Clay and Glass Center

Whether an artist or an art enthusiast, Napa Valley locals know the impact of the Art Association Napa Valley (AANV) on the community. Having provided a creative oasis for individuals and families working with mixed mediums since 1948, AANV truly lives and breathes its mission of helping to facilitate 2D and 3D visual artists to make, sell, and find spaces to display their works. They even embrace members outside the county: when Berkeley shut down their local artists’ cooperative, AANV was there to welcome their members.

It only makes sense, then, that their latest opening, the Clay and Glass Center, was a direct response to the community’s requests for a space to work with these mediums. “They were looking for a place closer to home,” said Janis Adams, President of AANV, who added that previously, members had to travel to studios in the Bay Area to work with clay and glass. “We had heard over the years a number of people tell us they were disappointed. We had a member keen to start such a center, so we jumped on it.”

The Clay and Glass Center officially opened classes in April 2023, located in the space that previously housed Dive Into Color, the art studio known as the place where one could master their own pottery, mosaics, and glass art (2201 Jefferson Street, Napa). The Center acts as a shared space, offering by-appointment studio time for those who are well-versed in clay and glass but need the room to create, as well as bookable classes for beginners who want to try out this method or learn a new skill.

“We have several instructors who have a regular cadre of students for ceramic work and a very successful summer camp,” said Adams. Camps range from one-day sessions to week-long experiences. “Parents are particularly happy with the space as it’s not something schools emphasize these days.”

Rotating courses cover everything from pottery classes that introduce wheel throwing (forming clay into shapes on a potter’s wheel to create ceramics like mugs, bowls, and plates) and hand building (teaching the methods to mold clay using one’s hands as the main instrument). Glass-focused projects include teaching fusing techniques and various mosaic- and jewelry-making classes, incorporating both clay and glass.

The Center caters to both beginners and experienced artists. Adams shared, “It’s a fun activity for group events and parties, from kids’ birthday parties to a ladies’ night out, and even as corporate team building.” Whether guests book a group or private session, monitors who can assist with the process and equipment are always available.

Toni Hayashi at Open Studios // Photo courtesy of Art Association Napa Valley

Art Gallery and Open Studios

AANV’s downtown Art Gallery showcases over 50 diverse local artists, covering all types of mediums, from paintings and photography to glass, ceramics, and textiles. There’s wall and 3D art, jewelry, prints, garden art, dishware, vases, and scarves. Despite the Gallery’s theme rotating every month, Adams explained they try to have a balance of artwork available at all times as diversity is important to their charter.

Adams also stated they almost need to change the theme monthly as there is a waiting list for artists’ work to get featured in the Gallery. When she became actively involved in AANV in 2016, she said there were about 130 members, but in the last five years that she has been President, they have grown to more than 200 members.

Though the Gallery offers a coveted space on First Street, there are plenty of other opportunities for artists’ work to be featured. AANV works with local hotels that show member art in some public spaces, including a regular collaboration with The Westin Verasa Napa and past partnerships with Meritage Resort. AANV also works with local wineries to display member art and Downtown Napa, encouraging artists to partake in special events like the Napa Art Walk and the Napa Makes initiative to support how and where artists work. “The Napa community is very unique; they really value their art,” said Adams.

One of the grand showcases of this is AANV’s Open Studios, which occurs over the last two weekends of September as the most extensive annual self-guided art discovery tour through the creative art spaces of Napa Valley. As many as 70 artists open their homes and studios to the community, who show up to support the artists, AANV’s scholarship programs, and maybe find their new favorite piece of art.

“It really opens up a chance for the artists to bond with potential buyers who often will become life-long benefactors of the artist,” said Adams. “It’s my favorite thing to get to know the back stories of the art, and personally, I don’t hang anything if I don’t have a story to put with it.”

Much like the downtown Art Gallery, Open Studios showcases a variety of mediums, from photography to watercolors and fused glass by current members of AANV. Artists from outside the county are welcome to participate but must do so with a current member and pay membership dues and entry fees.

The opportunity is so extensive that AANV must start planning for Open Studios in January, beginning with the process of establishing costs, organizing the routes, and gathering the artists’ work before completing the jury process of choosing the art to be featured and finally selecting the space where the artwork will be shown and, creating a catalog for attendees to learn about the artists.

“Frank Trozzo is the chair of Open Studios and works tirelessly to put this on every year,” acknowledged Adams. “It’s usually a rotating position, but Frank does such a great job he’s been in charge for the last three years.”

In addition to the artists’ studios and homes, AANV opens up its Art Center for a grouping of four to seven artists who can’t show at home. Adams enjoys this for the opportunity of community it brings among AANV members. “I’m always looking for a space to share,” she said.

Open Studios is among the most significant contributors to the AANV scholarship program, providing fellowships to local high school and Napa Valley College students. To find out how to get involved in any of the AANV programs, visit www.artnv.org.