Aerena Galleries & Gardens, Mill Valley
Contemporary-leaning AERENA Mill Valley opened a year ago in a bright, 1,000-square-foot space in downtown Mill Valley, immediately proving itself in step with today’s world.
It features a strong stable of contemporary landscape artists, such as Alison Haley Paul; some true abstract expressionist work, with standout pieces by hyper-local artist Katy Kuhn; intricate blown and hot-sculpted glass vessels from David Patchen; sculpture, like a crane atop a ladder, from Kevin Box, an origami artist who casts his work in bronze; and process-oriented art from Mirang Wonne, an artist who uses a blowtorch to paint her designs onto metal mesh, and from James Armstrong, who repurposes sheet metal to paint distressed landscapes with an industrial ambience.
The art all hangs together in eclectic coherence, without being super-tightly curated. Says gallery leader Gabrielle Miller, “I genuinely believe art inspires, and in the presence of beauty we take deeper breaths.”
Just don’t hesitate to buy what one loves, because there’s a 50%-or-greater reset rate every few weeks. Artworks range from $250 to $35,000. Who’s buying? Mostly locals. aerenagalleries.com —WS
