Creative expression in many forms will be on view May 20-21 as South Bay artists open their work spaces to visitors for the third and final weekend of this year’s Silicon Valley Open Studios.
Sunnyvale resident and software engineer Ronen Vainish had a third party introduction to his artistic medium. “My wife registered me for a class at the Bay Area Glass Institute located at the San Jose History Park, and the rest is history.”
Vainish creates bowls and vases in swirls of vivid blue, green and yellow glass, which he displayed at a Los Altos site during the second week of Open Studios. He says controlling the process can be a challenge, but the end result is worthwhile.
“Art gives you a different perspective as a human being,” he adds. “It is satisfying to the soul.”
Willow Glen resident Prakash Chandras prefers painting in oils, and his specialty is linearism. This is evident in his work, where the viewer can see the clear lines of buildings and similar objects.
An award-winning artist, Chandras has exhibited at shows spanning the globe—in California, Greece, India and Albuquerque, NM, where he served as director of an art gallery. He teaches art at De Anza College in Cupertino and has also taught at West Valley College in Saratoga and at San Jose City College.
“I have always tried to encourage interest in art among children,” says Chandras, who helps with student shows and encourages his daughters to take art classes at the local community center. “Art should be a bigger part of the community than it is.”
Chandras will show his paintings during Open Studios May 20-21 at 2224 Foxworthy Ave. in San Jose.
Photographer Steve Toll is president of Silicon Valley Visual Arts, the nonprofit that runs Silicon Valley Open Studios.
“Open Studios is our signature event,” he says. “I am a retired tech executive and have both art and business skills. This is my way of giving back to the art community.”
Like Vainish, Toll participated in the second week of Open Studios. “It is fulfilling to talk to people who come to my studio regarding art, and about your own art in particular,” he says.
The South Bay leg of Silicon Valley Open Studios is May 20-21, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. For a list of participating artists and an event map, visit www.svos.org.
Source: www.mercurynews.com