Quincy galleries invite the community to join them for First Friday openings April 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening’s events feature extended open hours, conversations with the artists, wine and appetizers. Admission is free.
Plumas Arts at 525 Main St. features “The Magic of Paper and the Pollen of Life,” showcasing a collection of Pamela Noel’s latest works inspired by the themes of nature, childhood memories and the profound role pollen plays in our world. Main Street Artists Gallery at 436 Main St. hosts John Sheehan’s opening for the show “Patterns, Rhythms and Skiers.” Sheehan says his show’s theme is the re-occurrence of scenes — in nature and among people — that are not regularly seen.
The KQNY radio studio will be open during all of the Friday art openings and for other downtown events, reports manager Tommy Miles. Quincy Community Radio will be offering KQNY T-shirts, hats and decals for sale, and inviting visitors to consider supporting the station and getting involved as volunteer producers, DJs and show hosts.
In addition, The Quincy Hub at 493 Main St. will be participating in the First Friday event this week. Featured artisans there include Sierra Moon Enterprises, woodwork; Obscure Forma, old-world German blacksmithing; and Feather River Tables, handmade furniture.
Pamela Noel
Pamela Noel says her work, rooted in the whimsical nostalgia of her childhood, plays with scraps of paper, a medium she has rediscovered after six decades. “I remember eagerly waiting for my mother’s McCall’s magazine, and diving into the ‘Betsy McCall’ paper doll page. That moment of joy has stayed with me, inspiring my exploration of paper in my art,” says Noel.
This exhibit delves into her ongoing exploration of the natural world, with a special focus on the essential role of pollen. “We need pollen. We need pollinators. Without them, we would have a difficult time living on this planet,” Noel reflects. Her work features intricate, microscopic representations of pollen, revealing its hidden worlds of color, texture and wonder, a visual homage to its importance in life and nature.
Noel’s journey as an artist blossomed later in life, fueled by the encouragement of friends and mentors who helped transform her passion into a flourishing creative practice. Her studio, which was once her garage, became a sanctuary of freedom, where the medium of collage gave her the opportunity to “embrace and create without boundaries.”
The Plumas Arts gallery and office hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. More information is available at https://www.plumasarts.org/.
John Sheehan
John Sheehan’s show features repeating patterns. “I’m struck by how visions and patterns, particularly in southeastern Utah, the Sierra snowfields and also nearby Quincy, keep reappearing,” he said. “These natural patterns are remembered through the immense passage of time.”
When asked what drives his painting experience he said, “I paint as a good way to pass time as well as reflect the beauties of our world. Georgia O’Keeffe influences all the natural scenes. Since I’ve been around Plumas for almost 50 years, I relish objects, places and people I’ve experienced in this magic land.”
One of Sheehan’s passions is the tradition of longboard skiing, and he says his longboard race paintings evoke the many pleasurable hours he has spent at the Johnsville Historic Ski Bowl.
Main Street Artists Gallery members invite the community to contact them at 530-283-1900. Gallery hours are Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Information provided by Plumas Arts, Main Street Artists Gallery, Plumas Community Radio, The Quincy Hub