ART.  OF. THE. SOMMERSTEDS "From Denmark to Africa to England to Here"  Planet Earth & the Four Directions Gallery 524 Colorado Avenue - Grand Junction,CO. 81501     Reception: Friday July 18 (full moon) 7pm     Music & open mic with Bridgett & Johnny G.     Exhibit dates: July 8 through August 29             When Maja Sommersted approached the gallery about an exhibit, she wanted to include her most influential teacher, her mother. Pia Sommersted is Danish, having spent her childhood wrapped in the mystery of the "Elven girls" who still "dance on the hills on midsummers night" near Tryggevaelde Creek where she grew up in "Europe's oldest kingdom." She was to have her own "Elven girls" in her daughters Maja, Kirsa,Rona. Pia and her girls still get together in Mom's kitchen to make paintings...and her granddaughters and sons as well! Ole & Pia, took their family around the world for Ole's work of growing plants and produce for import/export. He has a hobby, a good relaxing tool after  a stressful day by making his own art with wood and a lathe. This is a family affair, for Maja's and Pia's paintings will be accompanied by work from two sisters, three children and their grandfather, Ole!       The international influence of her family travels is evident in Maja's art--  her Danish heritage emerges in a fresh and simple Scandanavian style of design and painting, combined with the bright colors of Togo, Africa where the family lived ...and then there is a distinctly American influence, most likely from her husband who is Native American and her time growing up in Rifle, Colorado. In fact all three of Pia's daughters married Americans and live in Colorado. Significantly, Maja says that moving here was an affirmation to her spirit. In England art was the only way Maja could connect with her peers. It is "truly a universal language," she claims, as she felt an alien in her English school without a command of the language. Art was to be her saving grace, for when she drew, other children were amazed and respected her for her gift. In America it was different. It was Pia that called Americans "bright and shiney" and the other kids she met in school loved her English/Danish blend of speech and her exotic background. Maja felt embraced by this country and the friendliness of the people, indeed, inspired enough to keep painting, images of Motherhood, growing things, and pure joy!   Pia Sommersted has been a life long artist, exhibiting both here and abroad  and her work has evolved over years into what she calls "drip paintings"--large canvasses (Jackson Pollockesque..but definately Pia), abstract and vibrant. Of her home in O'Neill, Nebraska, where she and Ole have settled, she says, "a nice little town with clean water and open-minded people...lots of wildlife...I hope we will stay a long time..."   The show will be up until August 29. Hours of the gallery are Tues.: 11am-6pm, Wed. Fri. Sat.: 11am-5pm and Thurs-Farmers Market: 11am-8pm Please call for an appointment July 24-Aug.2 and Aug.17-Sept.2, as the gallery will be on skeleton hours due to vacations.