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
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See more about the artists/poets/writers of the Kaweah Land and Arts Festival here.
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.
• 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.
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?
$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.
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
September 21-November 21, 2009
Brandon-Mitchell Gallery, 117 S. Locust Street, Visalia
Reception 12-3 pm Sunday, September 27 (note date error in newspaper)
Call 625-2441 for more information and gallery hours.
Read more from article by Deolinda Rhoads in Visalia Times Delta in Choices September 25, 2009
Marjorie Brandon will celebrate her 97th birthday on Saturday, September 26.
See her surprise birthday blog with comments and photos from her creative friends.
Via the organization’s blog:
Sequoia Riverlands Trust is hosting an art sale and fundraiser, “Illuminations of Spring,” on October 7, 2009 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at Crawdaddy’s on Main Street in Visalia. Illuminating original paintings of the southern Sierra foothills in spring will be displayed for purchase. Artwork has been contributed by distinguished California Art Club artists who participated in a plein air paint-out on Sequoia Riverlands Trust conservation properties earlier this year. These magnificent pieces of work represent the resplendent beauty of our region’s landscapes at the height of the wildflower season. All proceeds from paintings will benefit Sequoia Riverlands Trust’s conservation mission.
When: Wednesday, October 7, 2009, 5:30-8:30pm
Where: Crawdaddy’s, 2nd floor, 333 E. Main Street, Visalia, CA
Cost: $50/person
RSVP: Please purchase your tickets no later than October 2 by calling 559-738-0211, ext. 108, emailing niki@sequoiariverlands.org or stopping by the office at 427 S. Garden Street, Visalia, CA.
Celebrate the creative talent of Three Rivers! Starting on October 3, collaborating shops and galleries in town will be showcasing the art of Three Rivers on the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit the 1st Saturday blog.
(left to right, Wendy McKellar, Miriam Briks (Dhrti Dasi), Heart’s Desire Gift Shop)
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Also on October 3, visit the Three Rivers Environmental Weekend at the Three Rivers Arts Center, local artists will be showing creative art for the home and garden. See details here.
We live in a small town and our lives are deeply affected by our surroundings. As artists we are inspired to interpret our lives and worlds with paint and color and design on canvas and film.
Blogging has entered into our lives as a way of telling our “artists’ stories” and giving others a glimpse into our creative process.
Here are three “windows” into what’s up with some Three Rivers artists via their recent blog posts.
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blog arangafirstman.wordpress.com
OF MY EXISTENCE seems to be a most fitting title for the latest painting on my easel…When I paint, I prefer either a square or circular format because it more easily draws me inside the painting. Once inside, the painting paints itself. It chooses the colors and the forms. I have no idea of the whys and whats until the painting finishes. Painting makes me feel peaceful, excited and in awe of the universe.
Aranga is the designer of the Arts Alliance website,
She has also joined the Arts Alliance Board of Directors.
Visit her website gallery at arangafirstman.com
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FLOW is a combination of watercolor, acrylic and pastel on watercolor paper. I love it when a painting takes on a mind of its own and goes somewhere I hadn’t planned! This one was going to be much more realistic as a river scene. I even planned a raft of people shooting the rapids. But, when it got going, the painting Gods took over and the whole thing went a different direction. I really like playing with layering different media together.
Visit Eddie’s gallery shop on 1000 Markets.
She is the new President of the Three Rivers Arts Alliance.
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blog marthawidmann.wordpress.com
I have recently returned from riding the 6th leg — Darby to Big Hole National Monument, Montana — of the Chief Joseph Trail Ride. The Chief Joe is a consecutive 13 year ride [100 miles each year for a total of 1300 miles] that retraces the route of the Nez Perce flight from the US calvary in the late 1800’s and is sponsored by the Appaloosa Horse Association. It originates in Joseph, Oregon and ends in Bear Paw Meadow, Montana just 40 miles shy of the Canadian border.
Martha works professionally as a graphic designer, integrating painting on canvas into her creative life.
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Are you an artist ready to dip your toes into the blogging stream, but need some help? Ask Elsah Cort for kind help 561-4671.
Twenty one Valley artists will be showing their sculptural pieces from September 2 through October 2 at Arts Visalia gallery. An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 4, from 6-8 pm.
This is the 6th year for this group show entitled “That Extra Dimension 2009.” The participating artists include Mark Ahlstrand, Richard Arenas, Jennifer Bergstrom, Cedric and Christy Brown, Carole Clum, Mark Court, Antonio Cuellar, Mark Eaton, David Hicks, Nancy Jonnum, Jerry Jonnum, Bob Kizziar, Moni Mauch, Joe Morel, Roger Lee, Mike Perez, Armin Pfadisch, Geoffrey Spach, Chris VanGoethem, Catherine Velosa, and Linda Whitefeather Spears.
For more information call 739-0905. Gallery is located at 214 E. Oak Avenue in downtown Visalia, open Wed-Sun from noon to 5:30 pm.
Seaweed Covered Jar by Linda Whitefeather Spears
clay work by Cedric and Christy Brown
