Annual Arts Benicia program returns to bring local artists together

Suzanne Long's figurative piece of a squirrel's head on a human body is one of several works featured in Arts Benicia's "Art of a Community" exhibit. (Photo by Suzanne Long)

   The biggest gather of Arts Benicia’s member artists’ works will return to Benicia on Saturday, with one of the gallery’s longest-running annual exhibitions “The Art of a Community.”

   Since its inception in 1995,  “Art of a Community” has been a means to showcase the work of Arts Benicia member artists from the community and beyond. Artists hail from Benicia, of course, but also come from as far away as Sacramento, Napa, San Francisco and even Brentwood. Some artists are from other local galleries but are still members of Arts Benicia. Mary Shaw, retiring exhibitions and programs manager, estimates that between 400 and 450 artists are showcasing their work this year. One thing Shaw likes about the work featured this year is the variety of forms used.

   “The range of work is amazing,” she said.

   Every form under the sun is represented at “The Art of a Community,” from paintings to photography to ceramics to mixed media. Some of the notable pieces by veteran artists include an interactive hand crank designed by former Arts Benicia Director Larnie Fox, a dog made out recycled wood by Bob Nelson, an assemblage work by Jeff Snell of a warship and octopus tentacles made out of reclaimed cardboard, a ceramic sculpture by Pam Dixon inspired by Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” and a figurative piece of a squirrel’s head on a human body designed by Suzanne Long. 

   The exhibit is also a showcase for the works of new member artists, including photography by Chayton Marino, paintings by Geri Arata, textiles by sisters Holly and Anita Jessop, and Hannah Haywood who designed a mixed media garden chair. 

   Shaw said “The Art of a Community” can be a good showcase for new member artists to make a name for themselves.

   “It’s difficult for a new artist, amateur artist or unestablished artist to show their work,” she said. “It’s a difficult process responding to calls, it’s sort of expensive going to art fairs and things like that, so this is an opportunity for them to show their work.”

   Additionally, Shaw said it is a good opportunity to see what member artists have contributed so they could potentially be showcased at other venues like The Rellik Tavern, Olson Realty, Estey Real Estate and the City Council Chambers, all under the “Arts Benicia Presents” banner. 

   “If you are an Arts Benicia member and you have something of a body of work, we have curators for each site and they can come in during ‘Art of the Community,’ and they can look and see what member artists are doing and think about if that work would be good for a venue that they curate.”

   Returning this year is the Ekphrastic Poetry Reading, in which members of Benicia First Tuesday Poetry Group come to the gallery, look at the work, write a poem about one of the pieces and read them to the artist that created the piece.

   “It’s a really nice, full circle event,” Shaw said.

   The reading will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. The event is being coordinated by Poet Laureate Johanna Ely and poet and Arts Benicia member Thomas Eric Stanton. 

   Shaw hopes that viewers will enjoy the depth and breadth of the artistic work in Benicia, which she views as a true art community.

   “Benicia is a destination town,” she said. “It’s sort of a hidden gem, and we have been very involved in the tourism department. We want visitors to come see the art in Benicia, and this is a great start to the year. It’s basically paving the path for Open Studios in the first week of May.”

   This year’s “Art of a Community” is a rather bittersweet one as it is the last exhibit that Shaw will be handling before she moves on. Shaw was promoted as exhibitions and programs manager before Open Studios in 2011 and has had a hand in more than 70 exhibits, including a current exhibition at the Benicia Historical Museum titled “Drop By Drop: A Brief History of Benicia Water Through the Eyes of its Artists,” which she curated solo. Jean Purnell, Arts Benicia’s development associate, said Shaw had left an indelible legacy during her time in the position.

   “She’s been directing hands between all the other programs that Arts Benicia has coordinated,” she said. “Some of them are collaborations with other organizations, some with the schools, some with other nonprofits, maybe even some other galleries. It’s a huge treasure of cultural enrichment.”

   Shaw will be succeeded by Lisa Jetonne Quintero. 

   “The Art of a Community” will open on Jan. 27 through Sunday, Feb. 25. A reception will be held Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. The Community Open House will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 3, where nonmember artists and the general public can see what Arts Benicia is all about. Doughnuts and coffee will be served, and art demonstrations will be performed. All events will be held at Arts Benicia’s gallery, located at 991 Tyler St., Suite No. 114. gallery hours are noon to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. For more information, visit artsbenicia.org. 

   

Arts Benicia to host After School Art program at Farmar in February

Arts Benicia will host a series of painting and drawing workshops at Mary Farmar Elementary School in February. The classes will be taught by Les Overlock. (File photo)

While a school day is not always enough time to learn the basics of art, Arts Benicia is here to make sure creatively inclined students have additional opportunities to hone their craft. After School sessions will be held at Mary Farmar Elementary School throughout February.
   Arts Benicia’s After School program, sponsored by Benicia Unified School District, aims to give students an opportunity to explore the arts and develop new interests. The classes are inspired by the principles of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), encourage critical thinking and problem solving and are taught by experienced art instructors.
   The February session will be taught by Les Overlock, a painter who taught in school settings for 37 years, including a long stint as Liberty High School’s art instructor. Overlock paints everything from animals to human faces to planes to automobiles, utilizing different colors and encouraging painting outside the lines. For the past decade, Overlock has contributed “The Buzz” and “The Buzzard” to the Benicia Herald, which provide clear examples of what his work is all about. Overlock’s workshop at Farmar will focus on drawing and painting.
   The workshop will meet from 3 to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays, Feb. 7, 14 and 21 in Farmar’s Multi-Purpose Room, located at 901 Military West. The class is open to all BUSD elementary schoolers in grades 1 through 5. The cost is $30 for members and $35 for non-members. Space is limited. To reserve a spot, go to artsbenicia.org/arts-benicia-after-school-2 and download the form. 

SUMMER OF '09 ARCHIVES: Still probing, powerfully

   This is the first article I had published, and it ran on the front page below the fold. Of course, a lot of the paper's content is always slated for the front page, but that was a big deal for me at the time. I remember getting comments from people who didn't know I was interning there to say "Hey, I saw your story in the Herald!" I felt like a local star.
   Anyway, this was an article about an Arts Benicia exhibit. I interviewed the curator Mark Eanes, who I believe is still a member of Arts Benicia, but I haven't actually talked to him since. There's really not a whole lot to say about this one, except it was a good introductory piece for me.

Registration for Open Studios begins

(Originally published in the 3/15/16 edition)

May is just around the corner. Soon, the weather will heat up, the air will be filled with the aroma of barbecues and Benicians will be treated to a sample of their town's most talented artists. 

   Benicia Artists Open Studios will be held May 7 and 8, featuring more than 50 of Benicia's artists both on First Street and in the Arsenal. Artists will open the doors to their studio spaces to let visitors see what kinds of art they are currently working on and chat with Benicia artists. Artists may even do live demonstrations, and patrons might have an opportunity to buy some art.

   Visitors will be able to ride a SolTrans shuttle from the Arsenal to many of the stops along First Street, including Lindsay Art Glass and galleries like Plein Air Gallery and Gallery 621.

   For artists who would like to have their work showcased at Open Studios, visit ArtsBenicia.org. You can print out an application form with a check payable to Arts Benicia, or you can make your payment over the phone by calling (707) 747-0131 from Wednesdays to Fridays. All payment information will be secure. The fee is $75 for Arts Benicia members and $85 for non-members. Both the form and payment are due no later than Wednesday, April 6. 

   Open Studios will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8. For more information, visit ArtsBenicia.org.

Terry Hughes to feature new work at new gallery

(Originally published in the 3/10/16 edition)

   Cementing Benicia’s status as an artist community, a new gallery will be opening next week. Milinda Perry Salon will be hosting a gallery in the shared space previously occupied by DOTS Consignment, which is moving its business to 920 First St., Suite 205. The gallery will feature works by Benicia’s local artists, and it will kick things off with new work by Terry Hughes.

   Terry Hughes, a Benicia painter since 2000 and founding member of the city’s Plein Air Gallery, has become popular in his community with his paintings of animals and unique method. Instead of using a brush, many of his works are created with caulking tubes of oil paint and a pallet knife. 

   “It’s kind of a unique style that I was introduced to by a local artist named Jerrold Turner who mentored a lot of local artists,” Hughes said. “I always give him credit with getting me started on using the pallet knife. It allows me to use directly on the canvas a lot of vivid colors.” 

   Some of Hughes’ most recent works include paintings of the latest Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Yosemite’s Half Dome and a bolt and wire on the Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge in Vallejo. All of these works will be the subject of the Milinda Perry Gallery’s first exhibition, which will feature new pieces of art from Hughes as well as his wife Janet Brock. 

   Hughes became involved after doing a project with the salon’s owner, Perry, and she informed him that a space was available following DOTS’ exodus. 

   “I had done a painting for her of her grandfather, who was a cowboy,” he said. “In the process of doing that painting, we would talk every once in a while, and she said ‘You know, the consignment gal’s gonna move, and I’m gonna move one of my chairs up into the front so I can work up there in better light. I’d like to have a gallery in this vacant room next door.’”

   Perry painted and renovated the space for gallery purposes. Hughes was happy with the high ceilings and track lighting.

   “I’ll be able to put some nice lighting on the paintings, so they’ll be able to show well,” he said. 

   Even after Hughes’ exhibit is over, he will continue to assist Perry and the gallery.

   “I’ll be the first featured artist, but then I’m gonna help select other artists to show there in the future,” he said. 

   A reception will be held at the gallery from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 18. Hughes and Brock will be present, and wine and soft drinks will be served as refreshments. The event is free and open to the public.

   “No speeches,” he said. “There will just be personal contact with other artists, clients who bought my paintings and interested people from the public.”

   “Because it’s the day after St. Patrick’s Day, nobody’s required to wear green,” he said.

   “Terry Hughes New Work” will run at Milinda Perry Salon and Gallery from Monday, March 14 to Saturday, April 30. Milinda Perry Salon and Gallery is located at 117 East F St. and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Terry Hughes poses with paintings he made of Yosemite's Half Dome. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

Artists showcase selves with Art of a Community

(Originally published in the 1/22/16 edition. A correction was made regarding Mary Shaw's title.)

   It is time once again for Benicia citizens to see the beautiful and thought-provoking work that its community’s artists are capable of creating.

   Arts Benicia will be hosting its 22nd annual Art of a Community exhibition which showcases the work of artists from Benicia and surrounding areas. 

   “This is artists showing work that best represents them and putting their best foot forward,” Arts Benicia Exhibitions and Programs Manager Mary Shaw said. “We have a wide range of artists who do their work on weekends and others who do this as their life’s work. We try to welcome everyone.”

   The event will feature more than 200 pieces from approximately 170 member artists. Many of the artists hail from Benicia, including Mike Kendall, Diane Williams, Mark Eanes, Nikki Basch-Davis and Fred Schlatter. However, there will also be work from artists in areas like Napa and Sacramento. 

   “We are a regional arts center,” Shaw said.

   The art pieces will come in a variety of forms, including paintings, graphic design, photography, sculptures and textiles. A painting by Flora Baumann shows the Mothball Fleet on the Caruinez Straits and how it has been disappearing over time. Fiber artist Alexa Day has her own take on Claude Monet’s iconic “Bridge Over a Pond of Water Lilies” painting. There is even more abstract work, such as Tracy Cullen’s robotic mannequin wearing an Air Force fighter pilot uniform.

   “We received so much artwork that I actually considered setting up two separate portables,” Shaw said. “That is work in and of itself, so all the pieces are displayed in the gallery.”

   Shaw believes this is a good opportunity for artists to promote their own work.

   “When you put your work out there, you’re putting yourself out there,” she said. “You’re always hoping you can rise to a higher level with your own work.” 

   Overall, Shaw says the exhibition is the organization’s most important because it is a way to give thanks to the members who have supported Arts Benicia.

   “It shows what a wonderful community we have,” she said. “Arts Benicia is grateful we can have this interaction and be able to support artists’ endeavors. We wouldn’t be who we are without them.”

   The Art of a Community will be on display from Saturday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Feb. 21 at Arts Benicia, located at 991 Tyler Street. An opening reception will be held tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m., and an open house and Family Art Day will be held Saturday, Feb. 20 from 1 to 4 p.m. The open house will have information about the organization and how to become involved, and appetizers and desserts will be provided by First Street Cafe. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 747-0131. 

All photos by Nick Sestanovich

"Steam Powered Robotic Warrior" by Benicia artist Tracy Cullen

"There Was a Boy" by Vallejo artist JeanCherie

"Chasing the Goose" by San Jose artist Milo Abadilla

Benicia artists earn residency at prestigious art center

(Originally published in the 1/10/16 edition)

   Local artists Bodil and Larnie Fox have been accepted as resident artists at the prestigious Montalvo Arts Center, located in Saratoga. 

   Larnie served as Arts Benicia director from 2010 to 2015 and was looking for additional artistic opportunities.

   “After having directed Arts Benicia for nearly five years, I was really looking for a chance to focus on my own work and collaborating with Bodil,” he said. 

   Larnie happened to know Montalvo’s current director, Angela McConnell, when she was development director of the Community School of Music and Arts in Mountain View in the early ‘90s.

   “I was coordinating children’s programs there,” he said. “After I retired from Arts Benicia, we came down here and visited, and she said ‘You should do a residency here,’ and I said ‘We’d be delighted to.”

   In early 2016, Larnie and Bodil began moving into Studio 61 at Montalvo. Daughter Liv will be staying behind in Benicia to take care of their cat, Mango. 

   The Santa Clara County arts center has a long history. It was built by California Sen. James D. Phelan in 1912. Before his death in 1930, he bestowed his estate upon the San Francisco Art Association to become a haven for artists in the fields of art, music, literature and architecture. Through the Sally and Don Lucas Artists Residency Program, selected artists are offered a 1 to 3 month fellowship.

   Larnie and Bodil’s studio sits atop a hill near a nature trail, which the couple describe as a beautiful setting.

   “We have deer walking through here, and we hear owls at night,” Larnie said. “It’s very quiet and peaceful, except in pouring rain.”

   “Because of the rain, we have a creek that’s finally running again after years of not,” Bodil said. 

   The interior is also very attractive. One space has a loft, living room and kitchen, and another houses the studio with a very high ceiling.

   “They have 10 residencies this year, and each of them was deigned by architects throughout the world,” Bodil said. “It’s kind of interesting because they’re all different.” 

   The center also has art discussions and a culinary residency where artists can sit at long tables and dine on meals like lamb shanks and steelhead trout. Larnie describes living at the space “a real privilege.”

   “There’s artists here from different parts of the world,” he said. “Right now, there’s a composer and some dancers from Mexico City working on a requiem for those 43 college students killed in Mexico (in 2014).”

   The residency also provides an opportunity for the Foxes to collaborate on projects, something they were unable to do at Arts Benicia.

   “It’s a good chance for my wife and I to collaborate,” Larnie said. “We’ve always wanted to do that, and we’ve never had the kind of space to do that.”

   As of now, Larnie is working on creating a wind harp, where the wind blows through strings and creates music. Bodil also has a few projects lined up.

   “I’ve been out collecting branches from dead trees in the neighborhood and forest, and I am weaving them together and testing out how strong they are,” she said.

   Bodil is also working on mesh pieces and experimenting with the notion of home.

   “What do you bring to create a home?” she asks. “People who come here as immigrants, what do they bring? I’m looking at making two big panels related to that.”

   Larnie and Bodil are both happy with their new environment and the opportunities they believe it will bring.

   “It’s kind of a dream come true,” Larnie said. “I’ve always wanted to do a residency.”

   “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that happened, and we were able to say yes to it,” Bodil said. “Last year, we both made changes in our lives to try and accommodate more art, and we didn’t know exactly how this year would shape up because of that. We were trying to keep ourselves open, and we were thrilled with the handout describing the residency.”

   For more information on the Montalvo Art Center, visit MontalvoArts.org. To see Larnie and Bodil’s work, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/Bodilarn. 

Fabric art goes beyond paint

(Originally published in the 11/6/15 edition)

   Art is more than just paint on a canvas. As the art collective Threads of Change will demonstrate, many other materials can be used to create art.

   The group-consisting of seven artists from Benicia and Vallejo- will have an exhibition on display at the Benicia Public Library titled “Material Matters.” The exhibit will feature various works of fiber art from the seven artists.

   What is fiber art? According to Threads of Change member Kathy Manifold, fiber art uses different kinds of threads and fabric to create art. This includes wool, cardboard and other less traditional art materials. 

   “You can do it in traditional form, which would be a quilt, or you can do it by weaving fibers together to make a beautiful object,” she said. “One of the unique things about us is that we each have different approaches to how we use fiber.”

   Manifold got her start doing costume design for summer stock productions in New York, which inspired her to take on a different kind of art.

   “I found that I understand texture better than I understand creating texture with paint,” she said.

   After retiring from costume design, Manifold found a second calling by creating fabric art inspired by her husband’s nature photography, which she says has more depth. 

   “It’s exciting to try and get the emotional context and emotional depth into my artwork,” she said. 

   Manifold met fellow fiber artist Anne Petty after the latter did a fabric art show in the City Council chamber last year. The two were joined by fellow local fiber artists Nancy Freeman, Linda Hubbard, Susan Lane, Margaret Linderman and Jan Radesky, and the seven put on their own show, “Threads of Change: New Trends in Fiber Art.” 

   “(Petty) came and talked to me and then she talked to others in the community that she knew were doing that kind of work,” she said. “We found that in working to put the show together, we really enjoyed each other’s company. When we got the opportunity to do a second show, we decided to form a little fabric art collective.”

   At that point, Threads of Change was born, giving the artists a venue to not only create art together but also learn from one another.

   “When they help you get better at what you’re doing, they do it with a graciousness,” Manifold said. “We also push each other to get better at our arts. We’re constantly growing as a group in our ability and our creativity.”

   Each of the seven artists come from different backgrounds, ranging from performing arts to fine art to art education, and Manifold says they all bring a unique voice to each of their artwork.

   “One woman has taught collage for years, so she is making fantastic clothing like coats and skirts,” Manifold said. “She’s doing them with symbolic collage where she does a picture that has meaning to her and puts them onto a garment you can actually wear.”

   The artists will be holding a reception on Sunday, Dec. 6 where they will show the techniques used to create their artwork and walk viewers through the process. Viewers will be able to ask questions and are also encouraged to feel the artwork.

   “Part of textile is how it feels, so I’m hopeful parents will bring their children and I’ll let them touch the work,” Manifold said. 

   “Material Matters” will run from Nov. 23 to Jan. 9 in the Marilyn O’Rourke Gallery of the Library, which is located on 150 East L St. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays. The reception will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6. For more information, visit ThreadsOfChange.net.

Benicia's Gallery 621 holds first national juried exhibition

(Originally published in the 11/1/15 edition)

   Gallery 621 is currently hosting its first ever juried show, and the only big thing about it is the scope it covers. 

   “Microcosmos,” the gallery’s new juried exhibition, features a wide range of work from artists across the United States. Despite attracting artists from such a wide-reaching area, the works of art themselves are small. 

   According to artist Nikki-Basch-Davis, that’s the point.

   “Large work sometimes speaks volumes,” she said. “Small work can be ignored or dismissed or just not look important enough next to a large canvas. Here, we’re showcasing everything small so the viewer has a chance to really study the small work and discover how much strength small two or three-dimensional works can have.”

  Basch-Davis said Gallery 621 had been meaning to do a juried show for a while, but the move from the original 621 First Street location meant the gallery members still had to settle in. The idea to focus on just smaller works was based around fitting hundreds of items in a small gallery.

   “We felt we could accommodate more work if we limited them to 12 x 12,” she said. 

   The exhibition will feature not only paintings but also smaller sculptures and more abstract works. One three-dimensional piece features over 50 plastic toy horses packed into a replica of a pasture.

   After searching for a prospective juror, the gallery was able to settle on Sonoma-based artist Chester Arnold. Arnold’s work is revered across the Bay Area and has even been featured in the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. 

   The gallery put out a call for artists across the country through a site called CallForEntry.org, according to artist member Linda Stevenson Dunlop.

   “We had to narrow it down from close to 400 works to 133,” Basch-Davis said. 

   After being selected, the artists were notified of their inclusion in the show. Many sent their work in through the mail, but others came by the gallery to drop them off.

   “Some people brought their physical work in,” Dunlop said. “Rather than send them in through the mail, they actually dropped them off here from as far away as L.A.”

   All in all, 133 works of art by artists from 30 different states are on display. Prizes will be given for the first, second and third place entries as well as honorable mentions. The winners will be announced at the reception on Nov. 14. 

   Basch-Davis says she hopes the exhibit will give viewers appreciation for a different kind of art.

   “It’s easy to make an impact on a 4 X 4,” she said. “it makes you curious about who’s behind it.”

   She was also impressed by the amount of effort that went into each small piece.

   “These are not digital,” she said. “Every mark is done by hand.”

   The two artists agreed that the exhibit would bring something unique to the gallery’s visitors.

   “It’s different from what we show throughout the year,” Basch-Davis said. “It’s an appreciation to a different scale of art.”

   “Microcosmos” will run through Sunday, Nov. 29 at Gallery 621, located on 309 First St. The gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. A reception will be held from 5 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14. Additionally, there will be an artist talk from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19, which will be facilitated by Arts Benicia Director Celeste Smeland and will feature presentations by five local artists. The paintings at “Microcosmos” will be available to purchase. For more information, visit Gallery621.com. 

Why make art? Artists respond in new exhibit

(Originally published in the 10/14/15 edition)

   Why do artists make art? It’s a simple question, but every artist has their own take on why they pursue art for a living. This premise is the focus of Arts Benicia’s newest exhibition “Why Make Art: Twenty-Five Benicia Artists Respond.”

   The exhibit can be viewed at 991 Tyler Street starting today with an opening reception to be held on Saturday. Longtime Benicia photographer and event co-curator Hedi Desuyo posed the question “Why make art?” to 25 local artists. They responded with short statements which will be on display next to their works of art and will be accompanied with portraits taken by Desuyo.

   Desuyo says the project began a few years ago when she started taking portraits of the artists. From there, she had the idea to do an exhibit.

   “I wanted the exhibit to be more than just artists’ portraits,” she said. “I wanted some of the artists’ work, but I also wanted a statement on why they make art.”

   In her more than 30 years with Arts Benicia, Desuyo has seen plenty of artists come through, and she has felt they’ve had stories to tell.

   “Over the years, you see people who have always been here and newcomers,” she said. “You see their work, but you say ‘Who are they? Why are they using this particular subject matter?’ So I started posing that question ‘Why do you make art?’”

   Desuyo began emailing local artists with the titular question, and they all responded with their own reasons. Desuyo says she is impressed with the responses she’s gotten.

   “You think you know people, but you don’t know what’s inside with a lot of them,” she said. “For me, that’s one of the most rewarding parts.”

    The featured artists include Sam Morse, Pam Dixon, Manuel Neri, Mernie Buchanan and over 20 other Benicia artists. Desuyo says that the artists represented are very passionate about their work.

   “There are people who see art more as an escape or a hobby, but the people here are all serious about it,” she said.

   The artists took liberties in how they chose to answer the question. Some were only a sentence long, others were longer and one response by Lee Michael Altman was written in the form of a poem. 

   The responses also included some humor. One statement by Anthony Riggs begins “I paint because I am possessed. I hate paint. It’s sticky. It’s difficult to control. I get it in my hair. Paint is colored mud.”

   Riggs’s statement goes on to say how in spite of all this, he loves to paint and will do it again each day.

   “They’re all statements from the heart,” Desuyo said.

    The featured artworks include paintings, sculptures and even more abstract work like a stone hanging by fish hooks from a piece of wood, which was designed by Mike Kendall. 

   Desuyo says she hopes the exhibit gives visitors a chance to see what art making is all about. 

   “To me, every brush stroke is a decision,” she said. “There’s the decision of ‘What color am I putting here?’ or ‘Which direction is the brush going to go?’ I think that’s really fascinating.”

   “Why Make Art” will be on display at  Arts Benicia Suite No. 114, located at 991 Tyler St., until Sunday, Nov. 15. An opening reception will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday through Sunday.

   

Reception to honor work of local artist

(Originally published in the 10/9/15 edition)

    Local artist Rolando Barrero will be hosting a reception for his latest paintings on Saturday. The paintings will continue to be shown for the rest of the month.

   Barrero has been painting watercolor portraits for over two decades, picking up several awards along the way. Most recently, he took second place in the Great Petaluma Paint Out competition on Sept. 26 for his painting “Across the Bridge.” Back in April, he won first place at the American Arts Foundation’s 23rd Annual Art Extravaganza for “Getting Ready,” a watercolor portrait of a sailboat being hoisted into the Berkeley Marina.

   Barrero has become known for his paintings of street scenes and landmarks, which he feels have a simple charm to them.

   “I like to capture the essence of a place and the beauty of its surrounding environment,” he said.

   Many of his paintings have been of places in the Bay Area, including San Francisco, Berkeley and Alameda. A lot of these paintings have been of Benicia, where he’s managed to capture the Farmer’s Market, the Yacht Club and the Capitol building with his brush and canvas.

   “I like Benicia because it’s very historical,” he said. “Benicia’s also very supportive of the arts. They’re good people, and I’m glad to know a lot of them.”

   He noted that most of his paintings of Benicia have sold.

   Additionally, Barrero has done a lot of paintings and photographs in Europe, including places like Rome, Venice and Greece. Of these, Barrero says Venice is his favorite place.

   “It’s the only place in the world where when you step on the bridge, you have four sides to paint,” he said. “I’ve been all over the world, but Venice is the most pictorial.” 

   Barrero says his favorite painting was one he did of the Southern Pacific Train Depot at the end of First Street, but it has since sold.

   At his reception Saturday, Barrero will be featuring his newest paintings in an exhibit called “Street Scenes and Travel Sketches.” Among the newer Benicia paintings to be featured are those of the National Defense Reserve Fleet off the Carquinez and the gazebo in City Park. Additionally, he will be raffling off prints of his works.

   The reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday at Plein Air Gallery to coincide with the Benicia Art Walk’s Day of the Dead event. The gallery is located at 307 First Street, and the event is free to the public. Barrero’s paintings will be on display until Nov. 1.

Day of the Dead is theme for season's last Art Walk

(Originally published in the 10/8/15 edition)

   The Mexican holiday known as Dia de los Muertos- or Day of the Dead- is traditionally celebrated Nov. 1, but it will be coming to Benicia several days earlier as part of the city’s Art Walk series.

   Benicia’s Art Walk was launched in 2012 as a grassroots movement spearheaded by local artists. The event recently started being run by the city and partnered with Arts Benicia for the first time this year, Art Walk Coordinator Judi Morales Gibson said. Past event themes have included the works of Arsenal artists, glassblowing and steampunk.

   This event’s theme will be Day of the Dead. The holiday, in which family and friends gather to remember those who have died, is typically celebrated after Halloween. However, since this will be the last Art Walk event of the season, Gibson felt it was best to get a jumpstart on Day of the Dead.
   “We wanted to do something that was cultural and would appeal to families,” she said. “We’re going to go out with a bang.”

   The event will feature lots of activities that will appeal to kids, including face painting, mask-making and paper flower-making. They will even be able to meet Frida Kahlo model Flor de Azalea Magallnes.

   There will also be plenty of artwork. From 2 to 7 p.m. at Avant Garden on First Street, visitors can see jewelry made by Cheri Mendieta, original drawings by Corey Johnson and upcycled steampunk clothing by Cinder Garden Steampunk. At the same time, Treasury Commons will be featuring Mexican folklore art by Adela Juarez and hair accessories and jewelry from Siren Sticks in Vallejo. Finally, from 4 to 6 p.m. the Plein Air Gallery will be hosting a reception for award-winning  local artist Rolando Barrero. Barrera will be promoting his latest exhibition “Street Scenes and Sketches in Watercolor” in which he shows off watercolors of his travels in America and overseas.

   Gibson says she’s received good responses from people and is impressed with the Day of the Dead artwork’s cultural roots.

   “It’s so rich and authentic and very colorful,” she said.

   Gibson encourages people to come check out the variety of artwork.

   “We’re trying to support local artists and craftspeople,” she said. “We want to be able to offer two-dimensional paintings. We want to be able to offer other types of artwork and crafts.”

   The Benicia Art Walk will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday along First Street. The event is free and open to the public.