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Pleasant Valley Energizes… |
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Spring Art Show June
7th & 8th The first vestiges of Spring here in Pleasant Valley reaffirm that there is a more powerful, kinder and gentler energy underway. For one breathless moment in April there appeared billions of buds on millions of trees here on the Blue Ridge Mountains. These tiny concentrations of life were all backlit by the late afternoon sun as we came up Frog Eye Road from the school bus stop and they formed a dazzling kaleidoscope of creative light in the forest. Each tender bud was a brilliant prism of energy and promise. It is these points of life that also inspire the artists here at Pleasant Valley Studios. The winter doldrums are now distant memories and we have become energized by the light we will carry to our Spring Art Show on the 7th and 8th of June 2008. |
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JONNA MENDEZ - Photographer Jonna has aggressively pursued her craft this year. She began with a holiday trip to Paris where she spent a week prowling the avenues and boulevards, capturing that small delight which is uniquely Paris. She filled a large exhibit hall with her work at our three person show at the Delaplaine Center in February and March. Then in April we had the First Annual Art Show and Wine Tasting at our studios here in Pleasant Valley. Jonna had an exciting career as a clandestine photographer with the CIA using her camera as a natural cover during her worldwide travels. She has since continued to pursue the images from her life and travels that only her special eye can recognize. We all trust she will continue to stay busy, both producing and showing the work. She is especially looking forward to meeting with our kindred spirits and sharing experiences at the Spring Art Show in our studios this year. The hills and gardens will be at their peak of the season. As will Jonna, and her work. To view a selection of her series click on the photo or follow this link to her online Gallery |
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 "On Watch" (maquette) Bronze |
ANTONIO TOBIAS MENDEZ - Sculptor It is exciting to visit Toby?s studio these days. Both sculpture bays are humming. He has two monumental reliefs and one larger than life figure in various stages of completion. The subject is bicycle racing and A Tribute to Major Taylor is a monument now under way for Worcester, MA celebrating a world class bicyclist from the turn of the twentieth century. Another monument underway celebrates the US Navy Amphibious forces during WWII. An eight foot standing figure of a sailor on watch was just completed in clay by Toby and transported to the foundry for the bronze casting. At this time last year, Toby was putting final touches on three other monuments; all have been since dedicated and so Toby?s life total of over two dozen monuments continues to grow as does his production of gallery pieces. These will be on display at the Spring Art Show along with the new monument in progress. Toby and his work is featured in the June issue of Frederick Magazine. For a complete list of honors, public and corporate commissions, follow this link to Toby Mendez Studios. |
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ANTONIO JOSEPH MENDEZ - Painter Tony is always anticipating his next painting. Now he is looking forward to his first movie as well. The May issue of Wired Magazine featured Tony?s Iranian Rescue story and someone slipped an advanced copy to Warner Brothers and George Clooney. George is going to co-write, direct and maybe even act the part. Who knows George could show up here at any moment although the last we heard he was in Romania. We will make sure to get a copy of this invite to him! He will learn that Tony, even when he was running clandestine operations against the Russians and the Iranians, really thought of himself as a painter and was always planning his next painting. He joined the CIA in 1965 as an artist illustrator and served with distinction for twenty-five years. Although immersed in increasing responsibilities he continued to think and see like a painter and to find time to paint. Tony was finally able to paint and show full-time years later after retiring from government service in 1990. To view Tony's works, click on the photo or follow this link to his online Gallery |
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Copyright ©MMVII.
All rights reserved. |
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