In May 2019, Arts Visalia presents the blue jay and the spine; we had a teapot on the side, an exhibition featuring the artworks of Teresa Getty. Teresa, a regionally and internationally recognized artist, is a mixed media abstract painter from Seattle, Washington. Teresa pursued painting after thinking she would be a doctor or scientist. She received her BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She taught art part-time at the University Wisconsin-Madison, balancing her professional art career and being a mother to her medically complex daughter. Each of her paintings has a story that begins with an everyday experience, a current event, an experience shared with her daughter, or simply a looking and seeing moment. While she works, memories surface and the work walks itself back into the past. Without censorship, she allows them to flow into her mark, into her responses of lines and color. Each piece slowly mimics life, then has aggressive cuts and extraction, and lastly is buried underneath layers of material. Teresa states, "the blue jay and the spine: we had a teapot on the side centers around ideas of storytelling, the future and the past. The work is strongly personal, responding to two significant events: one is the passing of my mom last year and the second being the likelihood of a spinal fusion surgery for my medically fragile daughter with so many unknowns. The pieces centering around my daughter's spine are layered, light and delicate while also being a little hazy. They become the horizon line of the exhibition. The place where the land meets the sky, where now meets tomorrow. They are not dark or brooding. They are hopeful works filled with connections to the stories that wander through my mind as I work. In contrast, the works that celebrate the memories of my mom are bold and bright as if memory itself brings things into a clearer light. They focus on two specific memories and play abstractly and very spontaneously with two symbols from these: a stellar blue jay and a classic tea pot. Along with these large scale paintings will be framed accordion books. These have a strong relationship to the larger works in visual language and the immediacy of mark. They are my way of working almost journalistically; this is the aspect of the present. They offer respite, a place of slowing down and looking, a place to reflect on the visual language and how intricately woven it is with memory and storytelling, the creator of oral history." Teresa Getty’s exhibition will be displayed May 1st through 31st, with an opening reception on First Friday, May 3rd, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The exhibition is sponsored in part by Jack & Charlie’s, the Vintage Press Restaurante, the Southern Pacific Depot Restaurant, Safco of America LLC, Sequoia-Visalia Kiwanis, and the Visalia Breakfast Lions. Teresa will also have an Artist Talk on Saturday, May 4th at 12pm at Arts Visalia, amongst the beautiful assortment of orchids in the gallery space. The Annual Orchid Sale, Arts Visalia’s biggest fundraiser, starts May 4th and runs through May 11th. Select from a wide variety of beautiful Phalaenopsis orchids until sold out. Gallery is open extended days from noon-5:30 p.m. We invite you to join in supporting Arts Visalia with your purchase of a $25.00 orchid. During this time, you can kill two birds with one stone, by viewing Teresa’s artwork on the walls. Arts Visalia’s Young Imaginations Gallery will display the artworks of the 5-17 year old participants of our April children’s classes. The class focus is art in 3D. See artworks in 3D paper, air dry clay, and ceramics. Look forward to seeing May’s artworks in 2D for June’s exhibit. In June 2019, Arts Visalia will display the Juried Community Exhibition. Artworks on display will span 2D mixed media, 3D mixed media, ceramics, fiber, glass, graphics/printmaking/drawing, jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography/digital art, sculpture, and woodwork. There is no theme so come prepared to be surprised by the talent on display. The exhibition will be juried based on composition, quality, authenticity, creativity and originality, uniqueness, presentation/craftsmanship, and overall balance. Awards will be announced June 7th, the night of the First Friday opening reception. Arts Visalia’s adult and children’s spring art classes continue at Arts Visalia through May. The summer Young at Art children’s program is now available. For more information and class descriptions, please go to artsvisalia.org. Arts Visalia Visual Art Gallery and gift shop is open from noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and is located at 214 East Oak Avenue, Visalia, California 93291. For more information on all these events and available classes visit our website at artsvisalia.org or call the gallery at (559) 739-0905.