“Stamen and Pistil” at Topanga Canyon Gallery. Reception: July 9, 4PM – 7PM
Topanga Canyon Gallery is offering a room full of flowers of every type, color, and interpretation in the “Stamen and Pistil” show, opening July 9. Idelle Okman Tyzbir, known for her work in various metals as well as watercolors has added photography to create a visual garden in three mediums.
Though Tyzbir never imagined creating a body of work solely around flowers, her “Stamen and Pistil” show came together, mostly, due to public demand. She started in 2017 with an exercise intended to develop and improve her photography skills, by taking and posting a photo of a flower every day for one year. While she was learning this new art, she was gathering a “flower following” that grew as the photos were shared. When she completed her project her fans begged her to continue; they looked forward to the flowers every morning to brighten their days.
She continued the self-challenge for another year, and then another.
“As the years passed, I tried to stop,” explains Tyzbir. “The outpouring of love for this morning bit of joy, changed my direction. I now realized that I was creating flower photos to uplift others. With this realization, I began to fully embrace flowers as an art form for me.”
As the pandemic took hold and the mood of the country was at a low point, Tyzbir’s daily flower came to bring hope and a bright spot to people’s days.
“Stamen and Pistil” presents flowers in watercolor, metal sculpture, and photography. Tyzbir dedicates the show to her followers as she states, “They have lifted me through these tough times too. This group of people are an invisible part of this show.”
Simultaneous with this show, June Kim will be presenting “222Verse” in the South Gallery.
Both shows run from July 8 through July 24. Opening Reception July 9 from 4PM to 7PM. Topanga Canyon Gallery is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1PM to 4PM. 137 S Topanga Canyon Blvd. Website topangacanyongallery.com
