"We" refers to herself and Kendra K. Davis and Becky Maddalena - together the force behind "3Women Artists at the Coastal Arts League" exhibit running through Dec. 5.
The longtime CAL mainstays are all riding the crest of their artistry. Each firmly established herself and her approach to her craft long ago, as shown in this exhibit of ceramics or porcelain and jewelry.
 From left, Patricia Dailey, Becky Maddalena and Kendra Davis show off their artwork featured in the new CAL exhibit. |
But they're testimonials to her affinity for ceramics and luster work, which she says puts her on a par with some of the country's best ceramic artists.
"I think it's pretty comparable to that at this point," she said.
She has worked with clay since 1991, and has been a member of CAL since 1995. But, "I'm the newcomer here," with respect to Maddalena and Davis, she noted.
Maddalena, a Woodside resident and frequent CAL exhibitor in the 12 years she's been a member, specializes in hand-built porcelain work and beaded jewelry, both with an Asian flair.
She recently returned from a month in Japan where she studied with a pottery master and showed her porcelain work.
Davis, a Moss Beach resident and CAL member since its inception, has worked in her medium for decades. She is known for her jewelry: fine silver pieces with beads that complement her original designs.
She is working now with PMC clay, a putty-like organic matrix into which she embeds fine particles of metal such as silver and fashions into forms like flowers. She puts the shapes into a kiln and fires them, causing the organic material to burn out. The result "is much purer than silver," and "like a piece of sculpture," said Dailey.
She added that this process, though complex, is an effective way to work with silver since it does not require use of a mold.
Davis further enhances her work with precious or semiprecious stones like tanzanite, garnet, ruby or tourmaline. This show includes pure silver and with stones.
Another thing that makes this show unique, said Dailey, is that the three artists all incorporate "a feminine style to our work as opposed to masculine - it's probably softer, rounder."
For example, she cited Davis' floral shapes, the softness and roundness in Maddalena's work and her sculptures and clay pieces.
The artwork "contains women in startling ways or soft ways," Dailey added.
A reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at the CAL gallery at 300 Main St. in Half Moon Bay.
For information, call CAL at 726-6335.
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