Archive for category Events
O’Brien Estates Winery “Night of Unrestrained Reserve” highlights Richard Thomas Sculptures
Richard Thomas, Sculptor, Barb and Bart O'Brien celebrating and enjoying "A Night of Unrestrained Reserve"
Saturday evening, October 17th, was ”A Night of Unrestrained Reserve” hosted by Bart and Barb O’Brien at their beautiful estate winery in Napa, CA. (www.obrienestates.com) The evening began with wine, of course (!) and a dazzling sunset. Bart and Barb O’Brien very graciously offered to display Richard Thomas’ sculptures in their tasting cellar where the event was held. Richard’s bronze sculptures, “Loving Life” and “Early Harvest” were a hit with party goers. The romantic theme of the sculptures and Bart and Barb’s love story seem to go hand in hand.  The O’Brien’s  visited Napa Valley on their third date over 20 years ago and fell in love with each other as well as Napa Valley. The rest is history! For a real treat, you must sample their flagship wine, “Seduction”, which is absolutely amazing!!
Richard Thomas, Sculptor with David Yorgensen, Winemaker at O'Brien Estates
Richard Thomas, Sculptor with his wife Sheri Ziebell, toasting to O'Brien's Seduction (with "Loving Life" in the background!)
Sanford Decker, Sculptor and President of Decker Studios, a Fine Arts Foundry lead a discussion of “Cast in Bronze: French Sculpture from Renaissance to Revolution” at the Getty Center
Sanford and Karen Decker at The Getty Center
Decker Studios, a  Fine Arts Foundry is the foundry that fabricates Richard Thomas’ bronze sculptures. Decker Studios, located in North Hollywood, CA, (www.deckerstudios.com) , is owned and operated  by Sanford Decker, a hands-on sculptor himself, as well as a consultant to the Getty Center in Los Angeles, CA. Richard Thomas, Sculptor and Sheri Ziebell, Richard’s wife, had the honor to hear Sanford Decker talk about the art and fabrication of bronze sculpture in conjunction with the exhibit: “Cast in Bronze: French Sculpture from Renaissance to Revolution”.   His talk was interesting, informative and he had the audience captivated as he traced through the history of bronze sculpture. Richard and Sheri had the pleasure of spending some time with Sanford and his wife Karen and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon together.
Live Sculpting Demonstration by Richard Thomas, Sculptor, intrigued crowds at Cheers! St. Helena
On Friday night, September 4th, Richard Thomas, Sculptor, exhibited his completed bronze sculptures and worked on two of his “in-process” sculptures at Art on Main (www.imagesnapavalley.com) in St. Helena, CA. Cheers! St. Helena, a social event, brought nearly 4,0000 visitors to Main Street in St. Helena to enjoy live music, a marching band, shopping. food, wine and naturally art!
Richard Thomas explaining the clay to bronze process to guests
Richard was more than happy to field questions from the visitors who were genuinely interested in his sculptures. The spirited people who came to Art on Main were happy, friendly, full of smiles with lots of laughter and enjoyed the gallery atmosphere and wonderful art. Art on Main gallery owners, Tom and Nancie Brown were at the gallery for the event, as well as Suzanne Perkins, Gallery Director. Sandy Maus, Director of Marketing for Tin Barn Vineyards (www.tinbarnvineyards.com) graciously poured wine tastes for the streams of people flowing into the gallery.
Sheri Ziebell withRichard Thomas, Sculptor, posing with Richard's "Grapes of Joy"
Suzanne Perkins, Art on Main, Richard Thomas, Sculptor, Sandy Maus, Tin Barn Vineyards with a smiling, toasting Bacchus
David and Judy Breitstein Honored at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley
David and Judy Breitstein
Our good friends and collectors, David and Judy Breitstein, proprietors of the Duke of Bourbon www.dukeofbourbon.com in Canoga Park, CA have donated an extraordinary wine collection to the Culinary Institute in Napa Valley.  “A History of California Wine: The David and Judy Breitstein Collection,” was unveiled on February 20, 2009 at the Vintners Hall of Fame at the Culinary Institute of America, Greystone, in St. Helena, CA. This exhibit is the first major educational exhibit to document the rich history of the California wine industry as told through unopened bottles and informational placards. Quite an honor for the Breitsteins to have it placed in the Vintners Hall of Fame!
David Breitstein says, “I see wine as art, and each bottle in the Collection has a story to tell of places, people, varietals and moments in a continuum of the California wine industry. I hope that visitors will come away with a new sense of the unique history of California wine as told through these treasured bottles so expertly displayed at the CIA.”Â
Richard and Sheri are proud to be associated with the Breitsteins and raise a glass to toast them in their honor!