"Hearts & Flowers" opening at the Folk Tree in Pasadena Jan. 23

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the "art" of romance is on view in at The Folk Tree in The 23rd Annual Hearts & Flowers Exhibition from January 23 – February 20, 2010. The public is invited to a Valentine’s Party on Saturday, January 23, from 2 – 6 P.M.

Love and its symbols are the focus of this show, which features work in all media including jewelry. Approximately fifty area artists display pieces ranging from small scale decorative and whimsical objects to more emotionally-charged work reflecting both positive and negative aspects of love. An array of related Mexican folk art is also on view, including ceramic figures by the Aguilar family, repousse hearts cut from tin, and paper and cornhusk flowers.

Highlights of the show are: paintings by Esau Andrade, Winifred Brewer, and Katrin Wiese; ceramics by Beverly Crist, Johanna Hansen, and Kina Clay; mixed media by Sandra Gallegos, Toti O’Brien, and Kathi Oshima; and fiber by Sumi Foley, Mavis Leahy, and Ulla Anobile. More than fifteen jeweler designers are represented. Their materials include sterling silver (Alba Heredia, Rone Prinz, Holly Rittenhouse), ceramics (Felicia Nilson, Andrea Lithgow), glass (Lucia Yang), stainless steel mesh (Wendy Hacker-Moss), crocheted wire (Lisa Toland) and more.

HEARTS & FLOWERS XXIII is an exhibition for the romantically inclined, offering an eclectic blend of fine art, contemporary crafts, and traditional folk art.

Also on January 23, from 3 - 5 P.M., The Folk Tree hosts a book signing for editor Colleen Dunn Bates, and her latest publication EAT: Los Angeles - The Food Lover's Guide to Los Angeles. This guidebook shares the favorite finds of L.A.'s savviest food journalists. From taco trucks to French bistros, wine shops to caterers, butchers to brew pubs, Thai markets to Chinese dim sum houses, you'll find L.A.'s best food in this acclaimed new book. (Prospect Park Books, $19.95)

Dunn Bates writes about restaurants for Westways, was the longtime restaurant critic for L.A. Style, and has written for many national and regional magazines. A sixth-generation Southern Californian, Colleen lives in Pasadena with her husband, film editor and Mac man Darryl Bates.

The Folk Tree is located at 217 South Fair Oaks Avenue (just fifteen minutes from downtown
Los Angeles, off the end of the 110 freeway and minutes walking distance from the Del Mar Gold Line Station). Hours are: M-W, 11-6; Th-Sat, 10-6; Sun, 12-5. For more information, contact Gail Mishkin at 626/793-4828 or call The Folk Tree at 626/795-8733.