ArtView

Its art walk morning and I’m still writing, before
I return to set up the Bike Race Life Festival
show at 11th and J Street with organizer
Carman King. This show featured paintings
by Jordi Camps, sculpture from Steve
Mudge, bike collection of Brian Swander,
photos by Rebecca Harvey, paintings
and construction by Jim Christiansen and
watercolor by Jennifer Machado as well as
some drawings by students. The show was
set up again for May 19 Art Walk and joined
by some paintings from the Mistlin Gallery
and Memorial Cancer Survivor Artist Class.
In June, the City Mall will be set up for a car
theme show on Graffiti Fest Weekend, June
4, and crafters/artist showing Third Thursday
June 16. For information on that event,
contact Carman King at 581-5077
For those needing a shot of more rural
“ plein aire” painting while enjoying
organically grown blueberries and
cherries, try a great site and short drive
to Livingston for the Riverdance Farms
Pick and Gather Festival June 4 and 5.
The 88 acres on the Merced River hosts
a River Fair, belly dancing, storytellers,
an art venue, and music venue, with
players like Rachel Renae, Big Earl
and the Cryin’ Shame and Adamantine
Belly dancers, along with workshops
in organic gardening, farm tours. It’s
a living participatory experience in our
local agriculture milieu with local arts
and artisans and some green education.
Main event is $10 adults, $5 kids, with
$10 camping and group rates available,
half price for laid back Sunday. For
more information call Cindy Lashbrook
at 209 761-0081 or email riverdancefarms@
gmail.com
Downtown Modesto Third Thursday
Art Walk has the summer addition of
the Thursday Evening Farmers Market
at Gallo Center from 4 to 8 pm. You can
shop for produce as you make your way
from Chartreuse Muse and Gallery 909
to Jax on H on your way up H to Paper
Planes Tattoo and Gallery. This tie-in
with the market prompted Copper Rhino
to show art with music in the patio,
to help boost early evening audience
traffic. Regular Art Walk hours are 5 to
9 PM most locations on the map.
The big event this month is the 58th
Central California Art Association
Spring Show, and its June 11 opening
and gala. Over 200 entries from 79
artists for the show with awards judging
and receiving taking place June 3.
Awards will be at the Spring Show Gala
at Mistlin Gallery, June 11. Tickets are
$20, available at the door or ahead of
time at the gallery. Most of the entered
artists are expected to be on hand, and
there is a silent auction and raffle to
support the all-volunteer, nonprofit gallery
operations. Show will run through
July 14. CCAA and Mistlin Gallery
will also be the beneficiary of Jax on H
nonprofit Thursday celebrity bartender
event, held June 16 during Third Thursday
Art Walk hours. Part of proceeds
at Jax will be donated over to CCAA,
so come in and place your order, view
some art, and see who besides Mitch is
behind the bar.
Prospect Theater Project at 520 Scenic
has a new art show of Jim Christiansen
paintings, drawings, printmaking
and sketches, on the lobby walls.
It opened with the May Slam on Rye
monthly poetry slam and continues
through August. You can view the art at
the June Third Wednesday Slam on the
15th, and at the August Slam on Rye,
and at performances during the run of
“Lee Marvin be Thine Name” July 8
through July 31, scheduled PTP season
production, while Slam on Rye is
on summer vacation. Buy a ticket, see
some art while attending live theater,
and check into getting season tickets
for next year’s slate at the “little Theater
with an edge.” For more art at the location,
see the window mural art fronting
Scenic by artist Helen Million.
Summer also means classes in Art
at Artel, Chartreuse Muse, and Mistlin
gallery, for children and adults. Check
with those locations to see what’s offered,
but I’ve noticed a range from
beginners to advanced in drawing,
painting, and more. While at Artel, visit
the front window for the display of the
Mini Arts Show, and place your vote in
the box for the people’s choice award.
There were 110 entries.
If you happen to be a printmaker,
August is coming up, and that’s the
deadline for the Modesto Art Museum’s
International mini-printmaking show
entries. Limited to 2 image submissions,
the printmaking pieces are also
limited to six inch square dimensions,
and will be displayed in the Fall at
McHenry Museum. For more information,
see Modesto Art Museum on-line
at http://modestoartmuseumm.org.