Art View By Jim Christiansen
Spring time is good for the local art scene. March opens with the Faces of Clay/Almond Blossoms Central California Art Association members show at Mistlin Gallery through March 16, followed by the annual Fabric Art Show beginning March 20 by CCAA and Crossroads Country Quilters . Faces of Clay, includes an invitational sculptural element added to the quarterly members show. Applications for the Central California Art Association annual juried Spring Show are due March 17. Spring Show runs May 1 to June 14. Applications are available at Mistlin Gallery, or from Artel Art Center in McHenry Village.
Modesto Art Museum, has a March 10 application deadline for World Mini Art Expo. This show is limited to works in a 7 x 7 inch overall size. Show opens at McHenry Museum, April 3. Modesto Art Museum board recently announced a “no dues, free membership” policy. Check their web site, send in an email, and you can be a member too. http://modestoartmuseum.org for more details.
Café Deva has its second art display for 2012. Jim Christiansen is featured, with guest artists Modesto art icon EdCesena, and Jennifer K. Machado. This show replaces the great photo show by David Schroeder. Mark Holden paintings are featured at Thursday Night Ramble shows.
Beware the Ides of March. The new map for the Downtown Modesto Third Thursday Art Walknotes a new gallery at 13th and J, open three days a week. The new venue is a consignment gallery with a 30 per cent commission charge to artists seeking a place to hang their works. You can pick up a new Art Walk Map at the kiosk at Beckle’s Candy, Picasso’s on Tenth, the Downtown Improvement District office and other locations. Drop in at Anderson’s Frame Shop, Intrinsic Elements, Crow Trading Co., Barkin’ Dog Grill, Serrano Social Club, the Chartreuse Muse and the CSUS student Gallery 909.
On St Patrick’s Day, enjoy the street art of Lucky Fest’s 25 street pubs, each a different design created by local artists.
Stanislaus Artists Open Studio Tour map/booklets are available for purchase at $10 each. You can pick them up online, by phone order at 209 222 TOUR, or from locations like Mistlin Gallery and Chartreuse Muse. The Tour is April 14 and 15, and each map/booklet has one entry form for the purchase prize award winner give-away drawing. 75 artists are on the tour. http://stanislausaos.wordpress.com
Check out these regional visual arts events. Merced Art Hop, comes up every couple months. Sonora has Second Saturday Gallery Night. First Friday is Art Hop in Lodi. Check in with Artists of Modesto facebook page to keep up with regional art events. March is often the start of a new round of classes in the visual arts at Artel Art Center , the Chartreuse Muse, Mistlin Gallery. Artel is also offering studio time in their class work spaces. Life drawing continues at the Chartreuse Muse upstairs studio Tuesday nights, and costume models pose now at Mistlin on first and third Thursdays.
Support local artists, buy some Art.
