ART VIEW: New Year Subject to Change
By Jim Christiansen
Art in the Time of COVID. Nice to have the vaccine news hitting as I write the Art View column. There is still disruption in all our lives, as more reschedules, cancellations affect everyone. That includes the local artists. Many of us still creating, painting, adding inventory and portfolio. But where are they on display? My caveat with the promise of the New Year, the information again this month, is subject to change.
Keep up with revisions on www.modestoview.com online, on the Artists of Modesto Facebook page, and checking in on our local artists and galleries and art venues as you can. FB pages to keep up with: Chartreuse Muse, Dragonfly Art for Life, Carnegie Arts Center Turlock, Modesto Conservatory (MOCON), Queen Bean for classes and scheduled events.
Art has changed at Barkin Dog Grill, with Valentino Alexander’s brilliant and colorful paintings on display. Emphatic change with this body of work, after recent showing at the Mistlin Gallery History of Women in Art and Mistlin’s window display. You may have missed out on viewing his art with the on-again, off-again opening and closing schedules at that gallery this Summer.
Mistlin gallery has been open limited hours during the holiday season. It will be closed the first few weeks of the year, perhaps longer. The “Art in the Time of Covid” exhibit, is being rescheduled for the original January dates, to Show Number 5 at the gallery in May. At present, you need to check in with the Central California Art Association/ Mistlin Gallery Facebook page for updates regarding open hours, resumption of schedule for the gallery, classes and association events. www.ccaagallery.org
News of the vaccine welcome news to Stanislaus Artist Open Studio Tour. It is still on schedule for April 24 and 25, though there is some discussion among the artists as to whether that is too soon or not. Will update on that next month, as we know more of the 2021 situation.
With the rescheduling of the Mistlin Show and uncertainty on Open Studio weekend, I have a backlog of work, available to purchase, at my home studio. By appointment, 209-241-7130 or email jdc104@yahoo.com Wear a mask to visit.
My house is down by MJC and saw a post by Phil Murillo about a piece he had on display in Student Parking lot by the Grange Company Silos, so I walked on over to check that out. I found Phil’s Seventh Street Bridge tribute, a FASM tiger, works by Gava and other artists. Pretty impressive works.
The Mistlin Gallery Virtual series “Expose Yourself to Art” goes live on Facebook on Sundays, and repeats found on YouTube when live feed ends. This has been a great way to keep up with the local artists in fine art, performing arts, music. I tune in to see what’s going on. Join hosts David Schroeder and Linda Scheller for these roughly hour-long programs.
Volume two of Linda Knoll’s new StArt or Stanislaus Art magazine comes out this month. You can find more about the magazine at www.lindaknollsrt.com/start-magazine I am a subscriber, and pretty impressed with issue one.
