Art Around Niwot: December brings four exhibits to local businesses

December has brought a range of new art to the walls of Niwot businesses. These micro exhibits give needed visibility to regional talent during the holidays, and the exposure is appreciated by both the artists and community members alike.

This is the case for Amanda Maldonado, the artist currently featured at Winot Coffee. Maldonado shared that her style has grown a lot in 2020 and that she's leaning more towards community-based work. "I wanted to find a way to feel more connected to the rest of Longmont despite having to social distance," she said.

Maldonado's efforts to foster connection through art reach beyond Niwot and into the larger region. They include hosting and planning a virtual market series through the Firehouse Art Center, helping plan holiday markets, and working with the Longmont Downtown Development Authority on future public engagement ideas.

Winot is showing a series of Maldonado's pen and ink and watercolor wildlife work. In talking about process, she explained, "I'm drawn to the detail of a subject's fur or feathers, or the shading in their face or tail. I'll use watercolor when I want to let go of control and relax a bit or create more atmosphere."

Other Cottonwood Square art

Across the Cottonwood Square parking lot, Inkberry Books is displaying a second artist, Niwot resident Patrick Sullivan. Inspired by impressionism, travel, and nature, Sullivan works in both soft and oil pastels. He was one of the first artists to be shown at Inkberry books, and co-owner Gene Hayworth was pleased to offer him another display.

Sullivan's work focuses on capturing the outdoors, and according to Inkberry's webpage, he hopes that his art allows viewers to pause and become immersed in a moment in time. Said Hayworth, "in this show he has some landscapes from Niwot. One in particular shows 287 and Niwot Rd. But since people aren't able to travel right now, he wanted to be sure that the work shown included global destinations". With this in mind, Inkberry's walls contain work showing Niwot landscapes placed alongside other works showing China and Europe.

Abo's Pizza, just a few doors down from Inkberry Books, also exhibits art. Framed pieces hang above the crushed red pepper, plastic utensils, and napkins you'd expect to see in a pizza restaurant. The business shows fewer works – just eight total this month. Staff said they aim to change out what is displayed once a piece sells.

In December there are two artists on display. One is 2007 Niwot High School graduate and photographer Nickolas Saraceni, who had his first job at Abo's as a student. According to the artists' description near the exhibit, since moving out of the area, he lives in Central and South America, working as a nomadic content creator and marketing consultant.

Placed next to Saraceni's display are four photographs taken by Lori LaFore. She turns the camera lens more directly on wildlife and nature, with photographs that show prominent use of color and contrast.

Old Oak Coffee House December exhibit

As much as artists appreciate the chance to have a show in the community, customers enjoy getting up close to the work. "I come in here to get a tea every week and look at the art. I'm blown away," said Gill Pomeroy, during a visit to the Old Oak.

Pomeroy was looking at a large image by Boulder artist Maria Valladarez titled Powering Towards the Positive. The work showed a female in a warrior pose, using a sword to slice through a gray landscape into a vivid view of the Flatirons.

When asked about the painting, Valladarez said, "The woman viewed her world as blah – shades of gray -- no joy. She could easily continue with her negativity. But for her to change and take the first step towards positivity required strength. Her sword rips through the gray tones to reveal a brilliant, colorful world that is waiting to be experienced."

Valladarez shared that she typically works in a combination of both acrylic and oil paint and that her work is full of personal meaning. "I do daily drawings of meaningful parts of my life or a daydream. It's my journal without words," she said.

Valladarez had a handful of other paintings on display as well, both larger and smaller format works. All of them were vividly colored, full of both movement and optimism.

An opportunity for kids to become involved in community art

In addition to displaying art on its walls, Inkberry hopes to inspire some of the town's youngest residents to create their own art. Inkberry is doing this by hosting a bookmark contest.

Hayworth explained that Kids under the age of 13 are invited to participate. First prize is a $40 gift card with second and third prizes also available, and the store will create a bookmark based on the design. Details about the contest and a template for the design are available online at inkberrybooks.com.

Find these artists online:

Amanda Maldonado: Etsy.com/shop/coyink

Patrick Sullivan: inkberrybooks.com/calendar/This_Month_at_Inkberry_Books.htm

Nickolas Saraceni: Instagram: @nickolas.saraceni

Lori LaFore: Instagram: @laforepicsu

Maria Valladarez: Fine Art America Maria Valladarez or [email protected]