Sign of the Times

The deep recession, with its lost jobs and falling home values nationwide, poses another kind of threat: to the art galleries. The tide of big spenders that decorated their homes with vineyard and wine art from their trip to the wine country is receding, leaving some communities high and dry. Yountville lost one gallery last year and Images Fine Art South on Washington is closing April 30.

Citing exorbitant rent increases and the slow economy, they are closing their Yountville location and selling everything in stock at deep discounts. Granted, they still have a St. Helena location, Art on Main, but losing another gallery in Yountville is worth mourning. It appears that visitors are looking for a beautiful place to stay that has great food and wine, but many of their wallets are empty when it comes to shopping for pricey souvenirs.

Tough economic times have come before and boom markets inevitably follow. The ebb and flow of tourists and art patrons cycles through the wine country with each passing season. But our artists are steadily creating magnificent pieces, transforming color and line into beauty, and lifting us out of the flotsam of discouraging news. When the market is right, our artists will be selling pieces again and the wounds incurred in the current recession will be healed.

Mustard Fields in Napa Valley

A little bit of rain and lots of warm sunshine is all it takes to get the mustard seed to sprout. Now that we've had a couple of mild rain storms and a couple of weeks of 60 degree weather, streaks of yellow flowers have popped up between the rows of vines.
While the vines lie dormant, and most of Napa Valley snoozes quietly, these blossoms are cheerily greeting highway travelers. In fact, there were several cars pulled over where I snapped this photo, all of us taking in the brightness, the joyfulness, and snapping a memory frame. For later when the rain returns, we'll want to remember how beautiful this February moment was.