Cooperstown, NY— Former Californian, Marcus Villagran, will discuss the relationship between Surrealism and the Pacific Northwest and that influence on his work. Pre-registration is required for the zoom-at-noon ‘hybrid’ talk. A limited in-person audience will be admitted. Anyone wishing to enjoy via zoom should request the link by end of day March 29 from leartgarage@gmail.com Mr. Villagran has created a majolica showstopper in the gallery, The Tale of Neegyyamks, inspired by his research on the Surrealist art movement. His work is part of a four-person exhibition,”Mid-Winter Art Show,” that features his sculpture, paintings by Lucia Phillips and Amuy Leigh McKinnon, and ceramic platters and more by Elizabth Nileds. The gallery opens with a phone call or text and will be open Saturday Aoril 2, 11AM-1PM. The last day of the show is Turesday April 5. Sculptor MARCUS VILLAGRAN is yet-another Otsego County transplanted artist, now well-established in Gilbertsville in partnership with the other veteran artist in the show, Elizabeth Nields. A Californian for much of his life, his skills in two- and three-dimensional art were evident at a young age. In high-school he took Saturday classes. Los Angeles County Museum exhibited his ceramics in the 1950s. A juror, the legendary Peter Voulkos, awarded him Best of Show in sculpture at the Sacramento Art and Crafts. More recently he won Best of Show, Contemporary Clay, Western Regional Juried Exhibition, Grand Junction, Colorado. When he served in the Navy, he was San Diego station artist. Following his tour of duty, with the support of the G.I. Bill, he studied at the Chouinard Art Institute—now part of CalArts– then worked in production pottery. Villagran next studied at Otis Institute, CA initially as a Scholarship Lab Assistant and went on to earn BFA and MFA at Otis, while also teaching and exhibiting at many venues. He engaged in partnerships with myriad entities— production facilities, private art schools, city and state colleges– studying and teaching and exhibiting his work. Villagran moved Upstate in 2012 — “smitten with the goddess of clay of the East Coast” — and has been working with Elizabeth Nields at her preeminent Gilbertsville Studio. He noted he was “determined to promote [Elizabeth’s] unique sculpture and find my own sculptural visions in clay.” He has exhibited his work locally at The Smithy, Cooperstown and SUNY Oneonta and CANO Galleries, Oneonta, among others. In addition to the majolica piece on view at the Art Garage, Villagran offers a 16″ H ceramic “singing head”. This is a model for a five foot head he plans to create for a sculpture park this summer, which will be wired for sound. Questions? Contact 607-547-5327, text 315-941-9607 or leartgarage@gmail.com