June 1, 2026
A Visit to Ted Berryman’s Garage Gallery in Santa Ysabel
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By: Andrea McKenna
A hands-on visit with artist Ted Berryman, whose sculptures invite close looking, touching, and curiosity.
On Sunday, May 31, art critic Sally Walsh introduced me to Ted Berryman’s Garage Gallery at Santa Ysabel Art Gallery in Santa Ysabel. It was one stop during a day of exploring several gallery spaces with Sally, whose knowledge and insight added so much to the experience. This story begins with Ted’s work.
Walking into the gallery, I expected to look at art. Instead, I was invited to touch it.
Berryman creates sculptures and mixed-media works from reclaimed wood, metal, stone, glass, natural materials, and found objects. His work is hands-on, and visitors are encouraged to interact with many of the pieces rather than simply observe them. Visitors of all ages are welcome.
Berryman’s art reflects a deep interest in materials, nature, and the stories objects can hold. He uses pieces that might otherwise be overlooked and gives them new meaning through form, texture, and placement. His work can feel both industrial and organic, combining steel, wood, bones, natural elements, and written words.
One piece immediately caught my attention. Words were incorporated into the artwork, and the combination of text and materials kept me studying it for quite some time. The longer I looked, the more I noticed.
Berryman was curious about what I saw in the piece and shared some of the ideas behind it. What struck me was that he seemed to value different interpretations. The conversation became part of the experience.
Outside near the front of the building, another piece stood out. Constructed from steel and wood, it had an industrial feel. A spider consuming an ant had spun a web across part of the sculpture. Rather than removing it, Berryman had left it in place, allowing nature to become part of the artwork itself.
Our conversation eventually turned to owl pellets, which can contain tiny bones, skulls, teeth, fur, feathers, and other remains from an owl’s prey. Berryman sometimes incorporates these natural materials into his work and educational displays. He even went home to get his own collection of owl pellets and findings to share with us. I was excited to sort through them; Sally was not quite as excited, which made for a light moment in the visit.
Berryman’s sculptures and mixed-media pieces combine texture, reclaimed materials, natural elements, and unexpected details. Some pieces reveal themselves slowly, encouraging viewers to spend time with them and draw their own conclusions.
Ted Berryman’s Garage Gallery is located at Santa Ysabel Art Gallery, 30352 Highway 78, in Santa Ysabel, California. It is an easy stop on the drive between San Diego, Julian, and Borrego Springs, located across from Dudley’s Bakery.
Thank you to Sally Walsh for the introduction and insight. We are eagerly awaiting Sally Walsh’s review and overview of Ted Berryman’s life's work. Stay tuned for that.
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Learn more about Ted Berryman in this San Diego Union Tribune article.
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