By Jim Christiansen
Into the heart of Summer, no drought in Art in Modesto. Summer classes and workshops going on at Mistlin Gallery, Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock, Dragonfly Art for Life. First Friday Market will open the month, July 1, an extended 4th of July weekend. Kristy Moore and the BlackHearts artists among the vendors on the hot pavement of Tenth Street.
Any business day during the week, you can quickly visit Picasso’s Gourmet Deli and Gallery and enjoy the paintings of Jordi Camps. Meander down to the Chartreuse Muse. On Tenth Street, even Che’root has art on the walls worth a view, and the Century complex adding different looks. In the alley ways, you find the murals. Third Thursday Art Walk is July 21, when the Farmacy will host art crafters. There is always art at Peer Recovery Art Project. Check the hours when open.
Around the corner is the Mistlin Gallery. The Triple Take, plein air show continues to July 9. New show, People, Places and Things opens July 12. The World Around us showing that includes retrospective watercolors for sale by the late Dan Petersen continues. Stop in for the show transition Saturday July 9 for the Family Open Studio. The “Expose Yourself to Art” series continues live on Facebook and YouTube, and the Grace Lieberman Cabaret Series will feature Synergy Chamber Quartet July 30
Across J Street, you can find art and creative activities at Beads of Contentment, Preservation Coffee and Tea, and Third Thursday, the artists on the corner at Tresetti’s. Jumping up the Art Walk trail, note that Dragonfly Art for Life has classes, a window full of art, large studio workspace, reasonable membership cost. Not too distant from Café Deva a bit closer to 12th Street, or the art at Papachino’s across the alley. Intrinsic Elements is on this route, always interesting stop during usual business hours. Cross over at 13th Street and note the State Theatre is expanding into a more multi-arts and film venue. Recent art walks have been in different rooms of the historic location as it is now taking on the full corner. Check the Art Walk maps for other locations, as the monthly event including new spots to stop
In the 209, but outside Modesto, some art news. The Deaf Puppy Comedy club is set to open in late Fall, on Main Street and Yosemite in Manteca. Chris Teicheira and Nick Larson have an impressive mural proposal for the club in review with the City of Manteca.
During Summer 2023 the Ferrari Gallery at the Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock will welcome back two annual exhibitions, “Ready, Set, Show!” and “Carnegie Art Showcase”. Both “Ready, Set Show,” the annual youth art exhibit and “Carnegie Art Showcase,” the annual all media juried exhibition highlight artists of all ages from throughout the Central Valley. The “Carnegie Art Showcase” is often the featured best juried group show in any year.
While not currently up in shows downtown, I do have art up in the Mistlin Gallery gift shop and working on a large watercolor to ship off to St. Louis. I am back to drawing music events, most recently at Red Tie Arts concert at Lucca Winery in Ripon. Next entry, be the Mistlin Autumn Art Festival, hoping to make the cut.
