Tait exhibit opens a treasure chest
By Shari Kaplan
One man's trash may, indeed, be another's treasure, but, for the current exhibit at the Los Gatos Museum of Fine Art and Natural Science, it's all the latter and none of the former. Although visitors may not understand the symbolism, or significance, of all of the items in the show, named "Treasures," its name definitely fits. Everything comes from the private collections of Los Gatos Museum Association members, friends and past exhibitors.
"This exhibit is highly eclectic, including paintings, sculpture and objects not usually considered fine art," explains Catherine Politopoulous, the museum's art curator. "If the owner considers it a 'treasure,' it's in the exhibition."
One example is the display, "This Is How I Got Here," by Laura Bajuk, executive director of the Los Gatos Museum Association. It consists of a small stand of books on Egyptian myth, history, fiction and the Nile River. Joining them is a blue ceramic figurine of a hippo, modeled after those found in tombs.
"I got hooked on history and museums as a teen--it all started when I read Mara, Daughter of the Nile. It's a spy novel set in ancient Egypt with a strong and feisty female protagonist. I must have checked it out 10 times from the library!" Bajuk says. "My mom gave me a King Tut book for Christmas when I was in high school, then in college I studied ancient Egypt. I was hooked!" she adds.
Forbes Mill Museum site manager and LGMA member Jane Holland also has fond memories attached to her still life titled "$6.99." The still life of a high-heel shoe, a silky white opera glove and a shiny evening bag--all sitting on a mirror--reminds Holland of the great times she and her husband had on the town in 1950s Memphis, Tenn.
"We used to go out and dance a lot, and when you went out, you got dressed up. I feel a little badly that people [today] have lost the knack of dressing up," she says. The "$6.99" reflects the price of the shoes.
Another unusual piece is "Orbitz," a space station with an old-fashioned diner theme, created in exquisite detail by San Franciscan Paul Nowicki, who exhibited at the Los Gatos museum a few years ago. His trademark is miniature dioramas and models with whimsical themes. Diner patrons include small action figures from Toy Story, The Jetsons, The Simpsons, Lost in Space and Sesame Street.
Speaking of food, hungry visitors might do well to avoid Betty O'Hare's large wall sculpture, "Afters." It consists of a box of temptingly colored sweets surrounded by a possessive-looking set of hands clutching cutlery.
Among the more standard museum fare are large and small canvases bearing images from abstract to the realism in all painting mediums; wooden and metal sculptures; textiles, photography; quilts, embroideries, antique perfume bottles and even a contraption titled "What Is This?"--guests are invited to write down their answers.
The Los Gatos Museum of Fine Art and Natural History, at 4 Tait Ave, is open from noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 408.354.2646.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
