HEARTFELT

Still don't know what to give your sweetie—or yourself—this Valentine's Day? Don't forget, there are still some fabulous deals to be had on small treasures of original art at the Artisans Gallery's ongoing Hearts For the Arts silent auction.

With all proceeds to go to the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County, to benefit art education programs for local children, the gallery show features a dazzling array of quilt-sized, 10" x 10" pieces, all with a heart motif, from 20 renowned local artists. Work by Marie Gabrielle, Paul Fortis, Beth Purcell, Doug Ross, Maggie Renner Hellmann, and James Aschbacher, among many others, is going for a song as we speak. (Here's a link to one of my favorite pieces, Doug Ross' "Heart-Seal.")

An additional couple of dozen pieces by area children and their art teachers are also available for bidding.  It's worth it to drop by just to see how many imaginative variations are possible on the theme of "hearts."

The show will be up through next Tuesday, Valentine's Day, Feb 14, when the bidding will be closed. So pop in soon and put a bid on the heart-work of your dreams.