Local artists gathered at the Palo Alto Art Center to showcase their creations to the public on Saturday. Upon entering, the venue was bustling with people, with viewers captivated by the creativity of the artists’ work. The artwork ranged from elaborate jewelry to acrylic paintings and ceramic vases. For many artists, this was an opportunity to share not only their passions, but to express themselves and give the public an insight into where their love for this work began.
One artist, Brian Xu, shared how this event was an opportunity for him to share the origin of his passion for pottery. “I was creative in high school, and I created an art portfolio that got me into college. I’ve been doing pottery ever since,” Xu said. This event allowed him to showcase the intricate designs of his pottery and expand within the art community.
The showcase also served as an outlet for exhibiting the inspirations artists have for their artwork. One ceramic and metal artist, Inna Smirnova, designs metal Estonian brooches and ceramics with Finnish inspiration. “I use a Finnish design to create my work. These are fish patterns that I use to inspire my work,” Smirnova said. Fish scales are deeply rooted into the historical Finnish culture, and Smirnova demonstrated through her various pieces, ranging all the from vases to plates. Smirnova showcased her ability to intertwine culture and art, showing the public the depth and creativity of ceramics.
The event was also an opportunity for artists to highlight the hard work, quality, and precision of their pieces. One jewelry designer, Nerija Titus, emphasized the precision and high quality of her nature-inspired jewelry. “It’s made of porcelain, and real gold is put in it. You can hang it on a silk string and wear it,” Titus said.
Angelica Ghandy, an attendee, expressed her appreciation for how the artwork reflects the individual character of each artist. “I love the fact that everybody, every different artist, has their own aesthetic,” Ghandy said. She admired how each exhibit was an expression of each artist’s authentic self through the variety of work. “They had their own different way of creating different art,” she said.
Ultimately, this event offered artists with different passions and motivations for their work to come together, providing an engaging experience for the community. Artists were given the opportunity to expand their presence in the art world and take pride in their work within the welcoming community at the art center.
