About
Twenty years ago, my love of art, fascination with the traditional cultures of remote places, obsession with traveling and uncontrollable predisposition to collect things all came together in this wonderful place called the FolkArt Gallery. Since then, I’ve had many incredible experiences, met many interesting people and been to many magical places that I’ve dreamed about since I was a child. The result is a gallery of traditional, tribal and ethnic folk art from around the world located in gorgeous Northern California.
I’m passionate about bringing not only the art but also the inspiring stories of these talented artisans back home to share with you. I’m so excited when we are able to host the artists and have demonstrations in the Gallery. For me, the most satisfying thing is to be able to introduce these amazing artisans, their craft and their cultures to people here.
I’ve become a curator of beautiful things and great stories that bring a sense of joy to my eye and my heart. There are messages in these marvelous objects that spin tales about the ritual lives, cultural identity, spirituality, social status and hopes and dreams of their creators.
I’ve also been a photographer for a very long time, as well as a mixed media artist. My art is very much influenced by my travels and by folk art. When creating in my studio, I use whatever tools and materials are within reach—paint, paper, crayons, fabrics and found objects. I like lots of color, paper, beads and things that make me smile. I like art that makes you think.
When people come into the gallery, they are often curious about how all these wonderful treasures got here. They want to know where I go and about the people I meet on my travels. I’d like to open a window into our world so you can see what goes on behind the scenes here.
I want to invite you to join our discussion about the importance of art & craft in our lives. What kind of things will we talk about? About different cultures and different ways of viewing the world. About creating art in the contemporary world. About anything people who are interested in art think about. About anything that affects our lives; it could be beauty, world events, objects, cultural traditions, fashion, graffiti—just about anything. The idea is to learn from each other and about each other. I hope you will join the conversation by making comments on the various posts and topics.
Sincerely, Sharon Christovich
