Home Front FREE DISPOSAL ... of household hazardous waste is available for Palo Alto residents on Saturday, July 2, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Regional Water Quality Control Plant, 2501 Embarcadero Way, Palo Alto. Accepted hazards include aerosols, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, paints, pool chemicals, fluorescent and compact fluorescent lights, and much more. Information: 650-4966980 or www.cleanbay.org; call 650-5904 to schedule an appointment during the week. NO MORE PESTS ... Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County are offering a free workshop on “Diseases, Insects and Weeds, Oh My! Managing Pests in the Garden� on Saturday, July 2, from 10 to 11 a.m. Focus is on how and why to control weeds, attracting beneficial insects, controlling powdery mildew and managing aphids. The workshop is held at the Palo Alto Demonstration Garden, 851 Center Drive, Palo Alto. Information: Master Gardeners at 408-282-3105, between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday or http://mastergardeners.org BRAIN BURST ... Ever wondered “What can I do with THAT?� Nancy Welch, art teacher and author, will offer a class on what to do with FabMo finds on Thursday, July 14, from 7 to 9 p.m. at 2423 Old Middlefield Way, Mountain View. Bring projects (finished or not), scissors and thoughts to share. Cost is $12. Information: gather.fabrix@me.com
Also online at PaloAltoOnline.com
ART
Clay and glass festival offers art to budgetconscious public
April Zilber’s “Double Wave,� a fused-glass candle screen, top, and lyn swan’s trio of hand-built porcelain trays will be shown at the Palo Alto Clay & Glass Festival.
(continued on page 39)
LEARN FLORAL DESIGN ... Anne Patrick, who began the (continued on page 40)
Cheryl Wolff’s “Porcelain Bird House,� left, and Doris FischerColbrie’s textured basket vase will be in the festival.
Juliana Lee & Jeff Keller
The Experts in Your Local & Global Real Estate Market
Call them today 650-857-1000 • www.julianalee.com *>Â?ÂœĂŠ Â?ĂŒÂœĂŠ7iiÂŽÂ?ÞÊUĂŠ Ă•Â?ÞÊ£]ÊÓ䣣ÊU Page 37
Photographs courtesy of the Palo Alto Clay & Glass Festival
BEST PLACE TO WORK ... Inc. Magazine just named Harrell Remodeling, Inc., of Mountain View, as one of the “Top Small Company Workplaces.� Founded in 1985, the company’s 40 employees can become partowners through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — and after five years they get a custom-made watch. With about 100 projects each year, the design/build’s revenues were $8.2 million in 2010.
F
by Jeff Carr ine art and functional art have been at odds for centuries, twisting and complicating the very definition of art itself. Similarly, like oil anwd watercolor, the words “artistic� and “affordable� rarely combine well, especially in such affluent places as Palo Alto. Bringing these disparate concepts together, however, is a grand goal of many of the artists displaying and selling their work at the Palo Alto Clay & Glass Festival, July 9 and 10. More than 150 artists are expected at this year’s event in Rinconada Park, and a full schedule of demonstrations will allow attendees to watch professional artists at work, and even try their own hands at ceramics. Felton glass artist April Zilber noted that in addition to the exceptional quality of the work displayed at the annual festival, the event’s format also brings with it distinct advantages over broader art shows. “There aren’t 20 different media, so you get to see the full extent of what’s possible here,� she said. “There is incredible breadth and depth just within clay and glass.� The breadth and depth also extends to the participating artists. Zilber, who has a Ph.D in biochemistry, spent several years in science before turning her full attention to art in 1992. She said that although her past profession was “intellectually interesting,� the laboratory work often became repetitive and tedious. As an artist, she said, she still performs experiments, but they don’t have to reach an expected result to be worthwhile. The aversion to tedium keeps Zilber’s focus not on bowls and plates, but on architectural glass and lighting. “I have to keep it interesting for myself,� she said. For her, this means sacrificing some of the functionality that often characterizes clay and glass work. Walnut Creek ceramicist Cheryl Wolff cherishes the idea that her work can be seen, handled and used on a daily basis. “When you make functional ceramics, you really want people to use it,� she said. “Functional ceramics is why I got involved in the first place.� Palo Altan Doris Fischer-Colbrie agrees. “With ceramics, you can enjoy the feel, the texture,� she said. “It’s more intimate, which makes it more accessible.� Fischer-Colbrie will be participating in her hometown festival for the first time.
OPEN HOME GUIDE 46
AFFORDABLE
Home&Real Estate