with Gourd Artist Claudia Pflueger

Date: February 21, 2009 at 1:30pm
Location: Kaaterskill Fine Arts, Route 23A, 7950 Main Street, Hunter, NY
Hours: Friday through Monday 10am-5pm or by appointment.
Information: 518 263 2060
Free Admission

The Kaaterskill Fine Arts Gallery announces the latest in its series of discussions with local and regional artists, called Art Talk. On Saturday, February 21, gourd artist Claudia Pflueger of Warwick, NY, will be in the gallery to discuss all aspects of her work. Claudia is an accomplished Fine Artist, schooled at the American Academy of Art in Chicago in graphic, and fine art.

"Having come from the Midwest, where I primarily worked in the commercial art industry, I hadn't ever experienced the beautiful colors of fall, found in the Hudson Valley." She found herself inspired by her surroundings to once again focus her talents on the Fine Arts. "My introduction to gourds as an art form was merely by chance; but having said that, I found them to be the perfect canvas, each unique, with their flowing lines, and subtle curves; clearly, Natures' perfect sculpture."

Each of Claudia's gourds is individually handcrafted by the artist, using a combination of colored dyes and gilding pastes; most of the images are created using pyrography (wood burning technique); while others are ornately carved; or embellished with hand crafted pine needle coiling. Finally, they are finished by adorning in materials such as turquoise, carved jade or other semiprecious stones. Each piece is truly a work art, and no two pieces are exactly alike. Her collection is amazing, with several examples in categories such as Hudson Valley Leaves, Nature, Asian, Pine Needle Coiling and Eclectic.

Here's your chance to see examples of unfinished gourd vessels in all stages of completion and to understand the creative process that Claudia uses to produce such fine work.