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THURSDAY March 4, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels February 12, 2004 Art that's sweet Artist cooperative to honor Valentine's Day with 'red and chocolate' By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings Visitors to Ashland galleries are accustomed to finding visual treasures. But people who drop by the Ashland Art Works complex on Oak Street will find treats for the senses of sight, smell and taste as part of an homage to Valentine's Day running through February. The 11 members of the artists' cooperative, along with guest artists Carol Baxter and Nancy Summers, are displaying collages, sculptures, pottery, jewelry and other works that incorporate the theme "Red & Chocolate." Traditional and innovative floral displays from Ashland Flower Shop, The Enchanted Florist, Eufloria Flowers and Flower Tyme perfume the air in the complex's four galleries. Chocolatiers from Lillie Belle Farms' Handmade Chocolates in Jacksonville and Endangered Species Chocolate Co. in Talent are offering their tantalizing creations. Making fine chocolate is similar to painting, according to Jeff Shepherd, chocolatier for Lillie Belle. "I treat chocolate like an art form. I do everything by hand, including the chocolate paintings," said Shepherd. An artist long before he became a chocolatier, Shepherd has created miniature paintings on some of the chocolates on display. He noted that the making of a successful piece - whether a chocolate or a painting - requires a trial and error process that results in chocolates being thrown away or canvases being discarded. Chocolate makers and painters also must show great attention to detail. "I try to be very exacting in what I do," Shepherd said. "I treat each piece individually." Baxter, one of this month's guest artists, said she had some trouble creating brown works to fit with the chocolate theme, but had no problem fitting red into her collages. "The red was very easy for me because red's my favorite color," she said. "Mine, too," added Summers, the other guest artist. It is no accident that both women work in collage, incorporating vividly colored paper, postage stamps, scraps printed with foreign languages and other materials. The two were once neighbors and also took some of the same art classes. They are exhibiting masterful collages, predominantly red, that are highlighted with exquisite found objects, ranging from a postage stamp depicting a butterfly to fabric with metallic thread. Summers said while many of her collages already featured red, she enjoyed creating additional works for the show. "It was fun to have an assignment like that because it was challenging," she said. Ashland Art Works features galleries and several studios located along Ashland Creek at 291 Oak St., just downhill and across the street from the Historic Ashland Armory. Shortened February hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: The new search is here! Click here for more information. .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams