I wanted to view their latest collection, the “Biennial 2006,” and wanted to – hopefully – have some fun while I did it. So I ensured that I went there on one of the Pfac’s Thursday night Art’s Café gatherings to mix socializing with art appreciation. Before I really get into the Art’s Café though, I want to first talk about the collection currently on display at the Pfac. The “Biennial 2006” collection consists of a mixture of artwork by artists who live as close to home as Yorktown and as far away as Honolulu. It totals 150 pieces, by 90 artists, from 22 states and was juried by Tony Hepburn, a Professor of Ceramics at Cranbook Academy of Art. Mr. Hepburn has an extremely impressive resume that can boast an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Seoul, Korea, as well as at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The award recipients selected by Mr. Hepburn received anywhere from between $200.00 and $1,000.00 in prize money.

The big question is, did I like the collection? The answer (drumroll, please) is yes! As with the last collection I reviewed, it had an incredible range of media, which I always enjoy. Paintings, drawings, photography, video, and – don’t sneeze! – sand sculptures that adorn every nook and cranny of the Pfac. One of my favorites was an oil painting, “Grapevine: Intertwined,” by DIANE SHEARON of Yorktown. The work depicts two diminutive pieces of grapevine enclosed in a large field of white. What is so striking about this particular painting is the human-like quality of the grapevine pieces. The way in which they intertwine is incredibly reminiscent of two lovers embracing each other.

I also loved the “Link to Nature” series by GISELA GRIFFITH of Boston. Her three sculptures, winners of the Juror’s Choice Award, consist of an outer coat of birch bark with an inner coat of aluminum, 22K gold leaf, and copper leaf. Each sculpture is an arresting synthesis of two naturally occurring materials that do not naturally occur together and quite frankly are just beautiful.

My very favorite piece was “Domestic Bliss” by JUDY GOODKIND of Alexandria which was created through acrylic and collage. The first thing that draws your eye to this artist’s work is the full spectrum of vibrant colors. Once you get closer, you notice a naked man reclining on a bed with a strategically placed cat on his lap. As your eye wonders over the painting, you see several cats all over the bedroom; as your vision moves down to the bottom right corner of the collage, you see part of a naked woman’s body also reclining in the bed. Once the eye takes everything in, you understand exactly why the painting is called “Domestic Bliss.” There were other pieces of art that I enjoyed, but these were my personal favorites.

I really want to comment on the Art’s Café that the Pfac puts on almost every Thursday. I’ve attended several times and think that it’s a really great concept. It starts at 5:30 and runs until 8 p.m. and is free to everyone. There is wine and beer available for $3.00 (sorry, no red wine) and can be taken throughout the gallery. Food is always available in the form of cheese, crackers, dips, and other assorted goodies. (I’ve noticed that when the band is expected to bring in a bigger crowd, the hors d’oeuvres seem to increase in quality.) I always sign up for the 50/50 raffle. You buy raffle tickets and at the end of the night they announce the winner who gets 50 percent of the pot while the rest is used to supplement the cost of the band.

As for the music, I’ve heard everything from Blue Grass to Folk Rock. This past Thursday, the band Susie Ray Vaughn performed and they were fantastic. (I have to admit that the bands aren’t always that great. One week they’ll have an outstanding performer, and the next you want to pull the plug on the band’s equipment.) By far the best thing about the Art’s Café is the people that go there. There are people who show up in suite and ties and people who show up in jeans and T-shirts. The atmosphere is very friendly and laid back. Even though it’s at an art center, it’s neither stuffy nor formal. People really talk to each other. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been there that I didn’t end up meeting someone new.

In short, I had a great time at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center Art’s Café last week and enjoyed the “Biennial 2006” collection. The band was great, the company was great, and the art was great. Stop by and check it out. The “Biennial 2006” collection is on display until October 29th. You can get information on the exhibit as well as the Art’s Café on their website: http://pfac-va.org, or call (757) 596-8175. Maybe you’ll be the next person I meet there.