Synesthesia

Art With A Heart: Yes, another Valentine's Day is approaching. Obvious expectations on this "special" day include the following: grumpy singles, unsavory public displays of affection, overly excitable girlfriends, an arsenal of disgruntled Hallmark employees, and, of course, lots and lots of chocolate. But before I go on, let me anticipate a few of your nagging questions. First, yes, chocolate is indeed an aphrodisiac! And, no, it's not all right to buy her (or him) the Snicker's Family Pak and call it a night. I hate to break it to you, but that's just not worthy of your Valentine.

What is worthy for your Valentine is art - created by you. Jennifer Kuhns will host a "Broken Hearts" mosaic workshop Saturday. She'll show you how to make a Valentine-themed gift using basic glass-cutting and mosaic technique. There's nothing more therapeutic than taking bits and pieces and creating something new.

The class will be held Saturday, Jan. 30 from 1-4 p.m. at Hexen Glass Studio in Olympia. The Cost is $70. Reserve you spot at 360.705.8758.

Rear of House

An artist who works with "found art" is obliged to blur the lines between curator and artiste, which can either diminish the authenticity of his or her exhibitions or broaden his or her capacity for expression, depending on how you look at it. Becky Frehse's solo show Adaptations, which focuses on the interplay of visual elements as they respond to each other within found box constructions and opens at The Sandpiper Gallery Jan. 30, has the latter result on the viewer - her found art gives intelligent yet visceral context to the original, expressive paintings she pairs with it.

A Tacoma Artists Initiative Project supported in part by the Tacoma Arts Commission, Frehse's solo exhibition of unconventional paintings are based loosely on the natural world. She works with found objects that become formats for collaged materials, paint, and drawing.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What do you mean by "based loosely on the natural world"?

BECKY FREHSE: It means that the work is mainly based on ideas about nature, landscape, sea, water, birds, etc. But I also am interested in the way that humans collide with nature by defacing it and altering it; not just pollution, but also just by being present and leaving footprints.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Do you have a favorite spot to look for material?

FREHSE: I think I collect stuff for my mixed media work all the time. I stop into Value Village every once in awhile to see what they have; often I find large quantities of some unnecessary item that I can use or transform in some way. I love to spend a whole afternoon hunting for old boxes and wooden things at antique malls. When I travel, I buy "tourist art" - junk from street vendors. And, of course, I scrutinize my own household's recycling bins - one person's junk is another's treasure, as they say.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Then the creative process begins ...

FREHSE: The process of putting things in and/or taking things out of a piece is a dialogue between creator and materials with the expectation that a balance between evidence and lyricism decides a realized.

[The Sandpiper Gallery, Jan. 30-Feb. 27, noon to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, opening reception Jan. 30 2-5 p.m., 2221 N. 30^th St., Tacoma, 253.627.6667]