Seven Days, Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, Art

Celebrate The Season At Bergamot Station Holiday Open House This Saturday

Posted Dec. 13, 2013, 9:04 am

Kathy Leonardo / Mirror Contributor

A late Thanksgiving and fewer shopping days this year have put an additional strain on the already hurried holiday. Bergamot Station Arts Center has provided a solution.

Shop this Saturday, Dec. 14 while you celebrate the season at the Bergamot Station Holiday Open House.

Art makes a wonderful gift. Like fine wine, it only gets better with age. The Holiday Open House will feature art events, book signings, artist panels, art parties, and live music from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Many galleries will be open for business while offering refreshments and treats.

Enjoy entertainment featuring a steel drum band, clowns, a stilt walker, a circus strong man, etc., provided by City Garage Theatre (Space T1). The theatre will also host a fundraiser and “Garage Sale” featuring props, costumes and more. Visit citygarage.org.

Artist and TAG Gallery member Lorraine Bubar helped to plan the holiday event. “Giving art is a wonderful holiday gift because it reflects that the gift giver chose something carefully,” Bubar said. TAG Gallery (Space D3) offers an art talk with Ernie Marjoram, Shelley Lazarus, and Jane Peterson from 3 pm to 4 pm. Visit taggallery.net.

Skidmore Contemporary Art holds a book signing and reception for “I’m Falling” featuring the art of Kelly Reemtsen.

“The book was conceived by myself and my friend Chris Fogg (Fogg Associates),” Reemtsen said.

A beautifully designed book, “I’m Falling” is a collection of paintings, pastels, prints, and sculptures created over the past few years.

The book also offers an inside peek into Reemtsen’s artistic journey through a series of candid interviews conducted over a two year period by Chris Fogg.

“I’m Falling” celebrates the strength of the female spirit as well as the letting go or falling one must do while on the road to success. The artist will be in attendance from 2 pm to 5 pm at the debut of her new pastels.

“I felt it was just time,” Reemtsen said. “I had a body of work that merits the time, energy, and resources that it takes to do a book.”

The show will remain on view through Dec. 21, at Skidmore Contemporary Art (Space D2). Visit skidmorecontemporaryart.com.

Enjoy live music with Turek and Friends at the Lois Lambert Gallery and the Gallery of Functional Art (Space E3) as well as a trunk show featuring jewelry artist Joe Polthakorn.

Visit loislambertgallery.com and galleryoffunctionalart.net.

Stop into Suzanne Felsen Jewelry (Space G3) to create your own custom cuff links with loose gemstones such as tourmalines, opals, amethyst, and moonstones. Visit suzannefelsen.com.

“Giving art at the holidays does not have to break the bank – a limited edition poster or a beautifully designed book are creative gift ideas under the $100 mark,” said Kelsey Shell, an associate at Rose Gallery. Jo Ann Callis will be signing copies of her new book “Decór” from 4 pm to 6 pm. Visit rosegallery.net.

Additional participating galleries include Peter Fetterman (Space A1- peterfetterman.com), William Turner Gallery (Space E1 - williamturnergallery.com), dnj Gallery (Space J1 - dnjgallery.net), Icon Art Ltd (Space G4 - ikonltd.com), and many more.

There will be additional parking as well as parking attendants to help direct the public to adjacent lots.

Bergamot Station is located at 2525 Michigan Avenue in Santa Monica. For more information, visit bergamotstation.com.