The members of the Coast Highway Art Collective are excited to host two of their favorite guest artists, Deborah Caperton (mixed media assemblages) and Madeline Kibbe (Mixed media) for a show that runs from June 3–27. An opening reception will be held on Friday, June 4 from noon to 5:00pm at the CHAC gallery in beautiful downtown Point Arena.

CHAC Caperton Tiller Towords Trouble.jpeg

Caperton works in mixed media assemblages, combining original elements she makes in clay and metal, then blends these with objects she collects. “The process of creating loosely woven metaphors through a vocabulary of objects hopefully enables the viewer to find their own meaning,” she explains.

Caperton graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a major in jewelry and light metals and a minor in sculpture. In 1989 she moved to California and is now living in San Francisco with her husband and two daughters and two dogs. She works with metal, glass, ceramics and wood as a designer and artisan. Deborah Caperton Jewelry was founded in 1997 and Caperton continues to exhibit her jewelry in stores and galleries and enjoys doing custom projects. She has taught metalsmithing, ceramics and mixed media classes at San Francisco State University, The Academy of Art University, The Mendocino Arts Center and The Richmond Art Center. Capearton enjoys being part of Spark Ceramics: a community-based ceramics education program in San Francisco, teaching ceramics at Kipp High School and getting to Point Arena as much as possible.

“Throughout the pandemic I have been working more with ceramics, clay being so different from my usual medium of metal I have enjoyed a more intuitive and spontaneous process.” A recent botanical series she created has been a departure for her. She used different plants to create impressions into the clay. When the plants were fired in the kiln, they turned to ash. She then worked the clay at many different stages to layer on color. “These pieces make me think of the passage of time, how we adapt, experience change and why some things must, inescapably, remain,” says Caperton. More information about Caperton’s work can be seen by visiting her website, deborahcapertonjewelry.com

Kibbe studied biology at Mount Holyoke College and transferred to Rhode Island School of Design where she received a BFA in printmaking in 1988. Shortly after, she moved to Point Arena. Since then she has worked in a variety of media and has had numerous shows locally and was included in a kite show juried by Milton Glaser at the Smithsonian Institute.

“I was not trained as a sculptor but I have made some sculpture over the years,” Kibbe says. “The inspiration has always come from the materials which have brought forth strange creative impulses that I like to allow without judgement.” One series Kibbe created featured old growth, milled redwood and hand forged nails rescued from an old house she remodeled. Bamboo, rattan and hand painted silk resulted in a series of Narrative, cubist, centepedes, kites and sculptures. This time, Kibbe says her inspirations come from charred wood, rusted metal, buttons, keys and various bits and pieces that found their way into her studio.

The Coast Highway Art Collective is regularly open Thursday through Sunday from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Masks and social distancing are required for the safety of all of the guests, artists and staff. The gallery is located at 284 Main Street, Point Arena, next door to the Redwood Credit Union. More information is available at www.coast-highway-artists.com

Upper left: "Tiller Towards Trouble" and upper right: "Message in a Bottle". Both by Deborah Caperton.

Lower left: A detail from "A Safe Distance" (top) and lower right "LOVE877". by Madeline Kibbe.