Spirit of the Season Exhibition 2022 Details

https://www.instagram.com/cricargasacchi

Diwali is the most important festival of India. It is the celebration of good over evil in the story of Ramayan. My painting Jatayu depicts one of the events from this story. The demon king Ravan abducts Sita and flies away in his private jet (Pushpak Vimana). The king of vultures, Jatayu—the mystical bird—notices this and tries to fight with Ravan. I have captured this critical incident in warm and cool colors—a bright trail following Sita and darkness left behind.

Cristina Cargasacchi-Jasper (Starnberg, Germany)

Passaggio tra la Giungla

Mixed media

https://www.cristinacargasacchi.com

Inspired by The Jungle Book's elephant parade, the Three Kings are traveling to their destination, while the traditional Italian Befana is flying through the jungle and around the world searching for little Jesus, carrying presents to all the children in the world. Animals too!

Katie Carone (Escalon, California, United States)

Let There Be Snow

Paper and gouache

https://www.instagram.com/katie_carone

https://www.katiecarone.com

I used to always pick out a Christmas tree with my dad every year, and sometimes still do. After we find one, we grab a hot chocolate and cookies before heading home. At night—after the tree is up in the house—my mom and I grab boxes of ornaments to decorate it together while my dad and brother hang lights around the house. They all make the holidays feel so special, even in a warm California winter.

Danny Ray Henderson (San Angelo, Texas, United States)

Abstract Christmas Tree

Pen, markers, Apple Pencil, and Apple photo art palette

https://majordanny.myportfolio.com

I love drawing Christmas trees in different artistic styles using multiple mediums.

Anne Elizabeth Zogby ()

Paper Snowflakes

Paper and digital

https://www.annezogby.com

One of my family's treasured traditions is making paper snowflakes at Christmastime. I hand-cut these snowflakes and then imported them to create this digital artwork celebrating the beauty of nature and the magic of the holidays.

Pragati Sharma (Sunnyvale, California, United States)

Valmiki

Mixed media on canvas

https://www.instagram.com/julia_the_creative

Diwali is the most important festival of India. It is the celebration of good over evil in the story of Ramayan. My painting shows the author of this text, Valmiki, meditating when he noticed a crane couple in love. Soon, one of the cranes is killed by a hunter's arrow. The other crane dies in agony. This disturbs Valmiki and a curse comes out of his mouth. This curse forms the basis of the rhythm of Ramayan.

Dylan Gibson (San Rafael, California, United States)

Solstice Flora

Digital animation

My animation portrays four important plants to many European pagan winter solstice traditions: evergreen trees, fly agaric mushroom, ivy, and holly. Evergreen trees are seen as symbols of life and balance, fly agaric was historically used in spiritual ceremony, ivy represents binding and protection, and holly represents the Holly King (a winter god whose power peaks at the solstice). As someone who celebrates solstices and equinoxes in the modern day, I find it important to represent them.

Julia Vann (Martinez, California, United States)

Spirit Animals

Posca marker on canvas

Kai Webb (Columbus, Ohio, United States)

Finger of the Witch

Digital

https://artwebbsite.weebly.com

Multimedia artist Kai Webb creates with the intent of exploring and communicating
elusive and abstract feelings.

Being of Black and Indigenous descent, they also explore subjects such as ancestry and spirituality in their paintings and comics.

They hope their works help incite meaningful interpersonal conversations, and thus meaningful action.

Stefan Russell Sanford (Chino Valley, Arizona, United States)

A Silent Night in the Jungle

Pen, markers, colored pencils, oil paint, and acrylic paint

https://www.stefanrsanford.com

A Silent Night in the Jungle represents Three Kings Day. The endangered Indian Elephant, which is increasingly under stress from various threats and factors, is born in the jungle.

Pragati Sharma (Sunnyvale, California, United States)

Sita - the daughter of Earth

Mixed media on canvas

https://www.instagram.com/clarkd.art

Diwali is the most important festival of India. It is the celebration of good over evil in the story of Ramayan. After a happy ending to the story, Sita wishes to return to Earth from where she had emerged. She prays, "Oh Mother Earth! If I am pure, embrace me into your arms." I have used a combination of green, blue, and orange to represent the elements of Earth that come together to accept Sita who was pure as gold.

Alison Chenoweth Revel (San Francisco, California, United States)

Foggy Boxes on the Hillsides

Watercolor and ink on paper

Most people think of the holidays and think of snow, but being from San Francisco, I think of fog creeping in.

Clark A. DiLorenzo (Marietta, Georgia, United States)

Find Joy In All The Little Things This Holiday Season

Pen

Kai Webb (Columbus, Ohio, United States)

Living the Dream 1

Acrylic

https://artwebbsite.weebly.com

Multimedia artist Kai Webb creates with the intent of exploring and communicating
elusive and abstract feelings.

Being of Black and Indigenous descent, they also explore subjects such as ancestry and spirituality in their paintings and comics.

They hope their works help incite meaningful interpersonal conversations, and thus meaningful action.

Tiernan Renee McClanahan (Louisville, Kentucky, United States)

Owenton, Kentucky

Ink on paper

https://www.instagram.com/travelingtiernan

For my family, the holidays were about spending time in nature with the ones we loved. In Kentucky, Louisville is the big, hip, and cool city. Every year around the holidays, we took time and escaped the fast-paced city life to explore our grandparents' home in Owenton, Kentucky. No internet or cell service—just hikes, swimming in the creek, good homestyle fried food, and maybe a trusty beagle by our side. This piece represents the peace, but also the deep, detailed beauty that nature provides.

Pragati Sharma (Sunnyvale, California, United States)

Buddha

Mixed media on canvas

https://www.instagram.com/zedbearanim

Buddha is synonymous with spiritual calmness. In this composition, I show Buddha becoming one with nature. The aura of his being is serene yet so powerful that the elements of nature are dancing around him. All beings happily coexist—such is the world I dream of.

Elora Lam Cuenco (San Francisco, California, United States)

Rainforest Fir

Digital illustration

https://eloracuenco.com

Rainforest Fir takes inspiration from the abundant varieties of foliage one can find in the jungle and the classic Christmas tree, combining the two and arranging them into a vibrant jungle Christmas tree. Pines and evergreens are the conventional choice for these famous trees, but thanks to the various sizes and colors of the leaves and flowers that grow in the jungle, this tree doesn't need the help of additional ornaments and tinsel—its beauty stands on its own!

Mary Tong (San Francisco, California, United States)

The Tigonlily

Felt, paper, and old tennis balls

Kerry Patten (Vancouver, Canada)

Pinecones and Pebbles!

Watercolor, pen, and acrylic on paper

Growing up in a big city, we didn't have too much access to Nature, so we made the best of what we had! Throughout the year, my dad and I would collect pine cones from the local parks and pebbles from the beach. Then at Christmastime we would make our own decorations—painting the pines cones was so much fun, and painting the pebbles too. I painted a picture of this rather than recreating the actual decorations.

Mary H. Feenan (Woodland Park, New Jersey, United States)

Christmas Cards Through the Years

Graphite and colored pencil

Nana (95 years old) has drawn a Christmas card each December for more than 15 years. To celebrate this annual tradition, we created wrapping paper that is a collage of her drawings. Nana’s cards bring joy to all who receive them at Christmastime. She is the very essence of the Christmas spirit.

Chloe Lejnieks (San Francisco, California, United States)

PEACE

Acrylic on canvas

https://www.instagram.com/cocoapaints

My expressionistic painting PEACE is about peace and joy for all, which is what the holidays are all about. In my family, we celebrate many different traditions, but always peace on this colorful Earth.

Maya Antoinette Colbert (Oakland, California, United States)

Mistletoe: Peace, Love, and Berries

Glass beads, wood, acrylic paint, tacky glue, and beeswax

Mistletoe was valued by ancient people around the world for its medicinal properties and used to treat a variety of ailments including high blood pressure and infertility.
Perhaps these uses led the ancient Romans to associate the plant with peace and love and hang it above their doorways for household protection.
It's easy to see how this may have led to the current practice of hanging the plant at Christmas time in the hopes of sharing a kiss with someone you admire.

Mary Tong (San Francisco, California, United States)

Esperanza Snail (aka: E.S.Cargot)

Felt, paper, and old tennis balls

Amy Beth Finegold (New York, New York, United States)

Golden Lit Palm Trees

Colored pencil, gel markers, recycled paper, and cardboard

https://www.instagram.com/mnesnay

This picture represents beautiful palm trees lit with tiny gold lights for winter holidays in Florida. I used colored pencils and gel markers to add touches of gold. There are two Christmas trees with the water and sand in the background.

Mary Nesnay (Woodland Park, New Jersey, United States)

Up on the Housetop

Paper

https://www.starspangledheart.com

This book sculpture captures the joy of Christmas night when Santa and his reindeer begin their magical journey to deliver toys to all good children. Red and white paper strips were quilled to create Santa Claus. The reindeer were cut from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” sheet music. Each deer’s name can be seen on their face. The sleigh was crafted from "Up on the Housetop" sheet music. A book was used to construct the roof with a paper chimney placed on top, along with lights and snow.

Amy Nelder (San Francisco, California, United States)

Apples and Honey, 2020

Acrylic on canvas

https://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Nelder-Art/100063855647949/

https://www.instagram.com/AmyNelderArt

https://twitter.com/amynelder

We celebrate multiple traditions—from gifty and spiritual holidays, to recognizing the solstice and how nature's cycles affect us—not just in fall and winter, but throughout the year. The Rosh Hashanah tradition of apples and honey reminds me how often we communicate via the language of nature's gifts. The past few years, some parts of our traditions and celebrations have been interrupted, even overshadowed, by the pandemic, but my painting Apples and Honey honors our perseverence.

Katherine Langdon (San Francisco, California, United States)

Deck the Boughs with Ray Apparel

Photograph

I've always suspected that the Euro-American tradition of decorating our homes in the winter with greenery, rich colors, and a bit of sparkle is an instinctive effort to recapture the natural splendor of a warmer, lush time of year. Maybe we're striving for something like this sunlit autumn evening in the Presidio National Park, when the setting sun gilded the trees, the water glittered, and all felt content.

Mary Tong (San Francisco, California, United States)

Octavius the Octopus

Felt, paper, and old tennis balls

Amy Beth Finegold (New York, New York, United States)

Under the Banyan Tree

Acrylic paint, markers, recycled paper, and cardboard

https://www.instagram.com/mnesnay

I was inspired by the large Banyan trees and animals from The Jungle Book (1967). I particularly liked the reactions of the Python Kaa. The animals rested and moved under the beautifully detailed Banyan Tree.

Mary Nesnay (Woodland Park, New Jersey, United States)

Cloth Santa with Reindeer

Fiber and cloth

https://www.starspangledheart.com

Each cloth piece was sewn by hand. Wool, felt, linen, and crushed velvet, were selected as the fabrics. Santa’s face was painted. Wool was felted onto his head (hair) and chin (beard). His coat was sewn with crushed velvet with wool sleeves and collar. Each deer had cord sewn through it to create their reins, along with chain on each side. A blanket was placed on their back with 15 beads individually attached by hand and a bell hanging from their collar. Branches were used for legs and antlers.

Chloe Medina (Burlingame, California, United States)

Swirling

Marker and paint on mixed media paper

The holidays remind me of family and magic. Something about the season always felt more than reality to me, which inspired the more whimsical aspects of the piece—the glowing stars and color pallette. I live in an area with lush fields but no snow, so I wanted to portray that in this piece. I hope to show the magic of exchanging gifts with those you love along with the young anticipation of receiving them.

Katherine Langdon (San Francisco, California, United States)

Poçhutukawa: Christmas in New Zealand

Photograph

Yuletide in New Zealand is the heart of summer, but those who associate the holiday with rich reds and greens are pleased to encounter the charismatic native tree that has become embraced as the Kiwi "Christmas tree", the poçhutukawa, whose pouffy crimson blossoms lend a natural festive flair to the season.

Sophia Solomon (Woodside, California, United States)

Madonna in Nature

Ceramic

This piece was sculpted as a semi-self portrait with my fond admiration for nature in mind.

Amy Beth Finegold (New York, New York, United States)

2D Kaleidoscope of Jungle Animals

Paper, markers, and recycled cardboard

https://www.facebook.com/people/Amy-Nelder-Art/100063855647949/

Rereading The Jungle Book (1894) and rewatching the animated movie inspired me to create a recycled tree with a variety of jungle animals. This sculpture reminded me of a kaleidoscope with bright colored animals. A kaleidoscope is a fun holiday children’s toy that moves when you turn it.

Michael Arthur Grim (San Francisco, California, United States)

A Winter Night's Exploration

Digital

This is part of a series of family Christmas cards featuring our family Vizsla Miles (Mr. D) on a winter night's exploration. He loved the snow and adventures in the forests and mountains of California.

Mackenzie Bowles (Oakland, California, United States)

Observing the Constellations

Watercolor

https://www.instagram.com/doodlesbymack

Caylie Noelle Gonzalez (San Francisco, California, United States)

Flower Fireworks on New Year's Eve

Paint on canvas

My painting shows my love of nature mixed with one my favorite holiday traditions.

Joshua Bell Solomon and Judith Komoroske (California, United States)

Rêve d’hiver

Paper mâché and photographs

Amy Beth Finegold (New York, New York, United States)

Lush Green Tree

Paper straws, acrylic and watercolor paint, and paper napkin

https://jaqdesign.myportfolio.com/

When I think of the holidays, I think of tropical colors in warm places with touches of red. I used a paper straw cut into strips to make tiny green flowers with red buds mixed in between green leaves. I dipped the straw into acrylic paint, swirled the straw around the paint, and stamped it on the paper. I placed cutouts of leaves from a paper napkin to make the tree come alive.

Jennifer Andicochea Quan (Whittier, California, United States)

Sugar Cookie

Acrylic on bristol and Grafix Dura-Lar®

When I think of celebrating the holidays, I think of when my grandma and my mom would make sugar cookies. I've depicted three different cookies that are my favorite.

Judith Roach Komoroske (Menlo Park, California, United States)

Winter Scene

Photograph

Jenna L'Italien-Uppal (Novato, California, United States)

Merry and Bright

Tempra paint, ink, and glitter glue on paper

Ever since I was a child, my family always made sure to have beautiful Poinsettia flowers around our home during the holiday season.

Jasmine Grace Lee (Millbrae, California, United States)

Candy Cane Lane

Cardboard, yarn, paper, and wire

Candy Cane Lane is a street in Palm Springs with a tradition to decorate their houses during the holidays. It's a beloved street full of Christmas cheer.

Amy Beth Finegold (New York, New York, United States)

Holiday Straw Tree

Paper straw, acrylic and watercolor paint, recycled paper, and cardboard