Space and place are vital to art making...
The newest exhibit in the OPEN-DOOR-ARTS @ OddFellows' project begins with this premise. The diverse worked featured was created by Artists from far and near who are right now in working residency at the Mendocino Art Center.
Cast bronze sculpture, found sculpture, uniquely textured pots and other ceramics, blacksmith work, hand-crafted knives, dramatic paintings, and much, much more... Even an imaginative ceramic that seems to have melted in the fireplace...Fifteen artists who have found their way to here and now, to this place on the cliffs of the Mendocino headlands. It is all reflected in the work on display in the Coastal Expressions exhibit open 10-6, Thursday to Sunday through February 27th.
Closing weekend celebration includes the Nashville sounds of the Rose Knight Band on Saturday February 26th, brought together by Mendocino Stories. A special acoustic evening of music and dance celebrates the amazing creative spirit that resides here on the Mendocino Coast and finds its way into arts and hearts of all kinds! A Silent Art Auction begins at noon and the music party gets underway 6 til 10pm. Historic Odd Fellows hall is located at the corner of Kasten & Ukiah Streets, one block up from Main St. 937-2486
Redwood Mural is well on its way... stretching further than originally envisioned and promising to vividly fill Redwood Elementary School's MP Room. 90 ft x 5ft of canvas was used... 450 children (K to 2nd) set the patterned imagery of BUILDING BLOCKS OF LIFE, telling the "story of learning"... from simple shapes & basic colors to the complexities of relationships, nature, and the world-at-large. Initial results from 6 intense on-campus days of painting include 8 large and lively panels plus other special elements. Small groups, smocked for action, came in and intensely set to work... first drawing themselves and then undertaking a special painting task... with fun and story telling all along... Veteran Teacher Keith Wyner, popped in and out taking photos; plan for a DVD Slide Show. Already, Kathy Carl is seeing potential imagery for the ART CARD series.NOW...Canvases are stretched out on the tarp covered floor of a commercial space in Ft Bragg. ...Franklin Street, next to the Post Office... The space is loaned with kind help of local Realtors & property owners. "My Grandchildren went to Redwood" says Barbara Clark, Century 21, who will cover utilities for Phase 2. Now it is my turn to move paintings to the final stage... Heightened color and density of pattern, accentuate flow, connectivity and relationship, and added details that bring a cohesive wholeness to the work. And carefully drop in WORDS that add to the "learning" story embedded in the piece.
On my hands & knees, I dive into each panel and lose myself in time, colors and patterns. I drag pans of colors and implements across the surface... Interesting to pattern with a lemon, adding "sunshine" and light to the Garden. Parsley adds a delicate feel and I love marks made by corn. Fun to play with a Popsicle stick, making "curved from straight", repeating lines radiating from other elements... Printing with leaves is always satisfying. I use techniques employed with the children. The approach is free flowing, yet careful to honor the children's work, and remember each group's activity that created the imagery I touch. My aim is to bring it all together and make the WHOLE work together from all the marvelous pieces.
I am honored to be granted this amazing opportunity. "My Pattern" seems to be ...dream big, get things going, wonder how I got here and HOW to actually do this... and then... get completely carried away with the fun, excitement and challenge of making it all work! Thanks to the Community Foundation of Mendocino County for support of the AD ABRAMSON Grant that made this project take off! Thanks to the daring and imaginative leadership at Redwood Elementary, beginning with Principal Mary K. Champagne and Kindergarten Teacher Susan Joyer and by parents, teachers and staff ready to help make it happen! And special appreciation for the children who came in focused, enthusiastic and ready to dive in. They listened, shared, worked and had fun! It was pleasure working with each and every child!
Creative spirits will soar as ERIC & SUZY THOMPSON take the stage of Little River Inn Music Series...Friday February 11th 7:30... The evening will benefit collaborative projects between FLOCKworks & Mendocino Coast Children's Fund. It also reflects FLOCKworks support for arts and creativity of all kinds...Tickets are $15 and available at Tangents in Ft Bragg, Out-of-This-World in Mendocino and at the Little River Inn.
Eric & Suzy's music is a unique acoustic blend of Cajun, bluegrass, country blues, old time, and much more...It will lift, inspire, tickle and get toes tapping! Their musical roots go very, very deep as Eric & Suzy give voice to the creative spirit at its best!
Mendocino is also "a second musical home" for Suzy & Eric--with many local friends & fans; MENDOCINO FILM FESTIVAL recently featured an ART Film with them and loved having them play live at the screening. This week, Suzy & Eric are here doing a mini-music camp with some budding local musicians. Called "Old Growth", this trio of players began music later-in-life (50 plus), meeting at LARK CAMP and the California Bluegrass Camp; they now host a regular jam, and have ventured out to open-mike at Caspar Community Center Pub Night. Eric & Suzy will help them learn glorious harmonies, fiddle up a storm and add hot guitar licks into their musical efforts.
All in all, this special evening will fan the creative spirit in all of us...Whether singing, playing, painting, sculpture, quilting, cooking or gardening, we believe that the magic of the ARTS comes from jumping in and letting your heart sing! Come join us!
