Festively Inspired

Julie Holmes

This past weekend I attended the La Jolla Festival of the Arts.  I went there specifically to meet and say hi to fellow Grains of Glass member and sculptress/enamelist extraordinaire Delia DeLapp.  Delia inspires me.  She is a tiny little young thing and artistically it seems she lets nothing get in her way.  Need a bigger kiln?  She builds one.  Client wants big?  Go Bigger.  Need a new skill?  Go learn it. I don't see fear in her, like the fear in me that holds me back.  Maybe she asks herself the same "what if's" that I do...but if so, she doesn't let it show.  Her work is gorgeous, bold and courageous, like her.

I chose some other favorites from the show to share with you.Justin Coopersmith  His work is exactly what I'm drawn to. Color, glitz, texture, whimsy, fun...a feast for the eyeVigallart, a collaboration of Ric, Susan and Tim Vigallon.  3D metal art...again, right up my alley.  Shiny metal, gorgeous color and fun whimsy.  A man with a plasma torch...and look what he can create with it...stunning.

Then there was Suzanne Spalding glass art.  Beautiful designs, gorgeous colors, and again that fun and whimsy. I will never again think of fused glass as strictly little boring ashtrays and platters.

What did I learn?  There is more beautiful art out there than you can imagine.  Art shows are expensive and the food isn't that great.  The things I like the most are expensive (of course).  People at shows are having fun.  I like being around people that are having fun.  There's nothing like sunshine, happy people and art to make you want to go home and create.  Have you been to an art show lately?