C O D A  GALLERY BEGINS 2017-18 SEASON
NEW ARTISTS RECEPTION:  NOV. 3, 5-8 P.M.

Painted, laminated, and cut glass. Ceramic and bronze torsos with crochet wire and crystals. Paintings ranging from minimalist color field to bold and nostalgic graphics and  comic strip-style images (think Lichtenstein without dots). CODA Gallery celebrates its 31st season with all of the above and more in the New Artists Group Show highlighting its specialty: offering a variety of mediums and styles by both emerging, midcareer, and established artists. Running Nov. 3-24, the exhibition begins with an opening reception on Nov. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. in conjunction with El Paseo Art Walk. Included in the show are works by the following creative spirits. 

John Ashworth: This East Coast artist sold out his first exhibition at the age of 10. Viewers of his work may wonder how his education in applied industrial physics and civil and industrial engineering influenced his approach to the exacting subtleties of color-field painting. 

Seth Fairweather: Seth graduated magna cum laude from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and went on to earn an M.F.A. degree from Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia. Through his glass-blown sculptures, he has explored “resolving and reclaiming the question of individual voice.” 

Estella Fransbergen: Born in South Africa and now residing in Florida, Estella injects the artistry of ceramics with a visually fluid edge by adding skirtings of gemstones and crochet wire to fired-clay and bronze torsos. 

Brett Hammond: Fans of pop culture love Brett’s comic-panel painting style. The fearless artist has challenged the stereotypical perception of famed heroes: showing Superman and Batman kissing. Imbibers especially appreciate his wine-related graphics and word balloons. 

Sherry Johnson: Born and raised on a farm in Orem, Utah, Sherry was gifted as an artist at an early age and has celebrated her love of the natural world through her drawings and paintings. 

Wesley Neal Rasko: The layered-glass sculptures and painted-glass art of this young Canadian artist has been shown internationally, including exhibitions in the Czech and Slovak republics, France, Germany, England, Scotland, China, Japan, Russia, and the United States. 

Johnny Taylor: Imagine what evolves from a mind inspired by MAD magazine, Star Wars, and the rock band Kiss and you are on the road to grasping the graphic sensibility of Johnny’s paintings. Having grown up in Memphis and now living in Southern California, he marries acrylic paint with screen printing and marker to showcase iconic objects and images of the 1940 and ’50s. 

Estella Fransbergen, Brett Hammond, Seth Fairweather, and Johnny Taylor will be on hand at the opening reception to talk with guests about their work.