Barbara Gerry can rightfully be called a renaissance woman—so varied are her talents and many her art forms. She says, she “likes to change it up.” Barbara is a true Santa Cruz local, raised here before the sleepy town morphed into the intellectual and cultural center it is today (along with all else it is)—and all along she was among the folks here who created this vibrant and eclectic community, as it’s changed over the decades.
From working on semi-conductors and programming for some years, she became a successful stylist, sold antiques—among other gigs—and from 2010 to 2020, studied to be and worked as a video artist and producer. She started working with the more plastic arts when she got a job in a trophy shop, learning—and really enjoying—sandblasting glass.
Once Barbara was able to retire, she turned to art fulltime, experimenting with ceramic mosaics and glass mosaics—including creating a number of gorgeous tables—even as she turned out many beautiful paintings and collages. She was taken with working with glass—but says she wanted something that could last outdoors, so glass mosaics increasingly became her focus. She likes that glass is “all the same depth.” During Covid she was able to learn more about mosaics online. “I knew there was a lot I didn’t know about what materials to use for what applications.” She traveled to Baja several times for specialized workshops in 2021 and 2022. Meanwhile, it must be inserted, starting in 2015, and with the help of partner Mark Chetkovich, Barbara completely renovated her backyard, turning it into a hilly little fantasyland of succulents of all sorts, winding paths, sculptures, found art, twinkling lights, and mosaics. (And somehow, she finds time for pickleball!)
Recently Barbara had several stunning pieces in shows put on by the Pajaro Valley Arts organizations—in their two locations in downtown Watsonville—including one of her breathtaking mosaic surfboards. She continues to love variety, often deriving ideas from other people’s art images online, using stained glass, ball chain, “van gogh glass,” and wire.
And it can’t be left out that since around 2008, Barbara has been the lead singer in a smokin’ local band, originally Playtime and now The Shady Characters, with partner Mark and other friends and family. They’re rather under the radar—but get out there and hear them (these days usually at Discretion Brewery) and shake a hoof! You won’t regret it!
—Kay Martin
