A Season of Giving....And CREATING!

Happy Holidays!!!  Greetings from sunny Florida.  As we prepare for the almost-upon-us holidays, we here in the sunshine state use spray-on snow and crank the A/C up to create the illusion of winter.  None-the-less, we decorate our trees, light our menorahs, and celebrate the season with joy.  We wish all of our friends, family and supporters Peace and Joy this season, and look forward to seeing you in the Gallery.

Our artistic "elves" have been hard at work, setting the Gallery to perfection.  The shelves are filled with original, hand-made art, and our member artists are anxious to help you find the perfect gift to give this season.  Any time you come to CGMS Gallery, a member artist will be on hand to personally assist you in choosing (or creating) the perfect gift.  Call ahead, and we'll even set up a time to work with you one-on-one!

We also have some new events on the calendar, and new incentives within the Gallery to make your experience here even more fun.  On December 21 we will host a wild evening of live art called "Turn On - Tune In - Spin Out".  This event is a nod to the 60s, and features live art demonstrations by three of our talented Gallery members.  Tracy Rosof Peterson will be throwing pots on a pottery wheel, while Teri Salamoni creates amazing forms turning wood.  Wayne Smith will be spinning glass, creating gorgeous forms in blazing fire.  I believe I've even heard rumors of a contest to see who can create the most artwork in the evening....don't miss this!  A wonderful opportunity to find that perfect, last minute gift.

RAFFLE ALERT!!  AND, we are also offering monthly raffles of member artist creations!  This is a new idea for us, and we are testing as we speak.  Every month a Gallery artist will offer a work of handmade art.  Raffle tickets are just $5.00 each or five (5) for $20.00 (that's the BARGAIN, you end up with a free ticket!).  You can purchase tickets right here, using the PayPal button on the top right.  Raffle items will be announced here and on our Facebook page, along with the artist's bio, and photos of the work offered.  The winning ticket will be drawn on the third Friday of every month, during our first and third Friday art events and exhibits.  A fantastic opportunity to grab some amazing art and support our Gallery! The goal here is to raise funds for CGMS Gallery's ongoing community arts programs (like our Empty Bowls for Haiti project which raises thousands of dollars annually for children in Haiti), as well as continue to provide low cost retail space for local artists to show, create and share their works.

 

Our first raffle item will be provided by member artist Tracy Rosof Peterson, and I'll be posting photos and info on that very soon, so stay tuned! 

 

Whew, that's a lot for one post, so I'll quit now.  BUT, please check back--you don't want to miss anything and we have so many fantastic events and exhibits planned....see you in the Gallery!!! 

Book Signings, New Shows, Sensational Summer EVENTS!

Well, "Season" may be officially over, but that doesn't mean the Gallery is slowing down one bit!  In fact, we're gearing up for a fantastic Summer, full of new artists, art shows, events and so much more.  The Gallery is restructuring--we're making space available for as many Palm Beach County artists as we can!  You will see many new faces and new lines of AMAZING artwork on our shelves....with so much more to come.

This Friday, May 18th, we welcome Trina Slade-Burks and John Palozzi for an unusual art/book signing event.  Both have created illustrated cook books, filled with delicious recipes and beautiful art.  Come meet these talented artists/chefs, buy a book and turn your kitchen into an edible art gallery!! 

Then, it's on to June.  Gallery members Betty Wilson and Linda Manganaro will be hosting a "come one, come all" art show in the Gallery called "The Oddity of the Artist".  This is a great opportunity for new artists to show their works of all mediums (2D and 3D) in the Gallery for a week.  Click here to download the admissions form, and contact Betty for more information.  This show will be one of several held over the summer celebrating the wealth of talented artists right here in South Florida.  So, if you are a local artist interested in showing, PLEASE JOIN US!  And, if you are an art lover, mark your calendar for June 15 - 30th.  Can't wait to see what turns up!!!!

So, as Summer heats up, the Gallery will keep you cool with amazing art, fun shows, and as always, a great place to come hang out.  Stop by soon to see the new work and meet our artists.  See you on the Avenue!!

Buy Handmade this Holiday Season....PLEASE!

Can you believe it's already mid-November? Wow, the year is flying by. This is the time of year to reflect on what we are thankful for and to share gifts from the heart. All of us at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery ask that you consider sharing handmade gifts this season. Skip the malls and "big box" stores full of mass produced products and give something made by a local artist instead! Original, beautiful and much more meaningful, handmade art supports local businesses and artists. We so appreciate your support!

Speaking of amazing gifts of art, our next event, Harvest - From Hand to Hearth, will feature truly lovely works in weaving and wood turning created by Gallery artists Mary Catello, Teri Salomoni and Mark Banfield. Come meet these talented folks on Friday, November 18th. Mary and Teri's woven baskets and forms are perfect for the season, and you will be amazed by Mark's intricate wood creations. Gorgeous works!

So, get into the gift-giving frame of mind with a visit to the Gallery. You know, many of our artists do custom designs, so it's not too late to create the perfect gift together! See you soon...

New Guys!

We are welcoming several new artists to the Gallery, and have divided the group into two shows--The Guys, and The Gals! Join us this Friday to meet the New Guys, Rick Cohen and Mark Banfield. Both are woodworkers, Rick creates amazing functional and decorative works with driftwoods and found objects. Mark is a wood turner, creating beautifully detailed bowls and vessels from local and exotic wood.

Stop by the Gallery this Friday for a glass of wine and to meet these wonderful new artists! See you at 6:00...

Happy Birthday to US!

We celebrated our second birthday on the Avenue last Friday with delicious cake, mimosas, home made sangria and a fantastic butterfly release. The butteflies were provided by Wish Upon A Butterfly, and we had a great time watching the lovely insects emerge from their envelopes to fly away over the gallery. If you have never been a part of a butterfly release, you should! It is a lovely way to celebrate any occasion, and such a great, interactive event. Look up Wish Upon a Butterfly, and tell Jodi we sent you! We released native butterflies including painted ladies, black swallowtails, and everyone's favorite, monarch butterflies! As you can see from the photos below, this is an event made for kids and photographers. We will continue this tradition annually, and if you missed it this year, be sure to mark your calendars for next May.

A special thanks to Durga Garcia for the amazing photographs, as always!

On behalf of all the artists that are a part of CGMSG, we also thank Jay Bernhardt for his continued generous support of the Gallery. If it weren't for Jay, we would not have a spot on Lake Avenue to call home. We cannot thank him enough!