By Bonny Zanardi
Throughout May you can find a wonderful variety of art to inspire and engage you.
Iranian design
The New Winds, an exhibit focused on contemporary Iranian design, is on view at the College of San Mateo Library and the Health and Wellness Center through May 20.
It features 44 posters by 43 artists, among them world-renowned masters such as Majid Abbasi, who co-curated the show with Olga Severina.
For CSM Library hours, visit www.collegeofsanmateo.edu/library. The college is at 1700 W. Hillsdale Boulevard, San Mateo. For more information, contact fainshteinv@smccd.edu.
It’s personal
Paintings by Belinda Chlouber, Katinka Hartmetz and Ginger Slonaker are featured in Personal Narratives, which opens at Avenue 25 Gallery with a reception from 1 to 4 p.m. May 5.
The show will be on view through July 6. Avenue 25 Gallery is on the second floor at 32 W. 25th Avenue, San Mateo. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Contact curator Charles Anselmo at imagecuba@gmail.com.
County Center
Graphic images by photographer Nathalie Strand are presented in the exhibit Happenstance, which opens May 4 at the Caldwell Gallery, 400 County Center, Redwood City.
Originally from France, Strand moved to California in 1999. She studied lithography and sculpture at l’Ecole Nationale des Beaux-Arts de Paris. In 2005 she graduated from the Academy of Art in San Francisco.
She has had a longtime interest in work depicting corners, shadows and stains. This recent series blends her figurative pictures and photographs of details and textures. She notes, “When merged, they surprise me into telling stories I didn’t even know existed.”
Happenstance will continue through June 27. The artist can be reached at nathstrand@gmail.com.
In the building’s Community Gallery, on the lower level of the Hall of Justice, is Just Art, featuring acrylics by Foster City artist Gene Firpo.
He was an artist for the Redwood City Tribune and later served as an advertising executive for the paper. Firpo was named Exhibitor of the Year in 2017 at the San Mateo County Fair Fine Arts Galleria.
Just Art will be on view through June 28. Contact gafirpo@yahoo.com.
The Rotunda Gallery, across the plaza at 555 County Center, is featuring sculptures by Paul Powell through June 28. Contact ppowell14@yahoo.com.
All three shows are curated by Boris Koodrin and sponsored by the San Mateo County Arts Commission. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Contact Koodrin at 650-296-0622 or e-mail boriskoodrin@gmail.com.
Fault lines
Robin Mullery’s Scenes Along the Fault Lines of Feeling is on view at the Branner Spangenberg Gallery through May 20. The work was largely created from cement and a range of industrial products.
In the featured pieces the artist presents views of “what it is to be broken and made whole again, …to be imperfect and scarred and stronger in the broken places, which is to say, to be human.”
The gallery is at 275A Linden Street, Redwood City. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, or by appointment by calling 650-569-0275. Visit www.brannerspangenberggallery.com.
Art and song
The City of South San Francisco General Art Show will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. May 11 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 12 in the Municipal Services Building, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco.
In addition, there will be a Sing Your Heart Out Karaoke Night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 11.
The events are presented by the South San Francisco Cultural Arts Commission.
Call 650-829-3800 or visit the Cultural Arts page at www.ssf.net.
Art Liaisons shows
A show of work by Anil Sawe, Charlene Sawe, Don Hoekwater, Jane Henri, James V. Lee and Noemi Manero is featured at Philz Coffee, 113 South B Street, San Mateo, through mid-May.
At the Philz Coffee at 2116 Broadway, Redwood City, works by Robert Lee, Becky Johnson, Brian Cervenka and Salma Kandil are on view through mid-May.
At Mistral Restaurant and Bar, 370 Bridge Parkway, Redwood Shores, works by Zdenka Bleile, Tony Williams, Miroslava Lipovec Friedman and Brooke Howe are presented through mid-July.
All three shows are presented by Art Liaisons. Contact Gail Sjoman at 650-596-0868 or visit www.artliaisons.com.
Celebrating youth
Artwork created by students from East Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Palo Alto are featured in the Cultural Kaleidoscope exhibit on view through May 27 and Youth Art exhibition on view through May 20 at the City of Palo Alto Art Center.
A free opening celebration will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. May 2. The galleries are at 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. Call 650-329-2366.
Open Studios
The Peninsula Museum of Art is just one of the locations participating in Silicon Valley Open Studios this month. For a complete listing and map of participating artists, visit www.svos.org.
I wish you great enjoyment of the variety of exhibits and activities this spring!
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