If It Smells Like A Rose...........by Joyce oroz

The Monterey Bay Rose Society is a labor of love--lot's of labor and dedication go into growing exceptional roses. To their credit, the rose society plant, prune and maintain a lovely rose garden located at the Santa Cruz County Fair grounds. Watch for it when you visit the fair.

Do you know what a rose society is? Josephine’s mother belongs to a rose club. What happens at a rose club—anything? 
May 11^th the Monterey Bay Rose Society 33rd Annual Rose Show was hosted by Gustavo Beyer at Alladin Nursery .  It was a magnificent display of home-grown cut roses.  The rose show opened to the public after all the judging was completed. A large number of people enjoyed wine tasting, sausages from Corralitos Market and Jazz music by the Steve Abrams Quintet.

I moseyed through the food and wine, swayed to the music and ended up in a big white tent with a bazillion cut roses in vases. The fragrant flowers had already been judged and guess who won the three top trophies—like “Best of Show” and best arrangements? None other than my friend, Tomi Edmiston. She had been greeting people and answering their rose-type questions all day, and still looked fresh as a rose.

I talked to another friend and expert rose person, Joe Truskot, author of “Central Coast Rose Manual.”

ARS Consulting Rosarians (including Tomi and Joe) were busy talking and answering questions.

Congratulations Rosarians for making the world a more beautiful place—smells better too!

An Opening to Remember.............by Joyce oroz

Today I am going to share my recent experience at an “Opening” as in “Art Show Reception.” Since I am an unabashed, self-proclaimed artist--   beginning at age twelve, people think I know all about artist receptions.

Wrong! Muralists have nothing to do with art shows or receptions. We dress like trolls, so who would invite us? We don’t frame anything, so galleries don’t matter to us…until recently when I converted to painting on canvas. 

Now I am invited to Openings, especially when my paintings are there. The conversion was like an escalator ride, the esteem went up and the pay went down.

Anyway, I discovered that receptions can be a blast. 

The Aromas Hills Artisans have a wonderful show going at the Monterey Conference Center in the heart of Monterey—at1 Portola Plaza. I would categorize it as an elegant collection of art in a variety of media and style. Everything from gourd art to beaded monarch butterflies clinging to a beaded necklace to watercolor, oil and acrylic paintings, a carved wood Santa, a giant clay snail, a clay otter, stained glass, fused glass, fabulous photos of the Monterey coast plus my book “Secure the Ranch.”

The chatter, food, wine and festivities finally ended. Four of us piled into the Snyder car and kept the chatter going all the way home. I stand to make four dollars if my book sells. Even if it doesn’t sell, it was all worth the effort.

Art Information ........by Joyce Oroz

                                                              pottery by Jane Rekedal
My friend, Jane Rekedal, talented potter, teacher and all around good person has news for us. She wants everyone to know about a really cool class in soft slab clay work, in other words, making pottery without a potter's wheel. 

Elaine Pinkernell's Soft Slab
Handbuilding Workshop
Saturday, May 18 1pm—7pm
Blossom Hill Crafts
15900 Blossom Hill Rd, Los Gatos
$80
For more info and to register online go to
www.blossomhillcrafts.com
This is a hands-on workshop using tar paper to make functional pieces. All skill levels
welcome. Using tar paper templates we will do soft slab building to create mugs, vases,
bowls and more. Beginning as well as experienced hand builders find this to be a fun
and interesting technique. I will demonstrate basic forms in the morning and will guide
you through their construction for an action packed afternoon. I will also demonstrate
how to glaze your textured pieces in the way I do for my product line. See more of my
work at www.elainepinkernell.com.
Things to bring:
1. A sack lunch.
2. Any tools you may already have for clay work. (or you can share mine)
3. Texturing tools, such as a piece of driftwood, rocks, buttons, forks, screw
drivers, etc. Start looking at everything in terms of what it would look like to
push it into some clay! I have tools to share if you bring nothing!
4. Your own clay if you plan on taking your pots away with you at the end of
the workshop. A box or boards to pack them in/on with plastic as well.
5. Clay can be purchased at BHC which includes firing fees and final glazing at a
later date.
Questions: elaine@elainepinkernell.com or 831-763-1674


For folks in Monterey Country and surrounding areas, here is an opportunity to see some beautiful art!



Arts Habitat Presents
Jan Wagstaff
Painter
at Arts in Progress
 Museum of Monterey
5 Customs House Plaza, Monterey

Tuesday, May 28, 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
$5 Admission Fee
2 hours free parking at Fisherman's
Wharf lot with local ID  

                                                                 Jan Wagstaff

Arts Habitat will present Jan Wagstaff, painter, at Arts in Progress (AIP) on Tuesday, May 28, in a presentation entitled, "Painting From the Realm of the Senses".

AIP takes place the fourth Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. This month AIP will again take place at the Museum of Monterey, 5 Customs House Plaza, Monterey. The event is open to the public, the admission fee is $5 and complimentary refreshments are served. The first and last half hours are devoted to socializing and community building.

A native Californian, Jan Wagstaff was born and raised in the town of Larkspur in Marin County. Inheriting her creative genes from a grandfather who was a San Francisco artist and architect, Wagstaff learned to paint as a young girl, attempting to copy his watercolors. She also studied and danced classical ballet until her early twenties.

Wagstaff received her formal art training at Oakland's renowned California College of the Arts, where she earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in textiles. For eight years after graduating, she directed a progressive textile department combining weaving and painting on woven canvases at California State University Chico.

In 1983 Wagstaff took a break from her professorship and began designing women's clothing under the label JWag & Co. in Carmel.  She then returned to arts education as an instructor of drawing and painting at York School in Monterey---a position she still holds. Throughout this time she has actively contributed to local professional and community organizations, including service as president of the Board of Directors for both the Arts Council for Monterey County and the Carmel Art Association, with whom she has been an Artist Member since 1996.

Over the past four decades Jan Wagstaff's paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries world-wide and acquired for private and public collections around the globe. Her artwork has garnered extensive reviews, and she has been awarded numerous Artist-in-Residence opportunities, grants, fellowships and prizes.

Wagstaff's imagery derives primarily from nature, which she renders in oil on canvas. She is especially drawn to marshland grasses, aspen canopies, birds in flight, waterways and reflections. Says Jan, "As I observe the natural world, I am ever conscious of how I am experiencing it---how all of my senses play a part in my perception. My work is about seasons, sounds, texture, movement and shapes. It is about blending colors, subtleties of light and dark, and things near and far. About seeing and celebrating the ordinary such that it becomes extraordinary. My paintings are visual entertainment but even more, I hope they encourage viewers to recall places that hold special meaning to them."

 Arts in Progress will be held in a new location:
    
Museum of Monterey (MOM) 
5 Customs House Plaza, Monterey                                       

2 hours free parking at Fisherman's Wharf with ID listing a zip code starting with 939.  Enter from Washington Street.  Additional free parking after 6 p.m. in the Calle Principal garage located on Calle Principal between Franklin and Jefferson Streets.

Upcoming AIP Events
At Museum of Monterey:
June 25: Terri DeBono & Steven Rosen, MAC+AVA Films
July 23: Barbara Fernando, Batista-Moon commercial photographers

At the Oldemeyer Center, Seaside:
Aug 27: John Hudson, blacksmith 
Sept 24: Bob Phillips, jazz musician piano and clarinet
Oct 22: Karen Gelff, ceramics
Nov & Dec: No Events 


The work and programs of Arts Habitat are made

possible in part by these sponsors

  
With support from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors
  
   

Beady-eyed Bomber........by Joyce oroz

Being astute blog readers, you all know that blogging is serious business—except by fiction writers who believe their own nonsensical stories. Today we are dipping into the realm of truth—mostly untouched by my computer. Since my computer owns me and my thoughts, my blogging issues can be blamed on Ms. Dell. For the sake of truth, I will write my blog while Ms. Dell is on her break.

The truth is, April 22^nd of this year I was stung by at least six—probably more, honey bees. Honey bees look like fluffy little bombers as they hover over their targets, usually flowers or my hands. I had never run into a hostel honey bee before, let alone a herd of them. My hands are doing fine, finally, but the story doesn’t end there.

Today I ventured into the flower garden, ready to forgive and forget.

Well, somebody didn’t get the memo. A single beady-eyed bomber flew straight at me with evil intent. I dodged him and ran to the back door and slammed it behind me. Safe at last.

A few minutes later I felt something on my head. I looked in a mirror and was shocked to see a honey bee tangled in my hair. I quickly grabbed a towel and smacked it to the floor. Normally I do not kill bugs or bees, except black widows of course, however, I figured this bee might be suffering so I stomped him. End of …..”Oh, hello, Ms. Dell. You’re back so soon.”

Frank is Artist of the Month..........by Joyce Oroz

May is here and the excitement is building.

The Dragonfly Gallery pick of “Artist of the Month” for the month of May is Frank Romero, a young and enthusiastic AHA member and a wonderful artist. Even though Frank is only twenty-eight years old, he has been painting for eleven years and is fully committed to his work. He is not afraid to explore new techniques and ways of creating texture under the acrylic paint he uses. His canvases do not go unnoticed by the public. They are full of life and color, shape and texture. When I see Frank—talk to Frank about his artwork, I know he has found his calling in life. Many of the paintings reflect the joy he feels. The subjects of Frank’s paintings range from abstract to Fine Feature Cartoon Characters to landscapes to animals, birds and fish. Many of his works send a message, usually about cleaning up the planet. This Aromas artist is going places if you ask me!

Here is Frank in his own words:

….art is my life. It puts a smile on my face and makes me feel great, and hopefully other people as well. I'm planning to do more landscape painting this year. In art you can do whatever you want, and that is my work process as well. One day I might feel like playing with color, having fun splashing paint. The next day I might feel like doing a fine line sharp edge, clean cut painting. So some of my work can take days, months, even years before I paint on it again to finish it. I have about 28 unfinished canvases, maybe more. And I have about 160 unfinished Acrylic and Collage on paper paintings to finish, and a whole lot more for the years to come.

Thank you, Frank for discussing your work methods with us.

Frank will have a wonderful collection of paintings at the Dragonfly Gallery (380 Blohm Ave., Aromas) through the month of May.

Saturday, May 18^th the public is invited to a “meet and greet” at the gallery 2:00 to 4:00.

Stop by and someday you will be able to say, “I knew Frank when he was just getting started.”

Aromas Country Garden Tour........by Joyce Oroz

Every year there is an Aromas Country Garden Tour. I recently previewed the gardens and found them to be not only beautiful and soothing to the soul, but ingenious and well thought-out. One garden has an extensive water capturing system that every man and any woman worth her salt will appreciate. I saw picturesque barns, a grapevine fence and wonderful water features. 

The annual Aromas Country Garden Tour is May 11^th, the day before Mother’s Day, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Wouldn't it be fun to treat Mom to a tour of ten country gardens in the Aromas hills? Whatever it is you love--flowering, beautiful, vegetable, practical, drought-friendly or old-fashioned gardens and orchards, you will love this self-guided tour.

Enjoy the occasional bird, duck, chicken, goat, horse, artist. Yes, artist. Aromas Hills Artisans will be stationed along the dappled paths, showing off their artwork. You can expect to see paintings, jewelry, pottery, etchings, stained glass, gift cards, photos and so much more.

We invite you and your friends and family to join us at the Aromas Grange, corner of Rose Ave. and Bardue Ave., where tickets are just a $15.00 donation, (tax-deductable) per person, $25.00 for two people and $10.00 for seniors (sixty-five and older) and AHA members. You will be given a booklet with a map of the gardens in it.

Follow your map, weaving through the Aromas hills and discover one garden gem after another. May is an excellent month for flowering bushes and trees, sprouting and climbing vegetables and quiet moments near lake, pond or waterfall. This year there are ten lovely properties ranging from mostly flowers with some vegetables to mostly vegetables and fruit trees. Personally, I enjoy seeing old barns, chickens and goats. And don’t forget the horses and ducks.

Two Master Gardeners will be available for your gardening questions and the Aromas

4-H ers will be on hand at the Aromas Community Grange to sell plants and boxed lunches. The Aromas Water District will have a drought tolerant plant list available for free.

Don’t miss this garden! There is a very special garden and orchard this year, located at Anzar High School. ¼ acre of raised beds of vegetables and flowers plus ½ acre of fruit trees have been planted and cared for by students in Principal Charlene McKowden’s horticulture class.  The organic vegetables and fruits are picked, packaged and sold to the school staff and students to help pay for seeds, plants and tools.

What to do for lunch? I have a fabulous idea, dine at the Aromas Grill. It's the best in town!

And if you have time, drop by the Dragonfly Gallery. 

Aromas sits at the corners of three counties (Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito). In 1999 local artisans, headed by a poet, formed the guild known as the Aromas Hills Artisans, or AHA’s, which now boasts more than seventy members. The artists meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Aromas Grange. The guild plans events, supports and inspires fellow artists and shares new ideas and techniques. Membership is only $25.00 per year.

The “Aromas Hills Artisans” is now a non-profit philanthropic organization which promotes art education through scholarships to members, enabling them to attend workshops. AHA sponsors hands-on workshops for the community twice each year and they have a continuous, revolving exhibit of artwork at the Aromas Grange.

All Arts Splash.....by Joyce Oroz

Today I am passing on a reminder for artists living in San Benito County.
Here is a local one day art show in San Juan Batista. Please visit the website listed for more information. It is being organized by Bob Vasquez, who served on the San Benito county's Arts Commission back in the day. It is a show that looks to become an annual event.

Jane

The All Arts Connect Foundation is proud to present the First Annual "All Arts Splash". To take place at the beautiful Casa Maria 600 First Street in San Juan Bautista on Saturday June 15,2013 from 12:00 to 7:00PM. All Arts Splash will be a gathering of local artists exhibiting their art work along with live music and demonstrations. A silent auction and special performance by winners of the Voice of the Valley. Admission is $1.00 donation. All proceeds go towards art scholarships.

For more information visit http://allartsconnect.com/

Speaking of artists, Shirley and I hope you will join us tomorrow, Saturday the 27th, 2:00 to 4:00 for a festive meet and greet plus a real-life demonstration of basket weaving at the Dragonfly Gallery. Not ordinary basket weaving--Nantucket basket weaving. Shirley will show us how it's done and maybe she will hula during intermission. Speaking of intermission, does anyone like home made cookies? As if that were not enough, Shirley's beautiful photo greeting cards will be available for purchase.

The Dragonfly Gallery has a new artist--a fabulous jewelry maker, Laurie Tholen. Drop by and see her unique creations!