World-Class Art Takes Over Castro Street
The Mountain View Art & Wine Festival is One of America’s Top Art Festivals
Contemporary pop art, stunning jewelry, handthrown ceramics, gorgeous photography, silk wall hangings, handcarved woodwork, handblown glass objects, vibrant mixed media art, recycled metal work, chic wearables, slate fountains, whimsical sculptures, handmade quilts — you’ll find all of this and more at every price point at the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival, September 7-8. Enjoy a pleasant, sun-splashed weekend browsing and strolling among colorful, well-stocked booths and meet 500 of America’s finest artists and craftmakers showcasing their latest work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art at this nationally renown festival. It’s the perfect opportunity to stock up on gifts.
Ben Teeter painting "Golden State Champs"
Tim Aston photography "Tranquil Heart"
Alain Fastre watercolor "Yosemite National Park"
Diana Owens custom clocks
Fine Art
From Buster Posey and Stephen Curry to Marilyn Monroe and Mick Jagger, Ben Teeter’s acrylic paintings are sure to delight music and sports fans of all ages. In addition to his one-of-a-kind paintings, his prints are limited editions. Tim Aston’s stunning photography captures the beauty of dramatic skies in Yosemite, the coastal beauty of the California coastline and the astounding rugged terrain of local mountains. His unique pieces make a dramatic statement and certainly are conversation pieces! Watercolorist Alain Fastre is a self-taught artist who has been painting for more than 50 years. His interesting subjects include the oldest lighthouse in Ireland, gondolas in Venice, a marsh in Belgium and California’s beautiful Big Sur. “I have seen iconic places that have engraved indelible memories in my mind, becoming the subjects of my artwork,” the artist noted.
Functional Art
Need a special gift for a special someone? Tonya Fernandez and Sean Olson make pretty soy candles with interesting scents–Beach House, Bay Leaf and Tobacco, California Sage and Bergamot Cedar, to name a few. They hand blend ingredients of the highest quality and use biodegradable soy wax with cotton wicks. Time is of the essence … Dianna Owens upcycles found wooden materials to make rustic clocks. “Each clock is made with love and is perfectly detailed,” she said. “I design, create, hand-paint and assemble each and every clock. My clocks fit almost any décor, from farmhouse to beach house.” Tami Carmody paints beautiful flowers on glass hummingbird feeders, wine glasses, bases and olive oil jars. Her passion for painting has turned into a full-time business, and she also has a holiday line of festaive glasses and cookie jars.
Joan and Dan Swartz art glass jewelry
Sherri Rawson ceramics cats
Roger Floren 3D wood maps
John Draper sculpture
Wearable Art
Dan and Joan Swartz are crafters of shimmering dichroic glass jewelry. The process begins by stacking and fusing pieces of patterned dichroic glass in a 1500-degree kiln. The glass is cut, re-fired and shaped into gorgeous jewelry. They also make festive glass pumpkins–perfect for Halloween and Thanksgiving! Henry Miyoshi’s innovative clothing designs for men and women are based on the classic punk rock tradition. He got his start after creating patches and selling them on the street out of a suitcase. "Through my label, I advocate for and encourage others to pursue genuine self-expression,” Henry said. “Hopefully, the brand incites others to find and share their individuality, whether it is through their clothing, music or other outlets. Laurel Altenau is a contemporary jeweler whose designs are crisp and clean. Choose from sterling silver and 14K gold-filled stacking rings, love knots and wire wraps.
Sculpture and Mixed Media
Sherri Rawson has a following for her cute ceramic critters. For more than 50 years, her family has sold whimsical animal sculptures, pen holders and business card holders. A potter’s wheel is used for some parts of their designs. Once a sculpture is molded, it dries in the sun for several days before being fired to stoneware in an electric kiln. After he moved to Squaw Valley a few years ago, Roger Floren learned how to make large 3-D maps of multiple pieces of wood that mock the rugged terrain of Lake Tahoe. His maps are produced on a large CNC wood mill, a computer controlled cutting machine that he built himself. Roger also makes maps of the Grand Canyon, the Bay Area and Monterey Bay. John Draper creates wire sculptures of palm trees, bonsai trees and willow trees. The branches are made of brass or copper, and each tree features a gemstone or crystal at its base. “I’m always experimenting,” John noted. “There are limited possibilities with the different types of gemstones. People like to use my trees as decorative accents on book shelves and fireplace mantels.”
