Wire Works at the Gallery

Wire Art from The Heart

Dancing in the streets....

Peggy McKeever-Wire Works

One of many of Peggy's fabulous wire sculptured faces

In 2001, shortly after discovering her passion for creating 3 dimensional, mixed media sculpture in wire, Peggy McKeever also discovered that there was a women's artist co-op gallery on Abbot Kinney in Venice.  

It was shortly after Ten Women opened their second location that they were seeking new and exciting artists to join them.  At the time, Abbot Kinney was not "the place to be seen" that it is today.  In fact, it was pretty run down and was truly in need of TLC.  In spite of this and because of the original Ten Women on Main Street, Santa Monica, they drew destination customers to the new location.  So, after being juried in as a full member of the new Ten Women Venice Gallery, it was clear that Peggy's passion and incredible creations came together and were destined to be a success.

Peggy's delightful and collectible shoes

Wouldn't these hot mamma's look fantastic sitting on a shelf?

Peggy McKeever was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the eldest of six children.  She moved across country in 1970 settling in Los Angeles.  The mother of two sons, she now calls Santa Monica her home.

Peggy always had an affinity towards the arts.  She didn’t do more than dabble here and there until, after a life changing transition, her creativity blossomed from a spool of wire and yarn that was given to her as part of a gift.  A rapid evolution of 3 dimensional forms sprang from her wonderful imagination after that. 

Peggy started combining the wire, yarn, fabric, vintage beads, jewelry findings, polymer clay and lots of ephemera to create a fabulous range of characters, figures, shoes, clothing and anything that could come alive just by twisting yards of wire.  It doesn’t take much to fuel her inspiration when sitting with her “stuff” and a couple of pair of pliers.  She is definitely influenced by feminine energy and the fashion that women love to wear.  Her incredibly constructed miniature shoes adorned with glitz and glitter are a collector’s item for sure. 

There is an incredibly flare to her work that is admired and sort after.  You can’t overlook her wonderfully expressive faces that are outlined in wire and ready to hang on your wall.

Or, the energy that she brings to her little women that, altogether on the shelf, seem to be dancing to music only they can hear.  You just can’t choose which one to take home with you, each one of a kind and unique.

Being a self taught artist, Peggy considers her, late in life found passion, a gift and a powerful healing experience that she feels blessed to experience and share with the world. 

A perfect gift for mom

Peggy's imagination is endless...

 

Screaming Woman Artworks

Ten Women Gallery embraces such a wonderfully diverse assortment of local female artists.  It's members display a high level of professional quality artistry and each of the 20+ talented women is proud to call our modest space home. It's part of what makes it all work.

The opportunity to have a space to show and sell our wares is, in itself, a unique experience.  I believe we all feel a tremendous sense of pride in what we have accomplished and feel gratitude for the experience.  We certainly are appreciative of our loyal followers and hope to gain a fresh recognition in our now, not so new, location on Montana Avenue.

Among our long standing members is Joann Libolt.  Joann has been selling her fascinating pieces created in clay for many years giving her the pleasure of a substantial following of new and repeat customers. She warrants special viewing and holds her position in the center of the gallery along with Glass artist, Susan Haskell.

A unique hand sculpted clay figure expressing the depth of tenderness of female energy

Here's what Joann has to say about herself and her art...

I have come to studio art in my mature years.  Graduating from college in the 1960's, I have worked in advertising, and helped raise some fantastic children.  I returned to school in my 50's and completed MA and MFA degrees after age 60.  Art, for me, is timeless.

Clay is my primary medium.  I often use mixed media to finish the pieces, but clay is the material I prefer as I work intuitively.  Sculptural work and utility ware are part of my art.  Often political issues become involved.

Joann shows strength in her expressive interpretation of feminine art

Much of the work is born from the emotions of a woman's life as she struggles to define and experience the depth of her life in a world that tends to define it for her.

Hand created, original imagery on Italian tile is another branch of my artwork.  The line drawings utilize a resist technique developed in ancient times called cuerda seca, which resists the surrounding glazes and under glazes as they are applied.  This creates a unique variation of Middle Eastern and Mexican tile work.  The glazes are layered and often fired 3 to 6 separate times to achieve the rich depth of color.

Among the few clay artists the Gallery embraces, Joann has a defined quality that is clearly and  uniquely her own.  Her new pieces are always a surprise and thought provoking.  A special blend of beauty and personal expression...a wonderful contribution to the flavor of Ten Women Gallery.

Renee Troy Featured Artist

Renee Troy started her career in the 1970's working in Manhattan's garment industry.  She helped start the infant-toddler division at Garanimals, a still popular children's clothing line, located at the time on the 16th floor of the Empire State Building.

After moving to Los Angeles in 1976 and deciding to change directions, Renee took a job working for a mom and pop company designing custom invitations where the inspiration to learn calligraphy started.  Going home every night and practicing her letters led to a new career in designing invitations in calligraphy.

Today, Renee is proud of her long list of clients obtained over a 35 year span, most of which still use her calligraphy services today.

Renee's passion for mixed media, art dolls, jewelry designing and painting became more prominent over the past 10 years.  While still maintaining her calligraphy business, she now divides her time creating in these different mediums for Ten Women Gallery, online shops and for her dedicated private clientèle.

In her words, "My passion is my art and my purpose is to be a creative student of life.  There is no other way for me to live.  I am very blessed and will always be grateful".

Full view of window at night

36x36 Original mixed media painting on canvas

Mixed media painting on canvas

Mixed media necklace

Mixed metals necklace

Variety of large earrings

Heart within resin necklace

Mixed media wood collage

Shadow box frame art

Mixed media painting on canvas

Created entirely from scratch, an array of natural elements creating a shadow box effect

Because Renee does so many different kinds of art, it's difficult for her to restrain herself in one medium.  She creates everything from one of kind fabric/paper greetings cards to art dolls and everything in between.  Her space at Ten Women is constantly changing and there's always a new display of different original art for mass appeal. 

Ten Women Montana is having a TEA PARTY!

Our post card image

Please join us for a 

Valentine Art and Tea 

Reception

Sunday, February 12, 2012

2:00pm until 5:00pm

Ten Women

1128 Montana Ave.

Santa Monica, CA  90403

310 393-6254

www.tenwomengallery.com

Visit Our Blog

tenwomenonmontana.blogspot.com

Like Us On Facebook

 www.facebook.com/TenWomenGalleryOnMontana

Open Daily 10am-6pm

The Old and The New

Since opening on Montana the latter part of the year, Ten Women on Montana Gallery has made huge strides in establishing ourselves in our new neighborhood.
Due to the holidays there were so many people out and about seeing what was available in the stores for possible gift giving.  We had people who were walking there dogs up the avenue or strolling with baby carriages who stopped and peeked in to see what we were all about.  Our long time customers came by that were happy to find us again and new clients that knew of us but didn't have a chance to get down to Venice to see our art.  It has been delightful to receive so many welcoming words to encourage us and assure us that we made the right move.

Here are just some creations from a few of our talented artists that were on display for sale throughout the holidays.  Some of these items will still be available if they haven't already been purchased and lots of new things coming in for the New Year.

Caroline's beautiful porcelain pottery

Elaine's unique and popular fabric purses

Fa

Elaine's small purses to insert in her wonderful larger purses or to use alone

Clay sculpture by Joann

Expressive clay creations by Joann

Who could resist this comical clay creation by Joann to use for decoration or trivet

Beautifully decorated gourds by Karen

Peggys fun and whimsical wire creations

Stunning hand fused glass by Betsy

Bibi's wonderful world of the imagination on wood and canvas

Bring nature inside with Mannig's sculptures and mobiles made from all things natural

A variety of fabulous paintings, prints, cards by Isabelle

Peggy's wonderfully imaginative figures and faces in wire

Summer's unique hand stamped meal jewelry

Trace's hand blown glass drops

Beautifully designed hand blown glass pendents by Trace

Summers one of a kind jewelry that makes a statement

Endless Tomorrows by Renee

Renee's abstract mixed media painting

Renee's expressive mixed media jewelry

Now that 2011 is hours away from being over, all of us at Ten Women on Montana want to wish all of you, our old and new friends, Peace of Mind, Perfect Health, Time to Celebrate exciting and wonderful things, Prosperity and Good Will and lots of Love throughout the New Year.  God Bless us all.  Happy New Year!