Archive for June, 2010
Sarah-Hope had a busy day a couple of weeks ago, flying back and forth to San Diego to pick up her nephew, who was shuttling from one set of grandparents to another. My job was to drop her off at one airport (San Jose) and pick her up at the other (Oakland), which left me to my own devices for a hefty part of the day.
After visits to my old Peet’s store on Lakeshore Ave and to Walden Pond Books, my favorite bookstore in Oakland, and to Creative Framing and Gallery, where I’ll have a show this summer, I decided to visit the newly-renovated Oakland Museum of California.
Wow.
Just wow.
The Oakland Museum of California (or OMCA, which is much easier to type) was built in the 1960s, a classic cast-concrete box of that era. True, it included hanging gardens and intriguing open spaces, and was often mentioned in architectural literature as a perfect example of its style, but the galleries were previously dark, dreary, and often dead-ended into strange little cul-de-sacs. The exhibits also showed their age, the labels incomplete or damaged, the lighting inadequate, the taxidermed animals a bit tattered. (The museum has three sections: art, history, and natural history.)
Now? It is gorgeous. It is amazing. It is worth spending an entire day visiting. And that’s even without the natural history section, which is still under renovation.
I visited the California History section first, and was met with a stunning variety of Native American baskets, tools, and gear, all clearly labeled, explained, and set in context. This segued into a section on the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and missionaries, and then into life on the Spanish missions. Each transition made sense, and what used to be those dark cul-de-sacs now contain small interesting asides, such as how artists traveling with the European explorers recorded the people and animals they encountered. Thus the museum leads you through California’s history, with good content, excellent physical materials, and spaces to stop and learn more on one’s own –with real books (and not just monographs from OMCA), and comfortable chairs (appropriate to the period, no less, so the 60s section features bean bag chairs, while the turn of the century has mission-style furnishings): so much more, and more appropriate, than the usual museum computer kiosk that’s merely a nod towards depth.
I was so excited! This was great! And then I was so stressed: I only had two hours on the meter, and time was running out. On to the art galleries.
And again: wow wow wow wow.
They are light. Airy. Open. No more dingy little dead-end alleys, but clear paths between styles, and eras, and subject matter. You can see connections between artists, and their work, and their predecessors, and their successors. And one of the things I liked best was that the extensive and excellent OMCA collection of photography not only had its own area in the galleries, but was also interspersed with other art, again giving context and depth to the experience. And again, reading areas, with books, and comfy chairs, and good light.
So go, go soon, go often. I (almost) wish I still lived in Oakland, just so I could be a regular visitor. You will not be disappointed.
Hip hip hooray, Oakland Museum of California! Well done!
June 29 2010 | Art shows, art galleries, etc and Illustration | 1 Comment »
I am usually an early riser, and consider a day unfit for hiking –or much of anything, for that matter– if I’m up and about any later than 7am. The day’s already half gone! Too late!
But I think I’m still experiencing the mellowing effects of our day at the spa. This morning we slept in, I made coffee, we played with the cats and worked on our various web presences. I hauled a ‘free!’ table out to the side of the road, we played with the cats some more, and by the time I hit the hiking trail it was 11am. So like Noel Coward’s mad dogs and Englishmen, I was out in the mid-day sun.
Yes, it’s been ages since I’ve gone hiking, thanks to too much art (if there is any such thing). So I went to my favorite go-to park, Wilder Ranch State Park.
The sun was bright, but there was a good sea breeze to keep things from getting too hot. The hills are definitely in their ‘tawny’ phase, but there were still abundant wildflowers.
And bees.
I started out on the Wilder Ridge Loop, climbing steeply. Oak trees by the side of the trail offered welcome shade. I love their twisted branches.
After a couple of miles, I turned on to the Twin Oaks Trail. My plan, since it was hot and I had forgotten my sunscreen, was to head for the shadier trails. This worked as far as sunburn is concerned, but what I didn’t think about was the shade is in the canyons, meaning my hike had a whole lot of ups-and-downs to it. Oh well, it’s good exercise.
After about a mile on Twin Oaks, I joined the Eucalyptus Loop Trail. There really aren’t any eucalyptus on this trail, except for a sentinel line of about 10 old trees at the trail’s head. Instead, it is a mix of oak, chaparral, and redwoods, with a couple of streams thrown in for good measure. Here some spiderwebs catch the sun.
Every so often, the woods would open out into another meadow.
The Eucalyptus Trail led to the Old Cabin Trail, and thence to the Wild Boar Trail. No boars were in sight, but if there had been I bet they’d have liked these berries.
And soon, my first glance of the ocean. This is looking out over the Monterey Bay, with Big Sur and Monterey in the distance. Not too shabby a view, eh?
It was all downhill from there, down to the historic buildings, goats, sheep, chickens, and gardens at the ranch that gives the park its name.
I am a happy hiker!
Incidentally, there is an annual 4th of July celebration at the historical buildings of Wilder State Ranch every year, where they celebrate the 4th of 100 hundred years ago; this year, it will be 1910. Freshly-made ice cream, strawberry shortcake, hayrides, and good old-fashioned fun. Come out, support your state parks, and celebrate!
June 27 2010 | Walks and hikes | 1 Comment »
I time-traveled this past weekend, back to 16th century Scotland, as I participated in my first-ever Renaissance Festival as a vendor (in fact my first-ever festival of any sort).
In some ways it was a good fit: a lot of my prints relate to that period. I displayed prints from the Camino de Santiago, my set of fairy tale prints, and prints from my new series on saints. So the subject matter was dead-on.
In other ways, it was not such a good fit. My displays are too modern, even with fabric draping the metal display grids. And my observation is that the vendors who did best were those who serve to self-perpetuate a Renaissance festival, such as swordsmiths and people selling period costumes.
Most importantly, it was a great learning experience. Things I learned include how much work it takes to travel and set up a tent (a LOT, even if it’s local and I can go home at night); how much gear and art I can fit in my van, and how to pack it most effectively; how to set up my display on uneven ground (bungee cords to the rescue). I already have a different display idea in my head, should I do this festival again. And by getting ready for this event, I also got ready for the two or three I have scheduled for the fall: clear bags, mats, and backing boards are all on hand in good supply; I can now accept credit cards; I have plenty of prints framed and ready to hang. Now I can concentrate on new images I have queued in my head.
So on to Open Studios! And in the meantime, here are some images of this weekend’s Scottish Renaissance Festival.
The archery field was right next to my tent. This man knows what he is doing; many did not. Be very afraid.
Ladies go shopping, wine goblets in hand.
The best dragon costume, ever.
A juggler entertains the crowd.
Ladies strolling by.
A lady and her owl.
A pony walks past vendors’ tents.
Mary, Queen of Scots passes by with her retinue.
The Loch Lomond highland games were going on at the same time. Here are photos of burly men in kilts, throwing heavy objects.
Next year, you should all come.
June 21 2010 | Art shows, art galleries, etc and Printmaking | 1 Comment »
Ta-da! Another show of my prints is now officially up and running. Composed primarily of my Fairy Tales series, this show is at the Santa Cruz County Government Center, on Ocean Street here in beautiful sunny Santa Cruz. The show will remain up through August 19.
This time I am not alone; I share the building’s hallways with four other artists. And I must say, it’s a really interesting mix of really good work. Besides my linoleum block prints, there is metalwork and jewelry by Carol Webb; an excellent series of paintings about voting by Myra Eastman; moody pastels of houses and seacoast by Jan McGeorge; and lively abstract paintings by Dana Lee Weigand.
Here’s my wall of prints:
I also put up my three prints about violence against women by the entrance to the building:
Here’s the official listing!
And a general view of the main hallway:
On a personal note, I am quite fond of the County Government Center, because it’s where Sarah-Hope and I got married two years ago. Everyone we encountered was incredibly helpful, enthusiastic, supportive and generous. So I am quite pleased to have my work there, and hope I can give some pleasure back to the people who helped make our wedding day special.
First Friday
The exhibit at the Government Center is part of First Friday Santa Cruz. So please come join us on Friday, June 4, 5 - 8pm, at 701 Ocean Street. Meet the artists, enjoy the art, and sip some wine. It will be fun!
+ + + + + +
Exhibits at the Government Center are sponsored by the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County. Be sure to thank them!
June 01 2010 | Art shows, art galleries, etc and Printmaking | No Comments »
