Art of all kinds Art of all kinds (September 03, 2004)

Find your fancy among 650 booths

Leather sandals, hand-blown vases, gorgeous jewelry, panoramic photographs, handpainted clothing, glowing glass vessels, and unusual sculptures made from recycled material are some of the one-of-a-kind items you'll find at the Mountain View Art & Wine Festival.

Meet and greet America's most talented artists and craftmakers while browsing among 650 booths featuring original work in glass, ceramics, metals, fiber, leather, wood, jewelry, and fine art.

Wearable art

Enjoy the sunshine with a protective hat by Robbin Lacy. The Oregonian has a cult-like following in the Bay Area and sells 400 hats each year at the Mountain View show. All hats are made with 50 UPS-graded (ultraviolet protection) material.

Lucerne Valley resident Lee Risler has been making leather sandals since he graduated from high school in 1963. He has seven basic styles in black and brown smooth leather, as well as 14 suede colors. When a car accident left him with an amputated arm four years ago, Risler's positive spirit spurred him on to modify his technique and participate in a street fair just six weeks later.

Tie-dye never goes out of style because it makes people feel so cheerful. Novato resident Jonathan Kates has been tie-dyeing clothing for two decades. The Grateful Dead fan makes dresses, silk shirts, velvet wraps, socks and T-shirts for children and adults.

Get organized with a soft, buttery leather handbag by Berkeley resident Sven Stalman. Check out the multi-pocketed styles with all sorts of compartments for cell phones and planners. Stalman describes his slings, backpacks and purses as "soft, naked leather in classic stylings that are highly functional."

Functional art

Speaking of functional, Ken Foster has made pottery for 25 years. The Oakhurst artist dazzles his clients with abstract, floral and Asian-inspired porcelain and stoneware. Take a look at his latest rice bowls, teapots and life-sized pots.

Benicia artist Darlene Camp makes contemporary and traditional hand-blown vases, paperweights, ornaments, lampshades and bowls in bold and soft colors. Camp enjoys working with glass because of the medium's movement and artistic potential.

Whimsical, colorful ceramic pieces by Natasha Tunks are dishwasher and microwave safe. The Lake Tahoe artist hand-paints her creations to depict French vintage posters. Another line features tongue-in-cheek phrases like this one: "A good friend is like a good martini -- straight up with a good sense of humor."

Fine art

Oil painter Ora Tamir of Newbury Park paints emotions from a woman's perspective. Her surrealistic paintings capture feelings of love and longing.

Sunnyvale photographer Jim Guthrie travels the world to find inspiration for his gorgeous panoramic photographs. He recently captured white sand beaches and granite formations in Africa. "I wanted to specialize in something different," Guthrie noted. "Panoramic shots are more like what your eye really sees."

San Jose resident Diane Sautman sells personalized cartoons of custom characters immersed in 600 different life scenes. Her most popular cartoons are of families with children, dancers, cheerleaders, golfers and football players. Oakland resident Dan May paints acrylic nudes, animals, angels and devils. His style is described as "modern sensibility." May also makes T-shirts and prints.

Sculpture and mixed media

Danville artist Sarah Lindsay melts and flattens wine bottles to make unusual wall hangings and hors d'oeuvre trays. Labels are removed and reapplied. Her favorite is made from cobalt blue Italian glass.

Auburn artist Kathy Fretwall displays old-fashioned dried flowers inside vintage window frames. The look is rustic, timeless and will add an unusual touch to any wall.

Morro Bay's Anthony Hansen creates heart-shaped 3-D sculptures from recycled metal. "The heart is a shape we can all relate to," the artist said.

In the 1800s, a technique called "reverse painting" was popular for lamps and glass. Today, Las Vegas resident Popi Cotrell scours lots to find old windows. He paints the underside of his antique windows with acrylic paint in all sorts of designs. When the light shines through, the result is colorful, beautiful art.

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