Art

Mendocino is known for it's Fine Art and Crafts. Artists and craftsmen of all kinds continue to participate in the renaissance of the community. Much of their work is on view in the local galleries and cafes.

In addition to the Mendocino Art Center there are scores of privately owned galleries including some of the very finest north of San Francisco. There is no limit on the type of art that is on view here. There is literally something for every taste, and mood and whim.

Thomas was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, grandson of Karen and Knut who emigrated from Norway. Neither was an artist nor were his parents, Frances and Ralph.

Thomas ignored this. He took up with switchblade knife and pine lumber scraps in the back of a stolen '56 Bonneville.

He was deadly.

When he was arrested at fifteen for gross vandalism the police produced a set of x-acto knives in a wooden box, some crude wood carvings and 500 Black Cat firecrackers.

He escaped to California: Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco where, in 1966, he discovered he could fly.

Thomas has spent his years on the California coast carving signs, doors, mantlepieces, wood sculpture and block prints. His work has ranged in content from biting humor to a whole show of death images marking a short career as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Point Arena Volunteer Fire Department. He continues his exploration of the linocut, currently creating a series depicting dogs and cats as angels and other spritual entities.

"Restoration" above
"Gabriel Incarnivore" below

These two images are from Rude's Linocut series and can be purchased as prints or as note cards.

Thomas Rude's work is shown in San Francisco and in Mendocino.