The Offering at Mustard Magic

We’re pleased to announce that Richard Thomas’ latest sculpture, “The Offering” was accepted into the juried Napa Valley Mustard Festival Visual Art Competition and was on display at the opening night of the Mustard Festival at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA.  The opening event for the Mustard Festival is  “Mustard Magic”, a gala event to kick off a two-month season of sensational food, wine and art events.  Richard’s sculpture, “The Offering” looked incredible under the lights in the Vintners Hall of Fame at the Culinary Institute.  Since the evening was “The Offering’s” premier debut, she drew a lot of attention and admiration from the party goers.

"The Offering" Being Admired

After an evening of fun and frivolity, “The Offering” was taken to St. Supery Vineyards and Winery where she will remain on display through March, 2010.  Another edition of “The Offering” was delivered to Art On Main Gallery in St. Helena (www.imagesnapavalley.com) where the sculpture proudly stands to greet all visitors to the gallery!

Richard Thomas with his wife, Sheri Ziebell at Mustard Magic

Barb and Bart O'Brien of O'Brien Estates (www.obrienestates.com) with Sheri Ziebell and Richard Thomas

Richard Danskin Galleries, Palm Desert, CA

Richard Thomas, Sculptor, is very pleased to announce his bronze sculptures are now featured at Richard Danskin Galleries(www.richarddanskin.com)  on El Paseo in Palm Desert.  Geoff and Val Douglas, gallery owners , along with Jeanie Faillers, graciously welcomed Richard’s bronze sculptures, “Loving Life” and “Early Harvest” into their beautiful gallery.  Richard Thomas and his wife, Sheri Ziebell, delivered the sculptures personally and were very impressed with the gallery as well as the surrounding prestigious El Paseo area.  Richard and Sheri are delighted to be represented in Palm Desert by Richard Danskin Galleries and can envision the bronze sculptures enhancing wine cellars throughout Palm Desert.

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 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.

            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

High Level Meeting between Suzanne Perkins, Art on Main and Richard Thomas, Sculptor

Richard Thomas, Sculptor  and Suzanne Perkins from Art on Main in St. Helena, California, www.imagesnapavalley.com (click on ”What’s New” under Art on Main for Richard Thomas) are in a high-level serious meeting discussing the next sale!  Suzanne had just completed a sale of Richard Thomas’ “Loving Life” so Richard and Sheri stopped into Art on Main to congratulate her.  We really appreciate Suzanne’s efforts in representing Richard’s sculptures and feel we have a great team supporting us!

As we always say, “Life is just too short to be taken too seriously!”

Suzanne Perkins with Richard Thomas, Sculptor, on a more serious note - but not too serious!

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.” 

Richard and Sheri are proud to be associated with the Breitsteins and raise a glass to toast them in their honor!

“Early Harvest” by Richard Thomas was accepted into the 2009 National Exhibition of the Marin Society of Artists!  The juror, Scott Shields of the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, selected 114 pieces by 83 artists from among the 730 pieces entered by 258 artists. 

“Early Harvest” will be on display from August 2, 2009 through August 30, 2009 at the Marin Art & Garden Center in Ross, CA.  The Opening Reception, Awards Presentation and Juror’s Talk is scheduled for Sunday, August 2nd.