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Guest Artists Gallery ‘N’ Gifts is pleased to announce its June gallery show entitled “Equine Art.” The show’s featured artists will be Pam Willdermuth, well known equine artist, with her award winning original fine art oil paintings. Joining her, will be sculptor-painter Kay Grotophorst displaying her dynamic bronze sculptures and acrylic paintings. Come meet the artists and join us in celebrating the beauty, power and spirit of this wonderful creature at the First Friday Opening reception on June 6, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Gallery ‘N’ Gifts located at 100 West Tehachapi Blvd. in Tehachapi, California. Pamela Wildermuth is a 4th generation Californian, the great-granddaughter of Don Antonio Leiva, early Tehachapi homesteader and renowned vaquero who worked cattle and horses on the vast Tejon Ranch. Wildermuth's childhood was filled with stories of Don Antonio's adventures, drawing sessions with her artist-father, and after-school riding lessons. It's not surprising that this horse-crazy little girl grew up to become one the country's most prominent equine artists. Wildermuth is a Full/Signature member of the American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA) and a Signature/Emeritus member (and past president) of Women Artists of the West (WAOW). Her paintings and drawings, praised for their authenticity and attention to detail, are selected for some of the world's most important exhibitions of equine art and can be found in prestigious collections throughout the world. Among Wildermuth's numerous awards are two Publishers Awards from The Equine Image magazine and the prestigious AAEA Founders Award for Oil. Her works have been published in limited edition print; a series of fine china collector plates for The Bradford Exchange; in numerous equine magazines . She also designed the sculpture The Stallion's Kingdom for the Danbury Mint. Wildermuth specializes in commissioned equine portraiture and is under contract with the San Fernando Valley Horse Show Association (SFVHSA) to produce portraits of their 10 High-Point winning horses each year. "The relationship shared by horse and humans is truly unique...That they can work with us and for us the way they do is amazing, and speaks volumes about their intelligence and adaptability." Kay Grotophorst, painter and sculptor, also states that horses have always been a part of her life as well. “Growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, I dreamed of a life with horses... I sculpted horses out of clay, drew and painted them as well. “When I moved to California I continued to develop my sculpture while I was active in the horse industry as an event rider, trainer and ranch manager All of these experiences has given me a wealth of memories, images and feelings from which I can incorporate into my work. This gives me the ability to create a piece of sculpture that is multidimensional and with feeling. “ My main focus through my sculpture is for the viewer to feel something or have a reaction...Understanding that when each of us look at a sculpture, our reactions or feeling will be unique. These feelings may be strong or subtle. Emotions are provoked and special memories relived...The reassuring soft sound of a "good morning" nicker or the sweet smell of a horses mane. The feelings of warmth from that friendship of a favorite horse. Or maybe, that special dance of the old warrior stallion as he enters the aisle to announce his arrival to the rest of the barn. Sometimes the most minute details are the strongest and give us the greatest feelings... .” “Serene yet strong, honest and noble” have been used to describe her style and by producing only originals, she creates a truly individual, one of a kind piece of work for her collectors . Kay has a thorough working and teaching knowledge of the entire casting process and often oversees and participates in the foundry processes of casting her bronzes. As a part of this exhibit, she will exhibit some work in developmental stages and will readily explain the “lost wax casting process” to the viewers. Adept in many artistic disciplines, Kay will also exhibit some of her current acrylic paintings. The viewer will be immediately drawn to her dynamic style and vivid use of color. Be sure to meet this dynamo duo at the show's opening on the evening of June 6. The show will run through June 30th and the gallery is conveniently open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Gallery 'N' Gifts is pleased to be a part of the First Friday "Art Around Town"- a monthly celebration of fine arts showing at many locations throughout the city. Also participating this month, will be Crossroads Gallery, Frame of Mind/Art and Glass, Mama Hillybeans Coffee and Community, Books and Crannies, and Radio Shack. For more information about this and other upcoming events call (661) 822- 6062 or check our web site at www.galleryngifts.org. Pamela Wildermuth with her horse, Mr. Okie. One of Pamela's latest oils, "Sun Kissed." Kay Grotophorst with one of her bronze sculptures that will be in the Gallery 'N' Gifts June show entitled "Equine Art." New Show of Metal Art to Open at Gallery ’N’ Gifts March 7. Pat Jensen will be our featured artist for the Month of March at Gallery ’N’ Gifts. Pat works in thin gauged steel sheet from which he cuts and fabricated his “DreaMaker” creations. This landscaper turned artist uses the Native American legions and lore as his themes of choice and uses those themes as his inner spiritual expression of native man’s harmonious living within the environment. Pat states, “I've become inspired by our Native Americans bond with wildlife and nature, their culture, honor and celebration of spirituality am fulfilled to display this ethic. It's ‘Good Medicine’ for me, and I hope it reminds others of this virtue. Art helps me to find peace and like the Native Americans, I am driven to honor my ancestors and my offspring.” Images of bold Indian ponies, lizards, soaring eagles, conchos , feathers and more, are all are masterfully cut, finished and can be easily placed indoors or in the garden. His first showing last November in Bear Valley Springs was a sell out. Don’t miss this one. His show entitled “DreaMaker” will open on First Friday March 7. A reception will be in his honor will run from 5 pm -8 pm that evening at Gallery ‘N’ Gifts, 100 W. Tehachapi Boulevard . Come in and meet the artist, enjoy some refreshments and be sure to take time to check out the happenings over at Crossroads Gallery on this First Friday evening’s art walk at the compass square. A three day watercolor workshop is forming for March 24 - 26 . This will be taught by Joan Skinner. Registration forms are available at the gallery. While you are at the gallery be sure to pick up your applications for the April All Tehachapi Youth Art Contest and the June Springtime Faire. High school seniors also need to get their scholarship applications filled out. Contact your High School Careers advisor for applications. TVAA will be offering two $1000 scholarships to qualified seniors this year. For more information about any of the upcoming events check out our web site at www.galleryngifts.org or phone 822-6062 during business hours October 2007 Boots on the Ground/Honoring Our Military - An art show to honor the military will opening at Gallery N Gifts on October 5. Titled “Boots On the Ground,” the show will feature local artist Elisa Stepp, who in turn will feature paintings that depicts work being done by our troops in Afghanistan. The special show will open as part of the First Friday Art Walk, held monthly in conjunction with CrossRoads Gallery, from 5 to 8pm. Elisa Stepp is a talented artist who recently moved to Tehachapi from Washington State with her husband and six children. A Phi Theta Kappa Society Member, Elisa has studied art and art history at Centralia College and hopes to further her education here in California. Her goal: to one day teach Art History and Studio Art at the college level. Stepp is an oil painter who uses the masters’ techniques of Rembrandt, Renoir and others. She has been painting professionally for two years now and has done numerous commissions. Two of her paintings have been published in “The Beyond Parallax Art and Literature Journal;” she also won Best of Show plus a third-place award in the Southwest Washington Art Show in 2005 and last year received an Honorable Mention. The paintings that will be on display at Gallery N Gifts in October were inspired by the photography of Melvin Krambule, an award-winning photographer who also happens to be Elisa’s younger brother. Stepp hopes that her audience will look upon this particular collection of paintings and see through the eyes of her brother, who took the pictures while serving with the Army in the Middle East. Melvin Krambule served as a Specialist with the ACO 2-5 INF 25th Division in 2005, which helped build schools and wells for the communities in Uruzgan, Afghanistan; they also registered people to vote and formed soccer leagues. He also served with the 4th ID Division and in Iraq in 2006 as a Sergeant. During his service he won a Combat Infantry Badge and Army Accommodation Medals. Melvin currently resides in Portland Oregon with his wife and daughter, where he recently relocated in March of 2007 after his enlistment with the United States Army was over. Kranbule’s interest in photography started as a hobby, which inspired him to take thousands of pictures in Afghanistan. His skill enabled him to capture the people and the soldiers during his mission there, and ultimately earned him five awards at the Northwest International Exhibition of photography (which is judged by the Photographic Society of America). He was awarded Best Scenic, Judges Choice, 2nd in Photo Journalism, and three People’s Choice awards. Melvin is now serving our country with the National Guard and still taking pictures. Through their combined art, Elisa hopes you will come and see what the media is not showing about our military, and how Melvin’s journey has now become her own. Boots on the Ground will be on display at Gallery N Gifts through Veterans Day, November 11. Gallery N Gifts, located at 100 W Tehachapi Boulevard, will use this show as the main feature of an Honoring of the Military promotion. Also on display in the gallery will be an Honor Board and Book which will contain the photos of the family and friends in the military (past and present) of our local Tehachapi citizens. If you want your loved ones displayed on our Honor Board and Book, please bring in a 5X7 photo (or smaller) of your heroes from WWI through our nation’s current engagement. Please note: bring copies, not originals, as your photos will not be returned. Main Street Tehachapi is also participating in Honoring the Military by providing a giant “Thank You” card which will be available for anyone to sign. At the end of our art show it will be sent to over to one of our troop units now serving in Iraq. In addition, the American Legion Auxiliary to the Tehachapi American Legion, Post 221, will be present on the First Friday opening night October 5, 5-8pm and will have the Blue Star Banners available to those families having loved ones now serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. A lot will be going on for our Honoring the Military event -- Elisa’s wonderful works are sure to fill you with awe and make you proud, and her brother’s photos are a wonderful augmentation to the show. And your participation is both anticipated and appreciated. For more information about this and other events sponsored by Gallery N Gifts and Tehachapi Valley Arts Association, call 822-6062 or check our web site at www.galleryngifts.org. June 2007 Show, "Painting with Digital Light" at Gallery ‘n’ Gifts Gallery 'n' Gifts continues it's tradition of fostering new, local talent with an innovative show in June! Guest artist Krista Levy will present a show entitled "Painting with Digital Light," featuring striking works of contemporary digital photography. The artist's background is rooted in digital graphic design.She has worked for clients such as MTV Networks, The French Culinary Institute and Cal Ripkin Baseball. Now she's channeling her experience in a fresh direction, combining photographic composition with digital techniques to create sophisticated works specifically intended for display in the home. "After so many years of doing corporate work," says Krista, "My goal now is simply to find extraordinary beauty in ordinary life." To accomplish this, she selects images to photograph with proportion and visual balance in mind. Then she employs various methods of digital enhancement to seamlessly integrate multiple levels of contrast, depth and clarity into the final works. Come on down to the gallery to see the results! Mark your calendars and help us kick off the show with a reception on Friday evening, June 1, from 5 pm to 8 pm.Everyone who attends may enter a special drawing – you might just walk away with a free black & white print by Krista! The show will run throughout the month of June at Gallery 'n' Gifts in historic downtown Tehachapi (at the corner of Tehachapi Boulevard and Green Street.) For more information call 822-6062 or check out our web site at www.galleryngifts.org. Click Below for a brief visit with some of our past Guest Artists Equine Art (July 06) Through a Camera's Lense (August 06)