Homegirl: A Retrospective and New Work by Leslie Duncan

House of Borrego Springs West Gallery

Nov 2 – Dec 1

Featuring the work of Borrego's own Lesley Duncan, 'Homegirl,' a retrospective of artwork ceramics and sculpture at House Of Borrego Springs West Gallery was very well supported. Guests attending the show included Jim & Anne Wermer's and many of Duncan's collectors who have purchased her artwork throughout the years.

Elizabeth Rodriguez curated the show with her usual artistic flair. Elizabeth has curated several retrospect tributes to our local artist's in recognition of their Borrego art career's.

Duncan's art represents an iconographical cast of characters including Ravens, Lizards, Snakes, Coyotes, Goddesses and desert flora. Duncan created a spectacular 18 piece set of hand painted and glazed-dinnerware with hand painted glasses. Very collectible, conversational, table top original art. Also shown were individual hand painted, glazed ceramic bowls and plates.

Duncan's series of 6 glazed ceramic Goddess's inspired by the prehistoric 24,000 years old Venus Of Willendorf statuette which has inspired many artists. Sculpted in a primitive style this Goddess collection was much admired at the show producing some red dots. Duncan creates her ceramics at The Pottery in Borrego like many local ceramic enthusiasts.

Duncan's influences are diverse including inspiration by Inuit printmakers and stone carvers from her Canadian heritage. She holds a BFA degree from Laguna College of Art & Design and post grad studies at UC Irvine, Ca.

Mark your calendar for Lesley's ArtTalk at The West Gallery, Nov 30th, 3 PM. Lesley has lots to share about her art journey and looks forward to interacting with art lovers.

Joe Garcia, Impressions, Santa Ysabel Gallery

Nov 2 – Jan 5, 2025-

The beautiful Santa Ysabel Gallery November show, Impressions, features the art of Julian based artist Joe Garcia. An artist that paints what he loves which includes many studies of birds and wildlife. Garcia art is true to how he relates to his love of nature. He paints a story with birds that reminds us of importance of conservation needed for birds survival. Joe also tells us the story of families. His oil painting, 'Joy,' has much freedom of style and depicts the symbiotic relationship of beaches, kids and birds. Garcia's color palette can be heavy more on the dark side he has a deepening use of shadow that carries a forlorn message in some works.

Interesting show to study. Garcia's techniques in watercolor are not of the flowing brush stroke technique. Garcia uses a more sedentary, somber, density of strokes. He takes us into the painting, the painting dose not reach out which is intriguing.

Gallery is open Thursday – Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stop by the Santa Ysabel Sum Guy Gallery featuring the incomparable sculpture and art furniture of artist Ted Berryman. Open Sat and Sun 11AM -5PM. Gallery is at the corner of highway 78 at highway 79.

Artist's Shout Out

When you buy something from an artist you're Buying more than an object. You're buying hundreds of hours of errors and experimentation. You're buying years of frustration and moments of pure joy. You're not buying just one thing, you are buying a piece of a heart, a piece of a soul, a small piece of someone else's life.

My following statement does not apply to our Borrego Galleries or any local galleries.

I am finding that art is being given for decoration purposes to several local hospitality resorts.

When artist's allow Hotel's, Restaurant's, Resort's to hang their work for free, without any identification of who the artist is, even price, artist's you are selling yourself short. Your giving, in the case of some of these multi million dollar Resort's in Borrego, your art for free for the benefit of their interior decoration.

Some artist's have told me that they just want to, 'get on the wall.' Understood, but you should also make sure that you always present your artwork with a simple artist's statement, and require whom ever is, 'using,' your art to make sure it is clear that the art is for sale, if it is, and that it is priced.

Please consider artist's your art should not be used for decoration just so you can get up on a wall. It's OK to be proud of your artwork and to ask that it is labeled, priced and if possible add an artist's statement. Make sure that is hung properly, not behind a water cooler which I saw recently.

Do not be bullied into giving over your art without a say in how it is presented and be sure it is available for sale and it's clearly labeled properly with a wall tag. Artwork hung in public places can easily get damaged make sure your artwork is covered for damage while it is being hung away from your care. It is up to you to advocate for your artwork in these situations.

As an art professional with a career spanning decades I always have supported artist's artwork being shown to the best advantage for not only public interaction but with quintessential respect for the integrity of an artist's artwork.