Through the smoke – to Cobb Mountain artists’ show

MIDDLETOWN — People drove through the smoke to get to the ‘Holiday in the Pines Art and Craft Faire’ [aka Cobb Mountain Artists Show] that took place at the Twin Pines Casino event center this past weekend. Smoke didn’t stop Sandy Ko from Sacramento who travels each year to the Cobb Mountain Artists Show. “I like to come here and shop for things for myself because I like unique items. I don’t really like going to a mall to shop. I prefer to find things that are handmade. They are so special.”

The atmosphere was definitely Christmasy. Twinkling lights. Soft Christmas music. Fresh wreaths for sale. ‘My Divas’ — Jo Fay, Marie Schrader, Laura McAndrews-Sammel, Carol Cole-Lewis and Susna Yeagan [cast members from Oklahoma!, except Cole-Lewis] –wandering around singing Christmas carols and showing off their gorgeous period costumes. It all added up to a warm, friendly atmosphere, for customers and artists alike.

Of the 42 artists, who were juried in order to participate, their art included jewelry made from tragedy by ‘Wildfire Copper Jewelry’ [LaDonna’s Fine Art]. A person lost his house to the Valley Fire, she explained to each customer. The house had a copper roof and LaDonna has made gorgeous jewelry from the burnt copper. “Something beautiful out of something tragic,” is her motto. Twenty-percent of the profits go to buying and planting new trees for some families who are rebuilding their homes.

‘Distinctive Pottery’ by Melanie Close Liotta, a potter and retired teacher, who lost her house and all her potter’s equipment to the Valley Fire presented her pots in a colorful display. “I lost three kilns, three wheels and 500 pots,” she said. She was about to go to two large fairs when the disaster happened. However, she restarted immediately and bought a potter’s wheel and kiln. “I had 3-dozen pots in galleries around Northern California that I collected and so I did a little Christmas fair in Santa Rosa.” She was back up and running making her Sgraffito Italian style pottery, which dates back to the 13th century. “Fortunately I have many repeat customers who have collections of my pieces and they always want to expand their collections.” Some customers also lost houses and their collections of her work and have been replenishing them.

Marsha and Jon Williams from ‘One Earth Studio’ who make fused glass ceramics were first-time artists at the show. Jon showed bowls with his new crystalline and glaze technique. “Growing crystals in the glaze is determined by the cool-down cycle. The results almost look like flowers or snowflakes, or fan-shaped. The shape of the crystal is determined on how you cool it down.” He was surprised how well people liked them and how many he sold, since he is still finding his way with this new technique.

Author Lori Armstrong of ‘Behind the Gates of Neverland’, delighted people with conversations with Michael Jackson via his good friend Ray Robledo. Especially the story about how a woman who, stalked Jackson, ended up in the best selling song ‘Bille Jean’ [the stalker’s real name].

A surprise star was Marci Johns, with her soft snowmen figures, ‘Creations by Marci’. They practically flew out of her booth. Each snowman was a unique design. “The hunter and soldier snowmen went first,” she said. “People asked for farmer snowmen and tractor snowmen, so I’ll have to work on that.” She searches high and low for the tiny details she puts on the snowmen; snowflakes, heart-shaped sayings, small flags. She doesn’t buy in bulk. “I want to feel the items to make sure they are quality.” At $20 each, the distinctive snowmen melted every ones’ hearts.

Lynne Wagner, a member of Cobb Mountain Artists, who is an inspirational figurative painter, presented art work that took one’s breath away. Using models, she paints a child hugging an Amur leopard cub [highly endangered] that was Best of Show at Lake County Fair 2018, a child holding a candle, two women embracing, turtles floating as if on air, Our Lady of Guadeloupe, so many others. The details are incredible. It takes sometimes three weeks to three months to paint an acrylic on canvas, she explained. She then makes Giclee reproductions and a card line, from the originals, that also leaves one breathless.

Ruth Chisam from Clearlake Oaks was impressed with the show. “I wasn’t expecting so many well-crafted items. You can see the effort that everyone puts into their art.” Her mother, Sue Chisam, agreed.

Michael and Heide Salit had a beautifully lit booth lined with red velvet, lit by the candles they sell, called ‘Heavenly Glow.’ A soft-spoken man, Michael was a chef for 50-years. When he retired, he started “Heavenly Glow’ originally to help non-profits raise money through candles, which are handmade wax towers of light. His customers use the candles mainly for home decor, or restaurant decor. Their line of scented candles are softly scented with fragrances that Michael developed. True artists, both of the Salits.

Ariel Libre from Sebastopol wore a sparkling short cape in keeping with the Christmas feel of the show. She ended up buying Alpaca sweaters from Julia Rogers, ‘Peru Crafts’. “Her sweaters are unbelievable and she has such a good heart.” Libre said. “The whole show was amazingly lovely. Well worth the hour-and-a-half drive.”