Phillip Young
Art Presence Member Artist Phillip Young
Phil Young at his drawing board when he was teaching art.
Phillip Young is a painter, sculptor and traditional animator. Growing up as the only child of divorced parents, he became imaginative and independent as he went through a changing cast of parental figures in foster home situations, eventually being cared for by grandparents in Central California.
The vast, open prairie spaces of the area allowed for expansion of his imagination, and he found he could express his daydreams in the form of drawings. His art was the one ability he was praised for from his earliest recollections. After high school he moved south to take a job, was married, then enlisted in the U.S. Army. There he worked as an Army Artist, his first paid job as an artist.
Finishing an undergraduate degree in Illustration through the G.I. Bill, he was hired as a trainee animator by Disney Studios in Burbank, California, progressing to a Feature Animator position at the studio. Working through the 80s & 90s, Phil earned seventeen screen credits in some of Disney’s most successful features. In the early 2000s, with the rise of digital media, Phil left the animation industry to teach. He was hired by Savannah (Georgia) College of Art & Design as an animation professor in a program rated as one of the best among private schools.
Earning a Master‘s degree in Sequential Art while teaching, he then headed for Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he taught at the Southwest University of Visual Arts. There he instructed in Animation as well as Fine Arts and Illustration. While in New Mexico, he found his way back to painting, beginning with southwest subjects, mixing in scenic, figurative, and mythological themes.
Phil and his wife now reside in Central Point, Oregon. The move has subsequently added coastal and other northwest subjects to his body of work. Please visit Phil’s website at www.artistphillipyoung.com
“Last Chance,” painting by Phil Young
Nancy Yturriaga Adams
Nancy Yturriaga Adams
Nancy Yturriaga Adams is a renowned clay artist whose ceramic vessels are intricately designed with lifelike creatures and flora in natural colors. Art Presence Art Center was honored to admit her as a member in early 2018.
Artist Statement
Pursuing an education in classical literature inadvertently led me to a ceramics class my first year of college but the truth is that I knew I was interested in the art of the making of things from the time I was a child. I always loved nature and all kinds of animals and plants. All I ever wanted to do was to saddle up my horse and ride out into the forest and watch the sky, the colors and have many adventures along the way. Today I still practice a simple, disciplined life balancing riding my horses on the ranch and on into the National Forest with hours in my studio.
People often ask me, Where do you get your ideas?! I smile to myself for I know well that the Muse comes quietly for those who wait in a disciplined way. Influenced as I am by Greco-Roman and Egyptian mythologies I find the Native American interpretation of life thru totem plants and animals to be the most comfortable. I so enjoy the studio life where the making shifts into a meditation offering relief from everyday cares and worries. I also value the many friendships I’ve made along the way and find that gratitude is essential for a happy, productive life.
Outside the Art Presence Art Center gallery, Nancy’s most recent exhibit is at the Racine Art Museum in Racine, Wisconsin “Beasts: Wild Animals in RAM’s Collection” Feb. 18-June 10, 2018. The museum’s director just confirmed that several of her pieces will be included in their permanent collection. Her next showing here in Oregon will be at the Oregon Potters Association SHOWCASE at the Oregon Convention Center on April 27, 29, 29, 2018. www.oregonpotters.org
Nancy’s magnificent work speaks for itself, and the list of galleries and museums where her work has been shown tells the story of her recognition as a master ceramic artist.:
Selected Museum Shows
2018 “Beasts: Wild Animals in RAM’s Collection” February 18-June 10, 2018 Racine Art Museum Racine, Wisconsin
2007 “Teapots: From Craft to Art” Invitational Grants Pass Museum of Art, Grants Pass, Oregon
2005 “Particles and Passion: The Art of Clay”, invitational, Academy Art Museum, Easton, Maryland
“For the Love of Flowers”, invitational, Kentucky Museum of Arts and Design, Louisville, Kentucky
2004 “Bottled Spirits”, invitational, Kentucky Museum of Arts and Design, Louisville, Kentucky
2003 “Planting, Potting and Pruning: Artists and the Cultivated Landscape” invitational, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI.
“Ohio Arts and Crafts: Tradition and Legacy” invitational, Ohio Crafts Museum, Columbus, Ohio
“Great Pots! Contemporary Ceramics, From Function to Fantasy” from the museum permanent collection, Newark Museum of Art, Newark, New Jersey.
2001 Once Upon A Time: Artists Examine Fairy Tales, Legends and Myth, invitational, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
1997 98 “L’Chaim: A Kiddush Cup Invitational, ” San Francisco Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA (catalogue available)
“Lake Michigan: From Placid Pool to Raging Flood,” invitational, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
1995 “A Madcap Teapot Party at the Renwick, ” invitational, Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC
“Let’s Play House: Artists and the Domestic Environment,” invitational, Charles A. Wustum Museum of Fine Arts, Racine, WI
1994 “Masters of Contemporary Ceramics, ” Private Collection Showing, Newark Museum of Art, Newark, NJ
1987-88 “27th Ceramic National Exhibition Now”, April June 1987, Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse, NY. An international traveling exhibition.
Selected Exhibitions
2018 Wood Symphony Three Shows: “Hot Tea!” June 8-24, “1st Annual Box Show” August 7-31. “Small Treasures” October 5-21.
2013-2015 “Hot Tea” Del Mano Gallery , Los Angles, California www.delmano.com
2014 Cedar Creek Gallery National teapot Show 1X Invitational, Cedar Creek Gallery, Creedmoor, North Carolina
2013 “Teapots 7” Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, invitational, Pittsburg, PA.
2012 “Small Treasures”, invitational, Jacobs Gallery, Eugene, Oregon
2010 “Teapots”,invitational,Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburg, PA.
2008 “Hot Tea, 2008”, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA.
2007 “Hot Tea, 2007”, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA.
2006 “Craftforms 2006, 12th Annual International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA.
“Teapots: Universal Adoration” invitational, Pewabic Pottery Main Galleries, Detroit, Michigan
“Man Hatter’s Tea”, Oregon Potter’s Association, Skutt Ceramic Products Building, Portland, Oregon
2005 “Hot Tea! 2005 ”, invitational, del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA.
2004 “Tea and Fantasy”, invitational, Alianza Gallery, Boston, MA.
“Hot Tea”, invitational, Del Mano Gallery, Los Angles, CA
1997-98 “Hitachi Data Systems Tea Show”, invitational private corporate exhibit, Hitachi Corp. Headquarters, Santa Clara, CA
1996 “Celestial Seasonings, A Loose Interpretation,” Invitational Teapot Exhibit, Boulder, CO
“Contemporary Teapots at SOFA Miami,” an invitational, presented by the Ferrin Gallery, Miami, FL
1993 “Chicago New Art Forms, Chicago Navy Pier, Ferrin Gallery, Chicago, IL
“Tea Party”, Ferrin Gallery, Northampton, MA
1987 “Tea for 200” Incorporated Gallery, New York, NY
1985 “Teapots”, the Stanford M. Besser Collection of Contemporary Teapots, Arkansas Art Center, Decorative Arts Museum
“Teapot Exhibit: From Craft to Art” Oakland Museum Collectors Gallery, Oakland, CA.
1981 Richmond Designer & Craftsman Show, Richmond Art Center, Richmond, CA.
Craft Shows
Scottsdale Arts Festival, Scottsdale, Arizona, 2015
Oregon Potters Association, “Showcase”, Oregon Convention Center, Portland, Oregon, 2004-18
Salem Arts Festival, Salem, Oregon, 2011-2012
Association of Clay and Glass Artists, Palo Alto Cultural Center, Palo Alto, CA., 2000-2010, 2013-2018
Local Clay, Annual Show, Eugene, OR., 2002-2018
Clayfolk, Annual Show, Medford Armory, Medford, OR., 2003-2018
Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair, Bellevue, Washington, 2007-2010
Contemporary Crafts Market, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA. 2006-2012
American Craft Exposition, Evanston, IL, 1994, 1996, 1997,2000-2
Art in the Pearl, Portland, Oregon, 2002-4, 2008, 2010,2012, 2016
Crafts at the Castle, Boston, MA, 1996,1999
Philadelphia Craft Show, Philadelphia, PA, 1990 – 1995,2001
Washington Craft Show, Smithsonian, Washington, DC, 1990
Winter Craft Market, Baltimore, 1987 – 2001
American Craft Council, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA, 1981, 1983-2018
Sausalito Art Festival, Sausalito, CA, 1978 1982, 1986, 1989 1994, 1996 2000
Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Old Mill Park, Mill Valley, CA, 1979 1994, 1997
Renaissance Pleasure Faire, Marin County, CA 1970-1972
Selected Awards/Commissions/Honors
2007 Curator, Grants Pass Museum of Art, Teapots, From Craft to Art
2006 Portland Arts Festival, Sculpture Award
2003 Best of Show, Clayfest, Eugene, Oregon
2002 Juror, by invitation, American Craft Exposition, Evanston, IL.
2003 Best of Show, Art in the Pearl,2003, Portland, Oregon
1999 Sausalito Art Festival, Best in Ceramics, Cash Award
1998 Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Sculptural Ceramics, Cash Award
1997 Juror, by invitation, Sausalito Art Festival
1996 Blue Ribbon in Ceramics, Sausalito Art Festival, Cash Award
1993 Elected media juror for Ceramics, American Craft Enterprises
1994 Benefactors Gift, “Woodland Votive” a limited special edition, commissioned by the Women’s Committee for the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
1992 Juror, by invitation, for the Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
1992 Invitation to the White House, Washington, DC, to contribute a piece to the permanent collection
1992 NICHE Award
1991 Smith & Hawken Award of Excellence, Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival
1991 Tuttleman Award of Excellence in Ceramics, Philadelphia Craft Show
1990 Individual Grant for Excellence in Crafts, Marin Arts Council
1990 Juror, by invitation, for the Sausalito Arts Festival
1990 Best of Show, Sausalito Art Festival, Cash Award
1989 Best of Show, Sausalito Art Festival, Cash Award
Public & Private Collections
American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California,
Newark Museum of Art, Ceramic Collection, Newark, NJ
Saks Fifth Avenue, Private Corporate Collection, Chicago and Denver
Corporate Teapot Collection of Celestial Seasonings, Inc., “Tension Tamer Tea,” Boulder, CO
The Stanford M Besser Collection, Arkansas
Private collection of Fleur Bresler, Rockville, MD
Mike & Carol Mendelson, Washington Depot, CT
Mr. & Mrs. Sheldon Margolis
Ms. Jane Korman
Mr. & Mrs. Norman Cohn
Mrs. Robert McNeil, Jr.
Ms Jennifer Taggart
Mr. Takeo Yamaki Diibiru
Selected Media
Ceramics Today, Schiffer Publishing, Atglen, PA.. 2009
Association of Clay and Glass Artists,2011
Grants Pass Daily Courier, Video/www.thedailycourier.com, February4, 2010
Distinctly Northwest, Sophisticated Living, Signature Style, Renowned Artist travel The Applegate Trail 2007
500 Teapots, Lark Books, 2002
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, “Spinning on Nature’s Intuition,” interview by Andrew Jowers, January 3, 1996
American Craft Magazine, “Portfolio,” August September, 1989
Ceramics Monthly, “Trial & Error Success,” February 1989
Professional Affiliations
Association of California Clay and Glass Artists (Emeritus member/25 plus years)
Oregon Potters Association
American Craft Council, exhibiting member
Local Clay, Eugene, Oregon
Clayfolk, Medford, Oregon
Contact Information:
Sweetwater Ranch
Email: nancyyturriaga@gmail.com
6909 Thompson Creek Road
Website: www.nancyadams.net
Online : www.etsy.com/shop/nancyadamsclayartist
Jan van Ek: New Member ~ New Medium
New Member ~ New Medium
Jan van Ek Brings Bronze to Art Presence
Art Presence extends a warm welcome to our newest member, sculptor Jan van Ek, and a new medium—bronze sculpture. If you haven’t yet seen Jan’s stunning bronze sculptures, come in to the gallery for a real treat in fine art! Art Presence Art Center was honored to admit this talented artist as a member in early 2018.
Jan van Ek grew up in Medford, Oregon. Her love of horses naturally expressed itself as her artistic gifts flourished at an early age. Her incessant drawing of horses and studying the anatomy of her first horse in high school led to the study of Fine Art at Oregon State University. There a sculpture professor who specialized in bronze casting inspired her to apply her talent to three dimensional work. Jan was immediately committed to the full-time pursuit of sculpting horses. Her approach was always to depict the equine as a creature of romance, power and freedom. This is why Jan’s horses are rarely sculpted with humans in the composition, and never sculpted with tack of any kind to interrupt the flow of the magnificent forms of the horse in motion.
After graduating with a BFA in Sculpture, Jan moved to Denver and, to perfect her technical skills and control the production of her work, she began work at a bronze casting foundry. In her years at the foundry she gained expertise in all the steps required in the intricate process of bringing a sculpted clay form to life in bronze. This included full production work in rubber mold making, wax pouring and chasing, ceramic shell mold construction, bronze welding and chasing, and patination.
After 22 years of working in Denver and establishing herself as a nationally recognized equine sculptor, she returned to Oregon in 2004 to build her dream studio near her childhood home, to own and train horses, and to spend more time with her family, which includes her husband, NSS sculptor Jay Warren , her son Max, and her five older brothers.
Here she raises Beauty (her favorite model), a glorious white Arabian mare from the bloodline of Raffles, and Kindle, a miniature mare who was born to trot.
Jan won Best in Show at the Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, California with her monumental sculpture Sirocco. She has recently completed a private commission for an estate near Miami which consists of two life-size horses, a Friesian stallion and an Arabian mare, in full flight. The second of the edition of three of this piece, entitled Beauty & the Beast, has now been cast for a private collection in Colorado. In 2008 the American Academy of Equine Art awarded Jan their most prestigious award, The Founders’ Award, for excellence in sculpture.
In the Art Presence gallery you can see “Lightning, Thunder, Rain”—from a limited edition of seven pieces—a sculpture of three spirited horses running atop carved marble thunderclouds with a bronze base in the form of lightning.
While most of Jan’s pieces are free standing, others can hang on a wall. In addition to sculpting horses, she enjoys creating statues and sculptures of angels. Be sure to seek out Jan’s work the next time you visit Art Presence!
JAN VAN EK STUDIOS
7225 West Evans Creek Road
Rogue River, OR 97537
541.582.2224
Email Jan
Minstrel Streams
If you haven’t been to one of our receptions lately, you may be wondering what you’re in for when we say there will be live music. Art Presence members Matt and Rebecca Stuart, who recently moved to Medford from Los Angeles, are the creative instrumental genius of Minstrel Streams. Matt plays guitar and keyboards, Rebecca flute and native American flute. So you can have a listen, we’re posting this wonderful video done in collaboration with Mark Unger of Sky Lakes Media. The soundtrack is “Ancient Mariner” by Minstrel Streams, accompanying aerial video of Indian Sands, Oregon. We hope you will enjoy it, and that you will take a moment to really appreciate the music written and performed this immensely talented couple at our next reception on July 1, 2017 from 1–3pm. Please support their work too! They have several CDS of their music available from the gallery.
Read MoreNew Members Minstrel Streams
Art Presence Welcomes New Members Minstrel Streams
New Members Minstrel Streams: Guitarist/Pianist Matt and Flutist Rebecca Stuart
We are happy to welcome new members Minstrel Streams to Art Presence. Husband and wife musical duo Matt and Rebecca Stuart are the talented musicians/composers and recording artists behind the name Minstrel Streams. Matt plays piano/keyboards and acoustic guitar and Rebecca plays flute and Native American flutes. Their inspirational music has been described as a blend of classical, folk, and world music. We met them at our last Board meeting, and what a delight to hear their music for the first time at the Small Treasures reception a few days later! The couple only recently moved to Medford, so we also welcome them as new neighbors.
Art Presence now offers the four CDs they have made together—On Earth As It Is In Heaven, Cradle of the Moon, New Horizon, and the self-titled Minstrel Streams—in the gallery on their behalf. In addition, they have offered to play at our receptions and special events going forward. If you haven’t already fallen in love with their music, we’re sure you will enjoy listening to our new members Minstrel Streams at our next reception.
Props and Accomplishments
Their critically acclaimed CD New Horizon was recorded at Will Ackerman’s legendary Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont. It has reached a global audience with radio airplay around the world…being a hit on Pandora and Music Choice “Soundscapes.” New Horizon was also a GRAMMY contender.
In the words of Bill Binkelman of Zone Music Reporter:
“while listening… I recalled many classic recordings from the days of both Windham Hill and Narada in that the music has that ‘classic’ acoustic sound present on both labels, especially at their outset. There is a sonic richness and an emotional depth present here that goes beyond just ‘good music and well played.’ ”
New Members Minstrel Streams’ mission is To promote peace, love, joy, healing, and mercy through music.
Matt and Rebecca Stuart
Matt Stuart grew up in Chicago and began playing the piano at the age of four. Shortly thereafter he began taking formal (classical) lessons at Northwestern University’s Conservatory of Music. As a child, Matt’s passion for music was most easily recognized in one particular way. His parents were big movie fans, so they treated Matt and his younger brother to weekly trips to the cinema. Upon returning home, Matt would frequently plop down in front of the piano and immediately begin working out the movie’s soundtrack’s themes. Miklos Rozsa’s “Ben Hur,” Maurice Jarre’s “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Doctor Zhivago” made huge impressions on him. In high school, he added folk guitar to his musical repertoire, inspired by luminary artists such as Simon and Garfunkel, Peter, Paul and Mary, and John Denver. College followed with formal studies at UCLA, including courses in film scoring and ethno-musicology.
Rebecca grew up in southern California and started her musical voyage playing flute in the fourth grade in Ventura County. She took individual lessons from two members of the Ventura County Symphony Orchestra, including its principal flutist, Bertie Atkinson. Winning awards for her playing in high school in both band and orchestra, Rebecca followed with a career in a number of bands as well as playing at numerous bookings for weddings, retreats, and as co-worship leader in the Porterville, California chapter of Aglow, Int’l. Rebecca counts the renowned James Galway as one of her most prominent influences in her music.
Matt and Rebecca Meet to Compose a Song…
There are numerous examples of serendipity coming into play when musicians collaborate, but sometimes the stars align in such perfect fashion that not only is a new musical entity formed but something much deeper, more personal and intense, also grows from the encounter. In the case of Matt and Rebecca Stuart, the chance circumstances of their meeting led to not just the two forming a musical duo, but also becoming life partners…and such was born Art Presence new members Minstrel Streams.
Now the story gets really interesting. In Rebecca’s own words. “I had started to compose a song, but needed some help with it. I played my piece for my apartment manager. About one month later she approached me and said, ‘Rebecca, a composer came by looking for an apartment. I think I’m supposed to give you his card.’ I decided to call Matt Stuart. He seemed interested in composing my song and wanted to meet me that same night. A Jack In The Box® restaurant was between our apartments…we met there. We exchanged our [solo] CDs and talked about the song, our day jobs, learned that we were both in the field of social work and taught independent living skills to the disabled. In fact, we both knew many of the same people! Matt looked at me and commented, ‘You have hazel eyes like I do!’ I wondered if he was single. After going home, Matt called to ask if I had a boyfriend, or if I was married. I told him no, and then yes to our first date. We married 6 months later and have composed many wonderful pieces of music since then!”
…and Minstrel Streams is Born
The duo got their name through an equally serendipitous event. As Matt recalls, “We were looking for a word to pair with Minstrel. We played at a church service in Squaw Valley, CA. A week later the Pastor called and said he had a word to describe our music, which was ‘confluence’—a place where streams flow together to form a river. He said we did this with our different instruments.” The duo began playing together in 2008 and released the first of four recordings (to date) in 2009, On Earth As It Is In Heaven, followed by Minstrel Streams (2010), and Winterpeace (2012).
Recent Developments for Minstrel Streams
An obvious turning point in the duo’s career came about recently when Rebecca began a Facebook correspondence with noted producer and artist Will Ackerman (helped along by mutual friend, pianist and GRAMMY winner Laura Sullivan). Ackerman considered Matt and Rebecca proficient and talented enough that he turned the production of their new album over to the pair, leaving them in the hands of ace engineer Tom Eaton. Recording their latest album, New Horizon, at Imaginary Road Studios and working with such notable accompanists as cellist Eugene Friesen, English horn player Jill Haley, and vocalist Noah Wilding (among others) was, in their own words, “…magical and inspired.” New Horizon was officially released in February of 2014.
Rebecca and Matt currently reside in Southern Oregon. Here they continue to play live in a variety of diverse venues including concert halls, wineries, art galleries and churches. When not playing or composing, Rebecca whips up delicious healthy, gourmet vegan dishes while Matt indulges his love for the detective mysteries of Tony Hillerman.
And Art Presence Art Center proudly announces our musically talented new members, Minstrel Streams!
New Member, Leona Keene Sewitsky
This month, Leona Keene Sewitsky joins Art Presence with her whimsical assemblages. These are wonderful paper, clay, wire, recycled object sculptures. She creates little figures that inhabit imaginary worlds that the viewer can visit and have the best fun ever! You can see Leona’s work during the month of March on Friday, Saturday or Sunday from 11 to 5. There will be a reception to meet the artist on March 14, 2014 from 5 to 7 pm. This little sculpture is called “Roadside Attraction”.
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