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Op-Ed: Little art Gallery in California wine country celebrates 1st year (Includes interview and first-hand account)

This July marks the first anniversary of the former-single-family dwelling turned art studio. As summer blazes forward, Studio 35 is pleased to announce its ‘Farm to Canvas’ event. When the gallery and teaching facility opened, this reporter was among the first visitors who wanted to know what was the place all about. I had the opportunity to speak to Jude Cameron who gave me a tour. Even in those first few weeks, the entire house was filled with some form of art or another. Local artists like Sonja Bakalyar were among the very first to display her works at the gallery. Local merchant and frame shop owner Scott Sherman was not surprised that news of the new gallery and its studio was spreading quickly. “Wine and the arts, they just go together, what can be better?”

Cameron who was in charge of scheduling then, mentioned that the schedule was filling up quickly. No sooner had Sonja placed her works upon the wall, when her husband Steve Bakalyar had the opportunity to read his literary work at a poetry reading. The events and gatherings have not ceased or dwindled, they just kept expanding as local realtor-turned author, Catherine Sevenau learned much to her delight. She read from her then-newlly published memoir and since that time, her book, “Passages from Behind These Doors” has opened many doors for Sevenau. The little cottage studio-gallery is more than just a gathering place it is a well-spring. Now a year later, the flow of work and activity has not stopped, in fact it continues to expand.

As Studio 35’s artistic administrator Gina Roman explained, “trying to find a theme for summer time, it was thought that we might do a show around the annual olive festival.” “But on second thought, that would be too narrow for the wide array of talent that is featured here at Studio 35.” Then the idea of the bounty of summer came to mind, especially since Sonoma is an agricultural center, with two famer’s markets in town. “Farm to Canvas” became the theme, which could allow for a broader perspective that would encompass all of summer, not just one single aspect, like an olive festival celebration.

Roman went on to say, “we had initially made it into just a weekend event this past June 21 and 22. Yet with over 42 pieces entered, sent in by some of the most amazing local Sonoma county talent we have ever seen; we realized two days was not enough time. In fact we here at Studio 35 love what was created so much that we want to share the whole collection with an expanded showing,” she said. Because of limited space, Studio 35 has selected over 11 pieces to be shown for the month of July. As for the remaining 31, no doubt Roman and her staff at Studio 35 will think of some way to have those pieces featured. Gallery hours are Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday through Monday 11 to 5 p.m.

For more information visit the art gallery’s web site Or call, 707-934-8145.

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