Art View
By Jim Christiansen
June in Modesto usually involves cars, crowds, food, drink and for me, a trip South to Livingston to show art, set the stage, and work the Pick and Gather Festival at Riverdance Farms, the first weekend after Memorial Day. Artists Patrick Barr and Kristi Moore join us this year, with art for sale, and kid’s workshop in cartooning. We also do fish printing, Fun with Clay, and more. A Full day 10am to Dusk of Music, with Bluegrass, Poorhouse Millionaires, Red Pony, and Faux Renwah on Laid Back Sunday, the Pick and Gather is an eclectic festival, on the Merced River with U-Pick organic blueberries and more. It’s a kind of performance art, middle of Spring Harvest organic farm festival. All ages, more information www.Riverdancefarms.com June 4 & 5.
But Graffiti Summer also means usual call from Minnie’s for Tee Shirt design for the June 10 cruise night at one of the best traditional spots to view cars rolling by. This year I did two designs, the usual McHenry Avenue view, with classic Roadrunner, and the Back Door parking lot view, all Minnie’s regulars recognize. VIP tickets got the back door view. When this June fun is all over, I’ll finish the painting of the Minnie’s back-side view.
Art Walk resumes June 16. I like the addition of on-street music, but think they should have some art on easels where they set up. Car art would be good this month. There’s been talk of a Thursday Night Farmers Market starting up, including Art Walk night, and I know Ralston’s Goat will follow Art Walk with late night comedy show 10 to Midnight. The Art Walk passports seem to be getting stamped, but haven’t heard of winners for dinner and a movie. This month I went early to the Big Valley Academy student display at Mistlin, Clay Bedford’s art at Barking Dog, Spring display at Chartreuse Muse, Chelsea America watercolors at Preservation Coffee, and new railroad theme art at Che’root. Get a map or check the web www.modestoartwalk.com I missed Henrietta Sparkman over at the Carolyn Huff Photography Gallery on K, but did see her Monoprints in Merced at the Annual Printmaking Show at Multicultural Arts Center. Colton Dennis is the new Executive Director there, so drop in on Merced’s Art Hop.
Delicato Vineyards tasting room hosts their annual photography juried show this month. Lucca Winery in Ripon opens its Music with Art Series this month. Any artists with Michael Jackson themed art seeking spot to do one-night show in August, drop me a line at mercenary_graphics@yahoo.com<mailto:mercenary_graphics@yahoo.com> I recently sold some wine frogs up at Watts/Upstream winery in Lodi. Check out their First Friday Art Hop.
Mistlin Gallery opens their Summer Splash Members Show this month with Can2Canvas and Unconventional Painting Techniques. The latter features spray paint work. Carnegie opens Ready, Set Show in the Ferrari Gallery. Students K-8 on display in their own show June 8 to July 7. And it’s the month to watch automotive works of art cruising around Modesto all month.
