Menlo Park Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival

The Menlo Park Sidewalk Fine Arts Festival is celebrating its 34th year.

This showcase encourages visitors to browse among the handcrafted works of more than 70 artists whose displays include fine jewelry, photography from many different perspectives, decorative and functional ceramics, abstract and representational paintings, gorgeous blown glass and much more. Celebrate the artists’ talent, learn about their inspiration in creating lasting beauty, and simply unplug, while finding that perfect treasure and enjoying this boutique art event in charming Menlo Park.

This annual free, family event, sponsored by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, takes place along tree-lined Santa Cruz Avenue off El Camino Real Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, April 15 from 10am to 5pm. Among the celebrated art and artists:

Glass

Scott Graham and Cristy Aloysi, a husband and wife team, began their glassblowing careers in Brooklyn, NY, where they became fascinated with the ancient process of glassmaking. The challenge of forming beautiful handmade objects out of this molten material captivated them. While in New York they became involved in the city’s energetic art and design world and have brought this influence into their work. After study glassmaking in school and working in studios in Venice and Seattle, Scott and Cristy eventually settled to Boulder Creek, California, where they design and make original blown glass pieces. None of their glass creations are the same. Each piece has been carefully shaped by hand creating a uniqueness that cannot be imitated by any machine.

Mixed Media

San Francisco based artist and illustrator Amy Rose Moore works in a variety of water-based media, including watercolor, gouache, ink and acrylics. Her favorite surface is tea-toned paper and she favors the tiniest of paintbrushes. Amy’s style is illustrative, and her subject matter almost always includes birds, animals, insects and plant life native to Northern California. “I suppose I am largely influenced by the forests and mountains of my childhood,” she says “There, where birds and animals vastly outnumber humans, one's connection with the world is felt much differently than it is here, in San Francisco. I find, like so many others now and throughout history, that animal imagery is an excellent vehicle for telling a story.”

Wood

Growing up in the tropics, Lanchi Vo was surrounded by wooden items as household commodities. She developed a love for fine timbers at an early age so it was only natural that she became a wood collector with a growing stash of timbers from all over the world. She

actually fell into woodturning by accident, sparked by the desire for a nice pair of special chopsticks like the ones she had as a child. Today, Lanchi takes pleasure in showcasing the incredible beauty found in the variety of timbers she has accumulated. Her turnings typically have a simple profile with minimal decorative accents so they don’t distract from the wood's natural beauty. She hides intricate details in threaded caps--a specialty of hers: “The screw-on cap adds a significant level of complexity and an element of surprise, an unexpected ‘twist’ to the box,” she says. “I take the surprise a step further, disguising the box in natural forms: acorns, mushrooms, eggplants...or small wooden pendants with secret compartment.” The results are whimsical, unique containers.

Painting

Hans Ladislaus’ says his “fascination with processes and techniques underlies his style and diversity.” Hans is varied in his methodologies and mediums, which allows him to explore, learn and progress his painting. “Concepts of abstraction and elements of design, color and texture are now dominant in my work” says Hans. “I find the images that result from stepping aside a bit, and allowing the medium to work, are often the strongest.”

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 You can also see more information on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.