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After a Tragic Fire, Charlotte Healy Finds Renewed Inspiration on the Mendocino Coast.
My interest in jewelry began at the University of Denver. During ski trips in the Rockies, my eyes opened up to jewelry as an art form when I discovered European silversmiths, such as Georg Jensen, working in the Scandanavian contemporary style. Navajo jewelry as well as the Mexican Taxco school of jewelry also became major influences.
I helped build a sailboat and spent a winter sailing along the coast of California and Baja. I felt drawn to the amazing marine life and loved being close to nature. I moved to Mendocino County, in Northern California, and helped build a house in the coastal mountains. I lived for many years without electricity using a sewing machine treadle, transformed into a treadle polishing wheel, to finish my work. Making jewelry lent itself to the lifestyle I had chosen.
I eventually moved to Redwood Valley, surrounded by grape vineyards, only to loose my house and studio in the firestorm of 2017. My stone collection was gone, one that I had assembled from places all over the world. However, one positive note from the disaster was that my friends and fellow artists proved to be incredibly generous. I received donations of jewelry tools and beautiful stones. Now I live close to nature on the Mendocino coast, which has always been a source for inspiration and creativity, and have renovated my garage into a new jewelry studio.
It’s an adventure for me to try and find interesting and unusual stones to incorporate in my work, plus I enjoy the immediacy of working in metal and love exploring its reflectivity and malleability. Often I have to let go and let the piece show me what it wants to be. My designs attempt to celebrate our connection with all living things. The person wearing it bridges the distance between viewer and object and completes the circle, giving it a life of its own.
I helped build a sailboat and spent a winter sailing along the coast of California and Baja. I felt drawn to the amazing marine life and loved being close to nature. I moved to Mendocino County, in Northern California, and helped build a house in the coastal mountains. I lived for many years without electricity using a sewing machine treadle, transformed into a treadle polishing wheel, to finish my work. Making jewelry lent itself to the lifestyle I had chosen.
I eventually moved to Redwood Valley, surrounded by grape vineyards, only to loose my house and studio in the firestorm of 2017. My stone collection was gone, one that I had assembled from places all over the world. However, one positive note from the disaster was that my friends and fellow artists proved to be incredibly generous. I received donations of jewelry tools and beautiful stones. Now I live close to nature on the Mendocino coast, which has always been a source for inspiration and creativity, and have renovated my garage into a new jewelry studio.
It’s an adventure for me to try and find interesting and unusual stones to incorporate in my work, plus I enjoy the immediacy of working in metal and love exploring its reflectivity and malleability. Often I have to let go and let the piece show me what it wants to be. My designs attempt to celebrate our connection with all living things. The person wearing it bridges the distance between viewer and object and completes the circle, giving it a life of its own.
A Note About our New Gallery hours
Beginning in April, Northcoast Artists Gallery will be opened 11 am to 4 pm, everyday except Tuesdays.
Due to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines will still be required.
Due to Covid-19 social distancing guidelines will still be required.
Northcoast Artists Welcomes Two New Guest Members:
Kristin Coddington-Gordon 
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Kristin Coddington-Gordon of What Now Ceramics is a ceramic artist living on the Mendocino Coast. She is a fierce fighter for the environment, a mother of three creative half wild daughters and married to a guy who knows not to get in the way of what she is doing.
Each sculpture is made by hand without the use of a mold, making each piece unique and individual. The sculptures are raku fired and waxed with beeswax. The wood used in Kristin’s sculptures is in collaboration with her husband Bob Gordon. Bob mills local, reclaimed and salvaged woods and finishes these pieces with beeswax. By creating sculptures of struggling species, Kristin gives animals a voice. The message is left undefined but is clearly in reference to environmental collapse. She hopes her art stirs up an emotion prompting others to do what they can. The question is asked. What now? |
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Gail Jackson |
"I am always aiming for cheerful and bright images! I enjoy sharing and showing local wildlife, nature photography that’s captured on the Mendonoma Coast. I have the best time being out in nature following feathers, rainbows, a feeling or a breeze. I have met many talented local photographers and I feel fortunate to learn from them. Staying creative is important for all of us. Natural treasures surround us on the coast, and there is always a chance you’ll find something golden or special. I share my pictures to cheer people up, to cheer them on, to remind them of what they can find on an adventure, and to hearten people to keep going. Everyday brings changes; even beaten paths can lead to new experiences." - Gail Jackson
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Visit our members' online stores:
Alex Anderson 
Sue Ellen Parkinson |
Satoko Barash 
Virginia Ray |
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Patti Harney |
Leila Kazimi |
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Our members would like to thank everyone for their continued support throughout these challenging times. Now that we've reopened, we hope you'll soon stop by and see the wonderful art and fine craft our artists have made over these past few months.
At present, our gallery is only open Fridays through Monday, 11am to 4pm, but we're cautiously optimistic about the future. We're doing our part to follow the county's health guidelines, hoping that the measures will keep everyone safe while they enjoy their visit to the beautiful Mendocino Coast. Hopefully, by the Summer of 2021 we can offer more visiting hours and more business days.
For those who can't visit, be sure to check out the below links our members' online stores. Many of the same items that we normally sell at our physical location in Fort Bragg, California are also offered there.
Sincerely, everyone at Northcoast Artists
At present, our gallery is only open Fridays through Monday, 11am to 4pm, but we're cautiously optimistic about the future. We're doing our part to follow the county's health guidelines, hoping that the measures will keep everyone safe while they enjoy their visit to the beautiful Mendocino Coast. Hopefully, by the Summer of 2021 we can offer more visiting hours and more business days.
For those who can't visit, be sure to check out the below links our members' online stores. Many of the same items that we normally sell at our physical location in Fort Bragg, California are also offered there.
Sincerely, everyone at Northcoast Artists
Guest Membership Opportunity
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Northcoast Artists is currently looking for qualified artists to apply for guest memberships. Jewelers, especially, are urged to apply, although artists from all mediums will be considered.
Becoming a guest member is required before applying for a full membership.This allows the prospective artist to see what it's like to work in a cooperative gallery before making a decision on whether or not to apply for full membership. Download an application here. |
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Encaustics
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