Shelby Posada devoted her time–off and on–to art ever since graduating from college. She began working at it more seriously more recently, when Posada and her husband retired from their Bay Area landscape business and moved to Lakeport. That interest led her to volunteer with the Lake County Arts Council. Now she serves as executive director of the organization, which involves theater, dance and galleries, including the Main Street Gallery in downtown Lakeport.
1. I don”t see a velvet Elvis on the wall.
No, thank goodness.
2. Is there such a thing as bad art?
I guess that”s a subjective question. For me it happens to be art that is negative. But to some people that”s not the case.
3. There must be a point where something is not art.
Oh, it”s easier to say it”s been executed well or not executed well.
4. Is it difficult to gain an appreciation for art?
I don”t think so. There are so many different mediums and styles–and there are other art forms, too: music, dance, theater.
5. So is it difficult to create, to be an artist?
I think anybody can be an artist, if they would just relax. Sometimes it”s about finding the right medium to work in. And anyone can at least dabble.
6. Do people find it hard to understand abstracts?
They”re not that difficult. A person just has to look at it and ideas pop into their head. That”s why some artists don”t sign the front of their painting, because someone else might see that as the top. I didn”t know what this one [gestures at a painting] was going to be until I was almost finished with it.
7. What”s the Lake County art scene like?
We”ve been here since ”92–that”s when I got involved. It”s been growing a great deal. We”re expanding around the lake. There”s a gallery in Clearlake. The theatre is open. Sherry Harris has her radio program. I”ve had calls from real estate agents because they have people moving here who want to know about the same thing.
8. You”re around galleries all day. Do you keep your walls empty at home?
[Laughs] I don”t have any space on the walls. All of them are full or art–a lot of it mine. I have to keep some of it in the basement.
9. What does it take for a piece to be demoted to the basement?
I just don”t have the room. I rotate. I supposed it just depends on my mood.
10. Some of us watch a lot of TV. Does television count as art?
There”s a lot of art involved in movies and television. Someone writes a script. The script is an art form. There has to be directing. There are costumes–that”s art–and lighting and sound. Television is definitely an art form, though some are better at it than others.
