ArtView
By Jim Christiansen
Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, the Abbreviated month of February is upon us. A shortlist of open venues, and art events in the age of pandemic make this column a challenge to write. Not a lot of changes since last month
Hope springs with the vaccine rollout. As one of the senior artists 65 and over, I get my second round of the vaccine around Valentine’s Day That is good news for Stanislaus Artist Open Studio schedule April 25 and 26. If Stanislaus County infection rate declines, and vaccine availability expands, Open Studio likely to avoid rescheduling.
Need an Art Fix? The MJC/Grange Company parking lot large painting exhibition continues to evolve. Easy to do the drive-by viewing. You can walk around safely at social distancing. Also, convenient to walk around the closed MJC Gallery, and view the murals on the classroom building walls. Plenty of Murals to view downtown and around town.
Mistlin Gallery life drawing group has been having pick up sessions in Graceada Park with costume models in the great outdoors. Life Drawing won’t be back to regular schedule until gallery reopens. As published in the Mistlin Gallery Paint Rag, no certainty when open gallery hours return
Queen Bean’s Kristy More is still doing simultaneous classes online and the patio for kids. MOCON at Tenth and E Street hosting weekend open hours for art activities. Dragonfly Art for Life still has a program by appointment and a series of great art tips on their Facebook page.
Picasso’s Gourmet Deli and Gallery continue to be the mainstay gallery/restaurant outdoor exhibition venue. Barkin Dog has Valentino Alexander paintings up for display and sale. Check-in with Chartreuse Muse for schedule and classes. The Muse currently promoting their drop-in pottery glazing Saturday’s noon to 4 pm. Café DEVA has increased its open hours. Pick up some food at Papachino’s and glance at the art there. Add some mental health and creative Arts and stop in the Peer Recovery Art Project in the middle of the Tenth Street Art Block.
The “Expose Yourself to Art” series continues online, via Facebook Live and YouTube. FOTO Modesto will not be hosting a gallery exhibition but will be posting online presentations, exhibit and interviews with local photographers on Facebook Live, and YouTube to be announced. See the Foto Modesto Facebook page for updates.
I feature local artists, gallery and venue events, art links on the Artists of Modesto Facebook page. It is an alternative resource to online www.modestoview.com online magazine updates and calendar, specific to the visual arts.
With the music scene in limbo, Earl Matthews has been on a tear with new wire sculpture art. My roommate bought one of his creations, and he delivers. When I was producing the State Theatre Art Walk shows, Earl was one of our first featured artists booked for his art without his band. Earl has had wire creations featured out of town in galleries on the North Coast
The Stanislaus Art Magazine issue number two, the “Peace” theme came in the mail. This is a publication to pick up and is available from www.lindaknollsrt.com/start-magazine
