01/28/2026
Opening Reception
Ceramics, mixed media and so much more
After a month off for its annual refresh, the Coast Highway Art Collective reopens in February with a very special opening exhibit. Founding collective member Brenda Phillips, ceramics, will be joined by a recent addition to the collective, Bridgette Marie Dice, mixed media and wearable art. The opening reception is on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 3 to 7pm. The community is invited for a fun evening in the gallery, to meet the artists, enjoy refreshments, and get inspired by the art. Enjoy the soulful music of singer-songwriter Ken G., who will be performing from 4-6pm.
Phillips was a school teacher until 1995, teaching at Manchester Elementary and then a resource teacher at Point Arena High School. When her son, Jay Axtell, received a Gualala Arts scholarship for ceramics, his beautiful bowls stimulated her interest in ceramics. Luckily for her, and for us, she found mentors, including Paul Stein, Kaye Like at Brandybuck, and classes at the Mendocino Art Center. Axtell will be showing pieces during this exhibit with his mom.
“I love living in the forest by the ocean, say Phillips. “Creating useful items from clay has been my passion for years; the morning coffee in a favorite cup, lunch with soup in a special bowl, or dinner served on lovely plates. I love to challenge myself to make new shapes that I haven’t tried before, like large footed oval bowls and globe shapes that are different for me.”
Phillips says glazing is still fun, especially when using two or three glazes that overlap each other. New interesting colors come from the breaking point of the overlap. Her work has been shown at several galleries and art shows in the area.
Dice is a multi-medium artist, creating expressive paintings using acrylics and watercolors. Her collection for this exhibit is called “My many random thoughts on healing the world.” She will also be showing a collection of fairies made from recycled material and faces sculpted from clay. She says she allows her emotions to flow freely through color and imagination. Her work is deeply personal, sometimes bright and joyful, other times moody and introspective. For her, painting is not just an art form but a powerful tool for healing and self-expression.
In addition to painting, Dice crafts intricate beaded earrings, which she calls "power hoops," and designs upcycled clothing—both forms of wearable art. “I’m inspired by the healing properties of crystals, the symbolism of color, and the beauty of repurposed materials,” Dice says. She carefully selects each element to create meaningful, one-of-a-kind pieces. Whether on canvas, in jewelry, or through fashion, her work invites others to connect with emotion, energy, and the transformative power of creativity.
The exhibit will be available for viewing from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28. The Coast Highway Art Collective is located at 284 Main St., Point Arena—the little red building with the big yellow sun—located next to the Redwood Coast Credit Union. Regular hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit the website at coast-highway-artists.com for information about the collective’s artists, upcoming events, and how to join.
