October Arts Festival                                                                                                     October 2014

          Ohlone Elders and Youth Speak: Restoring a California Legacy: Exhibition on 21st Century Challenges for California Native People Opens Sept. 27 The efforts of three generations of Ohlone people, living in California and committed to keeping their native cultures alive and thriving, are documented through new photographic images and oral histories that illuminate their life experiences. The exhibition, Ohlone Elders and Youth Speak: Restoring a California Legacy, chronicling the on-going cultural revitalization process taking place within the Ohlone communities, opens Sept. 27 in the Main Library’s Jewett Gallery.
          The story is told through 22 stunning photographic portraits, representing multiple Ohlone generations, accompanied by excerpts from their oral histories. “I would love to see all the Ohlone descendants collectively come together and share the knowledge that we have with each other and partake in ceremony, and to do it in a good way so we truly do honor our ancestors.”
          Ann Marie Sayers, Mutsun Ohlone Tribal Chairperson, Indian Canyon Nation and Founder of Costanoan Indian Research, Inc. “Perhaps the youth may come to the conclusion that if we want to make a difference, we will have to do so collectively.” Today, the Ohlone live between two cultures that are often in opposition with one another. Challenges facing the 21st-century Ohlone include: protection of burial and other sacred sites; ensuring an accurate depiction of the history of California Native people; showcasing the significance of the arts and crafts revival; and creating a vision for the future for the Ohlone peoples. The active role of youth has been critical to this process.
          Kanyon Sayers-Roods, also of Indian Canyon Nation, also gives voice to the youth. “I appreciate this chance I’ve been given: to realize I’m Ohlone, that I’m on the land where my great-great-grandparents survived, and to be who I am today.  By honoring the past and continuing my education as well as always respecting my elders and learning from them, I can gain more knowledge and then be able to share that knowledge with our youth.”           The Ohlone Elders and Youth Speak: Restoring a California Legacy project is produced by Costanoan Indian Research, Inc. and Community Works, with Ann Marie Sayers, Project Director; Ruth Morgan, Photographer; and Janet Clinger, Oral Historian.  The Main Library exhibition and programs are partially funded by the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.  For more information about these and other library programs, please call (415) 557-4277. 
          Opening Event - Ohlone Dance, Song and Panel Discussion - Oct. 12, 1 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium. Hosted by Ann-Marie Sayers, the program features a panel discussion moderated by Melissa Nelson, the Director of The Cultural  Conservancy, with panelists Tony Cerda, Corrina Gould, Vincent Medina, Kanyon Sayers-Roods and Linda Yamane.
          An Evening with Contemporary Ohlone Artists is being held on Oct. 15, 6 p.m., Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Community Room. Join us for an evening exploring contemporary Ohlone art, paintings, drawings, multi-media expressions, and some surprises. Hosted by Kanyon Sayers-Rood; meet the artists and find out more about their unique perspectives.    Native California Spoken Word – Nov. 20, 6 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium. Spoken Word is a medium for expression. Listen to song, poetry, stories, thoughts, and ideas in languages native to California, with no English translations needed.
            Joyce Oroz reports that Jovita Hilliker has been chosen “Artist of the Month” for October at the Dragonfly Gallery, 380 Blohm, Aromas. If you would like to meet Jovita in person, stop by the gallery for a Meet and Greet Saturday, October 18th 2:00 to 4:00 pm. She is a member of the Aromas Hills Artisans and shows her work at the Dragonfly Gallery. Ms. Hilliker is an exceptional watercolorist with her own unique style. Her grandmother, Pearl Tupper, was a self taught artist from childhood. She included Jovita at a young age, in a lot of her art meetings, classes, and late night drawing and painting sessions. Ms. Hillyer grew up to feel and think like an artist.
          Her grandmother mostly worked in oils and pastels. For many years she believed that if you were to be a true artist, that is what you worked in. Ms. Hillyer had experience in many different mediums. About twelve years ago, at her son’s suggestion, she began to doodle in watercolor. At this time she truly found herself, and fell in love with watercolor.
          She received an Associate Degree in Art from Hartnel College, in Salinas California. She studied under the Watercolorist Elizabeth Kinkaid for almost five years. Ms.Hillyer acquired a lot of confidence and technique from Ms. Kinkaid, such as the technique of using many glazes or color washes, which has become a part of her work.
          Ten years ago, while completing treatments for breast cancer she would sit in the chair and paint. During this time a new style began to emerge. Scenes made up of many different shapes, separated by spaces. She have applied this new style to the local scenes she finds herself drawn to. Painting both on location and from photographs she takes along the way.  Ms. Hillyer has a website at www.jovitahilliker.com. she is currently exhibiting some of her artworks at the Dragonfly Gallery in Aromas.            The San Benito County Arts Council invites the public to come celebrate their new  ARTspace at 240 Fifth St., in downtown Hollister.  See the new space, learn about their new community art/  Check out their current exhibition! This is a history or retrospective of San Juan Bautista's El Teatro Campesino's impact on San Juan Valley.
          The Gabilan Artists of San Benito County have a new show, "Autumnal Equinox," at St. Francis Retreat in San Juan Bautista which will be on display until November 30. A new show, "Paintings from the Heart," will be displayed at St. Francis December 1 through January, 2015.  The "Americana" exhibit by the Gabilan artists will be at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club through October and November.
          AHA monthly meeting is Wednesday, Oct 1, 2014 from 7- 9 p.m. at the Aromas Grange for the Aromas Hills Artisans.  Also AHA has an upcoming is Autumn Art Workshops and Raffle  on October 26, 2014, Sunday 9am-11am at the Aromas Grange
There will be free art workshops with AHA artists and this event is open to the public!  One can take a free class from one of the Artisans and take your project home with you (*some classes require a small materials fee). This will be the last chance for you to purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a wonderful art piece created by one of the Aromas Hills Artisans. The drawing will be held at 11am. Come early and enjoy country style breakfast.          
         There is news on the Olive Festival front.  San Benito Bene, a business in Hollister that features locally made art and food products has offered to sponsor artists to  reduce their cost for a booth at the Olive Festival.  Instead of $185.00, artist booths may now be had for $135.  The booth set up includes a shader, sign for your business, table, and two chairs.  You may share a booth and split the cost that way, too.  Please reply to Rebecca Pearson, below.  The Olive Festival is one day, October 11th, at Bolado Park (where the San Benito County Fair is held).  Nice big grassy area with trees, a stage- not sure what parts of Bolado they'll be using but it's closer to Hollister than last year's location.  For more information please contact Rebecca Pearson  at painemay@earthlink.net.

       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.