the show. This year’s featured artists include:

Locke Heemstra

Studio: San Mateo

Medium: Giclée photographic prints, which are individually produced, high-resolution prints made using a sophisticated wide format inkjet printer technology.

Art: Locke’s fine art travel photographic images are printed on large canvas, then cut to size and stretched over 1-1/4” stretcher bars. The 1-1/4 inch edges of the photographic canvases have a unique artistic appearance as the image continues to fold around the sides to the back, eliminating the need for frames or glass.

Creative Process: Locke’s early images focused on the natural wonders of the United States, from the rich fall foliage of New England to the vivid blues and greens of the California coast. In time, he began to concentrate on natural and manmade settings lush with color. The public’s enthusiastic response to the vibrant colors in his work convinced Locke he was on the right path and he decided to combine his love of European culture with his new approach to color. Today, Locke travels to Europe at least three times a year, always searching for that special image that will give the viewer a sense of place.

Terry Steinke

Studio: San Francisco

Medium: Paper, copper plates etched with acid

Art: Original etchings of landscapes, architecture and nature

Creative Process: A full-time artist since 1975, Terry grew up in the picturesque town of Woodstock, Illinois. The influence of the fields, woods and lakes of that region is apparent in his work today as he creates hand-made prints that are printed from a copper plate that he has etched with acid. The end result is beautiful, soft, soothing images of the outdoors that are available in color and black and white.

Jeannie Haydon

Studio: Oakland

Medium: Sterling silver and mixed metal

Art: Jewelry

Creative Process: As a child Jeannie made small figurative sculptures out of aluminum foil. This was the beginning of a life long affinity to metal and its properties. Since 1980 she has explored a vast variety of metal techniques providing a personal palette for her current work. Jeannie’s work is elaborate -- she solders many pieces together to create detailed, textured geometric pieces that are often kinetic. Influences ranging from Asian art, modern architecture and the work of Alexander Caulder result in a unique look that is innovative and beautiful. Inspired by the world around her, Jeannie’s jewelry reflects the past while embracing the contemporary.

For more information about the event, contact the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce at (650) 325-2818 or 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.