Nikki Crain featured at the Art Co-Op December 31, 2009

Three Rivers weaver, Nikki Crain, is the featured artist for the month of January at the Art Co-Op.
A reception will be given for her on January 2 from 2-6 pm.

“Weaving is my delight! I enjoy using beautiful natural fibers and yarns to make practical items to wear or use. Each handwoven piece is one-of-a-kind or limited edition. I create cloth that can’t be duplicated in a factory.  Playing with dyes reminds me of opening a new box of crayons in kindergarten. What fun awaits! I also love candles and want the healthiest ones possible so I pour natural vegetable soy candles.”

Arts Visalia Announces Studio Tour Exhibition December 29, 2009

In the first exhibition of their 2010 exhibition calendar, Arts Visalia will present an exhibition featuring the artists of the upcoming Three Rivers Artists’ Studio Tour. The Creative Life will showcase artworks by the twenty-one artists participating in the upcoming tour.  The exhibition will be on display from January 6 through January 29 with a public reception where the public may meet the artists on Friday, January 8 from 6 to 8pm.  Admission is free and open to the public.

Every other year since 1994, numerous Three Rivers artists open their private studios to the public for one weekend in March.  With the purchase of a ticket, visitors are provided maps for a weekend driving tour to each studio, a perfect excuse to spend a day driving through one of the most beautiful parts of Tulare County.  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with these talented individuals in their working environments, a chance to get a behind-the-scenes view of the creative process.  This year’s tour will take place on  March 19 –21.

For more information, contact Arts Visalia at 739-0905 or visit artsvisalia.org.
Arts Visalia is located at 214 East Oak Avenue in downtown Visalia.

(art by Jana Botkin, Martha Widmann, John Griesbach, Nancy Jonnum, Aranga Firstman)

The Creative Life December 11, 2009

The 21 artists of the Three Rivers Artists’ STUDIO TOUR 9 will be gathering their artwork for a group show at Arts Visalia Gallery from January 6-29, 2010.  There will be a reception with the artists on January 8 from 6-8 pm.  The superb environment of Arts Visalia space, under the direction of Kevin Bowman, provides a wonderful opportunity for you to get a preview into the exceptional Studio Tour coming on March 19-20-21 in 2010.

(from left to right, the work of John Griesbach, Mona Selph, Jim Entz, Elsah Cort)

George Smith: pottery extraordinaire December 4, 2009

George Smith is the December featured artist at the Art Co-Op. He is showing his new work with original, limited edition of one, beautiful pottery, along with his exclusive line of functional items.

He says, “Though most of my work is wheel-thrown, recently I have been producing hand built pieces. The hand building technique has allowed me to venture away from the standard round forms of wheel thrown pottery, and investigate alternative shapes. My current pieces include square dinner ware (plates, bowls, casseroles, cups, etc.), and multi-sided jars.”

10th Annual “The Perfect Gift” Boutique November 25, 2009

Friday and Saturday, November 27-28, nine artists will be showing their work at the Three Rivers Arts Center on North Fork Drive in Three Rivers.  Visit Jana Botkin, Ginny Wilson, Carole Clum, Sam McKinney, Tina St John, Nikki Crain, Anne Birkholz, Gail Matuskey and Janene Laswell. The Boutique runs both days from 10 am to 4 pm. Call 559-561-4048 for more information about the Boutique.

handweaving by Nikki Crain

jewelry by Tina St John

photograph © Ginny Wilson

Marn Reich at the Art Co-Op November 21, 2009

Marn Reich, one of the Studio Tour artists, is the featured artist throughout November at the Art Co-Op in Three Rivers.  The gallery is open Tues-Sunday from 10- 6 pm.

She says, “I began working in clay about 15 years ago. I love the challenges it presents – getting it to assume the shape and color I desire and keep it without collapsing, cracking or discoloring. Once I’ve conquered a particular challenge, I’m on the lookout for another – making something bigger, smaller, more lifelike, more whimsical.

I enjoy working at home, surrounded by my favorite things, but I also enjoy working with others and having the stimulation and input of others’ ideas, comments, and criticisms, so I also work once a week at a studio in Visalia, where I can interact with friends and fire my work.

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Next month the gallery features another Studio Tour artist, George Smith.

(from the Kaweah watershed) Arts Visalia through November November 10, 2009

Headliners for the Kaweah Land and Arts Festival on November 6-8, artist Matthew Rangel and writer/photographer John Spivey are exhibiting lithographs and photographs throughout November at Arts Visalia Gallery, 214 E. Oak, Visalia CA, open Wed-Sat 12-5 pm.

Due East from Moro Rock
©Matthew Rangel

©John Spivey
see also, johnspiveyfurniture.com

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See more about the artists/poets/writers of the Kaweah Land and Arts Festival here.

Kaweah Land and Arts Festival — November 6-8, 2009 October 18, 2009

Sponsored by the Sequoia Riverslands Trust, the first Kaweah Land and Arts Festival is a celebration of our southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley landscapes and the creative minds whose art has been inspired by them. This festival brings together diverse perspectives of the land through visual art, poetry, story-telling, natural history, music and biology to craft a mosaic of our cultural heritage, as it is inspired by the land.

Our hope is to increase pride in our region’s distinct landscapes and raise awareness of the talented group of homegrown artists who have been inspired by these landscapes. In turn, we hope that such heightened awareness and appreciation will create an emboldened community of land stewards and artists who will respect and care for the landscape that surrounds and sustains us.

Funding for this event has been provided by the prestigious California Council for the Humanities Story Fund, which awarded Sequoia Riverlands Trust with a highly competitive $10,000 grant.  This is the first time in over ten years that the Council has funded a project in the Central Valley. The fact that the Council has turned their attention to our region as a source of valuable cultural expression should make us all very proud.

All events are free, open to the public and include:

•    Friday, 6-8 pm at Arts Visalia:  An artist opening showcasing Matthew Rangel’s interpretive print representations of the Kaweah watershed and John Spivey’s photographs. 214 E. Oak Ave., Visalia
•    Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm at Kaweah Oaks Preserve:  An outdoor land and arts field day with two stages of entertainment, local food, children’s activities, plein air painting and guided nature walks. Road 182, 7 miles east of Visalia, off Hwy. 198
•    Saturday, 6-8 pm at College of the Sequoias:  A land and arts symposium featuring a panel of artists, writers, farmers, scientists and historians who will discuss, display and perform the creative heritage and geographical inspirations of the region. 915 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia.
•    Sunday, 1-3 pm at Designs by Arenas:  Artist opening for Richard Arenas’ “Campesinos” sculpture collection, a history of Mexican culture in the fields. 208 W. Main St., Montgomery Square in downtown Visalia.
•    More individual artist/author presentations at various venues in the community, TBD.

Two Web Presence Workshops for Artists October 9, 2009

Web Presence…… for beginners “from the artist’s hand to the world’s eye”

October 24, 2009|  Saturday from 10 to 3

This workshop for artists, but is open to all.

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Arts Visalia    214 East Oak Avenue   Visalia, CA 93291      559-739-0905
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For those of us who are hands-on creative persons, showcasing ourselves on the world wide web via the internet can be very daunting.  This virtual world seems to move at super sonic speed far from the human pace of making art.  Often we give up before we even start.

This class is based on this tenet:  
Start just where you are.
Take one step at a time.
Start is the keyword here.

The professional artist is represented by their actual artwork, and also by what is said and read about their work on the world wide web.  The wise and savvy artist needs to be in control of his or her own “brand” or name as it shows up in the virtual world.  It’s like adding your name in the phone book, with a well-placed, complete, accurate ad in the yellow pages—
a great presentation that you write, design and supervise yourself.

Do you want others telling the world about your work as an artist, 
or do you want your story told using your own creative voice?

• learn a simple web glossary
• learn how to register a domain name
• finally get some simple tips about search engines
• create a free blog as website
• learn basic blogging techniques
• learn to recognize clean website design
• discover ways to sell your work online without hassles
  
• explore social media as a way to enhance your blog
  
• develop your personal artist’s web presence
• connect with other artists and see what’s cooking out there
• be inspired by the web art community
• acquire web competency without fear
  
• create locally and exhibit globally
  

$45 for registration prior to October 10, $55 after this date.
Pre-registration required.  Reserve your space early.

 Print registration form.

Bring any business cards, brochures, or any printed press material about you or your work. Also bring pen and paper, wireless laptop (if you have access to one) and maybe a sack lunch. There are food establishments in the area where you can get a quick take out lunch.  We will be sharing ideas during lunch.

Instructor: Elsah Cort collage artist, web enthusiast, blogger and
 Three Rivers Artists’ Studio Tour organizer
For more information call  559-561-4671.

Image: Butterfly Man, mixed media collage 11X14 in  ©1998 Elsah Cort

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Create A Blog-Style Website With WordPress

November 11, 2009 from 1-4:30 pm
Harrison Hall at Presbyterian Church in Three Rivers

This workshop is a great tool for making yourself known to the World of the Internet. WordPress is free and easy to use. It is a non- technical web publishing solution for everyone. This workshop will focus on how to set up and use the WordPress system. If you can send email, you can learn WordPress!

•  for individuals without a traditional web site ….. this is an easy way to start your Internet Presence
•  for individuals with a traditional web site ….. this is a simple way to enhance your Internet Presence

The workshop is sponsored by the Three Rivers Arts Alliance.

Instructor: Aranga Firstman, Ph.D., educator, artist, web site designer and web master.
The cost is $25 for Three Rivers Arts Alliance members and $35 for nonmembers.
Make check payable to the Arts Alliance of Three Rivers, $25 member/$35 non-member.
Mail the check and registration form to Aranga Firstman, P.O. Box 176, Three Rivers, CA 93271

Registration deadline is November 7th.
For additional details or questions, visit the Arts Alliance of Three Rivers web site or call 561-3464.

Nancy Jonnum to be featured in October… September 30, 2009

As the October featured artist at The Art Co-Op Gallery in Three Rivers,
Nancy Jonnum will be exhibiting new, whimsical sculptures in the medium of clay.

The artist’s reception will be held Saturday, October 3 from 12-3 pm, as part of the 1st Saturday Community Event. Margaritas and snacks will be served.  Along with Nancy’s sculptures, the work of seven other talented artists will be presented.

41707 Sierra Drive (HWY 198) Three Rivers, CA
559-561-4995  open daily from 10-6 pm