Arts' April Showers

Shannon Grissom, 2013 SATC Juror

Shirley Sedgewick

"Early Stage" by Maria D'Angelo

Fifteen-Piece Puzzle by Heatherly Takeuchi

       The 2013 Student Art Talent Contest, sponsored by the Native Daughters of the Golden West, San Juan Bautista Parlor, No. 179, are pleased to present this year’s juror for this noteworthy event.  Shannon Grissom.  Around the age of 33 she discovered painting, often working before her workday.  By 1999 she was able to leave her “day job” and became a full-time artist.  At the age of 44 she began production of a television series on the local television station titled “Give Your Walls Some Soul.”  This series grew to the capacity of 50 stations across the country, entering over 10 million households and winning numerous awards.  At 46 she published a children’s book, Monkey Made of Sockies, spinning off into a line of licenses merchandise, including the popular Monkey Made of Sockies golf club head-covers, that one can see each year in Pebble Beach.  Ms. Grissom sees, “art, music, writing and multimedia as movements in my own unfinished symphony.”  This being said she does like to paint BIG and has charmed many with her insatiable gaiety and love of life.  She maintains a studio in Hollister, CA and welcomes visitors by appointment. One can connect with her at http://shannongrissom.info/.
            High school students, wishing to participate in the 2012 Student Art Talent Contest, please contact your art instructors or Darlene Boyd at darleneboyd@darleneboyd.com.  Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. April 19, and you must contact Ms.Boyd to make arrangements for your dropoff.  A prospectus for this year’s contest is available at www.darleneboyd.com under events, Student Art Talent Contest.  There is no fee for entry, but all artworks must be properly mounted for presentation purposes.  There are cash awards for first through third place in both 2 dimensional art and photography.  We look forward to receiving your entries.
            On Saturday, April 13, from 1 to 4 p.m., Zen Art Gallery Plus cordially invites our community to join them in honoring the talented artists currently displaying their works at the gallery.  All of the present artists displaying their work at ZAGP are Bob Wilkinson, Gayle Sleznick, Gordon maybied, Louise Roy, Pat Zuniga, Dale Yarmuth, Darlene Boyd, Gloria Sipes, Maria Boisvert, Norm Scott, Christopher Woods, Hayley Coulter, Margie Minogue and Ty and Pam Holmquist. Refreshments will be served and several of the artists will be present to talk to you about their art. Zen Art Gallery-Plus is located at 404 Third Street, San Juan Bautista.  For further information, contact Ruth Saunders, gallery owner, at 831-636-2858. 
            Author-Artist, Joyce Oroz, reports that the Aromas Hill Artisans’  “Artist of the Month” has landed squarely on intelligent, talented and personable, Shirley Sedgwick. She is a bright light in the AHA guild and a shining star at the Dragonfly Gallery in Aromas. Shirley has a history of living in interesting parts of this country. She has photographed wildlife in California, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Washington State, not to mention more exciting places like Africa.   Ms. Sedgewick’s interests in both basketry and photography were enhanced while living in New England. Living for a time in Massachusetts, with a knowledge and interest in developing civilizations, she naturally learned to weave Nantucket Lightship Baskets.    And having been raised in California and Hawaii , she found the beauty of the four seasons of Massachusetts soothing to the soul and mystifying to the eye.  She was able to capture images from the early spring through the fall and into the snowy winters.  Those pictures, added to her already developing file of animal photos, have given her many years of pleasure in photography.
            Celebrating 15 years in San Juan Bautista, Southwest Roundup Studio Gallery nestled in Hawk’s Peak Plaza at 106 Third Street is showcases both original fine art and prints including plate engraved etchings. An exciting array of career artists are represented here most of who live in the West with dedicated, award winning talent to share.  One of their finest artists is the naturally talented Maria D’Angelo, whose art depicts California’s traditional “vaquero-style” in pencil at Southwest Roundup Gallery. Her original fine art portraitures strictly done in Cretacolor Nero pencils capture the extreme fine details of each athletic equine, the horseman’s handmade rawhide braided riatas, hair ropes, silver bits and saddles – all distinctly defining California’s vaquero heritage. She draws the viewer in with exacting detail especially with an animal’s “eye”.  Using the chirascuro techniques often used by Renaissance artists, Ms. D'Angelo's dramatic background gives a three-dimensional illusion to her subjects. Her art is often requested at juried fine art shows in the U.S. Local resident and Southwest Roundup Gallery owner Jane Merrill is very pleased to introduce and offer custom-framed and unframed originals by this artist. 
            Southwest Roundup Gallery is open to the public Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays from 11am – 5pm with appointments welcome on other days. Phone: 831.623.1128 or visit www.southwestroundup.com.
               San Benito Stage Company is producing “Treasure Island.”  Excitement runs high in this musical adaptation of a favorite childhood adventure story. In Robert Louis Stevenson’s thrilling tale of pirates, treasure maps, and mutiny on the high seas, San Benito Stage Company introduces us to Jim Hawkins, an ordinary youth who is drawn into a dangerous race for buried treasure against the treacherous Long John Silver. (optional: As the author himself wrote, “If this don’t fetch the kids, why, they have gone rotten since my day.”) 
            The cast includes 40 youth between the ages of 6 and 8th grade.  The show is directed by Derek Barnes and Christian Barrera, with musical direction by Sophie Barajas, and produced by Rochelle Flosi & Mindy Scherr.  Choreographed by Allison Barnes & Amanda Flosi, the show includes Horn Pipes and Irish Jigs.  
            Show dates are April 19, 20, 26, 27 & May 3, 4 @ 7pm and April 21 & 28 @ 2pm.  
Performances at the historic Granada Theater, 336 5th St., Hollister, CA. Info:  (831) 636-0122 or www.sanbenitostage.org.  Tickets are $15 General Admission, $12 Students/Seniors, $45 group pack of 4 (advance purchase only). Tickets are available at Postal Graphics (831) 636-3787 and San Benito Bene (831) 638-1188.  
            Photographer, Heatherly Takeuchi has her photographs currently on display at  Ella’s Patterns Real and Imaginary”.  It features 14 photographic art works, including award winning “Fifteen-Piece Puzzle” and “Up Close & Hawaiian”  You may contact Ms. Takeuchi at 831-636-7383 or Heatherly@Takeuchi.org for more information.
            Save the date!!  San Benito County 
Open Studios Art Tour is from 11 am- 5 pm, Sat. & Sun. June 1 – 2/  Join us for the 2013 Open Studios Art Tour! This is a tour of individual art studios, wine tastings, and group exhibitions in Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Aromas. There will be art demonstrations, workshops and admission is free!  
            The Preview Reception will be held on May 3rd from 5 to 8 pm at the Blak Sage Gallery in downtown Hollister. Enjoy food, wine tasting from Aimee June, Cetani, Pessango, and Leal wineries, live music and great artwork.  For more information please visit  www.sanbenitoarts.org or you may contact Jennifer Laine at 636-2787 or info@sanbenitoarts.org. 
            El Teatro Campesino in association with Company of Strangers presents: 7, 8IGHT, 9… "A tragic comedy about 99 percenters trying to steal their American Dream”.   El Teatro claims. “This is a new tragic comedy written and directed by Joe Luis Cedillo. Inspired by real-life events and… was recognized by the Kennedy Center as runner-up for the National Latino Playwriting Award. Performances  start Friday, April 5 thru Sunday, May 5, 2013. Shows are Thurs-Sat @ 8:00 PM & Sun @ 2:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for General Admission on Thursdays; $15 for Adults; $12 for Seniors, Students & Children (12 and under) on Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays.  Discounts & Promotions available—no one will be turned away.  For more information, call (831) 623-2444. Purchase tickets at 800.838.3006 or at elteatrocampesino.com.
            A Work In Progress is happening at the brand new Ano Ne’ Gallery, 407 Second Street, San Juan Bautista.  This gallery features the art works of Bruce Kleinsmith, Scott Kranzler and Phillip E. Kurtz.  Along with original artworks and art furnishings, the gallery will be dealing in rare books and artifacts.  They may offer up community music recitals, art salons, demonstrations, art lessons or more. They want to experiment with a variety of media and entertainments, to attract serious artists, collectors and art enthusiasts, while also educating an appreciative audience for the arts.  Being housed in the historical Mason Building is an adventure all its own, and may lead them down historical ventures.  We eagerly look forward to their offerings with avid interest.  You can poke your nose in to speak with the genial proprietors usually Thursdays through Sundays.
            Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association, some of whose members populate this area, is hosting a Paint Out on Saturday, April 13 at 9 a.m. near the Point Pinos Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. This is across the street from the Crespi Pond public restrooms.  There are both trees and interesting shore line formations
            Art Lessons continue with Darlene Boyd, credentialed instructor, at www.darleneboyd.com or 831-801-2518.  Also Dale Yarmuth, of Hollister, is teaching acrylic painting at Michaels of Gilroy.  Check his schedule at www.michaels.com.  
            Life Drawing Group of SJB is meeting on Thursday evenings, April 11 and 25, at 6 p.m. at the NDGW Adobe, 203 Fourth Street.  Artists wishing to indulge in the time honored practice of drawing from a live model are invited to attend.  Fees cover the cost of hiring a model. Profits go to support the annual Student Art Talent Contest, sponsored by the Native Daughters of the Golden West.  For further information about this group please contact Ms. Boyd at www.darleneboyd.com or 831-801-2518.