Lompoc Valley Arts Council

THIS JUST IN!
“A Walk Through the Cypress” February 2026
by Elizabeth Monks Hack
Cypress Gallery

NO LIMIT TO THE CREATIVE MIND

The Lompoc Valley Art Association presents its first community-wide exhibition of the year, a marvelous show called “The Art of Renewal,” on view at the Cypress Gallery through February. Showcasing art made from recycled materials, it is indeed full of marvels, with transformations wonderful to behold. Using the most humble of materials – trash – our artists have made works of art that delight and challenge the viewer into a new ways of seeing and thinking. Art proves once again that there is no limit to the creative mind.

Of course, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Artists do have a habit of picking up an interesting, say, lump of metal, off the street, eyeing it for creative potential. They might keep it in the studio for, say years, until the right idea comes along. You will find plenty of this type of creative transformation in the gallery. Our curators asked that the art be made from at least 70% recycled, reused, or repurposed materials. A re-imagining of the commonplace is the show’s highlight.

So many of the works in “The Art of Renewal” celebrate humor and joy. Chris Jeszeck’s “Roll Call” demonstrates once again the artist’s irrepressible wit. A row of what appears to be collapsed Bronze Age masks in various metals are mounted in a frame. Only the title suggests what they are really made of!

Creatures abound throughout the gallery. King of them all may be Aaron Crocker’s “Marred n’ Leering Face,” a huge wall piece that is funny, or terrifying! You choose. It is constructed of a slew of found objects, including a wig, a styrofoam cooler lid, and boxing gloves.
Tom Chrones’ “Oakly” is a sweet little robot made of items that could be found on a garage work bench or gizmo box, including a camera lens, piece of a banister, and bolts. “Oakly” would be a good friend for Linda Gooch’s “The Little Blue Man,” who as the name implies, is cobalt and turquoise, with a body made of water pump housing.

It is almost astounding to see the corrugated cardboard of a standard box transformed into lovely wall flowers. Jennifer Racusin has created three, large hand-painted wall mounts, calling them “Fairy Portals.” “Ethernet and Limoncelo” by Jean Rutherford is another surprising floral, of glass, wire and beads.

In our main gallery, more “traditional” art is on display, and as the song says, it never goes out of style. Watercolors, glass, oils and acrylic are used to make works of formal beauty and significance that are in it for the long haul. Both types of art, traditional and contemporary, complement one another and are a testament to our time; our freedom of expression and our boundless creativity. Creativity is how problems are truly solved. Visit the gallery this month to inspire yours.

The Cypress Gallery offers a variety of visual experiences, cards and gifts, art education and practice. The month of March will feature our community-wide “Flight of Imagination” show, with wood butterfly blanks for you to transform as you wish. Discover what we have in store for you on our website.

The Lompoc Valley Art Association is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. For more information visit lompocart.org. Follow us on Instagram and facebook.com/CypressGallery. The Cypress Gallery is located at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Hours 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Thursday – Sunday. Phone (805) 737-1129.
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CAPTIONS
1. Linda Gooch “The Little Blue Man” Water pump housing, filter, rusted scissors, and more
2. Jennifer Racusin “Fairy Portals” Cardboard, acrylic paint
3. Aaron Crocker “Marred ‘n’ Leering Face” Discarded styrofoam cooler lid, plastic prize ball, baby-doll head, old boxing gloves, wig
4. Tom Chrones “Oakly” Oak banister, camera lens, bolts
5. Chris Jeszeck “Roll Call” Cardboard tubes
6. Jean Rutherford “Ethernet and Limoncelo” Mixed media

TO: LVAA Members
FROM: Elizabeth Monks Hack, Cypress Gallery
RE: “A Walk Through the Cypress” January 2026

January 5, 2026

A Fresh Start With Art
by Elizabeth Monks Hack
The Lompoc Valley Art Association wishes a Happy New Year to all! Happily, we are still thriving, and have many wonderful art experiences planned for 2026. Art practitioners, aficionados, and anyone curious to try something new, consider the Cypress Gallery a resource. Owned and operated by the LVAA, we’ve been bringing art to our community here for over thirty years. It’s a place to find a fresh perspective, a new hobby, or a new look at the world through the eyes of an artist.
On display this month is a small but delightful show, entitled “Simple Pleasures.” Gallery artists sought to bring together pieces that reflect the importance of little things in a big, often troubling world. Small things we experience at home that give us joy.
A plate of cookies, a cup of tea, a pooch, beautiful flowers in a vase; these art works are as varied as the artists. Meditate upon them, and one gets a surprising sense of peace. Or perhaps a chuckle, as in front of Linda Gooch’s iced cake doughnut “Bite Me,” or Jasmine Gonzalez’s “The Good Stuff,” portraying a can of high quality Italian tomatoes.
One stand out of the show is a ravishing painting entitled “A Quiet Moment,” by Vicki Andersen. It focuses in on a child reading a book, her head resting on a pillow. The paint strokes, the color choices, and animated light of this painting are truly remarkable.
Throughout the gallery are works that bring visual excitement and energy to the viewer, who may have become exhausted over the holidays. Vigorous paintings of animals can give us a recharge. “Simple Freedom” by Joe Gliebe-Goetz depicts a small horse trotting over textured golden hills, silhouetted against a startling sky. In the modernist painting “Year of the Horse” by V.C. deMille, a playful white stallion seems to dance across the moon.
Magnificent white birds gaze at us imperiously from the walls. Chris Jeszeck’s owl “The Sentinel,” and Lee Hill’s “White Egret” draw us into their powerful beings. If that gets too intense, simply gaze to the right at “Peaceful Beach,” by Sharon Hedman. Its aquamarine blues and a sign that reads “Turks” are soothing to the soul. Such is the magic of art.
The Cypress Gallery has two community-participant shows on the horizon, and we very much want you to participate! February brings “The Art of Renewal,” in which the artworks are made from recycled objects. Scheduled for March is “Flight of the Imagination.” This show belongs to our series of wood “cut-outs,” wherein artists are asked to transform a simple animal shape. This year it is the butterfly. Visit the gallery this week to get started.
All events and information about shows and classes are posted on our website. Join us on Sunday, January 10 from noon to 2:00 PM for the “Simple Pleasures” reception. Get to know our artists. Get to know art, for a fresh start to a new year.
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The Lompoc Valley Art Association is a 501c(3) non-profit organization, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. For more information visit lompocart.org. Follow us on Instagram and facebook.com/CypressGallery. The Cypress Gallery is located at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc. Hours 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Thursday – Sunday. Phone (805) 737-1129.
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CAPTIONS
1. Linda Gooch “Bite Me” Acrylic on canvas
2. Vicki Andersen “A Quiet Moment” Acrylic on canvas
3. Jasmine Gonzalez “The Good Stuff” Mixed media
4. Joe Gliebe-Goetz “Simple Freedom” Acrylic on canvas
5. V.C. deMille “Year of the Horse” Acrylic on canvas
6. Chris Jeszeck “The Sentinel” Acrylic on canvas
7. Lee Hill “White Egret” Acrylic on canvas
8. Sharon Hedman “Peaceful Beach” Acrylic on canvas

The Lompoc Museum has a gift store, did you know?! And it's not too late to acquire some Halloween/Dia de los Muertes decorations! The items are from all over the world, and there is also a great selection a books and educational toys to stimulate a child's interest in art and culture. The museum is open every day except Monday. Start your Christmas shopping early. We'll keep you posted.