Fall/Winter 2006 - Mendocino Art Center

Highlighting AMendocino GemThe Highlight Gallery has been an integralpart of Mendocino Village for over 25years. Located directly across fromMendocino Bay and its beautiful headlands,the building itself is appealing and historic.Several rooms, levels and staircases invite you tomeander throughan extensive andeclectic array offine art and crafts.Highlight’s originsgo back to1977 when localfine woodworkersneeded a venue fortheir work. Underthe ownership ofClyde and TigerlilyJones, Highlightquickly became afine arts gallery,offering a uniqueblend of high quality craft and fine art. When Clydedecided to retire in 2005, the gallery came dangerouslynear closure. Sharon Peterson, who had worked atHighlight for many years, came to the rescue. “I hadno doubt that someone would buy the gallery,” saysPeterson. “It has great presence and appeal. However,no buyer was emerging, and at the last hour, I realizedthat ‘someone’ was me.”Sharon is not new to the art gallery world. Sheand her husband, artist Jan Peterson, have started anumber of galleries since the 1970’s. “Having had theexperience with smaller galleries gave me the confidenceto jump in with the Highlight,” Sharon says,giving heartfelt credit as well to friends and artistswho lent timely moral and financial support.Those familiar with the gallery realize this leapwas no small undertaking. Housing the work of over200 diverse artists, Highlight’s scale is impressive. Thegallery offers something for everyone, with artworkranging fromthe affordablyaccessible tohigh end. Finewoodworking, hand crafted furniture, jewelry, painting,ocean sandpaintings, ceramics, textiles, blownglass, photography and sculpture all find a harmoniousand elegant home.The long standing connection between Highlightand woodworkers is notable. Highlight contains oneof the largest collections of fine wood art and furniturein the country. Gallery visitors are unwavering intheir applause and awe of the exceptional furniturefeatured here. Annually in May, the community istreated to an exhibition of new work by students andteachers from the world-renowned College of theRedwoods Fine Woodworking Program.For Sharon Peterson the gallery is truly a labor oflove. Reflecting on her determination to keep thegallery going, she says that she felt “the gallery was toomuch to lose for the artists, the community and visitorsto Mendocino.”15