'Take Heart' Sculpture By Martinez Artist Goes On Display In Napa

MARTINEZ, CA — A piece by a Martinez artist is among eight sculptures recently installed as public art throughout the city of Napa for the 2019-2021 Napa Art Walk. The rotating exhibition showcases original, high-quality sculptures around Downtown Napa and the Oxbow District. Each two-year exhibition comes from a juried selection of submissions from artists working in the Napa region and the Western United States.

"Take Heart" by Patricia Vader of Martinez joins works by artists from Napa, Orinda and Oakland, as well as Oregon, Idaho, Colorado and Nevada.

Vader completed her powder-coated steel and aluminum piece of artwork in 2017. Here is how her piece is described:

"The heart of this wind driven kinetic sculpture by Patricia Vader spins in both directions in an irregular and unpredictable way that is fun to watch. It epitomizes the unpredictability of life and how we can optimize it with our own positive and generous impulses. A heart is a universal symbol of courage and connectedness that confers a sense of place and well-being, especially at times of natural disasters like floods earthquakes and fires, all of which pertain to Napa."

The 2019-2021 exhibition is themed "Sense Of Place," and marks the sixth installation of Napa Art Walk. The aim of "Sense of Place" is to prompt members of the public to identify their own symbolic and literal relationship to the environment/s in which they live, and to inspire a recognition or creation of experience tied to the place in which the artwork resides, according city of Napa Spokeswoman Jaina French.

"A significant sense of place can motivate the individual and the masses to take ownership of their stories, to empower communities, and to spark understanding in our collective experience in shared spaces," French said.

Members of the public are invited to attend the artists' reception from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 30 at Napa City Hall, 955 School St., according to French.

From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., directly following the reception, community members are also invited to embark on a guided tour of the new art pieces. The tour, which French said includes presentations by the artists, starts at the corner of First and School streets.

Here is the full list of featured artists:

Eileen Fitz-Faulkner of Orinda, California
Brian Hutsebout of Oregon
Danette Landry of Napa, California
Ken McCall of Boise, Idaho
Jann Nunn of Oakland, California
Sue Quinlan of Boulder, Colorado
Eino Romppannen of Pahrump, Nevada
Patricia Vader of Martinez, California

Maps of the 2019-2021 Napa Art Walk are available online. The free maps can also be picked up from numerous locations, including Napa Valley Welcome Center at 600 Main St. in Napa. The cover of the 2019-2021 map features the 2017-2019 People's Choice Winner, Lt . Mustardseed's "Treasures by the Sea."

In the decade since its inception and subsequent Napa City Council approval, Napa Art Walk has garnered regional and national attention as an innovative Napa Valley visitor experience that highlights the region's cultural vibrancy, French said.

"It has also been featured in several media outlets including The Miami Herald, 7 x 7 Magazine, The Washington Post, and Sunset Magazine," French said. "Top Events USA credits Napa Art Walk for, 'establishing Napa itself as a cultural destination.'"