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    Art Fridays at the Gallery

    Need a moment in the week to just zone out and make a little art?

    Art Fridays happen every Friday at the Eloise Pickard Smith Gallery from 12-5 and they are open to anyone who wants to just stop in and be creative. I was invited to attend last week and we used polymer clay to create ocean inspired creatures which could then be painted with some acrylics.

    It was so sweet to watch obviously really busy students, just stop and play with clay for a few minutes before continuing on with their day. During my exhibition, all the Art Friday projects are ocean related, from seashell and wire jewelry to mosaics with beach trash. If you’re planning a trip to see the show on a Friday afternoon, make sure you leave time to be creative too!

    the outside scoop: 10

    This week, outside the studio…

    Got one more leg of the bay area ridge trail done! This one was a shorter hike through the presidio to the GG bridge. Also got to see Andy Goldsworthy’s Spire after it caught fire a few years ago.
    after a very busy season in the studio, I escaped for a few weeks to our property in Baja for some much needed recharge time
    such a treat to be in mexico for dia de los muertos

    The Outside Scoop is a weekly blog series that shares a little bit of what’s going on in my life outside of the studio. Please feel free to leave comments, I look forward to chatting with you here!

    Work from the Relic Series added to the shop

    relic series | shop | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    Only five mini Relics remain in the online shop and they are ON SALE now!

    These small sculptures are simple and minimalist in style but create a striking negative spaces. They are iron washed ceramic, tied together with sinew and mounted on slate stone bases making them suitable for indoor and outdoor spaces.

    SHOP NOW

    the outside scoop: 9

    This week, outside the studio…

    I walk Westcliff and Seabright areas daily with my dog but one of my favorite urban hikes is going lighthouse to lighthouse and back. It takes you on the cliffs, through the boardwalk, across the river, through neighborhoods and onto the beach, a little bit of everything in one long walk. Someday I’m going to plan a swim from lighthouse to lighthouse… stay tuned for that one!
    When the water and the air are about the same temperature, you know you’re in for a cold morning swim but it’s sooooo pretty!
    me: realizing my husband is taking pictures of me picking up trash at our campsite from previous visitors
    him: this is good for your blog, it’s what you care about, you should share this part too
    me: grumbling about how much humans suck and why can’t people pack their own trash out

    **we packed out more trash from others than we made ourselves, seriously people – protect these places and leave no trace**
    It’s the best time of year to hike Big Sur, when the temperature has dropped to keep you from nearly dying on the exposed very, very steep hillsides. This area burned in the Dolan Fire in 2020 and is just starting to recover.
    burnt pinecones from the 2020 Dolan fire | manzanita berries for a tasty trailside nibble | dried turkey tail mushrooms on a gigantic oak
    the coastal mountain are so thigh burning steep but you can’t beat the views from the top.

    The Outside Scoop is a weekly blog series that shares a little bit of what’s going on in my life outside of the studio. Please feel free to leave comments, I look forward to chatting with you here!

    Local artists doing public art

    In my last post I shared my installation at the new Kaiser building in downtown Santa Cruz but I also wanted to share a few of my favorites of the other local artists that were chosen for this space too. It’s so great to see large organizations or corporations prioritize local artists and unique work into their public spaces. Chandra Cerrito Art Advisors was given the task of presenting all of the works for potential selection and it was great working with them. Check out some of these great pieces…

    Ethan Estess
    John Maxon
    Laura Beach
    Lea de Wit
    Leslie Morgan

    Ethan Estess uses reclaiming fishing rope to create many of his pieces. John Maxon paints the great beauty that surrounds us. Laura Beach combines her love of science and printmaking to create her works. Lea de Wit creates large scale glass installations that swim, fly and flow across walls. Leslie Morgan creates work that is inspired by her time in the water.

    There are many, many more pieces included in the building, so if you’re going to get your flu shot or booster be sure to keep an eye out as you pass through the halls. You’re sure to be inspired!

    New Public Art Installed

    Thanks to Dr. Harrington, I got a personal tour of all the art that was recently installed at the new Kaiser Permanente healthcare building in Santa Cruz and I got to see my work there for the first time!

    ‘Marine Drifters’ at Kaiser Permanente downtown Santa Cruz offices

    This piece is called Marine Drifters and includes hundreds of porcelain parts that are based on the intricate skeletal structures of radiolarians, which are single cell planktons. The pieces were adhered to painted wood panels and then framed in plexi to protect the work. They span 216″ x 26″ x 6″ over the work stations. The overall composition is based on the Santa Cruz County coastline.

    To see more images from this installation, click here.

    shop strays are on sale!

    A lot of art was collected during Open Studios, but I was also left with quite a few strays; one or two pieces from older series. So I’m putting them on sale in the online shop and they are ready for adoption! More work will be going up soon, so stay tuned but in the meantime, check out these great deals from the Specimen & Rock Candy Series, Art Hearts and Book Bundles!

    SHOP NOW

    Last Week for Sculpture IS: 2022 at Sierra Azul

    SCULPTURE IS: 2022 is coming to a close!

    Be sure to get out to Sierra Azul Gardens before October 31st to check out all the sculptures. There are over 90 works created by 48 artists and collaborators. Visit the stunning two-acre demonstration garden, relax under the umbrellas, and spend an afternoon enjoying the exhibit.

    June 1 – October 31 2022

    Sierra Azul Gardens

    2660 East Lake Avenue | Watsonville CA
    Across from the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

    Open Daily from 10-5

    And that’s a wrap!

    And that's a wrap! | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    THANK YOU!

    To everyone who came out to Open Studios this year and a special thank you if you added new work to your collection! It was great to re-connect with old friends and make new connections. Feeling the love everyone!!

    If you’re still thinking about a piece that you didn’t take home, I’ll be adding new work to the online shop soon, and of course you’re always welcome to swing by the studio to shop in person!

    Let’s do it again next year!!