Kirk Gilliam

Pictured here with his creation "Visitor from Planet Toast"

Kirk was born on January 8, 1955. He grew up in Los Angeles during the 1960's and was the youngest of four brothers. He was raised in a highly creative environment of building forts and model railroads. Durings the 80's and 90's he also gained skills in building and renovating homes. He is a lifetime collector of interesting artifacts, new and antique. Kirk has been an avid student and researcher in an eclectic range of subjects. All of these unique characteristics have conspired to aid in his delivery of a unique style of art with a timeless content and message relevant to people through many eras.

"Visitor from Planet Toast" will be on display along with nine other original works of art by Gilliam at Vegolution Restaurant. Visitor from Planet Toast won the blue ribbon (1st place) for recycled art at the San Diego Fair in June 2009. Gilliam will be on hand to speak on the afternoon of November 7th about his art and philosophy.

Jo Thomas Blaine

Jo Thomas Blaine has been painting mandalas for over twenty years. An intense love of color, a lifelong fascination with the patterns found in nature, and an ongoing quest to connect with the spiritual essence of the Self and the World, have all influenced and nurtured Jo's love of the Mandala: symmetry radiating in all directions from a single point.

Jo draws and paints each mandala entirely by hand, in pencil and watercolor. Their sizes vary from 9 to 18 inches. Each original is then scanned and digitally reproduced in various sizes to make glass platters and plates, mandala bowls, limited-edition prints, handmade greeting cards, ceramic tiles, treasure boxes, pendants and earrings. Each product is available in over 40 different designs, with new ones being created all the time.

A sampling of Jo's mandala plates are on display at Vegolution. Their variety is staggering; their beauty, dazzling....www.mandalaartplates.com