Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Open Studios reminder.........by Joyce Oroz


Tah Dah! This year's Open Studios is featuring some wonderful artists
 including Kathy Stutz-Taylor of the AHA Stuz-Taylors. Her block prints are really amazing. 

San Benito Open Studios is coming soon June 1st and 2nd between 11AM and 5PM at the Aimee June Winery at 106 Third Street in San Juan Batista! 

Come see the inspiration for some of Kathy's new works and taste some excellent wine!

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Sally's Summer Project..........by Joyce Oroz





Today I am writing to my friends, adults and children alike, because I write about good stuff and this news falls into that category. 

Adults, grownups and tall people, how would you like to nurture your artistic-self, the self that too often gets kicked to the curb by your practical-self. Easy for me to say since my practical-self is under-developed. Easy for you to sign up for a ceramic class with Sally Diggory. She is offering a small-size class for adults,
"hand-building with clay for beginners."
You will enjoy six classes for only $120.00 and that includes all materials and firing.
The classes begin Monday, June 3rd and run through July 8th, Monday evenings 7:00 to 9:00 pm.


Kids 8--11
You are invited to join Sally Diggory's summer "hand-building with clay" classes where you can learn new skills and have fun creating creatures. Sally is offering a series of six classes for beginners and all materials and firings are included in the $120.00 price. The small, hands-on classes begin Thursday, June 6th and run through July 11th., Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00 noon.

To sign up for classes or ask a question, please contact:
Sally Diggory   831-726-9038
email:  sdigg@rattlebrain.com 



                                                                   



Friday, May 24, 2013

The Triangle of Life.........by Doug Copp

California isn't the only state that experiences earthquakes. This article is an eye-opener for everyone!

EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE: "TRIANGLE OF LIFE"
>> >
>> > My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.
>> >
>> > I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries...
>> >
>> > I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.
>> >
>> > The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time know that the children were told to hide under something.
>> >
>> > Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the "triangle of life".
>> > The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles" you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.
>> >
>> > TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
>> >
>> > 1) Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
>> >
>> > 2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake... It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
>> >
>> > 3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
>> >
>> > 4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed.. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on The back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
>> >
>> > 5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.
>> >
>> > 6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
>> >
>> > 7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
>> >
>> > 8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
>> >
>> > 9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway... The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
>> >
>> > 10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
>> >

Sunday, May 19, 2013

A Good Time in the Old Town..........by Joyce Oroz



For my friends who missed the Artist of the Month Meet and Greet, let me describe how it went. 
Frank Romero was a rock star--meeting and greeting a healthy-size crowd, one at a time with genuine good cheer, along with Kathy and Margie. I sat behind the desk soaking up the room's happy energy.

Between greeter duties Frank painted acrylics on canvas, demonstrating his distinctive style and
explaining how he has invented various textures and treatments.

I kept thinking, why didn't I ever think of that?

But every artist is unique and it's best to keep it that way.

Congratulations, Frank for a job well done!

Frank Romero's artwork can be seen at the Dragonfly Gallery, 380 Blohm Ave., Aromas CA
Thursdays and Fridays 1:00 to 4:00   and by appointment 831-224-8888

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

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 11th 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!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

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.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

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
  
   




Saturday, May 4, 2013

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 22nd 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.”


Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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 18th 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.”