Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "second saturday"

Second Saturday art and events

2012-01-18T20:49:33Z

Midtown’s first Second Saturday event of 2012 saw smaller crowds this weekend. The smaller crowds however made it easier to talk to artists who exhibited their work.

A number of establishments also appeared to have closed down or moved from Midtown's J Street and surrounding area since last month. This situation has created a new environment where several businesses are collaborating to bring events to a storefront during Second Saturday.

This Saturday, Dragatomi, Metro PCS, tokidoki and Unseen Heroes teamed up for a Metro PCS and tokidoki Phone Release Party.

Unseen Heroes Events Coordinator, Maritza Davis, described the event saying, “This is a tokidoki and Metro PCS release collaboration that brings new phone technology to Sacramento. These events are typically done in Los Angeles and larger cities but because we have an established vinyl toy store here in Sacramento, Dragatomi, they were willing to let us link up with them so that we could feature the phone and introduce it to the public.”

The event ran from 5 to 9 p.m. and a line formed to receive free swag bags that included a tokidoki t-shirt and other goodies. Customers were also given the chance to buy the exclusive phones and sign up for a prize drawing. Several yet to be released phone cases were also available for purchase.

Roshaun Davis, creative alchemist, at Unseen Heroes highlighted the fact that only three launches have been done for the tokidoki phone release and they chose Sacramento as one of the sites. The first release was in New York, the second in L.A. and then Sacramento.

When Metro PCS and tokidoki first partnered they celebrated the partnership by introducing the phone at the New York Comic-Con which is the largest POP culture event on the East Coast. The launch on Saturday night coincided with the SacAnime Convention in town and several visitors who passed by Dragatomi had the SacAnime badges still hanging from their neck.

Inside Dragatomi an art exhibit by Martin Hsu had several of his “Dragon Boy” series art work. The Hsu exhibit will run until February 4.

Down the street at the corner of K and 22nd Street artist Conrad Lawrence had a street art exhibit of bikes and metal art work. Lawrence also created a bicycle powered art mechanism that allowed people who passed by to create a “swirl” art piece that Lawrence hopes to soon have on display. Other finished pieces lay on the ground.

Intrigued by his bicycle art idea I asked how he came up with the concept. “It was inspired by Burning Man. I did a show with tall bikes. In June I had 20 of them and I asked myself how else can I make the bikes interactive? So this idea came up and I built it. Then I thought of the shrink stand over there making everything interactive art.”

Another piece was created by Lawrence’s mother and people could pass by and fill in the unfinished piece. Lawrence said, “The project here is just to fill it in with whatever in order to finish this unique piece of art."

A separate area had a Peanuts comic strip style psychiatry booth called Lucy’s Shrink Shop. The station would allow people passing by to take either the psychiatrist or patient role and initiate conversation between two people. I thought this to be a clever idea and probably one that many corporations could install in a break room or something similar. Street art at times seems to offer more but January’s Second Saturday offered both.

Gallery 2110 and the Sacramento Art Complex had their gallery open for a showing of James Mullen’s work and several resident artists were on hand at their studios. Clare Bailey, Gallery 2110 owner, introduced me to Mullen and showed me some of his work.

Mullen is a Grass Valley artist whose work will be featured at the gallery that runs through February 3.

His artwork was truly fascinating and when I asked him how long he’s been an artist I got an answer that I was expecting after walking around the main hall admiring his work. Mullen said, “For as long as I can remember. Before I went to kindergarten I knew I was going to be an artist.” I’ve talked to other artists who have said similar things indicating they knew they wanted to be an artist going back to grade school. I often wondered if that’s the case only with artists or if extends beyond that. To me it’s astonishing to know someone that young can have that drive. It’s especially amazing since as I’ve become older I still don’t know what I want to be.

Mullen operates a studio out of his home in Grass Valley. His exhibit opened on Thursday and will run for approximately a month. He indicated that much of his work on exhibit goes back to 2005 and more recent work was also on display.

His work, on a smaller scale, reminded me of the Watts Towers that were close to where I lived growing up in Los Angeles. Mullen’s artwork is made up of materials found around where he lives. When asked how he gathered his materials for his artwork Mullen said, “I stop by places near home that I know. I like fencing and I like rusted sheet metal and copper so when I ride my bicycle and I see someone has a bunch of rolled up fencing in their pasture I knock on the door and say, hey you want to get rid of this? A lot of times they say yeah, so I haul it away and take it home.” Mullen said he works with those materials and stretches them out, cuts it up and reshapes it to make his brand of art.

Mullen is always looking for pieces and his friends know that and they too gather up these items and give them to him. He’s been primarily involved in this form of art for the past four to five years and before that he worked with clay for many years. He hears from friends and friends of friends who see his work and they approach him saying, “Hey I have a box of junk you’re going to like and they bring him a box of stuff.” It just goes to show that art is everywhere and discarded items or “junk” with the right imagination can be turned into great pieces of art.

Mullen’s creative art pieces occupy the main hall at the 2110 Gallery and can be great inspiration to students and established artists. The materials he uses come not only from the Grass Valley area but he’s also acquired items from a Navajo reservation in New Mexico and when he has a concept in mind he may search eBay for items in other places.

Live music at the 2110 Gallery was provided by Sean Paul Mee and his music was great ambiance for the event.

Second Saturday Chinese New Year Celebration

2012-01-10T06:52:06Z

Please join Jinan, the Sister Cities Council of Sacramento, and the Chinese New Year Culture Association (CNYCA) for a Second Saturday of traditional Chinese music and art as well as new works by Zimei. The event will take place at the Courtyard, 1322 O Street from 5pm to 9pm on Saturday, January 14th, 2012.

Enjoy live music from one of the most ancient Chinese musical instruments, a Guzheng, which is a Chinese plucked zither (think piano meets violin).

Whether you come to view the traditional Chinese opera costumes, the dragon puppet, shop for Chinese souvenirs, or take home Chinese folk art, you are sure to see and hear some wonderful art at this event!

Disclosure: I am the Communications Manager for CADA, the property manager of the Courtyard rental facility.

New art gallery opens in Mansion Flats

2011-11-17T22:47:40Z

Editorial Note: This is an updated version of a story that was published earlier.

On Nov. 10, the new Milk Gallery opened at 212 13th St. Amy Greer, co-owner of the 1,500-square-foot art gallery, said that the current collection of local art will provide visitors with an interesting blend of artistic styles.

Melanie Bown, a 39-year-old restitution trainer for the state and artist, opened the gallery with Greer, a 37-year-old restaurant employee and artist.

Both Bown and Greer have backgrounds in art. Bown has a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Bradley University, with an emphasis in printmaking. She teaches kids’ art classes at the Crocker Art Museum and was also an art installer prior to the Crocker expansion.

She assists local designer Brian Schmitt with his artwork and has taught art classes – from painting ceramics, needlework and crafts – at Short Center North, which offers art programs to adults with developmental disabilities.

Greer has a bachelor’s degree in studio art from UC Davis and has worked as the director of operations for Verge Art Gallery.

The Milk Gallery will hold receptions twice a month: the Thursday before Second Saturday from 6 - 10 p.m. and Second Saturday from 8 - 11 p.m.

While Greer said that they might expand days and hours in the future, the current hours are better for a gallery that isn’t on a busier street. She also said they open the gallery by appointment.

The artwork on display is for sale, and there is a broad range of artists from emerging to established. Prices for the current art on display range from $30 to $2,700.

Bown said the gallery will focus on visual arts, including pieces by local artists as well as by ones from across the country. Other art disciplines will be incorporated such as performance arts, theater, dance and live music.

“We want to be a gallery, but we also want to support the arts community,” Bown said.

The space is open and comfortable, with movable walls that Bown said will make it easy to create unique setups for each individual art showing.

Lining the walls are pictures painted by local artists, including Joseph Peters, Jack Alvarez and Peter Stegall.

Stegall, 71, said he thinks the space for the gallery is beautiful.

“I think (Bown and Greer) are off to a roaring start,” he said. “It looks really wonderful, and I think they’re going to do well.”

The art currently featured is a diverse collection of ceramics, paintings and other media. Stegall’s “Painted Object” is made out of wood and plays on the room’s lighting, casting an interesting shadow behind it.

Other pieces are three-dimensional objects built out of various materials, such as Gerald Heffernon’s “Flame-Roasted Phoenix with Spikenard and Myrrh, Served with Broiled Caterpillars and Chives.” The pieces rest on stands throughout the gallery, adding variety to the pictures mounted on the walls.

Greer said that she and Bown are still developing the gallery but that they believe their personal taste in art and the other art disciplines that they incorporate into their gallery will set them apart from others in the central city.

The gallery is located outside the traditional footpath for Second Saturday, which Greer said will hopefully attract more people who are looking for art as opposed to people who are just hanging out.

Sam Coe, a 33-year-old student who lives in McKinley Park, went to the gallery on Saturday night. He said that the gallery looks nice, clean and professional.

“My first impression is that it’s quite stunning,” Coe said. “The building and structure (are) really cool.”

Bown said that she never intended to open an art gallery. She said that one of her connections Phil Garcia, who leases the building, at 212 13th St., asked her if she’d ever like to put on an art show. Over time, the idea evolved into having Bown start up and manage the gallery.

“It was a series of conversations,” Bown said. “It wasn’t something that I went out and looked to do.”

As the project grew, Bown said she decided that she would like to have a partner, and Greer was the most capable person she knew.

Bown said that the name “Milk” came about through a “stream of consciousness” in which she listed off random names until she and Garcia settled on one that they liked.

“Milk is just a word that she really liked,” Greer said. “It’s very life-giving and nurturing.”

Lizet Freeman, a 66-year-old writer from Tahoe Park, said that she likes Milk Gallery because of the art and the atmosphere.

“I’m really happy with the art,” she said, adding that many of the pieces encouraged conversation because of their complexity and their beauty.

Bown and Greer said that they are both excited and hopeful for the future of the gallery.

“We’re just working it out as we go,” Greer said.

Skates, trains and automobiles

2011-11-16T23:47:35Z

November’s Second Saturday attendance appeared to have decreased this month. Two hot spots however thrived and attracted visitors to the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk. Art galleries and other establishments on 20th Street as well as businesses on K Street attracted large crowds.

Downtown Sacramento’s K Street, in another effort to jump start the commercial area, opened for vehicle traffic on Saturday.

A stage was set up on 12th and K Streets to accommodate an opening ceremony, a car parade, and other entertainment to celebrate the event.

Classic cars paraded down K Street for the first time in over 42 years. Reminiscent of cruising down the boulevards of San Francisco or Los Angeles several dozen cruisers delighted onlookers who gathered for the event.

After the parade Butoh Dancers, courtesy of Rowena & Takashi, took the stage to showcase their hair and makeup talent.

Mariachi Latino, courtesy of Mayahuel, played their brand of music as patrons of the restaurant and guests enjoyed being serenaded.

The Smirkers, courtesy of Marilyn’s on K, also performed for fans and friends.

The Spazmatics were the last act to take the stage at 12th and K and they thoroughly delighted the audience. They started their performance singing “Cars” by Gary Numan. Their performances of 80s rock are very whimsical, energetic, popular choices for dancing, great to listen to and a lot of fun to watch.

The Spazmatics’ performance was a great official ending to the Cars on K event. As the 12th and K Street stage closed down, so did many of the venues and art galleries that participate in the monthly Second Saturday Art Walk events.

Just down the street on K and 11th a skateboard course was set up and several people skated. The course was provided to coincide with Omar Salazar’s Nike SB shoe launch celebration. The shoe launch included a red carpet event hosted by District 30.

As I stopped to watch kids skateboarding on the made up course a skateboard piece of art was being created by Eddie Stein.

Stein’s piece was created using a metal loop and skateboards were attached to it creating art. Stein used skateboards he’s collected over the years. A plaque attached to the artwork indicated that another local artist, Ianna Frisby, helped create the concept.

Mehrad Saidi had been at the skating course early in the day and was on hand to show me around, as we discussed the significance of K Street and skateboarding and how appropriate it was to be there to have an Omar Salazar shoe launch event.

Saidi said, “K Street was a popular spot for skaters back in the 80s” and as he said this, Stein - who was working on his art piece -interjected, saying “I skated it.”

Discussing skating in the 80s, Stein said, “I’m not really an expert but I know they changed K Street Mall and they built all these concrete structures which we called tape barriers because that’s what they looked like. There were also all these fountains and different embankments that we used when we came to skate at night.”

Stein indicated they skated at night because they did not want to get in trouble with the authorities. He indicated it was considered a skate friendly place in the sense that they could meet other skaters and was a place to hang out and learn from others.

As Stein continued to work on his structure, he noted that it was an untitled piece and was going to be using 23 skateboards to complete the work. He noted that a Hobie skateboard used in the display was from the time period we were discussing. Stein also noted that his piece had been exhibited at the California Auto Museum. Stein noted, “In fact it was the very first installation art piece ever allowed in the California Auto Museum.”

People passing by stopped to look at the art piece and asked Stein questions. In the meantime skaters of various generations and ethnicities continued to skate the course. The love of skating was a common link.

District 30 was hosting the Salazar shoe launch later that evening and at their entrance Alma Campos of Forum Boutique had a table of her boutique designs on display. Joaquin Razo, the event planner for the Salazar event took me inside District 30 to reveal the set up for the evening’s red carpet event.

Luke Shawver of District 30 conveyed that several things were going to transpire during the evening in the club and surrounding establishments. He mentioned that DJ Chris Harnett would provide music for the evening and that drink specials were being offered at District 30, Pizza Rock and the Dive Bar.

District 30, along with other surrounding clubs, theaters and eateries on K Street look forward to increased traffic and hopefully increased business.

Legendary skateboarder Curtis Franklin was on hand to help the Salazar crew with the event. Franklin talked about skating in the 80s in Sacramento and said, “We used to come down to Sacramento and that’s how many of us met as kids.” Franklin noted that he skated with Stein saying, “He was a big guy back then and it’s still cool seeing him. Some of those boards are what I was doing when I was a kid.”

Franklin continues to skate and noted he has a skating set up in his back yard. I relayed that a neighbor of some friends had built a ramp in his backyard in Folsom and to my surprise Franklin knew who I was talking about.

Rekindling memories, Franklin stated with much enthusiasm, “Yeah, my buddy Roger, we all know each other. His last name is actually Folsom. When I was a kid, Roger and my buddy Randy Katen and others hung out with each other. Some of the guys you lose track of but everyone just keeps skating, or they stop and start skating as their kids begin.”

When asked why he was at the event, Franklin noted that he was there to support Salazar. Franklin’s passion for skating is quite evident and he noted the skating community is very tight. Franklin said, “Omar has the ability to bring people together, he’s really connected with the kids and he's a down to earth kid as well.”

In regards to the skateboarding community, Franklin explained that he was glad to see Salazar and others giving back to Sacramento. Franklin ended by saying, “It’s good that he’s giving back. If you don’t give back to this community you get kind of excommunicated. You have to know where you came from. I remember Omar skating with me when he was a little kid. He has a good family, good friends and a great foundation. He’s a positive and genuine kid.”

Pablo Salazar and Saidi later presented Franklin with a display board that read, “Their Perseverance Paved the Way for This Generation's Acceptance” and included the names of Sacramento skaters who continue to give back to the community. Names on the board included Matt Rodriguez, John Cardiel, Omar Salazar, Ricky Windsor, Brandon Biebel, Curtis Franklin, Stefan Janoski, Matt Palles and Mako Urabe.

Skaters enjoyed the ramps created by Casey Lindstrom. The Livermore native has lived in Sacramento for the past 14 years. When asked how long it took to build the ramps Lindstrom said, “It took about three days to put together the ramps and course. I build a lot of ramps for 28th and B (Skate Park).”

Lindstrom has been skating for over 25 years and also runs Casey’s Restoration, a construction business. He noted that lately he’s had a lot of free time and donates wood and other materials he may have during times of slow business. His commitment to skateboarding runs deep. “If I’m not working I’m doing something for the B,” Lindstrom said. Skaters keep him going and he explained, “Business has been slow and it’s a dog-eat-dog world. Skateboarding keeps me going and keeps people happy and that’s what it’s all about.”

District 30 celebrated the Cars on K Street after party that included the Nike SB shoe release and birthday party for Omar Salazar. Salazar celebrated with fans, friends and family.

18-year-old offers a new art gallery to Second Saturday

2011-11-12T23:47:56Z

Surrounded by midtown's most famous venues including Club 21, Mezkal and Cam's Salon and Spa on 21st Street sits a new art gallery open to the public.

Alex Bult, an 18-year-old entrepreneur, opened this gallery for the first time on November 12, coinciding with midtown's Second Saturday event.

He is perhaps one of the youngest gallery owners that Sacramento has seen but is no foreigner to the world of art.

"I've been interested in art for about four years," Alex Bult says. " I've been around art my whole life and have wanted to open a gallery since I was 16."

Although Alex Bult's father, Matt Bult, and his grandfather, Wayne Thiebaud, are both artists, this young gallery owner is not an artist himself.

"I don't do any art myself, says Alex Bult. "I've never really been good at it."

Although the artist blood may not run throughout the family, Alex Bult follows in the footsteps of his uncle, Paul Thiebaud, who also owns a gallery, according to Alex Bult.

Nevertheless, he still endured a lot of hard work to open his art gallery.

"It was hard to open the gallery," says Alex Bult. "We leased it in September, redid the whole inside, had to get all the artists together and planned artists for the next couple months. I'm actually booked through May."

Alex Bult was unsure if his gallery would be able to open so quickly but knew that the opening reception would take place on Second Saturday, according to the young gallery owner. During the next couple of months, Mike Henderson, professor in Davis, will have his artwork displayed in Alex Bult's gallery.

As a proud father, 55-year-old Matt Bult spoke highly of his son's achievements.

"He's always been very motivated to do things on his own," Matt Bult says. "He's had this dream for a while."

Matt Bult is a Sacramento artist and does various types of artwork.

"I do abstract, landscape, sculptures...kind of everything," Matt Bult says.

Although he does not own an art gallery like his son, he shows his art locally at the Elliot Fouts Gallery, according to Matt Bult.

As one of Sacramento's youngest gallery owners, Alex Bult has high hopes for the future.

"Hopefully I can open more galleries," says Alex Bult. "Maybe I can have one in LA if this works out."

Out of the various gallery visitors on Second Saturday, 55-year-old Karen Gee found the gallery appeasing.

"I think it's great that Alex was able to accomplish this at such a young age," Gee says. "I was a bit surprised that he didn't have any artwork himself. But I think this gallery is the gateway to the successful future we all strive for."

Local Artists Join Together to Benefit Sacramento’s Safe Ground Nov. 12

2011-11-08T15:13:02Z

Art does many things. It gives us a history of culture. It decorates our homes. It helps the homeless.

This 2nd Saturday, Vox Sacramento art studio is giving back to the community, as well as providing a unique art show called “Home.” The studio is asking locals to bring camping equipment, blankets and coats to the exhibit. Items will be used by Safe Ground Sacramento, a homeless advocacy organization supported by a coalition of local non-profits trying to provide a safe, dry and warm solution for local residents without homes. SafeGround supports a self-governed, alcohol, drug and violence free homeless community alternative.

The exhibit features several local artists, including:

B. Shearer
Andy Brooks
Jill Allyn Stafford
Robert Couse-Baker
Kelly O'Neill
Tomas Overbai
Lisa Oullette

Art is available for purchase and some artists will be on hand at the event. The studio is located at 1818 11th St. and the showing is from 5 to 9 pm.

Every day, more than 1,450 homeless men, women, children and families are struggling to make it on Sacramento County’s streets, while the current ailing economy has resulted in more people on the streets, but fewer private and government dollars to help them.
The next few months will be particularly difficult for Sacramento’s homeless community. There is a tremendous need for warm coats, blankets, sleeping bags and other camping items. Contributions, along with financial donations, will go far toward helping Sacramento’s growing homeless population.

Safe Ground currently needs churches, synagogues, congregations, union halls and business owners in the midtown area to permit up to 100 homeless to stay overnight on their property, from 6pm to 7am the next day. Safe Ground provides its own staffing and cleanup. For more information, contact SafeGround at 916-448-2448 or Steve at 916-769-8877.

Disclosure: I'm a volunteer for Safe Ground.

Ballet, music and art at Midtown's Second Saturday

2011-10-11T08:37:35Z

Summer has come and gone but crowds at Second Saturday still remain large. Second Saturday events have grown in popularity and other communities participate in Second and Third Saturday art events.

During fall several cities stop their art walks. Folsom and El Dorado Hills had their last Second Saturday of the year in September and October respectively.

Popularity of similar events in smaller towns continues to grow. Attendance and art displays expand in the smaller venues but none of these can compare to the popularity of Midtown’s event.

This Saturday I attended a handful of galleries and events. Since there are so many places to view and experience art I made a list of places I was invited to or wanted to see and took the rail from Folsom to Midtown.

My list of galleries or events I had, included the Sacramento Ballet Studios, the Heart Clothing Boutique, Urban Hive studios and places in between depending on time allowed.

The Sacramento Ballet on 1631 K Street held an open rehearsal for their upcoming “Dracula” performances. The dancers either wore full ballet outfits or casual dancing attire for the performance.

The Sacramento Ballet is one of the most delightful pleasures to experience in Sacramento. Ron Cunningham’s troupe always provides great entertainment. It isn’t until an open rehearsal is performed for public viewing that one can see and experience the time and effort spent on practice.

Once on stage however the Sacramento Ballet puts on great performances that showcase the wonderful talent they have and the time and effort they spend practicing.

The audience that attended this art in motion exhibit watched an impressive performance of Dracula that will take place at the Sacramento Community Center. Four performances of Dracula have been scheduled for October 22, 23, 27 and 28. Performances are at 7:30 except for October 23 which plays at 2:00.

Sacramento Ballet’s Artistic Director, Ron Cunningham, sat facing the ballet dancers during rehearsal and gave few directions as they performed. Any directions may have been more for the benefit of the audience as we followed the Dracula rehearsal.

Once the performance ended the audience vacated the dance area while Cunningham talked to the Sacramento Ballet performers. Outside the dance area people began to come in for another rehearsal.

The second rehearsal will eventually turn out to be a Vampire Flash Mob that will take place at a time and location still unknown.

The Vampire Flash Mob will be based on Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance. Dancers from all ages will be participating in the flash mob. Sacramento Ballet’s Christopher Brian Nachtrab was on hand to lead the flash mob rehearsal and the dance studio was packed.

Nachtrab made sure he announced that there was a video on YouTube that went through the choreography as well in case dancers needed further practice. More information as well as the actual time and place of the flash mob will be given on their facebook page.

Heart Clothing Boutique on 1903 Capitol Avenue celebrated their one year anniversary of business. Owner Vanessa Lopez celebrated by thanking her customers and friends by holding a fashion show outside her shop with DJ Esef playing in the background.

Heart Clothing had plenty of guests to help Lopez celebrate her 1 year anniversary. The small boutique is geared to make each shopping experience unique and personal. Byuti Salon and Spa teamed with Heart Clothing to provide hair and make up for the models.

Down the street at the street at the Gay and Lesbian Center on 1927 L Street a Second Saturday art exhibit was being showcased. As I walked around to look at the art I picked up some delicious appetizers that were provided for guests.

On the outside back patio the Kenny Rego and the Law of One Band played. The four member group played to a small audience.

Although I was only there for a couple of songs they showed a wide musical range touching on some folk, rock, indie and Americana. Kenny Rego’s vocals and their lyrics also excelled. Kenny Rego and the Law of One Band have a myspace page and you can sample some of their songs on YouTube and Reverbnation.

Kenny Rego and the Law of One Band played “Working Class Man” as their last song and its great melody, lyrics and vocals was a good selection to end their set.

Over at Barber’s Shop Alfa Romeo on 1116 18th Street, Mike Blanchard and The Californios played. Some fans watched from seats in the garage while others danced just outside on the parking lot.

A protest rally by “Take back the Night” marchers moved on to K Street from 20th. It looked like well over a hundred marchers paraded down the streets of Midtown carrying protest signs and yelling out demonstration chants to bring awareness to their cause and inform the public.

One of my last destinations was the Urban Hive where an Artober Art Show was taking place. The show recognized the art of four magnificent artists; Milton Bowens, Felipe Dávalos, Theresa Fike and Aaron Hagar.

Art filled the walls of the Urban Hive and several guests were on hand to view the work of these four artists. An intimate question and answer period also took place. Felipe Dávalos and Milton Bowens talked about their work and answered questions from guests.

The show at the Urban Hive Gallery runs from October 6 to November 7 and the Second Saturday event served as an inaugural Artober Art Show. The talents of these great artists can be viewed at the Hive and appointments can also be made to view the work.

Bowens and Dávalos, great artists in their own right, delighted guests with their commentary and it’s great to see this kind of interaction between the artist and their admirers. Dávalos’ art and work have been seen in National Geographic and other renowned publications. He has also created illustrations for children’s books, magazines, archeology, art history and several of his pieces are on exhibit.

Bowens has a powerful presence and talked about his work and the work of poets, writers and music performers who influence today’s society and how their communication medium transcends through cultures via their music.

Bowens described his work by saying, “I use text in combination with color and shades. I pretty much deal in history but there are a lot of hidden messages woven into the fabric of my paintings. My paintings are very personal to me to start with but they’re just anchored in what I consider pivotal moments in American history.” With that comment he described his works and what several items common in his art signify. Bowens continued to talk about his work and made the event very real and personal as he indulged the audience in what his work stood for.

A refreshing artist perspective was shown at the Artober Art Show and it allowed for meaningful dialogue between artist and guests.

Guests to the event were encouraged to bring new art supplies and materials to benefit the Stanford Home for Children and the Wellspring Center for Women. To find out more about Artober guests can visit the Urban Hive or Artober websites or contact Veronica Delgado 916-792-4947.

As many of the artist galleries began to close several other establishments remained open keeping the Second Saturday Art Walk spirit alive. Midtown continues to benefit from the event and it could clearly be seen as lines of people stood outside certain venues waiting to get into several of the popular clubs.

To follow other area artists and performers Roseville will host their Third Saturday on October 15. Several galleries in and around Vernon Street will host several artist receptions.

Muriel Lee and Her $10,000 Piece of Art

2011-10-10T20:58:49Z

I became familiar with Muriel's art before I ever got a chance to meet Muriel herself. Evie Turner organized another one of her wonderful "Bent Twig" art shows in September, and Vox Sacramento was hosting. Muriel was one of the artists involved in this show.

Muriel's pieces were on the smaller side, but were very, very vivid. The bold colors and lines she used really made her work stand out. Muriel's artist statement mentioned that Muriel took up art as art therapy when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, but it didn't really take until she recieved the diagnosis of "terminal."

I met Muriel on Second Saturday. She was in a wheelchair and looked a little fragile, but she had a lot of friends with her, and she was obviously very happy to be there. We arranged a separate night for Muriel to host more of her friends at Vox Sacramento, and it was then that I was able to talk to Muriel about my work with Komen and that I was helping to organize some of the silent auction art pieces for Komen's big Gala event. Muriel very enthusiastically agreed to donate a piece of art, and indeed said she wanted to go home and figure out what to create for the Gala.

Unfortunately, before she could create her new piece, Muriel passed away. Her partner, Laurie, very kindly donated one of Muriel's other pieces, and I was able to bring it with me to the Komen Gala event on October 9th.

We didn't have a bid sheet for Muriel's art, so the Director of Development at Sacramento Komen, Kris Kirkpatrick, decided that instead of Muriel's art being a silent auction piece, that it should be a gift for whomever had the highest bid during the live auction's "fund a mammogram" drive. Our fantastic auctioneer, David Sobon, agreed.

After all the other "live auction" items had been sold, David introduced Anne Marie Scully Gold. Anne Marie is a breast cancer survivor, and she talked about how important mammograms are for early detection and treatment. She then read from Muriel's artist statement, and introduced the crowd to Muriel's story, and her art (I admit it, I cried).

David took center stage again, and told the crowd that his goal for the evening was to raise $10,000 to fund mammograms. The person with the highest bid would receive the piece of art that Muriel donated for the event. He asked the audience if anyone wanted to bid $10,000. In the background I heard a man say a little sarcastically, "Yeah, good luck." David asked again, and then amazingly, a pink bid number went up.

Joyce Raley Teel.

The crowd was floored. Mrs. Raley Teel's bid and David's enthusiasm electrified the audience, and although David joked that his work for the evening was done, he went on to raise thousands of dollars more to help fund mammograms for underfunded and uninsured women.

As one of the live auction runners, it was my job to go over to Mrs. Raley Teel's table to get her credit card information. I'd been doing this all night, and up to this point it had been all laughter and excitement. I was completely unprepared to come to the table to find Mrs. Raley Teel crying.

I introduced myself, and crying too, i told her that Muriel had shown in my gallery, and I was so honored and so happy to be able to tell Muriel's family about what her art inspired. I told Mrs. Raley Teel that Muriel had been an educator, and was a very well loved person, and that her friends and family would be so proud of her. Mrs. Raley Teel and I hugged, and she told me that she was very honored to have Muriel's art.

Because of Muriel's generosity in donating a piece of work for the cause, because of Mrs. Raley Teel's generosity in donating $10,000 to fund mammograms, many women will be given the opportunity to survive.

I am so thankful to have met Muriel, and I hope that she knows what an impact she made on so many people, even those whom she never met.

Disclosure: I'm the artistic director of Vox Sacramento, as well as a frequent fundraiser and volunteer for the Sacramento Valley Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

Rock and Radio Redux - New Space and Extra Dates to Visit Your Rock-n-Local Past

2011-09-30T05:20:30Z

As you enter, to the left is the cornerstone collection of Crabshaw Corners and Oasis Ballroom artwork from Roger Shepherd, Jim Carrico, and Jim Ford. Rock enthusiasts may marvel over the nearly complete collection of psychedelia from the Sound Factory. And any native Sacramentan over a certain age will wax nostalgic at the wall of Tower calendar posters on display.

Dennis Newhall, founder and curator of the Sacramento Rock and Radio Museum, has assembled and showcased a myriad of rock and radio memorabilia dating back to 1957.

Newhall started listening to rock and roll when he was six years old and Hounddog was at the top of the charts.

Every inch of his West Sacramento bedroom was covered with posters, but when he took them all down to study radio at CSUS, he stored them carefully away in a watertight box (a fact that would be surprising to no one who knows Dennis and his fastidious ways), and set them aside for a reason then unclear.

Dennis is still covering the walls with rock memorabilia, but thanks to support from Tucker Media, he has a lot more space to pursue his passion.

What is now the museum began as more of a memorial to local rock and roll.

Newhall, who had spent his radio career at, among other places, legendary rock station KZAP and KROY, was working at Nakamoto Productions. The studios happened to be located in the building that had once housed Crabshaw Corners, and later The Oasis Ballroom, site of countless concerts throughout the ‘60s, ‘70s and early ‘80s.

On a whim, Newhall and his friend Jeff Hughson began picking up promotional memorabilia from the old venues and hanging it in the studios. The idea caught on.

“Ray [Nakamoto] said, ‘If you keep finding them, I’ll keep framing them’,” Newhall recalls.

It wasn’t long until Dennis had covered a new set of walls. A few years later, in 2003, the collection had grown substantially, and they began opening for Second Saturday.

“We were right in the epicenter, here on 20th Street,” says Newhall of the former location between the 20th Street Gallery and Lush salon, “And people seemed to appreciate looking at the artwork and remembering the concerts they’d been to.”

Primarily through word of mouth, and Second Saturdays, word of the museum’s offerings and Dennis’s dedication to preserving local rock culture have spread.

After Mayor Kevin Johnson took a turn down Memory Lane, he commissioned Newhall to put together a small private collection for him.

This Saturday, Newhall has been asked to present the Jazz/Funk award at the Sammies, also a nod to his ongoing work as a jazz announcer at KXJZ. The museum will also be open from 5-9pm to take advantage of crossover fans from the Sammies Block Party.

Due to some changes in management, and with support from Tucker Marketing Group, the museum recently moved to a new home—next door to the old one, at 911 20th Street.

Newhall calls it a vast improvement.

“Being in the old Oasis Ballroom was a terrific inspiration for getting the museum started,” he concedes, “But this is a much better viewing space.”

Bill Tucker loved the idea of giving space to the newly formed non-profit.

“It’s a great environment to work in,” he smiles, gesturing around what is surely one of the coolest “lobbies” in town. “And it really puts the clients at ease.”

Having recently achieved non-profit status as a 501(c)3, the Rock and Radio Museum can now actively fundraise, which is an exciting prospect. Not only does the artwork cost money—although some of it, including those well-preserved childhood posters, has been donated—but the days of thumb-tacking things to the wall are over.

“Framing alone is a considerable expense,” says Newhall.

Currently, the museum is open only for Second Saturdays, April through October, or for occasional special events, like this weekend’s block party. They are considering making the space available for select fundraising events, and viewing is available by appointment.

You can also see some of the collection or make a donation at sacrockmuseum.org

All Ages Fun on Second Saturday at The KidZone

2011-08-08T17:47:58Z

For those out and about this Second Saturday, St. John’s Lutheran Church on 17th and L will be sponsoring the “KidZone” from 5:00-7:00pm. The KidZone offers a safe haven for the younger members of the arts community and offers face-painting, balloons and a host of other family-friendly activities.

The "Zone" is located in the parking lot on L between the Church Sanctuary and The Refuge.

Second Saturday in Mansion Flats

2011-08-05T22:00:56Z

It’s almost time for the August ‘Second Saturday’, where midtown SacTown comes alive with artists, musicians, art galleries, and shops in the evening hours. “K” Street is ‘kickin’, “J” Street is “jumpin’, and the surrounding streets are pulsing with the rhythms of the night.

But what about “E” Street over in Mansion Flats? Mansion Flats, the sister neighborhood to Alkali Flats, is located from 12th Street to 16th between “the Union Pacific Railyard & “J” streets.

Mansion Flats, Alkali Flats and New Era Park were the original City Street Railway neighborhoods and consisted of the wealthy and middle class families, according to the Sacramento History blog.

Have you been looking for some place new to have sushi? Just stop by Momiji’s Sushi & Grill at 14th & G. Momiji’s offers a wide variety of sushi items, and has a bright, friendly ambience.

After dinner, just head right next door to Barber Blues, located at 625 14th, and enjoy art, music and firewalkers.

If you travel just a wee bit further toward “E” Street, you will find SHINE Coffee*Art*Food on the corner of 14th & E, who will also be featuring live music and local artists’ work, as well as FREE chair massage by Body Blessings Massage & Aromatherapy.

After having a ‘Zen’ moment, breeze on over to next-door neighbor Yoga Seed non-profit yoga studio, 1400 E Street, Ste B, where Japaintin will be celebrating with an art exhibit .

What better way to celebrate midtown’s finest event by cruising on over to “E” Street and checking out these Mansion Flats establishments! You can always hop on Light Rail from K Street to the Alkali Flats station, walk over to E Street, then walk down to 14th to give your grand adventure a more authentic flavor. It’s a little less well lit, and just off the regular path, but is well worth the journey!

After all, “E” Street is for every body!

Disclosure: Elizabeth Edwards, owner of QuietProductions Conceptual Marketing and Body Blessings Massage & Aromatherapy, is a resident of the Alkali Flats, Mansion Flats, New Park Era area, and loves the honest simplicity of life that this area has to offer.

Why do you love Sacramento ?

2011-07-19T06:56:29Z

We've all heard it before, “I need to get out of Sacramento."

The above statement has been muttered out of the mouths of people born and raised here or forced here beyond their will as a child by the likes of their parents or family, just waiting for the day they turned 18 to flock to wherever the cool kids are. You have probably also heard the generic, "There is nothing to do here," or, " If I want a real career, I need to move to San Francisco or Los Angeles, where it's happening."

Maybe so, or maybe, these people haven't given our state capital a fair look at a microscopic level with a new pair of eyes.

You know what, no microscope needed, just open your eyes.

Sacramento's popularity is rising. People who are now old enough to spread their wings and fly have chosen to nest here. It's not because they have failed to take flight and venture out and find exciting endeavors in new places, it's because Sacramento is one of the most amazing places to be and some people don’t even know it.

A group of people who share the same view gathered Sunday evening at Time Tested Books, a long standing independent book store owned by Peter Keats. Keats curates an event called, “The Sacramento Living Library,” that happens at the bookstore every third Sunday. The Living Library is hosted by the editor at Midtown Monthly magazine, Tim Foster. Each month, the group focuses on a cultural legend in the Sacramento area and opens the microphone to their guest speaker(s) and attendees. This past Sunday was a showcase dedicated to why we love Sacramento. Each attendee was welcome to share why Sacramento is so special to them. Guests could also choose to simply listen.

The group served as inspiration to one another as people approached the mic, claiming they were only there to listen at first, but felt obliged toward Sacramento as they heard others speak about their love affair with our city of trees.

The evening started out with Living Library regular, local writer and security guard William Hughes. Hughes expressed his love for Sacramento through a thoughtful poem that showcased his favorites, brunch at Tower Café or golf at William Land Park.

Not only is Sacramento a great place for our natives to stay, but it is a growing place to call home for people hailing from different cities and states. Forget Los Angeles, as did a painter named Jeff who left southern California for northern and hasn’t looked back. What captured him about Sacramento was the city’s history, the architecture of our buildings and the fact that he can walk everywhere.

“Carmeggedon!” yelled a guest from the crowd, referring to closure of the 405 highway, a major Interstate Highway in southern California that demonstrated how reliant on cars southern California really is.

Interestingly enough, the editor of Midtown Monthly magazine, a magazine that highlights the going-ons of greater Sacramento, is in fact from New Jersey. Tim Foster came to Sacramento “kicking and screaming,” planning on going back to the East coast the first chance he got - until he moved to midtown. After five years of living in midtown Sacramento, he says he can’t imagine home being anywhere else. Foster says midtown had everything in a community he was looking for and his earliest memories of New Jersey did not.

Other reasons on why Foster loves Sacramento: he can ride his bike to not one, but two different rivers; affordable housing with a garden and garage; and he “never had to pay for band practice in my life.”

Performing Arts teacher Melanie Smith admits that when she moved to Citrus Heights and worked as a teacher at American River College, her life consisted of her daily commute to the college and back home. Her view of Sacramento changed once she moved to Curtis Park. She describes it as “uncovering a new world.” Smith said getting to know the neighborhood and her neighbors on a more personal level is what brought about her love of Sacramento.

Smith also touched on the topic of film and stage performances. Sacramento has it all, the actors, the writers, the producers, the directors. So why move? Why move when we can stay where we are and create here?

This goes for all areas of creative endeavors. We need to dive into the resources we have and reach out to one another for support and inspiration. It’s here.

Olivia Coelho, co-owner of Bows and Arrows, recalls memories of her time growing up in the foothills where she was surrounded by “McMansions” and didn’t share the same views as the other kids she grew up with. As an escape, she moved to Santa Cruz briefly to complete her studies before returning back to the Sacramento area.

Coelho then uncovered her journey in finding what she wanted to do with her life: to find out that Sacramento wasn’t just a pit stop to bigger and better things. Sacramento is where she found a group of like minded people with whom she could create, recalling memories of art shows at Joe’s Style Shop. Coelho was also overwhelmed with outpouring support from other small business owners when she asked for advice.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Coelho beamed.

Coelho’s business partner, Trisha Rhomberg, who focuses on Bows’ gallery, is from Missouri. She came out here to attend CSUS ten years ago. She must have seen something in Sacramento because not only is she still here, but she shows no signs of slowing as the growth of Bows and Arrows burns faster than a wildfire.

The evening’s last speaker was Karen, a Sacramento native, whose natural smile radiated from her as she reminisced about Sacramento’s lovely features. She mentioned the weather, palm trees, diversity and affordable housing. She also said it was heartwarming to watch small businesses grow.

The group of speakers lightly touched on politics and what we can do to keep people here. Why are you here?

Rivers, B street theatre, yearly festivals such as Launch and Bicycle film festival, eccentric dance nights hosted by Shaun Slaughter, the State Capital, McKinley Park, The State Fair, Tower Theatre and café, bike rides, Crest Theatre, Crocker Art Museum, 2nd Saturday Art Walk…. Why do YOU love Sacramento?

Art and Zombie Walk

2011-07-14T20:21:21Z

July’s Second Saturday was the place to be for music, art, socializing, fashion and a zombie walk. During summer more people take to the Streets of Midtown to enjoy Second Saturday events.

Vendors and artists move their venues each month. Many artists move their work from one Art Walk exhibit to the next looking for places to hang their artwork for a month. Other artists have established studios or areas where they exhibit on a regular basis. Local musicians find a street corner to play and then have a show at night clubs as Second Saturday begins to wind down.

Law enforcement presence is reassuring and helps to know they’re patrolling the area.

This month I walked the streets waiting for the Zombie Walk that was to begin at 9 p.m., at the Sub Q Piercing and Tattoo shop on 1715 I Street.

Walking down Capitol Avenue I stopped to listen to DJ Esef who was in front of Urban Hound Properties. Esef was spinning some groves as people stopped and passed by when Second Saturday was beginning to pick up steam. Move visitors were either getting out of cars or looking for prime parking space to enjoy the sights and sounds of July’s Art Walk.

Down on 20th Street, between J and K, I made another stop as I heard Christopher Poulos playing the accordion. If you happen to see Chris during next month’s Second Saturday or elsewhere you can probably make any request and he’ll play it for you. Most requests are obliged including metal. Requests can either be accordion or non-accordion tunes.

I later passed by the Garlic Shack which opened recently and noticed quite a few people patronizing the restaurant. Garlic Shack’s patio had a DJ and artists Lila Solórzano and Randy Rivera creating art. Solórzano and Rivera were in front of Yogurtagogo during last month’s Second Saturday creating other art work.

Last month I heard Clark Reese play and made it a point to go back and listen to a couple of his compositions. Reese was at the Second Saturday Art Show at 1927 L Street.

Reese is a very talented musician who played the acoustic guitar, harmonica and tambourine as he performed. I later found that he also plays the drums, bass, accordion, flute, mandolin, banjo, kazoo and piano at different skill levels. His voice and lyrics are his strong points and as his exposure grows, I’m sure, his following will also grow.

Clark Reese played on the back deck area at the Revel Second Saturday Art Show. As he played his tunes his winning smile, attitude and great song lyrics filled the air. Reese looks for songs that are fun and soul searching.

As Reese played the title track from Machine Undone, a song by the same name from his latest CD, you can feel and hear some deep thoughts and feelings from within as he sang to the audience that gathered.

Reese’s next song “I Feel It Coming On” was another fine example of putting inner most feelings down on paper and creating a song that certain people can relate to with lyrics such as the following:

Come on down to the lair
It’s were we have all the fun
Do you feel the sting of the sword on you now?
Do you feel the wound opening?

Find yourself a matching soul, that will bind to you
When you’re down, and in a hole, that’s when your lover will do, anything for you

That song from his Machine Undone CD exemplifies some of the lyrics that create a great song and is part of his latest 7 song CD.

As other people came to listen to Reese I heard many compliments and after one of his songs I asked for a shot of him and any new fans who wanted to pose by his side.

Down on the L Street I ran into a couple of members of the River City Sisters. Sister LeVita Kiss and Sister Coco Demure stood on L Street posing for photos and talking to visitors as they passed by. By this time the evening was becoming a bit more populated and some artists were still setting up.

Further down L Street I stopped at a table set up by Tiana Vega and Dave Icarangal and Jennifer Richards who were promoting the Designing Dreams Fashion Show (scheduled for August 13) and the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

Some people walked by and stopped for information and were also able to sign up for a mailing list in order to receive more information about the fashion show or the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

After a while one of the River City Sisters, Novice Sister Carey joined the group and helped recruit people who had not heard of Designing Dreams or the Sweet Dreams Foundation.

As the Second Saturday Art Walk was coming to a close Sister Carey had helped spread the word about Sacramento’s growing fashion industry and also helped pass the word regarding the Sweet Dreams Foundation. Tiana Vega and Dave Icarangal were recently selected to be part of the next New York Fashion Week with their Tiana Vega Collection.

Tickets for the 2nd Annual Designing Dreams Fashion Show that will be held August 13 at the Memorial Auditorium are now on sale. Visit the Designing Dreams website for more information on this gala event and tickets.

My final destination for July’s Second Saturday was the Zombie Walk.

A few blocks before I got to Sub Q I noticed many zombies making their way to the starting point. A few stations were set up for zombie makeup and artists from Callson Manor were already at work creating zombie works of art.

A Zombie Walk was scheduled to move from Sub Q to the Crest Theatre where the Trash Film Orgy was going to start off by showing the 1985 horror cult film “Return of the Living Dead.”

The Zombie Walk gathering was much bigger than previous years. I’m not sure how many attended but it looked like over 2,000 zombies made the walk a success this year.

Most of the zombies I talked to had the same comments whenever I posed a question. When I asked Lara Johnson what she thought about this year’s zombie walk she fixed her electrified hair and straightened out her bloody dress and she said, “Aarg!” Once the walk started most zombies stayed in true zombie form. I asked Johnson what she had for dinner and she said, “Braaaiiiiiinnnnnnssss!” I posed the same question to one of her friends who was a vegan and he said "Graaaaaiiiiins!"

I think the hundreds of zombies that claimed several of Midtown’s streets had a great time as did people who watched them pass by. As the zombies arrived at the Crest Theater many roamed K Street waiting for zombie parents to come by and pick them up. Several other hundred zombies were able to enjoy the beginning of the Trash Film Orgy.

As I watched zombies walk up and down K Street I couldn’t help but think of the song “House Of 1000 Corpses” by one of the patron saints of zombie hood; Rob Zombie.

Ending with the Zombie Walk, in my opinion, made this one of the most enjoyable Second Saturdays of the year.

(Note; more Zombie Walk photos can be found here)

Second Saturday community bike rack installation: see it here

2011-07-08T19:17:46Z

If you're a cyclist in the Sacramento Midtown area, you're aware of the shortage of bicycle racks when it comes to locking up your ride at a restaurant or favorite watering hole. If your destination is the 2700 block of J Street, you'll soon have a new place to secure your faithful metal steed.

Gina Rossi, artist and Midtown resident also known as the "bike rack girl," has taken on a project to create a community bicycle station to house 12 bicycles and incorporate a few of the businesses within the 2700 Block on J street including Mosaic Hair Salon, Harlow's, Red Lotus, Bar West, j27 Gallery and Centro. The bicycle station is sculpture comprised of six different statues. Each statue will hold two bicycles and will consist of new and recycled materials.

Saturday you can watch Rossi add the final touches to the bicycle station. She will be showing her metal sculpture and providing a welding show in front of Bar West and j27 Gallery in the 2700 block of J Street starting at 6 p.m. If everything goes according to plan, the bicycle installation will immediately follow.

If you can’t make the welding show and bicycle station installation, you can watch live streaming video of the event as it happens Saturday here in this article.

Free live streaming by Ustream

TFO Presents- Zombie Walk

2011-07-06T17:19:24Z

Did you know Sacramento's very own Trash Film Orgy (TFO) is credited with being home to the first organized Zombie Walk? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_walk#History

The summer season is trigger for these midnight movie Trash Film Orgy fans, who descend like a mass migratory bugs filling the hallways and seats of the Crest theatre. Though their year round numbers never fully deplete, once their season starts you see them multiply exponentially for 6 consecutive Saturdays at midnight.

The Zombie Walk is the yearly kickoff event for their TFO summer show season which has been growing ever since! Literally hundreds of "people" (if you can still call them that) converge on the midtown piercing shop Sub-Q at 1715 I street. Though the walk officially starts at 10pm people mostly gather from 9pm on. There will be some limited make up available for the un-undead on sight, but seriously people- who doesn't need their own zombie make up kit? If you don't have one by now is the time to start assembling one!

The organized events take place all evening, but the first of the night is also the first of its kind ever and it starts waaay before the 9pm rally that most people do. 6pm local and talented make up FX artists meet and face off to compete for a professional 2011 season contract with the infamous local haunt- The Callson Manor!!! The finalists will be announced at 9pm, but the winner won't be announced until the TFO stage show at the Crest later in the evening.

At 10pm everyone takes to the streets of Sacramento, weaving hordes of the undead through already large Second Saturday crowds. Literally hundreds of zombies come out every year for this.

The walk is free, and super family friendly- unlike the evening with TFO at the Crest which is strictly 18+.

At 11pm the masses migrate to the Crest Theatre at 1013 K Street where The DEAD Party starts! Doors swing wide for the opening night of the 11th Annual Trash Film Orgy season, featuring the classic film Return of the Living Dead. All Seats $10 – but zombies get $1 off regular admission!! Like all TFO movies, there will be stage shows, game booths, and silliness amuck. So bring 10 friends, and come make some new ones!

Even though this event happens every year, it only happens once a year- so don't miss this.

Midtown's Second Saturday

2011-06-15T02:17:08Z

It somehow feels like I missed spring this year. This past Saturday felt like a summer day and many people were out enjoying the weather. June 11 was the second Saturday of June and many events allowed families to go out and enjoy the weather and celebrate Sacramento's Second Saturday Art Walk.

Spanglish Arte celebrated their 2nd Annual Piñata Festival. Both sides of 23rd Street (between I and J Streets) had vendors and artists showing their goods. The street was still open for traffic and parking during the event.

Mari Arreola along with family and friends made this a community event suitable for an all ages. Arreola handpicked the vendors at the fest and enjoyed seeing the many guests to her gallery, Spanglish Arte; enjoy art, music and each other’s company.

Piñata workshops were scheduled to be conducted by Gavina Barragan. Children and adults participated in making their own piñatas at the gallery’s parking lot. There were many vendors, artists, guests and live performances that I did not get a chance to see but thoroughly enjoyed my time at the fest.

The Washington Neighborhood Center, a nonprofit organization, received some of the proceeds from the event. Several Sacramento artists were able to set up merchandise stations to sell their art. Artists donated at least one item for a raffle to benefit the Neighborhood Center as well.

Mari Arreola said, “Everything you see here is hand made by local artists. Most of the proceeds will go to the Washington Neighborhood Center.” She also gave thanks to sponsors that included State Farm Insurance, Jamba Juice and Yelp.

Several of the hanging piñatas had been sponsored by organizations including one sponsored by the Governor’s office that looked like the California flag.

Emerald Tree Designs had a table right across from the Spanglish Arte gallery that sold Handcrafted Earth and Body Inspired Jewelry where Emily Terrill sold her creations. A few spots from there Chulo Baby sold unique baby clothing.

Supporting local artists is at the core of Spanglish Arte’s business and Mari Arreola makes sure customers understand that. Many of the artists have had a long affiliation with Spanglish Arte.

While I was at the fest I was able to enjoy the Aztec dance group Kalpulli Itzkuauhtli Danza Azteka. After their lively performance I headed off to see what else was going on at the Second Saturday Art Walk.

On my way to go see a fire dance show a Brazilian samba group passed me by on J and 20th Street.The Bathtub Gins played at Barber's Shop Alfa Romeo and a two member band performed down the street.

As I made my way to the Hot Pot Studio I had to stop at Yogurtagogo on 1801 L Street as I saw an artist doing a Shakira art piece and next to her an air-brush creation of Salvador Dali was being worked on.

The two artists Lila Solórzano and Randy Rivera are girlfriend/boyfriend’s. I’ve seen Randy’s art before at a different Second Saturday and his work looked familiar.

My next stop for June’s Second Saturday Art Walk was at the Hot Pot Studio located at 1614 K Street to watch a fire dance. A few dances were performed by the group that always puts on a sizzling performance.

A short stop at the Blue Lamp ended my Midtown Art walk. This was the most well attended Second Saturday of the year so far and one of the most enjoyable.

VOX Celebrates 5 Years with Special Exhibit

2011-06-11T22:22:14Z

It was five years ago this June that VOX Sacramento co-founders, Eric Sweiven and Heath Dalrymple, organized their first art show. The idea was to create an event that would give Sacramento's unknown artists a place to show.

The idea took off.

More than that, Eric and Heath found that a whole communtiy of artist struggling to find other artists and venues they could work with. So they formed the non-profit VOX Sacramento.

"The specific purpose of VOX Sacramento" Eric Sweiven, states "is to provide education and charitable assistance to artists of Northern California in the creation, practice or demonstration of visual and performing arts. The means of providing this education and charitable assistance include, but are not limited to, providing affordable facilities and administrative support (including, where appropriate, instructors and consultants) for studio space, performance venues, and also classes, workshops and lectures to educate students and other members of the community with regard to the arts and to educate artists with regard to their discipline, including the marketing and commercialization of their work"

"Now," Heath says "every show has a theme and benefits other non-profits. From the Susan G. Komen for the cure to Human Traffic Awareness show: Vox gives back to the community as much we are a part of it"

With the help of a community of Sacramento Artists such as jil Allyn Stafford, and members of the their board that include artists and Sacramento business persons, Vox now has plans for future workshops and educational program to start in early fall.

Over the years, VOX has had many homes. From X st to L st, West Sacramento to their current home at the ThinkHouse Collective coworking space on 11th st.

The Vox Sacramento 5th anniversary show will take place this second Saturday at the ThinkHouse Collective, 1726 11th st, from 5-9pm. All are to celebrate original artwork with a special five year theme. You can also check out their website at www.voxsac.com as well as donate to their non-profit through paypal.

Disclosure: Jeremy Maron is a VOX Sacramento board member, and one of the founders of ThinkHouse Collective

All Ages Fun on Second Saturday at The KidZone

2011-06-10T21:33:43Z

For those out and about this Second Saturday, St. John’s Lutheran Church on 17th and L will be sponsoring the “KidZone” from 5:30-7:30pm. The KidZone offers a safe haven for the younger members of the arts community and offers face-painting, balloons and a host of other family-friendly activities.

The "Zone" is located in the parking lot on L between the Church Sanctuary and The Refuge.

Mastermind is back for another Second Saturday Treasure Hunt

2011-06-10T15:49:09Z

Think you really know Sacramento? Find out tomorrow during The Mastermind Hunt: Sacramento! Teams of family and friends will race through parks, around landmarks and even inside local businesses deciphering clues to secret locations in this urban adventure presented Saturday June 11 by Mastermind Treasure Hunts and Downtown Grid. Partial proceeds from this fun and challenging event will benefit Hands on Sacramento, the Valley’s full-service volunteer action center.

The hunt will start and finish in the courtyard at 1801 L street, but covers both Downtown and Midtown. Tickets will be available on the day of the hunt starting at 3:00. The hunt runs from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m. For more information, check out Mastermind's FAQ.

Players need to think creatively, work together and move quickly in order to win. Clues can involve a variety of puzzle types including trivia, wordplay, or simple codebreaking.

The top three teams will win prizes provided by Downtown Grid, but anyone who’s participated in a Mastermind hunt knows that the real reward is in the adventure.

Mastermind Treasure Hunts will donate a portion of the event’s proceeds to Hands On Sacramento, an organization that has matched more than 16,500 volunteers with opportunities to help others.

The Mastermind Hunt: Sacramento is open to the public, including children 11 and older who are accompanied by an adult. The hunt will take two or more hours to complete, and teams must stay together and on foot. A team can be as small as two or as large as eight players. Single players are welcome – there’s always room for new players in this adventure.

Tickets are $25 per player and will be available "at the door" in the courtyard at 1801 L street.

Piñatas used for cultural exchange

2011-06-08T03:06:14Z

A mainstay at children’s birthday parties, candy-filled pinatas are ornaments made to break, and for people of all ages who delight in Latin-based fanfare, the second annual Piñata Festival is coming back to Midtown Saturday.

The festival will be held from noon - 9 p.m. along 23rd Street between I and J streets.

People who turn out for the event can expect to find vendors serving traditional Mexican food and fusion food. Gourmet Mexican ice cream and other deserts will be made by Doña Coco of Sacramento.

According to Mari Arreola, gallery owner of Spanglish Arte, local artists Chulo Baby, and Rachel Knipping and others will have art for sale. UC Davis Professor of Chicano Students Xico Gonzales and community activists will be selling political silkscreens.

Local artist Gavina Barragan will be leading free piñata-making workshops at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Barragan said that she could only take on 12 students per workshop and that it is important to show up early. The raw materials used to make the pinatas is courtesy of the Washington Neighborhood Center.

At 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., kids will get the opportunity to break piñatas. There are no limits to the number of kids that can participate.

Land Arrows Production will be setting up a beer and wine garden this year. Barragan estimates that it will cost $7 per person to get food and drinks at the festival.

Arreola said that live performances have been lined up. The ska rock group Basura and Ballet Folklorico will perform. Local cagefighter, Wrekn Aztekn will provide martial arts demos for people. The Aztec dance group Bachata Fuego and Maquilli Tonathiu will also be performing.

Last year, 600 people came out to celebrate, but this year, organizers are expecting as many as 3,000 people to show up.

“To be honest, last year we took over the street anarchist style, but this year we actually have all the permits in order, thanks to our sponsors,” said Mari Arreola, owner and art director of Spanglish Arte Gallery who is one of the main organizers of the festival.

Organizers of the art-based event said they hope to strengthen community bonds and raise funds for the Washington Neighborhood Center, a nonprofit organization that has been offering programs to youth and adults since it was founded in 1955. Proceeds from the event will also go to Sacramento Piñateros, a piñata-maker’s club.

The Washington Neighborhood Center serves neighbors along the 10-block radius of its headquarters on 400 16th St., located in one the oldest neighborhoods in Sacramento, according to WNC Chair of the board Chairman Tomas Montoya.

Montoya said that businesses that are sponsoring the event will have piñatas made for them courtesy of the volunteers from WNC. He added that the Piñata Festival is a good opportunity for cultural exchange.

“A lot of them (WNC community memmbers) don’t do the whole Second Saturday (Art Walk) thing,” says Montoya said. “It’s good to take our community out there where they normally wouldn’t go. We’re giving them a different kind of exposure, and people who do the Second Saturday thing can get a look at a different kind of art form.”

“People should always go out to any event being put on in public. It’s how you create strong communities and make people feel safe and trust each other by providing an environment to inspire people to talk to each other and look each other in the eye. Besides that, it will be fun,” said local artist Danny Scheible, who is contributing a Tapigami piñata sculpture for the festival.

Scheible developed a sculpting technique using imported tape as the raw material for his art work.

Arreola is working with Ramona Landeros of Land Arrows Production, a nonprofit events planning organization that also puts on music shows. As a result of this partnership, the festival venue is bigger.

“Our festival was more community -oriented (last year). It was very small, but we saw interest that people in Midtown had, and we decided to do a bigger event in response to business and the public in general,” Arreola said.

Children's Art & Ice Cream for Second Saturday

2011-06-07T03:15:01Z

Forever Young’s preschool site is opening its doors on Second Saturday for visitors to enjoy artwork created by some of the youngest artists in Sacramento, ranging in age from 3 months to 5 years. Children of all ages are invited to experiment with art activities and share the creative spirit. We'll have free ice cream for artists young and old alike.

Forever Young is a non-profit, non-denominational, parent-managed cooperative with an infant center and preschool site located in Midtown Sacramento. Forever Young’s philosophy is based on respect for infants and children where an environment is created to add structure to the child’s interests. Infants and children develop and enhance motor, sensory, and social skills through play and hands-on experience without direct teaching. Forever Young provides a safe, cognitively challenging, and emotionally nurturing environment in which children can move freely and explore the world.

Come by and create your own work of art! We are located at 2100 J Street in the historic First Methodist Church of Sacramento.

Luna Coleman is a Forever Young Board Member-At-Large and parent at the Preschool Site.

Registrations now open for BIke Kitchen's third annual scavenger hunt

2011-05-28T01:01:13Z

The Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen is pleased to announce that registrations are (finally) open for the third annual "Hunt the Grid" bicycle scavenger hunt. This year's hunt promises to be the best yet, with more prizes, more teams, and more clues to suss out and items and places to hunt for! Test your knowledge of midtown and downtown and your eagle-eyes against the Bike Kitchen's volunteer huntmasters!

That's not all; Hunt the Grid III will segue into a special fifth anniversary Second Saturday party at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen! After five years of operation across two Sacramento locations, a tremendous group has come together to wish the Kitchen well on its next five years. The Alkali Flats and Cooper McBean will be coming back to play at the nonprofit shop, and Duder Manor will be showing off some wonderful art. And New Belgium Brewing, superhero brewery of the first Hunt the Grid afterparty, is back with plenty of beer to quench after-hunt thirsts and one-of-a-kind promotional materials like their mobile silk screener!

To register a team for the scavenger hunt, e-mail register@sacbikekitchen.org with the name of your team and team members.

All prospective hunters must be 18 years or older to play, limit four per team.

In a nod to the sluggish economy, the registration fee this year is $10 per team, due at sign-in.

Each team will need a way to carry small items around on bike and a digital camera or phone and are encouraged to bring sunscreen and water.

Registration and sign-in start at 1:00 PM at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen (1915 I Street); the hunt begins at 2:00 PM and ends at 5:30 PM.

The SBK Fifth Anniversary Second Saturday party starts at 6:00 PM.

All proceeds from the Hunt the Grid scavenger hunt and Fifth Anniversary party will benefit the 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen, an organization dedicated to providing low-cost do-it-yourself bicycle maintenance to all bicyclists and prospective bicyclists in the Sacramento area.

Sacramento Bicycle Film Festival launches at the Crocker Art Museum

2011-05-14T01:42:38Z

The Bicycle Film Festival kicked off last night at the beautifully renovated and expanded Crocker Art Museum, which drew in crowds from all walks of life to celebrate their bond and love of bicycles.

The Crocker usually hosts “Art Mix” every second Thursday of the month to celebrate culture with cocktails with live art demonstrations, short films, tours and talks. This particular Thursday, the Crocker teamed up with Hot Italian, which is heavily involved with the promotion and support of the BFF, to host the launch party for the film festival.This is Sacramento’s second time hosting the festival in its 11-year history.

The party entailed a no-host bar and barbecue, bike art, a bicycle fix-it workshop and music and entertainment provided by DJ Billy Lane in the courtyard. Bicycling enthusiasts from all around the Sacramento area were seen scattered around the Crocker parameters, taking in everything the revamped facility had to offer before the short films started promptly at 7 p.m.

Women in bicycle-print dresses, cyclists wearing their gear fresh from a long ride, older veteran riders dressed in suits, and inspired amateur riders filed into the theater anxiously waiting for the first film to start.

BFF founder Brent Barbur was in attendance to start off the festivities. Barbur, who attended Bella Vista High School in Fair Oaks, was inspired to create the BFF as a result of being hit by a bus on his bike while in New York City. Barbur wanted to make his negative experience into a positive one.

The Thursday showcase presented the first out of three programs of short films to be seen throughout the weekend. Program 1 was titled “Riding the Long Wind Cloud,” which included four short films. All four films artistically captured the different points of view of how the bicycle world comes together.

The first film was “ Line of Sight” by Benny Zenga and Lucas Brunelle. Brunelle premieres a new film every year at the BFF, documenting alleycat races all over the world. A majority of the footage is caught by a helmet camera, giving the viewer an intense point of view of how a rider’s experience and route can be determined just by missing a green light and then experiencing the wrath of traffic by running a red one. This film explores the popularity and phenomenon of the fixed-gear bike. He claims the phenomenon started in the ‘80s with bike messengers.

“It took 30 years for it be cool,” he claims.

Taking a playful route of bike appreciation was the five-minute short “Kiest Park," which follows a 7-year-old who dominates his neighborhood, treating it as his playground and causing trouble with his trusty bike as his sidekick.

The third film of the evening explored the world of Giovanni Pelizzoli, aka "Ciocc." Ciocc is a legendary Italian frame-builder who shares the story of how he transformed the dreams he had the night before into works of art in his shop. He shares his insights and wisdom, claiming, "A mass-produced frame does not have soul.” The film is by Anima D'Acciaio.

The opening night of the BFF ended with the touching 44-minute film that shares the name of the program series, "Riding the Long White Cloud." The film opens up the world of seven professional skateboarders to the mental and physical challenges of bicycling as they take on a 10-day tour through New Zealand's North Island while searching for skate spots. These skateboarders learn a deeper respect for bicycling, finding it helpful in preparing for their first love, skateboarding.

The BFF will continue tonight and tomorrow with films showing in Fremont Park. The festival will celebrate fashion and art as well as various bicycling communities – including fixed-gear, BMX and road cycling. Music and a trick competition will also be a part of the festivities. The BFF ends as the Amgen Tour will end in our city at 3 p.m. Monday.

The rest of the BFF schedule is as follows:

Friday
Pre-party with Savage Sprints at Hot Italian (16th and Q)
Program 2 at Fremont Park (16th and Q)
After-party at Sol Collective (2574 21st St.)

Saturday
Trick competition at Fremont Park
Music in the Park at Fremont Park
Program 3 Fremont Park
After-party at Hot Italian

Photos by Ron Nabity.

Opinion: Open letter to Midtown Business Association, Mayor Johnson, City Council Members and the General Public

2011-05-10T19:15:35Z

Introduction/Background: The purpose of the following open letter is to outline quality of life problems that many residential neighbors now face from over concentration of alcohol "entertainment" establishments in Midtown whether related to Second Saturday or other weekends as well. The article also includes recommended solutions to these problems but so far Midtown Business Association and city leaders have largely ignored them.

This letter was written cooperatively by long-time Midtown residents, Bill Burgua, Karen Jacques, Dale Kooyman and Vito Sgromo, all of whom have successfully worked for years with many other residents to create a vibrant residential and business Midtown, which has existed now for many years as evidenced by its popularity and people buying homes and moving to Midtown throughout those years.

Over those same years, the authors have lived close to the center of this growing unplanned "entertainment district" so are especially sensitive to the negative fallout due to too much alcohol related misbehavior. They warmly welcome new ways to enhance Midtown's vitality but recognize that there must be a balance. These historic neighborhoods, which now house many children, a mix of residents' ages, ethnic groups and incomes, remain fragile and concerns raised about quality of life issues must be respected if both businesses and residents are to maintain a healthy coexistence in the future.

None of the various media have reported with any depth the adverse consequences that residents' endure or reported to their readers/viewers recommended solutions that we have proposed many times over the past years. Instead, reporters paint a picture of a small number of intolerant, narrow minded residents who are anti-Second Saturday, anti-entertainment, anti-youth, anti-business, anti-restaurant, anti-special events, anti-vibrant Midtown, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth!

The real truth is that the key guideline for our decisions and advocacy follows the long successful urban planning principle of "healthy residential neighborhoods must be fundamental to supporting healthy business districts." We respect and support our neighboring business and we expect nothing less of them by adhering to the same underlying principle when promoting our total community. Unfortunately, this seems to have been lost in the alcohol sales hype, which focuses too narrowly on alcohol consumption as the primary draw for “revitalization.”

Open letter to Midtown Business Association, Mayor Johnson, City Council Members and the General Public

As we begin to plan for the summer city events, Second Saturday and now have a recess period in the RHI/HZA Process, residents are waiting for MBA and city officials to respond to their need to be protected from the adverse effects of the over concentration of alcohol businesses (bars, clubs and restaurants, which function like clubs and bars after 10:00 p.m.) on J Street and other areas of Midtown where there are high concentrations of alcohol venues. We have submitted proposed solutions, had meetings with our councilman, city staff and MBA but the presentation at the NAG meeting Monday night, March 23, still produced nothing new, substantial or significant from MBA or city officials on the following issues and recommendations:

1) Parking - The city and MBA publicly announced that such venues are responsible for bringing over 22,000 people into Midtown every week. Recently, MBA stated that 60% of these visitors are local. What is MBA's definition of local? How many visitors are driving to Midtown? For us that is the distinction between local and non-local. Because our streets are so walkable and the alcohol venues are so closely concentrated together, the real question is how many patrons WALK to the weekend and Second Saturday events?

MBA has stated that it does not have sufficient parking to accommodate the group of visitors who drive. Consequently, these visitors use our residential neighborhood streets as a free parking lot. When parking is spread out into the various neighborhoods as it is now, it also scatters law enforcement staff and increases Police Department costs and complicates coordination, including DUI enforcement.

2) Crime and vandalism - That an over concentration of alcohol retail businesses causes crime and vandalism is now an accepted national standard used in all city planning and alcohol crime issues. The unplanned over concentration of alcohol retail businesses, which has been allowed to develop in Midtown has attracted crime and vandalism. These unfortunate results are consistent with findings of studies conducted by several other cities, and we have submitted copies these reports to MBA and the city.

The Alcohol Beverage Control has established that Midtown has an over concentration of alcohol businesses. Since it is now an established fact that finding enough parking spaces is a problem for many of the over 22,000 visitors attracted to Midtown, it then follows that these visitors who are parking in our neighborhoods also become targets of crime as well as bringing crime, littering, noise, vandalism and air pollution with them--all of which creates an unhealthy environment for our children as well as adults.

Contrary to some people’s misperception, many children now live in Midtown and more families are moving in. Attracting mixed ages and families to our neighborhoods is one of the goals we have strived for and have been seeing those efforts succeed for some years. It is not healthy for a residential or business neighborhood to see this trend reversed.

3) Profile Visitor Age Group - The type of alcohol businesses, special events and entertainment, which Midtown Businesses promotes have primarily targeted young people in their teens, 20's and early 30’s. This has created a “party atmosphere” where these groups of youth feel they can continue engaging in their related ”party” activities on the way to their cars parked in our residential neighborhoods. Residents must then bear the reality of repeated disruptive alcohol-related misbehavior such as shouting, screaming, noisy arguments, fights, vandalizing property and vegetation, using park strips or lawns as toilets and discarding beer bottles/cans or other litter.

While we are not suggesting that all misbehavior is deliberate or that all visitors engage in such misbehavior, it is a known fact that over-consumption of alcohol alters or impairs thinking, behavior, coordination and reaction time, resulting in unintended consequences. This is most demonstrable in DUI arrests. We agree with Bill Burgua who eloquently explained at the March 21, NAG, that he has heard nothing since the fatal shooting to address those adverse quality of life impacts.

4) Air and Noise Pollution - Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District has stated that due to MBA's attraction of over 22,000 visitors weekly to Midtown who have a problem finding parking and therefore repeatedly circle around our residences looking for parking, Midtown residential neighborhoods now have the highest concentration of auto pollution in Sacramento.

Noise pollution has also created a big problem--particularly for our early-to-bed children when special outdoor musical events are held and clubs open their doors or windows and play on their patios. It is not assuring that the Entertainment Permit Fact Sheet handed out at the NAG contains only weak generic boilerplate verbiage as to noise, which was never enforced before in our neighborhood and looks very likely that it will not be again.

These facts point out that even though MBA and city staff may feel that they are doing what they can to mend the problems with the nearby residents, they still have a great deal of work to stop these negative impacts.

Recommendations:

1. Parking – MBA and city officials should work with residents to restrict parking in the nearby residential neighborhoods to residential preferential parking on weekend days and evenings just as is done when there are special events. Also work with city and state officials to implement a more comprehensive local transit system. Sutter and Mercy Hospitals have created a local transit system that can be the basis of a more extensive local transit system. Work also with the local private parking lots to open their parking spaces to visitor parking. These efforts combined with parking restriction in residential neighborhoods would greatly reduce the negative impacts from MBA’s alcohol businesses’ customer misbehavior.

2. Crime and vandalism - Expand the area that the City Police Entertainment Team, Lavender Angels and Sutter Angels patrol to include the nearby residential neighborhoods. Extend the area of MBA’s graffiti abatement and trash pickup services covers to include the nearby residential neighborhoods. These extensions could eventually be eliminated once the parking restrictions are in place. Finally, limit, as other cities have done, the number of alcohol licenses in the MBA district. A self imposed limit will not only reduce crime but will encourage a more diverse retail base by attracting other types of businesses and customers.

As to costs for the above, officials and MBA should not forget that we as taxpayers also pay annually a significant amount into MBA’s PBid as shown following:

Park-(Marshall) $11,434.50
2 Parcels that make up Sutter's Fort @ 13,904.35 ea = $27,808.70
City Property that RT leases $6,476.50
City Utility Parcel $823.28

By the way we as taxpayers also pay for much of the police who patrol the bars on J Street. These taxpayer contributions entitle the public to some kind of return. Our recommendations lay out possible returns.

3. Profile Visitor Age Groups - Offer Second Saturday events and activities starting at noon or 1:00 p.m., as was very successfully done some years ago, and closing at 6:00 p.m. or 7:00p.m. These hours enable far more people to participate and will benefit day-operating business in the PBID as well. Day hours will attract the now excluded broader base age group which includes our and visiting families, teenagers and seniors many of whom could walk or use public transit. This will create a balance and a more diverse visitor profile that will not only profit the other non-alcohol businesses in Midtown but lessen police costs.

4. Air and Noise Pollution – How you address the parking issues listed above in the recommendations would eliminate this negative health impact caused by autos. Noise pollution must be addressed not by a consultant hired by MBA but by city staff working together with businesses and residents to create a fair and impartial updated noise ordinance. As for the acoustic consultant, hiring him by MBA is a conflict of interest. City codes are unclear and conflicting because they do not take into account health and other quality of life issues.

Finally, there are those who claim that adopting these recommendations is unnecessary because these adverse factors are an unavoidable part of “urban” living and that we residents must accept and adapt. That claim is without merit because many of us who live and bought in Midtown have lived or have friends/relatives who live in other “urban” centers where such factors are controlled. Those municipalities value highly the residents who live there and their contributions to their cities and adjacent business districts so take appropriate measures to ensure both continue to be healthy.

There are also those who have callously advised us that “if you don’t like it move!” In fact, some who found buyers have moved, and some are planning to do likewise if conditions don’t improve and the economy/real estate market gets better. There are others who are looking for homes that are located farther from this troubled zone. Still others have invested their life’s savings in their homes here and cannot afford to move elsewhere.

However, the major drawback to that advice is that avoiding problems has never solved problems. The adverse conditions causing the problems remain. Then what and who replace those caring and conscientious individuals who have been seeking solutions but finally move from enduring too much aggravation and frustration are usually those who don’t care. Residents or “investors” not caring about surroundings and related quality of life has long been known to be the first step to a declining neighborhood, which then heads toward eventual costly government Redevelopment —both business and residential.

Please be advised that our main goal has long been and is still not only to protect the residential neighborhoods but to reunite the residents with the businesses to build a great healthy community as we were successfully doing before the alcohol interests took over. As we have all said before, please do not let the tremendous amount of time we have volunteered and city staff have invested in the RHI/HZA process be wasted. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to finally create a unified community of businesses, residents and schools to make Midtown a great place to work, visit and LIVE!

MBA, city council and city staff: again we ask please let us know how you plan to address these issues and which recommendations you plan to adopt.

Editor's note: This article was temporarily removed and reposted again. All reposted articles appear at the top of the story feed.

Mounted Patrol at Second Saturday

2011-04-10T18:07:37Z

The new modified schedule for Second Saturday, with earlier hours of 4 pm to 8 pm, drew out crowds that welcomed families. The Sacramento Police Department mounted patrol were especially popular with kids, as the officers handed out sheriff badge stickers.

Plastic wave art aims to educate

2011-04-08T00:31:35Z

A wave made entirely of plastic bottles will be shown at Midtown’s Sub-Q Body Piercing and Tattoos Saturday to raise awareness of large “trash islands” in the ocean.

Built by 21-year-old Tahoe City artist “Sannazzaro,” the “Recycled Wave 1” is a prototype of a larger project that will be built with 6,430 bottles – the number of bottles dumped into the ocean every second worldwide, she said.

The larger piece will be called “1 Second Wave.”

She said her inspiration came from when “my husband and I were using plastic water bottles every day, and when I found out about the trash islands, I thought this project would be a really good way to raise awareness about all the pollution.”

The final wave art piece will rise up from the ground, curl over in an arch and “crash” into the ground, creating a tunnel of plastic bottles for viewers to walk through.

“I just hope they become more aware of the statistics, that that’s how much is being dumped every second,” she said. “Seeing that will make them take a second to stop and think.”

The final wave is planned to measure 16 feet across and 20 feet tall, with a base that is 5 feet wide. Blue bottles mixed in with the clear bottles in the wave represent the ratio of plastic bottles that get recycled – about 20 percent, according to Don McGee, who is helping Sannazzaro set up a nonprofit organization and working as an event coordinator.

The organization is in its early stages, but Sannazzaro said she wants children’s hospitals to benefit from any money she is able to raise.

She added that she wants her artwork to educate.

“It’s about pollution awareness, and it’s letting people know that what we have right now will be a bigger problem and keep growing,” she said. “I want to tell them not to use plastic water bottles because they’re completely useless.”

McGee said the goal is to lobby for the use of biodegradable bottles and to get people to make the decision to use water filters and reusable containers as much as possible.

The bottles in Sannazzaro’s wave – about one sixth the size of the proposed wave – were obtained from recycling yards.

In the prototype, they are held together by hot glue, but McGee said the final project will be held together using Eco-Bond, an environmentally friendly adhesive.

The full display will be entered into ArtPrize, an open art contest in Grand Rapids, Mich.

For the display, pictures of “trash islands” will be shown, along with videos, as part of an interactive exhibit.

“If we don’t bring awareness of this and do nothing, then we are in the wrong,” McGee said. “This is going to get even more severe.”

Sub-Q owner Scot Rogers said he wanted to bring the piece in for a display during the Second Saturday Art Walk.

“Everybody is really eco-conscious,” he said. “I like that the scope of the problem with bottled water is going to be shown. There’s more gasoline involved in bottled water than you can imagine by the time it gets shipped and everything.”

Most of the artwork in Sub-Q on Second Saturday will be from local artist Steve Vanoni, of Gallery Horse Cow in Sacramento.

A number of his paintings are on the wall, as well as some of his collection from Gallery Horse Cow. The paintings are abstracts

“It looks good, I like it,” Vanoni said of the wave. He added that he likes working with found objects and recycled materials.

Sub-Q will be open from noon - 6 p.m. Saturday, with a reception from 6 - 9 p.m. Sub-Q is located at 1715 I St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Gang culture hinders homicide investigation

2011-04-07T00:08:25Z

Almost six months have passed since Victor Hugo Perez Zavala was shot and killed at the September Second Saturday Art Walk, and no arrests have been made.

According to police, gang-related crime like the Second Saturday shooting is hard to solve for a variety of reasons.

“In a nutshell, (the case is) wide open,” said Sgt. Bob McCloskey of the Sacramento Police Department’s homicide division. “We’re still trying to run down every lead we have.”

McCloskey said police are currently investigating leads, but declined to say how many or comment on how good the leads are, given that it’s an active investigation.

“In each case, we’re going to take and fully investigate it,” he said. “On open cases (like this), we use all the resources we can.”

The shooting has been identified as gang-related, but Zavala was not a gang member, nor do police believe he was the intended target of the shooting, in which three others were injured, McCloskey said.

The shooting happened outside a bar at 18th and J streets, where a sizable crowd was gathered, but police Lt. Bill Champion from the special investigations/gang division said that doesn’t mean witnesses will come forward.

“Within the gang culture itself, there’s definitely a ‘you don’t want to be a snitch’ culture,” he said. “A lot of times we’ll go to a gang shooting, and it’s not uncommon for a witness, or even the person who was shot, to say, ‘Yeah, I didn’t see anything.’ ”

He said gang members are “very uncooperative” most of the time, and getting any witnesses – even victims – to cooperate is difficult because gang members intimidate them.

There are ways of getting around that intimidation, including anonymous tip lines and even anonymous text tips through Sacramento Crime Alert. The police general investigations line is 808-0650.

“People can give us information to help us and remain anonymous,” Champion said.

McCloskey added that the governor’s office offers rewards up to $50,000 for tips on some cases, and Sacramento Crime Alert also offers rewards up to $1,000.

“There’s different programs at the District Attorney’s Office where we can take a witness and get the witnesses relocated, because there has been – due to the intimidation factor usually – a reluctance for people to come forward,” he added.

That program works with witnesses to make them secure – sometimes relocating them, even out of state, if necessary, he said.

The best way to combat gangs, Champion said, is to do it as a community.

“We’ve had a lot of success with neighborhood watch programs,” he said. “You have one person that stands up – it’s very easy to get intimidated, very tough to stand on your own – but if you get a whole community to stand up ... that’s the concept behind our Ceasefire program.”

Champion said criminals don’t bother those neighborhoods as much because they know they’re not easy targets.

Many residents in the downtown and Midtown areas have pointed fingers at Second Saturday, saying the event is bringing gang members from out of town to concentrate at the event.

According to Champion, that’s not a problem unique to Second Saturday.

“Sacramento’s gang problem is increasing,” he said. “We’re not talking just Second Saturday, we’re talking citywide. We have contacted a lot of Bay Area gang members at nightlife spots downtown.”

And even Sacramento’s resident gang population moves about.

Champion said gangs in Los Angeles are very territorial, but gangs in Sacramento move about the city, not necessarily laying claim to one particular neighborhood or area.

McCloskey said investigating shootings by territorial gangs can be easier, since it gives police a starting point, but with gangs moving around, it makes it harder to narrow down the suspect field.

Champion gave some statistics for increasing gang activity in Sacramento.

Crime reports related to gangs are up 37 percent over last year and 52 percent since 2008. And even though overall shootings went down 3.6 percent over last year, a higher percentage of shootings have been gang-related, with 18 percent of nonfatal shootings being gang-related in 2008, 26 percent in 2009 and 37 percent in 2010.

Aggravated assaults saw a slight rise over the past year.

Police Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong said it’s important to note that the problem can’t be addressed in a reactionary manner.

“It’s a regional issue, it’s not just a Second Saturday issue,” he said. “It’s a long-term effort, and that’s the concept of Ceasefire.”

Recent changes to Second Saturday events, he added, have been intended to bring the focus of the event back to art, but it will take time to see if those changes work out.

“I can’t overemphasize the point that it’s a community problem,” Champion said. “The community needs to respond and work together. That’s how it’s going to be effective ... making sure everyone gets involved, everyone picks up the phone and says, ‘This is what I saw.’ ”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Second Saturday vandalism data analysis

2011-03-26T00:46:46Z

Today I came across a comment on Bill Burgua's recent article about the Second Saturday Art Walk. Larry was exasperated about the crime he witnessed on our most recent art walk, specifcially citing the vandalism near his place of residence.

He wrote:

"The last Second Sat event I got graffiti outside on my apartment building as well as inside and this is a controlled acces building. Out of Control! City council talking about walkable alleys when we dont even have walkable streets."

I often read the complaints from my neighbors concerning the escalating crime during Second Saturday. My personal feeling is that it's no different from the drunks and litterbugs I see roaming the streets every weekend evening. I decided to take a deeper look and check out the crime visualization site that Police Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong promoted this week.

Narrowing the map to the grid, and constraining solely to property crimes, I exported a list of all crime data using the site's "print" functionality from October 2010 until last weekend. I then skipped all non-vandalism crimes such as unlawful camping and trespassing incidents to focus solely on the issue Larry was complaining about. Using a little programming know-how, I formatted the crimes by weekend into the lists at the bottom of this article.

Due to this not being an official police analysis, I don't assume it's exhaustive for all vandalism occuring in the grid. And while the CrimeReports website lists the time an incident occurred, that data wasn't available to me via the print feature, and I couldn't find any other means to export data. Because of this, I've included Sunday as well. Hopefully this will serve as a rough guide for incidents over the past six months.

Data Summary

Weekends: 24
Second Saturday weekends: 6
Non-Second Saturday weekends: 18

Total weekend incidents: 69
Second Saturday weekend incidents: 23
Non-Second Saturday weekend incidents: 46

Average incidents per weekend: 2.88
Average Second Saturday incidents per weekend: 3.83
Average non-Second Saturday incidents per weekend: 2.56

Although the six weekends sampled have a slightly higher vandalism rate than the 18 other weekends, this isn't a big enough difference or sample size to substantiate the claims that the vandals paint the town red (and blue, and green) one weekend more than any other. January's Second Saturday weekend shared the lowest number of incidents for that month. November's was right in the middle. December's art walk had the highest number of incidents.

Seems pretty routine to me.

Incident Breakdown by Weekend

10/02 = 4
10/09 = 4 (Second Saturday)
10/16 = 2
10/23 = 2
10/30 = 5
11/06 = 2
11/13 = 3 (Second Saturday)
11/20 = 2
11/27 = 1
12/04 = 2
12/11 = 5 (Second Saturday)
12/18 = 1
12/25 = 3
01/01 = 4
01/08 = 2 (Second Saturday)
01/15 = 5
01/22 = 2
01/29 = 2
02/05 = 4
02/12 = 4 (Second Saturday)
02/19 = 3
02/26 = 0
03/05 = 2
03/12 = 5 (Second Saturday)

Incident List (Date, Type, Incident Description)

See my scribd document: http://www.scribd.com/doc/51572612/propertycrimes-20100925-20110325

New Midtown salon combines arts, family values

2011-03-24T00:20:59Z

Lily Ann Lam grew up in two worlds. Her Chinese parents instilled traditional Eastern values in her, while her upbringing in Sacramento exposed her to American culture. She said the mix comes together in her Midtown salon – Hanami, which opened March 1.

Hanami (HAH-nah-me) is a Japanese word that describes the beauty of cherry blossoms, and Lam said it was a natural fit for a salon.

“The cherry blossoms are the result of a process,” she said. “They’re beautiful for two weeks ... and that’s like hair. It goes through a process, and then it’s beautiful for a couple of weeks.”

Hanami is the first salon for Lam, who has been styling hair professionally for three years. Before that, she put to use her communications degree from San Jose State University as an office assistant.

But working in an office didn’t suit her.

“It wasn’t about the work or the money,” she said. “I just didn’t like it. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to have my own business and be my own boss.”

The mother of three also said she wanted her business to resemble something more like a family than a traditional business.

“I was born in Hong Kong, and my family has always been important to me,” she said.

One of Lam’s mentors has been Rowena Hiraga, who along with husband Takashi recently opened the Rowena & Takashi salon downtown.

“I think of her as family, not competition,” Lam said. “I still go to her when I need my hair cut.”

Rowena Hiraga described Lam as a “go-getter” who is full of passion for her work.

“I think she’s an incredible person, and she will be very successful,” Hiraga said, adding that she’s a little bit jealous that Lam isn’t working in her salon, but happy that they can be part of a group of professionals.

For now, Hanami is a hair salon, but Lam said she plans to expand to include spa services when business settles down.

The interior walls are painted black and decorated with paintings from local artists, and the four styling stations each have a mirror framed in red that set them off from the walls.

Midtown was the perfect fit, she said, since she has worked with artists for years, doing makeup and hair, and artwork on the walls of her salon is from local artists.

“For last Second Saturday (Art Walk), we had live DJs in here, and we’re planning to do an event for every Second Saturday,” she said.

Lam said that if she were to narrow down a specialty, it would be up-dos, which are popular with some of her clients, but she can do whatever customers are looking for.

First-time client Megan Weaklend said she came to Hanami on the recommendation of a friend.

“I’ve seen a lot of the hairstyles (Lam does),” Weaklend said. “It’s really a good look. I’m trusting my hair with her.”

Weaklend said she has never had her hair colored before, but she chose Hanami because of the recommendation and the ambiance.

“There’s just a really nice vibe in here, and the stylists are awesome and welcoming,” she said.”

Lam’s hair product supplier is the Italian Davines, which she said she chose partly for its quality and partly for being a family-owned company.

“It’s a great product, but we’re also lenient on pricing because we understand that the economy is bad,” Lam said. “But we also understand people still want to present a good image.”

A basic all-over hair coloring starts at $55, she said.

The economy didn’t give her pause when deciding to open a business.

“There’s a lot of opportunity right now,” she said. “There are lots of spaces open, and you can’t let fear about a bad economy keep you from your dreams.”

Hanami is open Tuesday - Saturday. Hours on Tuesday - Thursday are 10 a.m. - 9 p.m., and hours on Friday and Saturday are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Hanami is located at 1115 21st St.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Monday's NAG to Take Another Look at Second Saturday and NIghtlife Issues

2011-03-19T22:18:15Z

The Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) will meet this Monday 3/21/2011. This month's meeting will focus on Second Saturday and Midtown Nightlife issues. There are changes being made to Second Saturday as was reported by Suzanne Hurt on SacPress. This is partially in response to the shooting death and injuries that occurred in the early morning hours of September 12, 2011.

This presentation is a followup to a meeting on September 25,2010

Second Saturday and Midtown Nightlife issue meetings tend to have a very high turnout. If you want to sit up close, come early.

The Agenda

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG)
March 2011 Agenda

In Partnership with the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Division

Monday, March 21, 2011
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street

Tonight’s Facilitator: Gerald Celestine, caRsa and Friends of Fremont Park

6:30 Welcome and Introductions

6:35 Announcements

6:40 Issue Updates: Mercy Hospital; Midtown Nightlife Issues/Responsible Hospitality Institute; R Street; Sutter Hospital/Trinity Cathedral; High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes; Preservation Roundtable; Department of Utilities Funds; The Docks Project; K Street; Special Events; NAG Action Request Form

6:45 SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS: SECOND SATURDAY and MIDTOWN NIGHTLIFE ISSUES UPDATE
MIDTOWN NIGHTLIFE ISSUES
A. Public Safety
1. Youth & Gang Workshops
2. Neighborhood Watch
3. CERT
4. Lavender Angels
B. Parking
C. Entertainment Permits
D. Communication
E. Next Steps/Follow Up

The City of Sacramento’s Neighborhood Services Division, Police Department, Parking Division, Code Enforcement Division and the Midtown Business Association
SECOND SATURDAY
A. Time Change
B. Permit Requirements
1. Vendor Permits
2. Amplified Sound
3. Permitting on City and Private Property
C. Parking
1. Residential Parking/Enforcement
2. Parking on the Grid
D. Public Safety
1. Street Closures
2. Security Measures
E. Notification

Adjourn

*Next Meeting: Monday, April 18, 2011, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street*

For more information, contact Janine Martindale at (916) 808-8193 or at jmartindale@cityofsacramento.org. Items are placed on the agenda based on their time sensitivity and relevance to Area 1. Join the NAG agenda committee in setting the agenda at 12 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Clunie Community Center. See City Council agendas and reports at: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/clerk/

Natural Lighting

2011-03-15T23:25:57Z

If you happened to miss out on Second Saturday Art Walk this past weekend, you are still in luck. Lumens Light + Living and The Center of Contemporary Arts are proud to present: “Art of Light: Nature’s Spirit,” a photography exhibition by Sandy Follett.

The exhibit continues through April 24 and is located in the showroom of Lumen Lights + Living (2028 K St.). The showroom hours are Monday- Friday 10 a.m. - 6pm and Saturdays 10 a.m. - 5p.m., and admission is free.

I was lucky enough to attend a private viewing of Sandy Follett’s work, which showcases her collected images of nature’s beauty in the Yosemite Valley, the High Sierra, Roseville and Rescue, Calif. What makes this Cameron Park-based photographer’s work different than other nature photographers is that her images obviously express the raw emotion and spiritual connection she has with capturing nature during the different times of day and focuses on finding the perfect lighting to illuminate each subject.

Follet, who started learning her photography skills through film photography, now solely shoots digital. All of her photos in this series are printed with archival pigment ink. Follett explained to me that the best times for her to venture out into her natural sanctuary to capture images are early in the morning to watch the sunrise or right when the sun is setting.

“It changes the mood of everything.” She said. Follett also explained that some of the best times to capture a nature shot are right after a storm. This is evident in her piece called “Oak Spirit Fantasy.”

You can see the mean skies after a storm took place and the aftermath of its surroundings. The reflection of the sky, earth and lightning in the water adds a dramatic affect as if there are two different worlds you are seeing.

Follett started devoting more time to her photography in the last four years and has been taking baby steps from group showings to solo showings to having award-winning work. In fact, if you view her website at www.sandyfollettphotos.com, you can see for yourself she has won some prestigious awards such as receiving an “Award of Merit” at the California State Fair, where she had a piece displayed in the fine arts exhibits.

Many people are taking notice of Follett’s work, such Stacey Wong with The Center for Contemporary Arts (www.ccasac.org), which is a nonprofit organization that thrives on finding contemporary mid-career to professional artists and encourages participation in the arts.

“We like to find artists and set up exhibits with an educational component and include artist lectures,” Wong said.

She also makes it known that CCA not only supports and encourages local artists, but organization leaders want to consider additional professional services for these artists and nurture the artists into the direction they would like to go. It is no secret that Sacramento’s art scene, in every medium possible, is thriving.

Lumens Light + Living owners Ken Plumlee and Peter Weight, who are local art supporters and enthusiasts themselves, sought out CCA associates Stacey Wong and Mariana Moscoso when it came to finding help with curating exhibits for Lumens showroom throughout the 2011 year. The owners of Lumens + Light and Living want to support works of art relevant to what they are passionate about themselves: lighting.

When Wong caught on to Ken and Peter’s vision, she gladly took charge. It wasn’t long before she found Follett’s work on the website of Viewpoint Gallery in Sacramento, which Follett is a member of.

Wong said she felt Follett’s work fit perfectly with what the “Art of Light” series and agrees that Follett’s work was the obvious choice for this series because not only does photography showcase images through how fast light being exposed to each frame can differentiate each image, but it also expresses the spiritual soul Follett is communicating in each one of her pieces.

Follett, who has been taking photography classes in the Los Rios Community College District for the last four years, also plays with her media.

One of my favorite pieces, called “Oak Spirit,” which is a subtle black-and-white piece that seems to have two different “paint by lightning” features to it, is actually compliments to Photoshop. As Follett is growing as an artist, she is exploring her creativity and mixing media. If you haven’t made your way Lumens Light + Living to experience the world that is Sandy Follett’s, then what on earth are you waiting for?

Editorial note: References to the Center for Contemporary Arts and CCA are in reference to Center for Contemporary Arts, Sacramento specifically.

Sacramento Artist Jeff Felker Shows in Elliott Fouts Gallery Group Show

2011-03-11T01:57:20Z

While planning your route this 2nd Saturday, be sure to stop by Elliott Fouts Gallery (4749 J Street, Sacramento) for the reception for Go Figure!, a group exhibition of figural paintings, from 6pm-9pm.

Among the artists showing in the exhibition is Sacramento-based painter Jeff Felker. His paintings included in the show address revisiting abandoned places and moments in time, marked by emotional significance to the figure. Each painting captures fragments, as once forgotten and neglected as the scenery, with a desire to find new meanings and relevance within the same space.

The show also features work by Candice Bohannon, Derek Gores, James Crandall, Kenney Mencher, Peter Wedel, Sara Zin, and Tracey Harris.

Go Figure! remains on view through March 31, 2011. Elliott Fouts Gallery is open Tues-Fri 11am-6pm; Sat & Sun 11am-4pm.

About Jeff Felker:
Born in 1980 and raised in a world of latchkeys, comic books, and urban exploration, Sacramento-based artist Jeff Felker weaves those early inspirations into the visual narratives he creates today. Exploring themes reformulated from life and his formal background in literature, he creates narrative paintings that blend reality and dreamscape--the human figures within are located in conflicted worlds of emotional isolation. Using oil to juxtapose bright and muted color schemes, Jeff executes his paintings on canvas and board.

For further information about Jeff Felker and to see more examples of his artwork visit his website. Prints are available in his Etsy Store for $25-$50.

______________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: Alison Kranz is Public Relations contact for Jeff Felker.

SacQuotes: Safe at Second Saturday?

2011-03-10T16:33:41Z

For this week's edition of SacQuotes, we asked attendees of last month’s Second Saturday Art Walk if they feel safe and comfortable at the event. You may remember that last year police had to disperse some of the large groups who would linger after the official end of the evening. In September a Sacramento City College student was killed in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting after Second Saturday. Here’s what folks had to say:

Chico State student Meghan Vanderford was home visiting and decided to come out to Second Saturday. She said her comfort level changes throughout the night. “Earlier in the evening I feel safer, but the later it gets, it gets a little sketch.” Vanderford said she only stays until 8 or 9 o’clock. “I noticed that there’s a lot of young kids just getting drunk and coming to this to have fun.”

Joseph Kutchukov said he feels safe at Second Saturday. “I’m a server at Chicago Fire. We haven’t had any problems, besides some homeless people, but nothing major.”

Sacramento State theater major Melissa Warren feels more comfortable when she attends Second Saturday with a group. “I don’t know that I feel too comfortable by myself. I find some of the people slightly intimidating.” Another factor on Warren’s mind was visibility. “I think the brighter the day is the more safe that I’ll feel. The darker it is, all the connotations of evil and mysterious things come with that. It’s darker and you can't see if someone was going to attack you.”

The members of the South Sacramento hip-hop group "Project" said they come out to Second Saturday to “meet people, give out our music, share ideas and share our styles.” When discussing the evening’s atmosphere and police presence, the guys didn’t seem phased in the least. “Cops, I’ve seen them. I haven’t talked to them, haven’t been hassled,” one member said.

Yolo County firefighter Nathan Taylor attends Second Saturday regularly. He said he feels totally comfortable staying until the end of the night. “It’s usually pretty quiet around here on the main drag. Off the beaten path is where the issues tend to be at. Out here where there’s a lot of people, it’s usually real quiet. This is like the fifth or sixth one I’ve been to, and I feel safe.”

Thanks for all the great feedback in the last few editions of SacQuotes. If you would like to see you questions answered on a future edition, please email them to SacramentoIsaac@gmail.com.

Second Saturday Art Walk

2011-02-15T01:06:30Z

A warm Saturday evening brought more people out to experience a night full of art, music, culture and socializing during February’s Second Saturday. In the next couple of months, as the weather gets warmer and it stays lighter during the early evening, more people will be attending Second Saturday.

I passed by the Midtown Bazaar on I Street (between 16 and 17th Streets) and noticed that more vendors are setting up stations. I went there to see a couple of murals. One of the murals is in the process of being painted while another has been completed. Amber Villegas has a finished mural on the right hand side wall as you enter from I Street. Another mural on the back wall directly across from the entrance has been in the works by some students under Amber’s direction.

The Midtown Bazaar is open every Saturday from noon to 5 and until 9 p.m., during Second Saturday. Vendors have booths set up selling a variety of hand crafted items.

Hot Italian was celebrating its second anniversary on this Second Saturday. They had a photo contest that was to feature the top 15 photographs posted by fans of the establishment. Tais Arises was on hand and Amanda Lopez was doing photography for the photo booth that was set up for the evening.

I usually try to visit a new gallery or two every Second Saturday and noticed that Bevmostic Art opened a couple of doors down from Hot Italian right next door to the Crimson and Clover boutique. Besides the art on the walls a DJ was performing and a few guests were walking around.

A display of selections from various artists was being displayed at the Panama Artists Collective (PAC). I’m not sure if they changed their name or if the show for Second Saturday was named PAC. The exhibit was wonderfully displayed and the artists’ work was magnificent. Some of their work can be found at their website.

The Sacramento Art Complex always has some attention getting art on display on 2110 K Street. Garley of Garley Sculptures and resident artist of the Sacramento Art Complex was on hand showing a new sculpture. He introduced me to Eric Goodman who had an exhibit honoring Black History Month. Both artists were there to answer questions regarding their work.

More and more artists are finding new venues to display their work. There are other establishments looking for artists to display their art or in some places looking for artists who may need a studio. Other establishments are also looking to share their available space to art galleries, music venues or similar entertainment events and meeting areas. Clubhouse24 is remodeling their space and making it available for gatherings. Johnny Tate from Clubhouse24 took some time to talk about Second Saturday and how he's preparing for another year of Second Saturday showings and venues. He's been in the building for about 10 years now and was in the process of moving to a smaller studio towards the back area while preparing the rest of the building to host other events.

Tate indicated that he was looking for people to occupy the available space for meetings or other social gatherings. Last year I saw several local bands performing on the main area while art was also on display inside. There are inside and outside areas available for events and Tate saw the possibility of hosting things such as small fashion shows as well as other possibilities. Tate can be contacted via the Clubhouse24 facebook page.

My last stop for the evening was at Spanglish Arte which was hosting an exhibit by Juan Raul Mejia. His exhibit will be on display until February 21. The gallery is located on 905 23rd Street. As you walk on 23th off of J and towards I Street you can usually see a path lit up with Luminaries leading to the front of the gallery. Children seem to always be around as adults look for things to buy and view art by featured artists.

Earlier in the day Spanglish Arte conducted a class on making corn husk flowers. Two workshops are scheduled every month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. Log on to their website to see the schedule for upcoming classes and view samples of art galleries featured throughout the year.

Midtown, Downtown, Old Sacramento, East Sacramento and Del Paso galleries contiune to hold exhibits every Second Saturday. Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Davis and Folsom as well as other areas have joined the Art Walks on Second Saturday. Roseville has been running Third Saturday for a while as well. If you have not attended an Art Walk lately it’s becoming easier to find one near you. Popularity increases during the summer. One thing I noticed this Saturday was what I perceived to be increased security by local law enforcement allowing for a more secured feeling that will help as people begin to notice more patrolling during the Second Saturday events.

SacQuotes: Valentine’s Day Memories

2011-02-14T03:29:50Z

Welcome to another edition of “SacQuotes,” where we ask people on the streets of Sacramento topical questions and post their responses. This week, we went out to Second Saturday and asked folks to share their most memorable Valentine’s Day. Here’s what they said:

Hairstylist Jessica Williams shared what could have been a terrible Valentine’s Day that turned out all right. “I was 15, and I had never really had a Valentine before. This one Valentine’s Day my brother got all these valentines from these girls, and I got home and I was really sad because nobody got me one. Then my cat comes walking out and he has this big heart tied around his neck that said: ‘I’m your Valentine Jessica!’ It was so cute!”

Kellen McGuire, Board Of Equalization employee, said every single Valentine’s Day since he was born has been memorable. “My birthday is the 13th of February. My grandmother every year gave me a Valentine’s Day card and just wrote in there, every time, ‘Oh, by the way, Happy Birthday!” McGuire seemed to have a pretty good sense of humor about that.

Sandra Gean, who when asked her occupation said she “loves life and is living,” thinks that the people you know make for a good V-Day. “Valentine’s Day is special when you have wonderful people to love and things to do. I have three sons and a grandson, Orion, who passed away. He was only 19 months, but we had the most fun. Oh, and eating chocolate!” In case you can’t make it out, that’s a “LOVE” temporary tattoo on her forehead.

C.J. Kelly, a student and proud mother to little Joshua, was enjoying Second Saturday with two other cool mommies who also had little ones rockin’ the strollers. “I come from Santa Cruz, and there’s this place called Ciao Bella. It’s really unique. People dance on stages, and they come over to your table and dance. They do little jigs, and there’s stuff on the walls. They have theme nights. It’s just a little Italian place in the woods in Santa Cruz. This guy Dane would take me there every Valentine’s Day. It was our tradition.”

Local baseball player and DJ John McCants recalled that Valentine’s Day was a big deal in third grade. “When I was in elementary school, it was, like, serious with this one girl. I asked her to be my valentine, and I was super excited. She said, ‘Yes!’ We didn’t kiss or anything. It was ‘elementary-style’. We didn’t even hug. I just liked her.”

Rorie Oliver, who works in the student housing department at Sacramento State, told about an unfortunate incident one Valentine’s Day at a theme park. “My friends and I all went to Great America. I ate some nachos, and I’m lactose-intolerant. I was on a roller coaster and I got an upset stomach. I started sweating. I jumped off the ride and ran straight to the bathroom. My friends were following me and saw me posted up against the game where you throw the little fish, and they asked me what I was doing. I had to tell them I sh*t my pants. It was all couples except for me. I was all by myself,” adding sarcastically, “and I wonder why!”

If you have a question you want asked on SacQuotes, e-mail them to us at isaacTPNA@gmail.com.

Single on Valentine's Day?

2011-02-08T06:57:16Z

Couples scurry before Valentine’s Day to find their significant others the perfect gift: flowers, chocolate, perhaps an engagement ring? For many people Valentine’s Day may seem like a Hallmark holiday but for others – the single variety – it’s just another day in February.

The Sacramento Press set out to find how singles spend their Valentine’s Day.

“As you get older, it doesn’t matter as much when you’re in college and you’re busy,” said Erica Childs, a Davis native and first-year student at Chico State.

Childs added that she will be busy with sorority rush week at Chico State on the week of Valentine’s Day.

In addition, Yesania Villaroñ, a first-year nursing student at Sacramento State, said she hopes to keep herself busy with various school events on Valentine’s Day.

Like Villaroñ and Childs, Tina Smith, a Sacramento resident, said she will be working for 12 and a half hours on Valentine’s Day serving couples at P.F. Chang’s restaurant on J Street.

While many are busy working and engaging in school events on Valentine’s Day, Sacramento offers “anti-Valentine’s Day” parties to singles.

Lounge On 20 is holding an “Anti-Valentine’s Day Party” on Feb. 12 with an extended happy hour featuring chocolate covered strawberries, numerous prize giveaways and $5 drink specials after 10 p.m. Lounge On 20 is at 1050 20th St.

For those under 21, the Second Saturday Art Walk on Feb. 12 will be offering an “Anti-Valentine’s” gallery reception with the art of Nicolas Caesar and John Hageman Jr. The artists were selected by Wes Craven to be in the upcoming film Scream 4. The gallery is at 5635 Freeport Blvd., Suite 6.

For those looking to meet someone special on Valentine’s Day, the Sacramento News and Review is holding an “Un-Valentine’s Day” party at the Holiday Inn Grand Ballroom at 8 p.m. on Feb. 1. Tickets are $25 per person and more than 500 local singles will be attending in hopes of finding that special someone. The party will also offer a class on how to reel in other singles for an additional $14.

Kai Ross, 23-year-old Elk Grove resident, said he hopes to celebrate Valentine’s Day with his sister’s friends.

“You should find someone you like spending time with,” Ross said. “Not someone you’re willing to just jump into bed with, but someone for camaraderie.”

Although Eric Brockman, a sales associate at J Street Hydrogarden, said he doesn’t normally celebrate Valentine’s Day himself, it still has a sentimental value to him since his parents were married on Valentine’s Day.

“I don’t really celebrate it, but I call my parents every Valentine’s Day because that’s when they got married,” Brockman said. “That’s what I do.”

Valentine's Day on a budget

2011-02-08T04:21:49Z

Whether you’re short on cash or you’d rather spend your money on something else, Valentine's Day can seem like another unnecessary financial burden. With the typical gift of chocolates, roses and romantic dinners generally geared toward couples, it may feel hard to keep up on a budget.

This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Monday, leaving a whole weekend’s worth of events leading up to the holiday.

The Sacramento Press had the cash-strapped in mind, when we put together a list of things to do around Sacramento, Valentine’s-themed or otherwise, for $20 or less a person.

Friday, Saturday, and Monday
Selland's Specials
Selland's Market-Cafe
5340 H St
Served daily (Monday - Saturday) after 3 p.m.
Blue plate specials: $10 per person
Weekly dinner special (dinner and a bottle of wine): $25 for two.
sellands.com

Looking for classy dining without the steep price tag? Selland’s is offering $10 blue plate specials for the month of February. A different entrée and side is featured each day. If you come on Tuesday, you’ll be treated to panko crusted salmon with an Asian noodle salad. Friday’s special is wood-oven roast pork with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Your heart may be aching but your stomach will be happy.

Saturday
Danny Daze
The Park Ultra Lounge
1116 15th St.
Starts at 9 p.m.
$15 at the door. Ages 21 and older.
theparkdowntown.com

Danny Daze, a nationally recognized DJ, will be performing at The Park Ultra Lounge downtown. Though it costs $15 (and the drinks aren't free), the Park Ultra Lounge is good place to dance the night away and maybe meet someone new.

Second Saturday Art Walk
Sacramento Midtown/downtown grid
Free. 5 – 9:30 p.m.
More information: 2nd-sat.com

Second Saturday isn't anything new in Sacramento. But, since this year it falls on the weekend before Valentine's Day, there are a host of themes to discover along the art walk. Many artists and venues will be hosting events, such as the Artist Foundry gallery, who will have a demonstration on the art of bronze pouring and sculpting.

Tango by the River Milonga
Tango by the River
128 J St.
8 - 9 p.m.
$15 - $20 per person. Ages 18 and older.
rivertango.com

The Tango by the River studio sits directly over the Sacramento River in Old Sacramento. Instructors Donna and Steve Williams offer Milongas, or Argentine Tango dance parties, as an introduction to the Tango. Go with your partner, or go alone, this is one party you shouldn’t miss

Teen Un-Valentine’s Day
Central Library- Teen Underground
828 I St.
1 - 2 p.m.
Free.
More information: saclibrary.org or call 264-2770.

For the bitter teenager, we’ve got just the place for you. Come to the Central Library for games, snacks and crafts with a very Un-Valentine's Day theme. Don't show up wearing red or pink, only black or other dark, gloomy colors are allowed. Get your emo on.

Sunday
Blues Jam
Torch Club
904 15th St.
4 - 7 p.m.
Free. Ages 21 and older.
More information: torchclub.net or call 443-2797.

Established the same year prohibition ended, in 1934, the Torch Club has been a longtime Blues Club in Sacramento. For those feeling blue, from being alone or being broke, Torch Club offers a blues jam and happy hour for those who want to play away their sorrows.

Make Chocolate Roses
Central Library – Teen Underground
828 I St.
2 - 4 p.m.
Free
More information: saclibrary.org or call 264-2770.

Need a Valentine's Day gift for your teenage love? The Central Library has you covered. Nothing says “I love you” like a bouquet of chocolate roses made out of Hershey's Kisses. All materials will be supplied, you just have to bring yourself.

Second Saturday Art Walk

2011-01-11T08:52:04Z

Saturday Night’s temperature during Second Saturday kept many art lovers at home. The first Second Saturday of 2011 was sparsely attended. The cold weather which was in the upper 30s or low 40s seemed to have kept many people in the warmth of their homes. Truth be told the cold weather curtailed the number of galleries I attended.

On 20th and J Streets a candle lit vigil included some singing that brought a crowd of people to that site. The singers seemed to have disappeared just as fast as it had appeared. The group was singing “This Little Light of Mine” (among other songs) although some of the lyrics were changed to fit the location and situation. The usual crowd that gathers at this spot on Second Saturdays was missing this evening.

Walking up on 20th Street towards I Street the musical bands that are usually outside performing were non-existent. As I passed by the 20th Street Art Gallery the site was empty. That was a sad sight as many artists’ exhibit their art here on a monthly basis. I had heard they were moving last year but was still surprised as I passed by the complex.

Walking down another section of Midtown the Sacramento Art Complex got my attention with art sculptures in their parking lot. One of the artists was doing a demonstration and had gathered a small audience as he worked. He gleefully answered questions and spoke about what he was doing as he worked on a project. I also noticed that work was being done on the wall facing the parking lot.

Inside the complex it also looked like studios were being renovated and new occupants were moving in. The Garley Sculptures Studio was open during this Second Saturday. Garley Poetry was on hand to answer questions about his sculptures.

La Raza Galeria Posada featured the works of Felipe Magdaleno, Jesus Barela, David Buenrostro, Andrea Porras, Mario Vargas, Mario Moreno and Jose Lott during their "Twenty Years to the Day" art show. The small gallery was busy while I was there and the place was very warm. I loitered for a bit while talking with other people at the gallery.

Midikat Boutique featured musical guests during their art exhibit. South Lot was performing and 1 Lost MC was setting up in the back. This boutique is on 21st Street (between K and L). The band performing, South Lot will also be performing at Old Ironsides this Thursday, January 13.

(South Lot)

The Kennedy Gallery, another place that’s usually very crowded, was quiet during this month’s Second Saturday. I stopped to admire the work of Dianne Mattar and I talked with her husband. Dianne shares a station with KC Moore. When Dianne came back we talked for a few minutes and asked if I had seen the youth art exhibit. “There are some works of art from the 6th Annual Youth Invitational over on the hall walls over there, have you seen them?” Dianne asked. I told her I had not and she proceeded to tell me a little bit more about the event “Look at this, I only have this because one of the artist I invited could not be here.: She showed me a packet they gave the young artists who were invited and it included a thank you card that the youngster could send to the artist who invited them. Their work is all up and down the hall.” Dianne said as we walked over to the exhibit.

The 6th Annual Invitational is not really a competition. The purpose of the invitational is to encourage children who exhibit a talent for the arts and to recognize their talent and encourage them. The work exhibited did indeed show the talent these young exhibitors have. The age range for these artists was from 4 to 17 years of age.

Towards the entrance of the Kennedy Gallery Art Center the beat of Tribal Calling filled the gallery. Several children joined in making music as they were given other rhythmic instruments to play. As I left I could hear their rhythmic beat of the drums for a couple of more minutes.

(Tribal Calling and helpers at the Kennedy Gallery)

As the temperature continued to drop I looked for a place to warm up but ended making my way back home instead. Second Saturday will begin to attract more enthusiasts in the March/April time frame when the weather becomes warmer.

Photos:

1, 2 - Artist at the Sacramento Art Complex

3, 4 - La Raza Galeria Posada Exhibit

5 - South Lot

6 - Tribal Calling

What did Charlotte and Emily Brontë have in common with Kurt Vonnegut and Sylvia Plath? Sacramento writers/artists explore this question.

2010-12-30T19:00:41Z

What did Charlotte and Emily Brontë have in common with Kurt Vonnegut and Sylvia Plath, besides writing? Come find out at The Second Annual Sacramento Writer’s Brush event. Can’t wait for the answer? Here is a hint: They all used both sides of their brains, the right to create art and the left to write and intergrated the two halves. Some of our greatest writers were also artists. Sylvia Plath’s mother once told her she had to learn to write as well as she drew. Some writers even achieved a separate fame with their art, such as Lawrence Ferlinghetti did with his paintings. In the tradition of these literary greats, the Second Annual Sacramento Writer’s Brush features local writers/artists Jennifer O’Neill Pickering, Frank Andrick, Lawrence Dinkins, Sue Owens Wright, Jeanine Stevens, Frank Graham, Tim McHargue, Susan Kell- DeWitt, Nora Staklis, and others in an art show and reading of their literary work. The art show is an eclectic mix of art mediums and includes collage, video, photography, painting, and of course, spoken word.

This Second Saturday event will be held on January 8, 5-9 p.m. (reading 6:30-7:30) at the Sacramento Poetry Center, 1719 25th Street (25th and R Street), Sacramento. The art will be on exhibit during the month of January. For more information, call (916) 451-5569 Admission is free.

Second Saturday's controversial year

2010-12-28T01:21:51Z

One of Sacramento’s biggest controversies in 2010 centered on the Second Saturday Art Walk.

Initially intended to be a family-friendly arts showcase, it had, before 2010 started, turned into two events – the art walk, and the after party – according to many Midtown residents.

On the morning of Sept. 12, the issue got the attention of the entire city when 24-year-old Victor Hugo Perez Zavala – who police say was not affiliated with a gang – was killed in a gang-related shooting outside a bar on 18th and J streets.

Several others were injured, but it was Zavala’s death on September’s Second Saturday event that brought increased scrutiny to the event.

One Sacramento Press community contributor wrote that Midtown’s concentration of bars and nightlife coupled with an event that regularly brings more than 10,000 people from out of town combined to make the tragedy inevitable.

To read her article in full, click here.

Sacramento Press Editor in Chief David Watts Barton argued that the shooting was not caused by Second Saturday, and the incident would not bring down the art walk or the event as whole.

To read his editorial, click here.

Community members weighed in on The Sacramento Press, proposing a “Second Saturday Synergy 2.0” in which the event would be more focused on art and possibly entail earlier start times, more police presence and other ideas.

To read their suggestions, click here and here.

More than 100 community members met with police and city officials Sept. 25 to discuss options for what might be done to both preserve the event and make it safer. Among the discussion topics were parking, enforcement of the 10 p.m. curfew for minors and better management of the event.

To read about the meeting, click here.

With the increased attention on the event, some questioned whether Second Saturday would go the way of the Thursday Night Market that used to take place on the K Street Mall.

The Sacramento Press interviewed several people involved in the Thursday Night Market, and they had differing opinions on how applicable the comparison was. One said that Second Saturday, like the Thursday Night Market, was becoming a victim of its own success while another questioned if there was actually anything going wrong with the event at all.

To read the article, click here.

Another set of comparisons was drawn between Sacramento and Chicago, with Chicago’s large, city-sponsored events.

Click here to read the article.

With October’s Second Saturday event approaching, police and city officials made plans to step up their efforts, and private citizens’ groups got involved as well.

The Guardian Angels and the newly formed Lavender Angels were not founded in response to Zavala’s death, but both groups took to the streets Oct. 9 to do their part in making a visible security presence on the streets.

To read about the two groups of “angels,” click here.

When Oct. 9 came, approximately 80 police department staff members – ranging from uniformed officers to volunteers – were out to ensure the event’s safety.

Police Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong told reporters the following day that the event was a success.

To read about the October Second Saturday event and the thoughts of those who attended it, click here.

With the weather turning colder, November and December Second Saturday events were more subdued, but the issue is likely to come up again as the weather warms and more people come to the central city for the event in 2011.

Kevin Johnson photo by Suzanne Hurt, staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Meeting photo by Jon Mortimer. Other photos by Brandon Darnell, staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Top photo taken Oct. 9 is not the Sept. 12 shooting suspect, who reamains at large.

Council members discuss Central City

2010-12-16T02:42:44Z

Sacramento’s Central City has received a lot of media attention for shootings and muggings in recent months. However, the area is also frequently in the spotlight because of large-scale development projects, such as the downtown Railyards or George Karpaty’s trio of businesses on K Street.

The Sacramento Press recently interviewed three City Council members to learn about their plans for the Central City. Councilwoman Angelique Ashby and Councilmen Steve Cohn and Rob Fong shared their priorities for the different parts of the Central City they represent.

Ashby’s portion of the area includes the downtown Railyards, K Street, Old Sacramento, Alkali Flat and the River District. Ashby mentioned the Railyards and K Street Mall as examples of key development sites in her district.

“Some of the best opportunities in the city lie in the downtown portion of District 1,” she said.

As an elected official, she said she wants to help avoid hurdles in the development process. “In my position, I can help make sure they get those projects done in a timely manner,” she said.

Ashby also said she wants to be a behind-the-scenes facilitator for the various groups involved with projects in the area. Stakeholder groups involved with Central City development projects, such as community members, government agencies and environmental organizations, need a “point person” at City Hall, she said, adding that she wants to take on that role.

Public safety in her district, and throughout the city, is a key priority, Ashby said.

Cohn, too, emphasized public safety when asked about his work in District 3. His section of the Central City includes Midtown and part of downtown. His district’s stretch of K Street starts at 16th Street and heads east.

He pointed out the shooting death of a 24-year-old that occurred after a Second Saturday Art Walk event in September. Cohn also mentioned that the neighborhood has bar and nightlife issues. He said he wants neighborhoods and businesses to work together to solve public safety and public nuisance issues in Midtown. In his view, Midtown’s development has been a success, he said.

“I want to make sure it can continue to succeed and not be a victim of its own success,” he said.

On a different topic, he said work is under way to enhance Sutter’s Landing Park on the northeast edge of Midtown.

Meanwhile, Fong said he was excited about the R Street streetscape project in his district. Fong’s piece of the Central City includes part of Midtown and downtown. The street improvements will make the street more pedestrian-friendly and inviting, he said.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the effort to revamp the street with new lighting and parking enhancements was held in September. The street will be remodeled from 10th to 13th streets.

Click on the following links to view maps of City Council Districts 1, 3 and 4.

Learn more about some of Ashby’s priorities for North and South Natomas here.

Photos of Cohn and Fong by Brandon Darnell. Photo of Ashby by David Watts Barton.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Everything is Awesome: Photographs by Keith Telfeyan

2010-12-07T02:04:02Z

Everything is Awesome, a solo exhibition of photographs by Keith Telfeyan, opens at Cuffs, 2523 J Street, Midtown Sacramento, on December 11, 2010 and will remain on view through January 7, 2011. Cuffs is open Mon-Sat 11am-7pm and Sun Noon-7pm.

The public is invited to a reception with the artist on December 11, from 6pm-10pm, as part of Sacramento’s 2nd Saturday Art Walk. Enjoy holiday snacks and drinks and Christmas tunes dj-ed by Shaun Slaughter while taking in the show. Cuffs is also sponsoring a toy drive to provide holiday gifts for children in need. Anyone who donates a toy will be entered in a drawing for a $50 certificate to the shop.

For his first solo show at Cuffs, Keith has created a series of digital C-prints from 35mm film entitled Everything is Awesome. Focusing on seemingly mundane, everyday sights, he executes the photographs in a way that causes the viewer to take a second glance—realizing the series title is, in fact, true.

With photography, Keith is able to capture scenes exactly how he perceives them, delivering his fresh take of the world to people who may otherwise be unswayed by a lamp post or a flock of birds. His work offers vision fields that give a lush and clean vicarious experience, bringing out transcendence through texture while alluding to the banal, ordinary moments of life being lived.

In Keith’s words: “Everything is everything. Sorrow and trees and architecture and love and chemistry and politics and the world. It’s awesome…to see a wave of oneness within each particular thing. Or perhaps the everyday itself is simply worth seeing in a new way.” Keith’s philosophy is tied in intrinsically to the photographs in this show. Attendees will leave with a novel view of the everyday and the knowledge that, yes, everything is awesome.

About the artist
Keith Telfeyan makes video art, short films, and photographs. He received his MFA from Parsons the New School for Design in 2009, and his Bachelor’s degree in Film from the University of California, Berkeley in 2003, where he also studied Philosophy and Rhetoric. His artwork has been exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. He was born and raised in Sacramento, California and resides in Brooklyn, New York. He is left-handed and keeps an active dream journal.

For further information about Keith Telfeyan and to see more examples of his artwork visit his website.

______________________________________________________________

All images by Keith Telfeyan:
1. Electric Spirituality
2. Pixilated Abyss
3. Slow Motion Explosion

Disclaimer: Alison Kranz is Public Relations contact for Keith Telfeyan.

Sacramento Second Saturday Artists

2010-11-17T09:13:37Z

As daylight decreases during the day and temperatures drop during the night it begins to take its toll on the Second Saturday events. This past Second Saturday there was a drop in people attending art shows and music events. Once rainy weather comes upon us even less people will be out on Second Saturdays in Sacramento.

Second Saturday in Folsom has seen similar drops in attendance. Cities where Third Saturdays are held will probably also see less people come out at night. Midtown sees the most people during its Second Saturday events and some have begun to go indoors. This will help with the cold weather and rain.

One of these vendor events is the Midtown Bazaar that’s held on I Street between 16h and 17th Streets. It’s usually open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. except on Second Saturdays when its expanded hours go from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The building they now occupy serves as a parking garage during the week but on Saturdays various vendors occupy the facilities indoors. Many of the same vendors return from week to week and some only make it occasionally.

The first Saturday of the month I met Amber Villegas, Midtown Bazaar Project Manager, and artis. The first time we talked I noticed the wall behind her station was being prepped up for a mural. I found out that she was starting a mural project with some students but at the time they were not scheduled to paint until the Second Saturday in November.

I made it a point to visit, take some photos and ask her some questions about this project. A couple of days before Second Saturday Amber indicated some of the students were going to be working on the project during the November Second Saturday Event.

I could smell the fresh paint just before I came into the indoor Midtown Bazaar. At the painting station I saw three young ladies working on the project. Amber wore some painting attire and it looked like she had been painting as different colors had dripped on to her clothing.

As the muralists worked on their project I asked Amber a few questions related to the project. When I asked her if this was a school project or a personal project, Amber indicated that it was more like a personal project something they cooked up. “I originally wanted to have myself and some other master students to just come in and paint the mural. But they unfortunately couldn’t do it so I had the idea to get a local High School involved and possibly teach them some new mural tricks. So that’s how it basically started. So I’m like a project manager for this mural.” Amber said..

Amber is also a graduate of Natomas Charter (#19) and indicated it she was one of the graduates in the first graduation class of 2000. She clarified herself by saying that there was one class before that in 1999 but there was only like 3 people in the class. The school used to be on Del Paso Road but now it’s on Blackrock Drive.

Three students worked on the mural; Christine Molina, McKenna Sortman and Samantha Davalos. Missing from the group on the day I visited was Josephine Cheng. They hoped to have the majority of the work done in the next couple of weeks “… but I won’t commit on that timeline because the artistic process sometimes stretches a little bit longer.” Amber said.

I asked her if this was her own time she was putting into the project. “Yeah, absolutely, I want to be a teacher so it’s kind of a jumping point for me.” Amber said. “I would love to be like a High School Art or Social Studies teacher something like that. I love working with kids, older kids.”

Amber has been involved in Sacramento as an artist for many years. She said, “I’ve wanted to be an artist since I was about four years old. So being an artist has been kind of a life-long thing.”

At one point I talked to one of the girls, McKenna, as she was working on her project. Her project is a portrait of her best friend who passed away due to cancer at the tender age of 15. I wasn’t expecting to hear that and I felt oh so sad. McKenna talked about her friendship and the remembrance of her friend. As she talked about her friendship she also came across as a very caring person. Her art is just beautiful and she has a lot of talent.

I asked Amber if the students were doing this for school credit. “Well, once they finish I’d like to get them more exposure as artists and teach them how to do works of art in public places. So for them it will be, hopefully, a good experience. They’re about to go into college three are seniors and one is a sophomore.” Amber added. The sophomore student is McKenna.

(Left to right: Christine Molina, McKenna Sortman, Amber Villegas and Samantha Davalos)

I pointed out that this was good experience and good exposure for their resume. Amber noted that it’s hard to be an artist and try to make it so the more exposure they get the better off they are.

Amber is currently the only artist in her family and noted that a Villegas artist skips every other generation and she’s glad it was her turn. Amber’s artistic endeavors has allowed for her to study art in Europe and Australia. She noted her many travels but noted she would probably be a permanent northern California resident.

She’s currently applying for a residency program right now and I hopes to get into the program. She sees this mural project as a way of testing the waters to see how it goes. Art is her passion.

I asked what the final art product will represent once it’s finished. “Well the whole theme is Sacramento. I think what Samantha and Josephine are doing is more like a landscape (nightscape). They’re depicting a window looking out with Sacramento in the background. McKenna is painting a portrait of her best friend and she’s going to have objects showing cultural objects in Sacramento located inside the portrait of her friend. Kristine here is doing more like a graffiti street scene of Sacramento.” All the students concentrated on their projects and painted most of the time I was there.

Amber had another mural going on the side facing of the building. It looked like she had been working on it for a while. It was a mural completely different than her students.

(Amber Villegas' Mural)

I will be going back there every so often to view their progress.

My next stop for the evening was Barton Gallery. This is one of the galleries I visit during Second Saturdays. The I Street galleries sometimes seem to offer more than the regular J Street galleries. It looked like it was closed but once I made it inside I met Sally Shapiro. Sally is a sculptor and had a show that evening. Sally has created several life size bronze sculptures. Two of these were on display. The two life size sculptures were sculpture #5 and #6 out of a series of ten.

One of Sally’s sculptures depicted her son. She described the sculpture; "He’s wearing high heels representing something he’s always valued; to protect the earth." His heart was very prevalent and depicted his very creative side. It showed a very pure spirit and I wanted to put happy notes in his heart." Sally created this to show her son’s creativeness. She went on to say that his mind is very creative. Although he has had learning disabilities he has compensated for this with his creative side.

(Sally Shapiro Sculptures)

I told her that I had noticed how things like work out for the better with some people. People with disabilities seem to compensate or make things up in a different creative manner. I mentioned that I believed that at least he’s brought it out while some people keep it in their whole life.

Sally mentioned she had just finished reading the Autobiography of a Yogi. She named the sculpture a Hindu expression that says something like; if you’re not helping in some small way you’re doing harm. You can contact Sally at 530-417-2872 or to follow her art showings.
Later that evening Sally was going to unveil her 7th life size sculpture at the Foundry.

I was invited to the Spanglish Arte gallery for a view of their exhibit for Second Saturday. A reception for a photo exhibit by Natalia Deeb-Sossa Coming Together in Difficult Times: Farm workers' Lives in Photographs. The photographs, for the most part, were taken by school age children living in Farm Worker housing. This exhibit showed the poverty that surrounded these children and the struggles of their parents to make a living under some sad conditions.

(Spanglish Arte Photo Exhibit by Natalia Deeb-Sossa)

The photographs were amazing. Although they showed the miserable circumstances of certain Farm Worker housing sites it also showed the innocence and beauty they saw in each other. Along the walls a story of what happened during the period these photographs were taken was just too much for words and as such the medium to communicate the living conditions of these children could more eloquently be told in photographs. It was almost like looking through their eyes and seeing what each child saw. Ironically, depending on your point of view or interpretation of these photographs it showed the beauty these children saw in each other and their parents.

I stopped at a floor store on 20th Street just north of J on my way to my car and noticed a couple of ballet dancers going through a routine. I stopped and enjoyed their performance. My next goal was to stop at the Hot Italian as the Sacramento Ballet was also doing a performance there but I lost track of time and it was too late to stop there.

(Sacramento Ballet Dancers)

My final destination for this Second Saturday evening was the Foundry. I had to take a look at Sally Shapiro’s sculpture unveiling. I stayed and observed a demonstration as how sculptures are made and found the 7th of 10 bronze sculptures created by Sally. Each sculpture takes about a year to complete. My goal now is to view all other 4 completed sculptures and wait until next year to see how many she’ll complete in 2011.

There are many stories in the streets of Sacramento. Artists from all walks of life and ages continue to show their talent through photography, sculpture, painting, the spoken work, food, music and dance. Sacramento continues to grow as a hub that attracts many talented artists. There are also many venues that help show off their talents and Second Saturday brings many of these people together to a somewhat central location. I continue to enjoy the arts through this event and hope it stays available for all Sacramentans to enjoy.

Photos by David Alvarez

1 to 6 - Christine Molina, McKenna Sortman, Smantha Davalos and drawing of McKenna's art work.

7 - Sacramento Ballet

8 to 10 - Inside the Foundry Gallery

Local studio fosters artist community

2010-11-10T00:42:17Z

The only sound in the studio at 1200 S St. Tuesday morning was the scratching of pencils and charcoal on paper as a small group of artists looked past their easels to study the live nude model on the stage.

S12 Studios and Patris Studio Gallery is home to a thriving artist community with an emphasis on painting life, whether it be still life or live models, said owner Patris Miller, who goes solely by Patris.

“I need to draw the figure to keep my skills up,” said professional artist Philippe Gandiol. “That is the most difficult part, and there are lots of live sessions here.”

Gandiol said he has been going to the studio for about three years and calls it a special place.

“There’s really a great artist community here,” he said. “There’s lots of live sessions.”

Patris said it’s the camaraderie of the approximately 150 artists who frequent the space that makes it unique.

“We have artists from all walks of life and all skill levels,” Patris said. “We have everything from high school students to professionals who have worked with Disney, the movie industry and the game industry.”

The goal, according to Patris, is to serve as a center for education – via classes and workshops, give exhibition space, provide a community-oriented environment and host events.

One recent event involved a group of artists going to Miller Park to paint for most of the day before returning to critique each other’s work and share a meal.

“It helps us have a lot of growth, support and encouragement,” Patris said.

Another event will be held in April on 35th Street in Oak Park, when a portion of the road will be closed and filled with classic cars, models in historic attire and artists painting the scene. At the end of the event, there will be a “wet paint” sale, in which paintings are sold as they dry.

During this weekend’s Second Saturday Art Walk, the exhibition space will be open, and artists will be painting in the studio with live models from 6-9 p.m.

Artists wanting to paint during the session will have to pay the same rate as any other session: $10. The public can view the creative process for free and browse the adjoining gallery.

“I like the people, and I just like having a place to come draw and paint,” said artist Sam Liberman. “Everything’s furnished, so I don’t have to build a studio and hire a model. Plus, we all learn from each other.”

Liberman said he enjoys coming to the studio every Tuesday and Thursday for sessions with a live model and occasionally hops in to practice on other days as well.

Artists who frequent the studio can pay a monthly fee of $150 for unlimited sessions and the ability to show up at off times.

Patris said it isn’t just about painting and drawing, as sculptors and even computer animators work in the studio.

Easels and models are provided, and artists need only bring their materials and canvases.

Upcoming workshops include two that feature internationally known artists, Patris said. Qiang Huang will give a workshop on still life in January, and in May, Calvin Liang will share his experience with a five-day plein air workshop.

“Sacramento is really the perfect place to have this,” Patris said. “Being the capital, we serve as a hub for the region, and we draw artists from all over.”

For more information and a schedule of sessions, visit the studio's website here.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Second Saturday isn’t what they’re making it out to be

2010-10-14T16:31:28Z

I’ve been living in Sacramento for seven years now, and have watched Second Saturday grow from being a well-kept secret, to a street-surging bona fide party, complete with jugglers, a one-man-band in a purple van, remote-controlled robots, and terrible Tom Petty cover bands.

The Second Saturday shooting that happened in September had everyone worked up about shutting down, scaling back, canceling, or drastically changing Second Saturday. Here’s the thing: that poor kid died, and it’s terrible what happened. I didn’t know him, but I know people that did, and he seemed to be a great kid with a lot of promise and a kind heart. The notion that this incident should shut down Second Saturday though is ridiculous. The notion that the shooting really even had anything to do with Second Saturday is absurd.

But therein lies the problem: what is Second Saturday, and does Second Saturday really even really have anything to do with Second Saturday?

Facebook (yeah, I know) was blowing up after the shooting, with arguments that maybe Second Saturday should be changed, “it’s not about art anymore”, people argued. “It used to be about going to galleries, now it’s where people from the suburbs come to get urban for the night”, they complained. Everyone seems to miss the little secret we had a few years back, when there were two or three hundred of us that would roam from gallery to gallery in bike, meeting friends along the way.

Friends would reminisce about the old days (you know, way back in ’04), back when you didn’t have to navigate a man dressed as a pickle, a motorcycle gang and tipsy Roseville cougars to get to the good art shows.

But Second Saturday doesn’t have to be all of that. Second Saturday, magically can walk the line and be both. I had an art show at Bows and Arrows this Saturday (I don’t mean to plug my own show, but it’s part of the story), and after navigating through the typical Second Saturday traffic, which was oddly unaltered by last month’s shooting, Bows and Arrows seemed to be a sanctuary for what I love about Second Saturday.

Sherman Baker and Kris Anaya each played incredible sets (Anaya even included a string section) to a handful of overwhelmed and appreciative admirers. The lights were low, people brought their kids, sat on the floor, and chatted between songs. Sherman and Kris sold some CDs and I sold some art. Undeniably, people were there to support the arts, and not to “get urban” for the night.

Throughout the evening, the crowd that filtered in and out weren’t the rowdy, gun-toting hooligans that your facebook friends were warning had infiltrated and taken over Second Saturday. They were my friends, and probably your friends too, people who were out to enjoy their Saturday night, see some friends, and go home with a buzz and a smile afterwards.

Second Saturday is fantastic for local business, it’s great for our little (but growing) art scene, but more importantly, it’s great for the Sacramento identity and brings us one step closer to being a city with true artistic prowess like Portland, or Austin.
Perhaps best of all, it’s safe and fun.

Second Saturday deemed successful

2010-10-11T05:42:52Z

Police called this month’s Second Saturday Art Walk a success, attributing that success to a heightened police presence as well as changes made by the Midtown Business Association and the city.

“We still had a shift in the crowd after the event, with them walking in circles and just hanging out, but the numbers were lower, and some of the problem groups were identified proactively by police,” said Sacramento Police Department spokesman Sgt. Norm Leong.

Approximately 80 Police Department staff – ranging from uniformed and plainclothes officers to volunteers and civilian staff – were on-hand at the event. Last month, it was 29.

“I think we balanced it with the right amount as far as what was visible,” Leong said.

In contrast to the increased number of police, the amount of event attendees was down, though Leong couldn't give estimates on numbers.

“There are slightly less people,” said MBA Operations Manager Aja Uranga-Foster, but she didn’t attribute that to fears about violence. “I think it’s because of the Crocker (opening for its members) and the Sammies. The event is more spread out.”

People interviewed by The Sacramento Press Saturday night generally said the violence didn’t deter them.

“I didn’t think twice,” said painter Chris Barnhart, who set up shop just off K Street between 20th and 21st streets. “In the early hours, there are a lot of people looking at art. We get families down here, but there’s less people this year.”

Bridgette and Marvin Maldonado said they talked about whether to come down, but in the end saw last month’s fatal shooting of a man on the Sunday morning after as an isolated event.

For many, the event is still about the arts.

“More people need to get out and paint and be creative,” said local artist Michael Sawyer. “That would provide people with something to do.”

Another local artist, Daniel Foglesong, agreed.

“We’re just here painting because we love to paint,” Foglesong said. “Most people out here on Second Saturday aren’t trying to cause problems.”

In addition to police, code enforcement officers were out, but they said their job was routine, though they noticed a smaller crowd.

“We’re just out checking for permits (for vendors and musicians), and we also carry a sound meter to make sure they aren’t too loud,” said Code Enforcement Officer Bill Hutchinson. “People have been cooperative.”

Code Enforcement Officer Julia Mason said she has friends who said they weren’t coming to the event because of fears of violence.

“Some people I talked to said ‘forget it,’ ” Mason said. “They would rather stay home and watch TV.”

Fears of violence made 17-year-old John Lamont think twice, but in the end, he came down to hang out with friends around the intersection of 20th and K streets.

“I wouldn’t want to get shot,” Lamont said. “It makes me think about who I’m out with.”

Lamont said he enjoys just being out with his friends, and planned to go home around 9:30 p.m. when the event ended so he would be home before the 10 p.m. curfew for minors.

Nai Saelee was out for a friend’s bachelorette party, and she said she wasn’t worried about gangs or violence.

“I don’t generally come out for Second Saturday, but I’m not worried,” she said.

Saturday was also the first art walk that the newly formed Lavender Angels were present for, and Director Tara Golden said having a small group of volunteers out was a good way to get a feel for the neighborhood and work out some policies.

“We’ve got a good core of dedicated people,” Golden said. “We’re hoping for more volunteers eventually.”

The Guardian Angels were also out, and Sacramento Chapter head Patrick Kent said he and his angels were making their rounds to serve as a visual deterrent to criminals.

“There’s a strong police presence,” Kent said, “but people are out here having fun. I’ve seen a couple of open containers (of alcohol), but nothing serious.”

Police did detain several people throughout the night, but Leong said none of the offenses posed a threat to the event.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

The 2010 Sacramento Sammie Awards Get A Makeover

2010-10-11T04:36:19Z

With all the charm of some backwoods corny carnival, the 2010 Sammie Awards relocated from its familiar turf at the Crest Theatre to carve out a new niche in the R Street corridor and welcome the whole neighborhood to an evening of merriment.

Perfect weather and the faint sound of disco beats started the party outdoors while spots like Venue and R15 began shuffling out on-lookers from pre-party refreshments. The crowd was patch-worked around the stage with nominated musicians and announcers, as stilt-walkers and street performers entertained families and 20-something hipsters bobbing their heads in
the street.

Photo booths stationed by the stage and editorial shoots popping at Muse Salon gave the crowd plenty of opportunities to capture zombies in mullets and biker gear and even the out-of-place guy with a Santa Claus hat.

The Coors Light Beer Garden was a happening location with little selection but cheap prices and convenient location next to the stage. The announcers, costumed in waistcoats and top hats, conjured up corny one-liners in between borderline vaudevillian attempts at humor.

Presenters included Sacramento News & Review Arts Editor Nick Miller and The Sizzlin Sirens, with favorites like Goodness Gracious Me and The Storytellers filling in the gaps and loosening up the crowd with indie rock and Gwen Stefani-inspired ska tunes twisted with mariachi horns. The Joints and Jams showcase offered a lineup of favorite DJs, and music followed with performances by The New Humans and The Nickel Slots.

As for the turnout, event producer Maritza Villegas was thrilled.

“This was our biggest turnout, the first year on the block!” she said.

Help from contributing local businesses and the eagerness of the Midtown crowd made the show a chill Saturday night location everyone seemed to enjoy, young and old.

Photo credit: Steven Chea

'Angels' working to keep Sacramentans safe

2010-10-07T04:51:29Z

Looking to make Sacramento a safer place after dark, two citizens' patrol groups will be out this weekend.

With their first training Wednesday night, the Lavender Angels will be joining the long-established Guardian Angels in serving as extra sets of eyes and ears for police and providing basic community services.

Now headed by the Gay and Lesbian Center, the Lavender Angels program is designed to make the Lavender Heights area anchored around 20th and K streets a safer place at night.

The intersection has a high concentration of bars and night clubs, and according to police, about 10 robberies per month are committed in Midtown against people out after dark, usually on their own in poorly lit areas.

“It’s a really awesome partnership between our community, the business community and the public safety community,” said Wendy Rae Hill of the Gay and Lesbian Center.

The Midtown Business Association is on board, as is the Sacramento Police Department.

“We’re very excited about this program,” Lt. Mike Bray said to the 15 Lavender Angels present at the training session. “Anytime we can get help doing our job ... the better. It makes your community safer and our job easier.”

Bray discussed the type of information the Lavender Angels could provide to police and gave tips on how to stay safe.

The Lavender Angels made it clear that they are not law enforcement and are mainly there to be a visual deterrence to criminals and recognizable safe contacts for anyone needing assistance.

The Lavender Angels will wear purple uniforms when they are out.

Another group of Sacramentans is part of a larger international organization – the Guardian Angels – which was established 31 years ago.

“Basically, we patrol the street to deter crime and educate people against drugs, gangs and violence,” said Patrick Kent, head of the Sacramento chapter.

Kent, who was also at the Lavender Angels training session, said he wants both groups to work in partnership, and added that he thinks the Lavender Angels program is a good idea and will keep the Guardian Angels from having to patrol the area.

“We generally will patrol once a week,” Kent said. “We don’t always do a set day, like Saturdays between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m., because if we did, then the criminal element would know when we’re out.”

Kent described his group as being “a bit more extreme” than the Lavender Angels, as Guardian Angels occasionally make citizens’ arrests.

The Guardian Angels also cover a much wider area, including patrols down Watt Avenue where drug trafficking and prostitution are problems.

"We pay attention to the news and the problem areas, and we focus our attention there," Kent said.

Their main objective, however, is still working with police and letting professional law enforcement officers handle any problems.

“Our primary goal is just a visual deterrent,” Kent said.

Both groups plan on being out for the Second Saturday Art Walk this weekend, and both groups will check in with police before their shifts.

To contact the Lavender Angels, e-mail lavender.angels@saccenter.org, and to contact the Guardian Angels, go to their website.

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

THE CHURCH SERIES

2010-09-29T16:46:21Z

The “Church Series” a Project by Fred Dalkey

The church takes up the corner of 23rd and K in downtown Sacramento. Painted white and stripped of any religious insignia, the large, solid stucco building is still clearly identifiable as to its previous use. The inside is much the same. The great hall, with its eighteen-foot ceiling, is thirty by forty feet, with a raised stage and proscenium at the north end. The tall, narrow, frosted windows reach almost to the ceiling, bathing the hall, and the air inside the hall, with pearlescent light. This room, like the outside of the building, has been cleansed of ornament. All of the furniture has been removed, and the entire floor is covered with neutral grey carpet. White paint covers the walls and ceiling, further reflecting the constant interior light.

In the southeast corner of this empty room sits a wooden chair, an easel, and a painting table with a white glass top on which sits a ceramic vase full of brushes. They face the first window, its panes, like all of the windows in the hall are translucent, covered with sheets of plastic frosting. In front of this window, not quite reaching the height of the sill is a small wooden table. In the center of the tabletop sit two plain vases, glazed dark brown, almost black. They are unremarkable, one a little larger than the other, with wide bases, flaring out to the shoulder and finishing with wide necks and mouths, each of which could have been sealed with a large cork.

Fred Dalkey has been sitting in the chair facing the window and table and the two small vases and has been making paintings for the greater part of the year. He often arrives at the church in the late morning when the light entering the east-facing window is its most intense, and paints as the sun moves up and over the roof. The frosted window obscures any view from outside, and softens the transition of the light as it changes through the morning and into the afternoon. But to say that he has been painting the vases, or even the light flooding over the vases would not be quite accurate.

Modern painting has given us a century of closely observed, finely modulated paintings, carried out as extended series: Monet’s great series of haystacks, poplar trees, and the Cathedral at Rouen captured the often minute-by-minute fluctuation of light as the day or season progressed. Each painting was a snapshot of a specific situational instant, frozen in time, where the light-infused air presented a saturated color image of the chosen scene. Giorgio Morandi’s ecstatically simple still-life paintings, carried out over decades, presented us with transcendental miniature dramas featuring the same small cast of characters as they arrange and re-arranged themselves with and against each other and the encroaching space that surrounded their table.

Dalkey’s project is different. He is painting exactly the same scene at essentially the same time, repeatedly engaging the same situation with a highly developed painter’s eye. Even though the light varies through the day and across the seasons, the huge reflective interior space of the church and the vertical expanse of the window keep the quality of the light remarkably consistent. He is fundamentally stopping time. These vases on the table, this intense filtered light sits suspended across the days and through the weeks and months. Dalkey is extending his gaze. Through this act of existential artistic contemplation, he is shifting the content of the paintings from the objects on the table to the observation of those objects. Even though the scene doesn’t move, the artist’s perception is now engaged. This sense of sight is the subject of these paintings done in the church on K Street.

This shift of subject from the object to the observer changes the rules of the game. In the hands of an observational painter with the developed technical skills of Fred Dalkey, the subtle variations of color and emphasis that are essentially optical, (that is, the information generated by the observer’s eye while in concentrated viewing of an unchanging scene) becomes a rich and uncharted territory for investigation. While we usually filter out the changes in our perception brought on by excitement, or fatigue, or too much coffee, they are identifiable, and sometimes profound. The act of engaged looking makes the observer aware of the relationship between the physiological perception afforded by the optical sensors of the eyes, and the smoothing cognitive powers of the brain. Sight is slightly pixilated, granular, given to us by the sensitive cells in our eyes; the rods that pick up variations of light and dark, and the far fewer cones that assess color. It is momentary and effervescent, a constantly changing landscape.

While this would be fertile ground for any like-minded painter, it is particularly prescient for Dalkey.

His recent previous work can roughly be broken into categories: one would be closely observed value-sensitive, almost classically realistic renderings, and another would be the more expressionist figure studies. Until now, his still-lifes would be entirely found in the first category. Considered and calm, the small collections of discrete objects (occasionally containing one of the vessels in these new paintings) create finely attuned compositions, and the textures, reflections, and cast shadows exist perfectly within even and steady illumination. On the other hand, the almost frantic figure paintings of the last few years attempt to capture an entire person and environment in a single sitting. Even though the figure within is usually at rest, the paintings are slashed with color. Slabs of purple, red, yellow or green create a torso, an arm, the side of a face bathed in the light from an equally aggressive source. This is painting as contact sport. The potential for failure is equal to the possibility of success.

These new paintings are a culmination of all this attention and practice. They are observational and situational. They are more than paintings of two vases; they are an attempt to capture the flowing quality of sight itself. Each one of these scenes is the record of a specific optical occurrence. It is as if the church on K Street was designed as an optical laboratory with its high white walls and infused bright light to afford an ideal environment for this intensified observation. The energized brushwork utilized to capture the light as it surrounded the model in the figure paintings is now used to identify the fleeting essence of color at a precise moment. Using the nominal subject of the vases, painted over the course of a year, Dalkey has been able to concentrate his attention on the perceived surface of vision.

If the paintings seem to us to be exercises of emotional expression, it may be that emotions can literally affect the way we see. The power of these paintings goes beyond the fact that they are an artist’s attempt to capture an almost impossibly fleeting occurrence. They are able to elicit emotion through the resonance of shared experience. They may feel familiar because at one level, we all live in this same visual world.

The Church Series is currently on exhibit at THE CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART, SACRAMENTO, located at 1519 19th Street, Sacramento, Ca, 95811. The exhibition is free. CCAS is open Wednesday by appointment andThurusday thru Sunday from noon to 5:00PM. This exhibition will run from September 23, 2010 thru October 23, 2010.

-Chris Daubert

Midtown residents, business owners offer solutions for Second Saturday

2010-09-27T05:37:28Z

Midtown residents and business owners gathered at the Ethel MacLeod Hart Senior Center Saturday morning to meet with city officials and representatives from the police department to discuss what can be done about the rise in violence and rowdiness following Second Saturday.

For the first 30 minutes, more than 100 community members wrote on comment cards expressing concerns and proposing solutions. These were collected and sifted through for a seven-member "Safety Team" panel to address.

Though Councilman Steve Cohn was adamant that the shooting death of Victor Hugo Perez Zavala was not inherently a Second Saturday problem, it was the obvious impetus for the gathering. In his introductory remarks, Cohn spoke about the tragedy, and Captain Dana Matthes from the Sacramento Police Department gave an update on their search for the shooter.

The panel consisted of Matthes and Lt. Mike Bray from the police department, Rob Kerth from the Midtown Business Association, Vincene Jones from Neighborhood Services, Dean Fujimoto from the city's parking department, and Lori Ajax from Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Matthes addressed concerns about the curfew for teenagers. She said that last month they put the word out to local high schools that the department would be strictly enforcing the 10 p.m. curfew for people under age 18. She said they witnessed an improvement in this area over August's Second Saturday and they plan on continuing these efforts to see if more progress can be made for October and the long term.

Parking was a recurring issue. Fujimoto stressed that neighborhood action committees are welcomed to organize and submit different rules to his office for non-resident parking. Possible ordinance changes would prevent club-goers from parking in residential areas, which would help with loudness and violence complaints in the early hours of the morning. He stressed that parking rules in the city were not set in stone.

One recommendation from a Midtown resident was to limit non-resident parking to one hour, forcing late-night club-goers out of the neighborhoods and into parking structures and more public areas.

When a comment was read that asked for better management of the event, Kerth was wary. He conceded that better signage could help the participants but worried that if Second Saturday is over-managed, it will lose its "organic" nature. He said Second Saturday is an important day for our locally owned businesses, and he wants to avoid micro-managing.

He assured the public that the MBA is always trying to make Midtown a more fun and safer place for people to visit. He announced that his organization is partnering with the Lavender Angels to provide nightlife guides from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m every Friday and Saturday night between I and N streets and 17th and 24th streets.

Aja Uranga-Foster is in charge of the new partnership and said it should help with some of the issues raised in the community forum.

"The main thing is to help people get back to their car, or taxis, or their homes (quietly)," she said.

The program has a small core of paid staff but will rely heavily on volunteers. It will be piloted for three to four months and reassessed in February 2011. She didn't have a specific start date but said they will definitely be out in time for October's Second Saturday.

Although the Safety Team did their best to reassure the public they would do everything in their power to help Second Saturday, and Midtown in general, grow safely, some community members remained skeptical.

Susan Rabinovitz, jewelry designer and executive director of the Sacramento Artists Council, was mainly concerned about what she sees as a growing chaos. She said a possibility would be to put vendors in Fremont Park and live music at Caesar Chavez Park, there wouldn’t be so much crowd problems in one area.

"Segment it so that maybe there's not all this congestion," she said.

Reymond Walker writes the Second Saturday Blog with his daughter, Naomi Bingham-Walker, and he said he'll feel better when he sees real improvement coming from city management. He said the community forum was a great starting point, but he is worried there won't be more of them to keep the community involved.

"If it does happen again, in a sense that would be great," he said. "If it doesn't happen again I hope it's because we are seeing, and they've figured out, an outcome in the streets that reflects success."

Rabonovitz and Walker cited the Amgen Tour of California as a successful event that Second Saturday could organizationally aspire to.

"The community is so clearly aware of what to expect, what's going on," Walker said. "There are areas that are taped off, there's a lot of publicity. I know where to go, I know what's happening."

The meeting ended with encouraging words from Jones from Neighborhood Services and Councilman Cohn.

"I haven't seen one suggestion that said, 'No more Second Saturday,' and that's a good thing," Jones said.

"Midtown is the soul of Sacramento," Cohn said. "We got to keep it positive here … but that does mean growing pains, so we got to figure out how to do it right."

After the meeting, Cohn said community members can keep sending their concerns and proposals to the members of the Safety Panel. He said the members' individual e-mail addresses were the best point of contact.

Second Saturday to go the way of Thursday Night Market?

2010-09-19T23:09:08Z

The Sept. 12 shooting has some Sacramentans wondering if the Second Saturday Art Walk is going to go the way of K Street’s Thursday Night Market.

According to Michael Picker, The Thursday Night Market was inspired by an event in San Louis Obispo and was intended to be a small-scale street fair people could stop by on their way home from work, but it grew to attract crowds far larger than anticipated as people went home first, picked up their families and then returned to the market.

Picker, who was chief of staff for Mayor Joe Serna Jr. when Thursday Night Market was introduced, both the Thursday Night Market and Second Saturday Art Walk became victims of their own success.

“Everybody plans for what can go awry,” Picker said, “but sometimes too much goes right, and you get too many people.”

But Rob Kerth, executive director of the Midtown Business Association, said the two events share many things, but they remain different.

“I’m not sure that we’ve got something going wrong here,” Kerth said. “There’s a lot of folks showing up, and they have a good time, and any number of businesses say it’s their most important day of the month.”

The key difference between the two, according to Michael Ault, executive director of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership – which produced the Thursday Night Market – is that Second Saturday has a much greater focus and involves the business community more.

“At the end of Thursday Night Markets, many retailers weren’t even open because they weren’t finding it a successful draw to their businesses because their voice wasn’t utilized,” Ault said.

With Second Saturday, Ault said, there is much more focus, and both the business and the community are committed to making it work.

“Second Saturday started off as an event to drive people to art galleries, and it has really evolved into a social scene,” Ault said, “and it’s a wonderful nexus where it’s gone, but we need to figure out how to make it grow and how to grow effectively.”

Picker advised looking into how other major cities handle their big events and see what can be learned from their experience.

Kerth said the MBA has been studying events in other cities, including San Francisco, Old Pasadena and Berkeley, and there are several steps that need to be taken to make Second Saturday a better event.

“We need to get parking out of the neighborhoods so people aren’t walking through them and being noisy and causing problems,” Kerth said, adding that in the future, the MBA will be posting better signage and lighting as well as passing out pamphlets at venues to inform visitors of nearby off-street parking he said many are unaware of.

In an effort to get teens to go home after 10 p.m., Kerth said the MBA is contacting local high schools and encouraging them to get the message out to students.

“We did that this month, and we got a response from about four schools,” Kerth said. “We’re going to push much harder next month ... but we’re not going to get all the kids to go home. We know that.”

It was an over-concentration of teens looking for a social atmosphere that largely contributed to the death of Thursday Night Markets, according to Picker.

“When large groups of teens started showing up, it turned away from being a family event,” Picker said. “That was hard for us. It was a turning point. How do you get teens to go home? If you push them to go home, they want to defy authority.”

Picker said throwing more police at the problem didn’t help, but running street sweepers down the venue did – until resources were stretched too thin.

“I think that’s what’s going on with Second Saturday,” Picker said. “It’s not a crime issue, it’s a population management issue. Unfortunately, this time there was a shooting.”

Kerth acknowledged that the MBA sees problems with the population at the event, which ebbs and flows during the night.

The crowds peak at about 9 p.m., he said, then they drop off until about 11 p.m., when they begin to grow again.

“The chances of a 17-year-old having a good outcome to their night after 10 p.m. goes down,” he said.

Another problem Kerth acknowledged is people drinking on the streets, detailed in this article.

Despite the acknowledged problems with the event, Kerth said Second Saturday is fundamentally different from the Thursday Night Markets in size.

While Thursday Night Markets were confined to an approximately four-block stretch on K Street, Second Saturday ranges all over from Old Sacramento to Alhambra Boulevard and from Broadway to F Street, according to Kerth.

Kerth said the efforts the MBA is making – from educating people about parking to encouraging teens to go home at the 10 p.m. curfew and working to stop the illegal “tailgating” – will not “make a fundamental change, but they’ll head things in the right direction.”

Kerth, Ault and Picker all agreed that there are lessons to be learned from other events, whether they be Thursday Night Markets, Jazz Jubilees, Pacific Rim Festivals or larger events in other cities.

“There’s a lot of community and political will to keep this going forward,” Ault said. “We need to preserve it because it’s a very special entity.”

Picker said that, thinking regionally, downtown and Midtown Sacramento are the “main street” for the area.

“There is a need for people to get together within the Sacramento Valley and be creative and not be constrained by strip malls,” he said. “You’ve got to plan for success, though. Maybe every couple of years you need to shake it up and do something different.”

Kerth said that Second Saturday is far from being just a memory.

“I get asked a lot from folks, ‘Is this the end?’ and my answer has been, ‘Well, I’m still coming down to have fun, are you?’ ” he said. “Rumors of our demise are greatly exaggerated.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Second Saturday: A Tragedy Waiting to Happen Can Anything Be Done To Save It?

2010-09-17T21:37:11Z

A rock band steps onto a portable stage set up in the old Sacramento News and Review parking lot at 20th and J streets. They tune up and begin to play. This promotion marked beginning of the end of the traditional Second Saturday.

Second Saturday was no longer going to be an art walk and about visiting art galleries. Second Saturday was going to be about bringing large numbers of young people to Midtown to stay after the event and continue partying and drinking in the Midtown bars and nightclubs.

City officials and the Midtown Business Association (MBA) immediately tried to distance the Midtown Second Saturday Art Walk event and themselves from the unfortunate and preventable death of Victor Hugo Perez Zavala and shooting of three others.

Why unfortunate and preventable? There had been plenty of warnings from Midtown residents and others that the art walk (Second Saturday A) and, more to the point, the after-event – the unofficial party in the streets of Midtown (Second Saturday B) – was rapidly reaching the point that a major incident was becoming a foregone conclusion.

This peaked after August’s Second Saturday (both A and B). The outcry become so loud that it was finally reported by The Sacramento Bee and The Sacramento News and Review. Both promptly poo-poo’d it along with city officials and the MBA.

So why were things allowed to spiral so out of control that Sacramento Police officers at the scene of the shooting last weekend could not prevent it or even identify a suspect? It can be traced back directly to the relationship between city officials and the MBA with the purveyors of highly profitable liquor in Midtown.

A little history: A few decades ago there was no way there would be a clubbing scene in what wasn’t even known as Midtown. White flight to the suburbs had left the area to drug dealers, prostitution, social services and Section 8 subsidized housing.

Slowly, a small group of determined individuals and families recognized the potential of the neighborhood and started demanding that the city help clean up the area and contribute to its livability.

About the same time, some art galleries began opening, along with a few nice restaurants. As Marion Millen described in an earlier SacramentoPress.com article,

“Gallery owner Michael Himovitz brought Second Saturday to Sacramento two decades ago, to ‘educate and connect people through discussing art.’ He advocated coordinating individual efforts into an event that benefited all the galleries, their customers, local culture and the community. It worked.”

It worked very well for a long time. Midtown grew to have a good quality of life (livability). It had a variety of businesses within walking distance serving the neighborhood. This included restaurants focused on food and a vibrant art scene.

It needs to be emphasized that what is called Midtown is overwhelmingly residential. It is an area made up of several-century-plus-old historic residential neighborhoods. Midtown is crisscrossed by two two-block-wide commercial strips: J and K streets and 19th and 21st streets.

The other small commercial areas are 28th Street south of J Street and a small area on Capitol Avenue. All the rest is residential. A significant amount is single-family homes. A lot of these residents are still occupied by those who fought for a good quality of life or those attracted to the neighborhoods because of the quality of life and the philosophy of new urbanism (Live where you are not dependent on a car, goods and services are within walking distance or public transportation and your living situation takes up much less space).

The latest changes to Midtown started a little over a decade ago. Midtown went from livable to being marketed as “THE HOT” location in Sacramento. High-end restaurants that morph after 9 or 10 p.m. into bars and nightclubs designed to attract 20-somethings from the whole region and beyond displaced the businesses serving the neighborhood.

Except for negative impacts on nearby residents, it worked for a while. But then came the recession coupled with overconcentration. And along with that came desperation. The bars and nightclubs became desperate to find any way to attract patrons to their near-empty businesses. No one was in a better position to witnesses this than the residents of Midtown.

It didn’t take the alcohol purveyors long to realize that they could have an OK to even good night once a month on the night of the Second Saturday Art Walk. Soon there was promotion of the Second Saturday “After Party.” The one city block of eight bars and nightclubs between 27th and 28th on J Street, the self-named “Bloc,” is a good example. With nary an art gallery in sight they started proclaiming, “Come to the Second Saturday After Party at the Bloc!”

Now here comes what really led to last Sunday morning’s shooting. Not content with the amount of business they were getting from Second Saturday A (the wine-sipping and cheese-nibbling art crowd was not contributing to their business), through the MBA and with the assistance of the city, they hijacked Second Saturday A.

There is a thing with late-night talk shows sometimes called the “warm-up.” This consists of someone, sometimes the star, appearing before the show starts telling jokes and getting the audience going. So when the show starts, the audience members are all excited, and the home audience sees them on their feet cheering.

Second Saturday A has now become the “warmup” for Second Saturday B. This is well-documented. No one denies that Second Saturday A has become more of a Mardi Gras event.

Loud bands are located throughout the area with large numbers of street vendors. Many galleries have dropped out, complaining of vandalism, thefts and crowds only interested in drinking their wine with no interest in purchasing art. Few feel it is safe to bring their children. In fact, few genuinely interested in art attend. Many are afraid of the crowd that has gotten more and more out of control.

Second Saturday A getting everyone in a major party mood for Second Saturday B has been a massive success. Well, at least in terms of attendance and rowdiness.

Now add to this ready-to-continue-to-party crowd an unwillingness to disperse them.

The whole mood is conducive to partying and, more importantly, drinking. With word of the Second Saturday B spreading, and with a lot of promotion, the event has continued to grow.

Along with the frat boy types and others with a propensity to drink spending money in the bars and nightclubs, Second Saturday B has attracted the underage with not much else to do, and, sadly, those prone to anger and violence.

With no mechanism to sort out and remove the latter, it became inevitable that there would be a major incident, and sadly that incident took a bystander’s life and injured three others.

So what is the City of Sacramento’s role in all this? What were they thinking in allowing these crowds to grow so large in the first place? Did they not listen to their officers telling them this was getting beyond what they could control? Do they truly think that this is what makes Sacramento a world-class city – ignoring the loss of quality of life for the residents of these neighborhoods? Are they so beholden to the political power of the bar and nightclub owners that they are so willing to put people’s lives at risk?

The city had almost exactly the same situation in Old Sacramento. When this started to threaten the business interests, the crowds were forcibly driven out of Old Sac. Police officers told residents of Midtown neighborhoods that that is where these individuals ended up, making it more difficult for the police to deal with them.

When the the Thursday Night Market got so out of control that the police realized they no longer had the resources to deal with it, city officials at the time wisely shut it down before someone was killed.

In regards to the Midtown Business Association: the MBA started out many years ago, founded by owners of many of the small individually owned businesses that served a number of the needs of the neighborhoods.

It has changed into a business association that primarily represents the interests of the high-end restaurants, bars, nightclubs and associated businesses. As I have already stated, many of the original businesses have been displaced, and those that are left are mostly ignored. If you don’t believe, me just attend their monthly meetings.

After a shooting on the patio of Harlow’s Nightclub, there was a lot of media coverage. During the same period, female patrons were robbed at gunpoint crossing 27th Street at J Street. The bar and nightclub industry feared a loss of patrons afraid to come into Midtown.

A security company was hired and instituted things like security patrols and other systems that improved the situation for residents while making it safer for patrons. When the memory of the shooting faded, the security was discontinued. The problems for the neighborhood returned.

It is not surprising that the public has not heard anything from any of the bar or nightclub owners that have benefited so much from Second Saturday. That is what they have the MBA for.

Some immediate solutions: If the City, they MBA and everyone else involved truly wants to save the 6 to 10 pm Second Saturday A they need to shut down the after party crowds of Second Saturday B. It has been made crystal clear that even with added resources the Sacramento Police Department can not control what happens in these crowds. After 10:00 pm anyone who is not in a restaurant/bar/nightclub, coffee house or other legitimate business or on their patio needs to move on. There are plenty of locations east and west of Midtown to legally drink and enjoy them selves.

The crowds need to be controlled so they do not move out into the residential area. To help prevent this a two hour or less no parking without a residential permit zone needs to be instituted throughout the Midtown residential areas and ENFORCED. 311 needs to be staffed adequately on the second Saturday/Sunday morning so that residents can call and report drinking and other illegal activities. Police need to be dispatched to deal with this. Some residents are going to whine about the parking but it is a small price to pay to have peace in the residential areas. Guests at legitimate gatherings can move their car every two hours or hosts can easily obtain one day visitor permits.

These two things would go a long way in having a post Second Saturday that would much safer and sane.

About those of not of drinking age and the problem of gangs: Youth are attracted to the Second Saturday events to see and be seen. An area in the central business district needs to be set aside for them that access can be controlled. Possibly a section of the convention center. It needs to have food and soft drinks available at a reasonable cost and feature music. Could one or more of the bands at Second Saturday A be brought in?

As for gangs, having a controlled access area would make it much easier to exclude them and weapons.

But sadly gangs are a long term problem with no quick solutions. While a lot of resources have been put into Second Saturday the city has cut youth programs and gang prevention nearly to the point of non existence. Mayor Johnson talks of working for youth but with out the support of the whole council to find money and other resources how is this city going to have a better future for its’ young people?

Community Brainstorm: Second Saturday Solutions

2010-09-17T20:28:07Z

Victor Zavala will not be a martyr but he will be remembered. The shooting that injured three people and caused his death has been a catalyst for a community discussion of social, cultural and political issues.

When we are through discussing our differences, we may discuss what we have in common: our love for the history and beauty of our central city, rivers, climate and region; our pride in our diverse population and our commitment to continue to grow Sacramento into a wonderful place to live, work, play and visit.

The recent tragedy and ensuing community conversation has many aspects. Some are contentious and difficult to deal with. An open community meeting has been scheduled to discuss these issues later this month.

In the meantime, the call for solutions continues. If we, as a community, share our ideas, as fantastic as they might be, it may help the leaders and policy makers get a spark of an idea that could become reality.

Let's use this space to brainstorm and visualize some possible alterations to the Midtown and Second Saturday overgrowth of converging events, to spread the good parts and ease up some of the bad ones.

Please reply with your ideas, as solid, serious, silly, imaginative or fantastic (or not currently budgeted) as they may be:

Here's a start:

Spread Second Saturday out in space and in time, across the city and throughout the days of the month

Link clusters of galleries associated with one time period of gallery hopping and use RT shuttles to interconnect them (possibly from East Sac to Midtown to the downtown core ... and beyond)

Show films on outdoor walls in different parts of town during good weather (most of the year, here)

Create a community arts center as a hub for events, art shows, shops and performances

De-emphasize alcohol use and offer attractions for all ages and income levels of our broad population

Bring back Thursday Night Market to the K Street Mall

Use empty storefronts on the K Street Mall for art shows and installations

Require people crossing J Street illegally at 20th Street to stop and have their face painted first

Include kids crafts booths on Second Saturday and street fairs

Spread arts opportunities and gallery outreach into other neighborhoods

Feature live painting demonstrations

Develop yearly art auction to cover some of the costs

Generate jobs with some of these ideas so people aren't so desperate to get drunk or violent to deal with anxiety

Ask the Kings to pay their loan back immediately; use the money for the arts

Use the gorgeous new river promenade for regular art displays

Include more of the public in decisions made by city and business leaders

Have artists paint Porta Potties and trash cans

Create a gallery or shows specifically for area art students

______ add your ideas please ______

Opinion: Let's drop the ugly equivalence

2010-09-17T00:49:19Z

Let's get a couple of things straight: The shooting at 18th and J this weekend wasn't caused by Second Saturday. And it isn't going to take Second Saturday down.

The shooting was an act of violence by someone who ended up in Sacramento's central city with a grudge and a gun. Sure, they may have been drawn here by the street party atmosphere that has grown around what began as an art walk. But they might have been here on a Tuesday night as well.

Did they come to drink? Possibly. Did having a drink or two cause them to shoot at each other? That's a leap. Alcohol does not make someone a murderer.

It may, however, cause one to hurl. And the ongoing irritation of some Midtown residents with drunken young adults has led the opportunistic to link what is essentially a nuisance with…murder. This linkage is specious, and it is callous. The chorus of "I told you so’s” from some neighbors of the area has been particularly disturbing.

As a former resident of Midtown, and a current resident of the more-challenged Alkali Flat neighborhood downtown, I sympathize with those who have had to wash vomit off their sidewalks, had their fence posts or potted plants broken, or even had to shovel excrement out of their flower beds. I've done it myself. No fun.

But the aggressive exploitation of this tragedy by a handful people with an agenda has been disturbing. Let's be real: The nuisance of immature, drunken people is not comparable to an innocent young man dying in a crossfire. Those who are linking the two together for their own rhetorical gain should be ashamed of themselves.

If anything, the argument could be made that the shooting this past weekend was simply the exception that proves the rule. People got shot. The first thing I thought of was: Wow, most of the time, thousands and thousands of people come to Second Saturday and no one gets shot. And most of the 15,000-20,000 people who come don't even get drunk.

Sacramento, like most large American cities, has a gang problem. It has crime. And despite the histrionic claims of some Midtowners – one recently referred to the lovely Marshall Park area as “a war zone” – the central city actually has less crime than many outlying areas.

I've lived in the central city off and on since 1981. I have never been robbed, mugged, burgled, assaulted or otherwise accosted. I did have my car broken into once. But one friend who lives in a very nice neighborhood in South Land Park had his car broken into three times – in one year.

The snobbery of some central city residents is revealed in such circumstances: the dismissal of other Sacramentans as “suburbanites” and “douches” is just a more acceptable form of prejudice, and may masked deeper prejudices.

And it feeds a new kind of NIMBYism: Gangland slayings are too bad, but I can ignore them if they’re in South Natomas or North Sacramento; they’re tragic if they’re in my backyard.

A post-shooting blog post on sacbee.com noted the other day that statistics show that there has been no increase in crime on Second Saturdays during the last two summers. So again: the linkage of nuisances with violent crime is rhetorical rather than actual.

More police will probably help, but there were cops all over that one block of J Street Saturday night, and they couldn't stop the shooting. There was a crowd of witnesses, and they haven’t yet found the shooter.

Even if Second Saturday were shut down entirely, we'd still have occasional shootings, even in gentrified Midtown. People shoot each other. It happens. It's a crime, and it's a tragedy, but it's the way things are in gun-happy America. Putting police on every street corner and closing down every restaurant and bar at 10 p.m. isn't going to change that.

Midtown does not have a bad gang problem. What it has is a mixed-use problem. Again, like many cities, it has shops next to bars next to apartments next to houses next to hotels next to restaurants. But this is why we like such cities. This is why we like Midtown, isn't it?

Some neighbors of bars take the brunt of nuisances that are the result of drunken, rowdy behavior. And they are within their rights requesting cooperation from club owners, agitating for better street lighting from the city and working to improve their neighborhoods. Perfectly reasonable.

But you can only control the world around you so much. Things change, cities change and neighborhoods change. Most agree Midtown is changing for the better. Shops, restaurants, theaters and, yes, even bars make Midtown a more interesting, more fun and more valuable place. What it may not make it is quieter. Or cleaner.

For people who prize peace and quiet, there's always the suburbs.

Sacramento is changing from a mostly-suburban area to a real city, and we need to learn how to live real city lives, with sometimes awkward, or even challenging, encounters with people who don't share our values. We need to learn to live in a way that is not a dash between our house and our car and the office and the mall.

The young people who come into the central city to party, no matter what night of the week or month, need to learn how to behave themselves. How we can teach that, as a city, is open to debate. People drink. People misbehave. People are "douches." It's just a fact of life.

But the older, settled folks need to get a grip. Midtown Sacramento isn't what it was 10 or 15 years ago. That’s a good thing. When these bars and restaurants that are so reviled by the party-haters close down for lack of business, we'll see how well people like empty (though yes, quiet) storefronts as their neighbors.

A city is what it is. It's not about you. It’s about all of us.

And so, we will work this out together. The loudest voices will get attention, but the cooler heads will prevail. There is too much at stake, and there are many ideas being bandied about, and will continue to be, both on The Sacramento Press and at Midtown Monthly's website. Some of them are very good.

But none of those fixes would have prevented a random, gang-related shooting. Life is unpredictable. Stuff happens. Sometimes, that stuff is people messing with your azaleas; sometimes, that "stuff" is someone getting shot.

And in the heated debates about this that will surely continue into this fall, I would like to encourage my neighbors to recognize the difference between the two.

September Neighbohood Advisory Group Agenda...Timely Issues as Usual

2010-09-15T23:56:07Z

The agenda for September's meeting of the Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) follows.

Lt. Mike Bray hopes to have some updates from the police department on the Second Saturday shootings.

Food banks have become a survival resource in todays economic climate.

Many city park swiming pools have closed or are slated for closing. Some Area 1 neighborhoods have managed to keep their pools open. We will hear what their stragities were to achieve this.

Measure B is a controversial ballot measure that could have longterm consequences on how the city utilities department operates and the delivery of services to city residents.

Each month's NAG agenda is put together by residents of the City of Sacramento Area1. If you wish to contribute to this process see the information at the bottom of the agenda announcement.

Area 1 Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG)
September 2010 Agenda

In Partnership with the City of Sacramento Neighborhood Services Division

Monday, September 20, 2010, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street

Tonight’s facilitator: Gerald Celestine, Capitol Area R Street Association (caRsa) and Friends of Fremont Park

6:15 Complimentary pizza and soft drinks courtesy of Sacramento Deal Ticket

6:30 Welcome and Introductions

6:35 Area 1 Police Department Activity Report
Lt. Mike Bray, Police Department

6:45 Announcements

6:55 Issue Updates: Mercy Hospital; Midtown Nightlife Issues/Responsible Hospitality Institute;
R Street; Sutter Hospital/Trinity Cathedral; High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes; Preservation Roundtable; Department of Utilities Funds; The Docks Project; K Street; NAG Action Request Form

7:05 Area 1 Updates
Neighborhood Services Department

7:20 River City Food Bank
Eileen Thomas, Executive Director, River City Food Bank
River City Food Bank (RCFB) is a Sacramento-area food bank open every weekday to anyone experiencing hunger from anywhere in Sacramento County is located right here in Midtown.
Learn how RCFB is helping the Sacramento community and have your questions answered.

7:25 City Pool Discussion
City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department; Friends of Bertha Henschel Park; Friends of Glenn Hall Park
Due to budget cuts within the City of Sacramento, many pools have closed for the summer of 2010 and many more, including the pool at Southside Park, are scheduled to close in 2011.
Learn how neighbors have raised private funds to keep neighborhood pools open.

7:55 Measure B
Patti Bisharat, Interim Assistant City Manager
Measure B is a proposal that has been placed on the November 2010 ballot regarding amending the Sacramento City Code to repeal rate increases and roll back rates levels for water, sewer, and garbage collection services.
Learn the impacts of Measure B.

Adjourn

***Next Meeting: Monday, October 18, 2010, 6:15 to 8:30 p.m., Hart Senior Center, 915 27th Street***

For more information, contact Janine Martindale at (916) 808-8193 or at jmartindale@cityofsacramento.org. Items are placed on the agenda based on their time sensitivity and relevance to Area 1. Join the NAG agenda committee in setting the agenda at 12 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month at the Clunie Community Center. See City Council agendas and reports at: http://www.cityofsacramento.org/clerk/

Second Saturday Synergy 2.0

2010-09-15T21:37:03Z

(please note: For the purpose of this overview, "downtown" and "central city" are used in the traditional sense of designating the urban business core AND including the area bound by two rivers and two freeways, which includes Midtown)

Gallery owner Michael Himovitz brought Second Saturday to Sacramento two decades ago, to "educate and connect people through discussing art." He advocated coordinating individual efforts into an event that benefited all the galleries, their customers, local culture and the community. It worked.

The synergy resulted in a Second Saturday tradition where art lovers gallery hopped, enjoyed artist receptions and mingled with lively crowds in different parts of town. Cooperating galleries increased their visibility and attracted new customers.

In the aftermath of the September Second Saturday shooting, it may be time to honor the legacy and maintain the event, by creating Second Saturday synergy 2.0.

The death of Victor Hugo Perez Zavala and shooting of three others place a sense of urgency on addressing issues that neighborhoods, city officials and business groups have been working on for years.

There is a call for a task force and study of best practices to address these issues, when such a Midtown task force has existed for over a year.

If we work with what we have, drawing on the existing efforts that are underway, we build that synergy. Especially during drastic budgetary times, this makes sense.

Despite attempts to intellectually distance the after-party from Second Saturday, "night life issues" from "Second Saturday issues" and the earlier crowds from "the criminal element," it is the combination of all of the above that resulted in the shooting.

In recent years, existing residents and businesses of Midtown were descended upon by development interests that turned neighborhoods into a perpetual Mardi Gras and Second Saturday into a street fair.

Now, all the various voices and stakeholders - who value the Second Saturday event, the interests of businesses and residents and our shared quality of life - have a choice to make: to create a healthy synergy or continue with a toxic one.

Some groups of businesses, associated with the above-mentioned task force, are already working on coordinating public relations, parking information and guide/security teams.

That type of synergy may be extended to a broader area, including business districts that may currently be perceived as rivals. A vision like the one Michael Himovitz had, extended over the entire downtown area, potentially benefits the businesses, residents and community within and beyond the central city.

Sacramento is famous for its rivers and trees and for its diversity. The "vision" of previous city management that brought people downtown with the lure of alcohol and a singles bar scene was short-sighted and unsustainable.

That demographic needs to be part of a broader mix that attracts families, theater goers, diners, music lovers, all ages, locals and tourists, to events that are not over-concentrated and over-inebriated.

There is a general consensus that one simple and immediate solution to Second Saturday congestion is to spread out events that attract large crowds. This fits with neighborhood association studies and recommendations for placing events in appropriate venues: appropriate for audience size, crowd control, noise, parking, garbage, alcohol consumption and other significant impacts.

Recognizing the interdependence of different types of businesses, in order to draw a diverse demographic to the central city, also makes sense.

One Midtown resident and business owner responded to a recent business association survey by advising them to "quit creating drunkfests" where the only businesses that benefit are "the ones that sell booze."

A Second Saturday Synergy 2.0 may include:

incorporating the existing and ongoing city/resident/business task force work on Midtown night life and Second Saturday issues
new city management and planning for sustainable development to "bring people downtown" while maintaining quality of life aka livability
recently implemented plans to enforce the 10:00 p.m. curfew, open 20th Street between J and K (and enforce traffic laws for crossing J Street?) and provide additional police presence on Second Saturday.
new regulation or reduction/removal of street vendors and bands outside
spreading Second Saturday and other crowded events over broader space and/or time
implementing current task force plans for street guides and security provided by the business association
implementing existing plans for improving parking regulations to ease excessive negative "night life" impacts on neighborhoods
challenging over-emphasis on singles bar scene, "drunkfests" and street closures as a Midtown draw - including on Second Saturday
requiring existing "nightlife" businesses to prove compliance with existing codes, noise ordinances and conditions of city Entertainment Permits and state ABC permits
returning Second Saturday to an event that gallery owners, artists, art lovers and residents want to participate in!

Artwork: Skinner www.theartofskinner.com; Fred Dalkey; Nathaniel Stewart http://www.nathanlewisart.com/
Photos: Marion Millin; Michael Zwahlen http://www.zwahlenimages.com/index.php

Handful of citizens address Second Saturday issues at council meeting

2010-09-15T03:37:55Z

A handful of people attended Tuesday’s City Council meeting to comment on Second Saturday Art Walk issues in light of the shooting death of a 24-year-old after last weekend’s event.

While the death of Victor Hugo Perez Zavala outside of a J Street bar has attracted extensive media attention in the past few days, only four people commented on Second Saturday issues at the City Council meeting.

Local artist Susan Rabinovitz said the art walk has become “a tragedy.” She suggested that the city hold the art walk from 4-7 p.m.

Midtown resident Vivian Gerlach said the art walk should continue, but the “after-party” should be better controlled.

Photo by Suzanne Hurt. Local media outlets have covered the Second Saturday story extensively.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Opinion: Sacramento Second Saturday Intervention

2010-09-13T21:11:42Z

The murder of Victor Hugo Perez Zavala, 24, makes it harder for Sacramento to ignore the elephant in the room.

Yet there's a defensive reaction, as media mouthpieces argue over what time Second Saturday is officially over and unofficially continues. It's delusion, but a typical effort to save face and project blame. It is time for an intervention.

Sacramento city and business leaders have been addicted for several years to unsustainable city management policies. The "Bring People Downtown" mantra was distilled into "Instant Nightlife, Just Add Alcohol."

The Midtown oversaturation of bars and nightclubs-pretending-to-be-restaurants created mayhem magnets near residences. This also attracts a criminal element to prey on the well-heeled drunks who displaced yesteryears' homeless drunks.

The civic/business inebriation with toxic quick bucks has damaged the quality of life in Midtown and diluted the resources of the code enforcement and police departments. There have been more - and more serious - crimes than have been reported.

Every dysfunctional relationship has communication problems. City and business leaders have enablers in the media, who clean up the messes and make the excuses. They publish the pretense that everything's fine and any Midtowners who say otherwise "don't really know where they live."

We know very well where live. We live in their state of denial. Another tragedy, that we warned them was inevitable and imminent, has occurred.

Residents of Midtown embrace change and development, but not at the expense of quality of life and public safety; and not at the expense of those businesses, residents and (potential) visitors who don't fit the target drink-and-dash demographic.

Second Saturday became an alcohol-fueled street party over the years because city and business leaders actively turned Midtown into an alcohol-fueled street party zone over the years.

Second Saturday amplified that energy and those efforts.

The drunken, mob mentality that follows after 9:00 p.m is a continuation of Second Saturday and a reflection of the level of toxic, disruptive and abusive Midtown "nightlife" that local leaders have fostered.

Now that another person has died, they are forced to take a sober look at their ongoing policies.

It is time for city/business/media power brokers to pay their tab: show the community the cost/benefit analysis of creating crime magnet party zones that chugalug city enforcement and public safety resources.

It is time for them to detoxify their attitude toward neighborhoods and residents and find another place to turn into a spring break theme park.

It is time for them to match events to appropriate venues, to accommodate impacts and create attractions that are hospitable to more of Sacramento's diverse demographic.

It is time for city and business and media leaders to foster a healthy central city that works for the whole community - including those who may actually want to enjoy and purchase art work.

We want our Second Saturday back.

September's Second Saturday

2010-09-13T19:54:41Z

This month’s Second Saturday ended on a bad note. Although the details are not known, as of this writing, a shooting took the life of 24 year old Victor Hugo Perez Zavala. Second Saturday has grown in popularity these past few months and crowds have also increased. Over 10,000 people show up to shop, admire art, eat, drink, listen to local bands and socialize during the Second Saturday event.

The Second Saturday venue gives local artists a chance to show off their art where otherwise they would not get such an opportunity. This event has been so popular that similar events take place in Folsom, Roseville, Placerville and other areas surrounding Sacramento.

September’s ending to Second Saturday leaves a bad taste and hurts businesses around the Midtown area. This popular event has been a catalyst in keeping local economy prospering. It hurts local artists who look forward to acquiring available space to show off their beautiful art. This type of tragedy hurts everybody involved.

September’s Second Saturday has expanded where now block parties are held to showcase our local artists and allow local fund-raising activities for clubs such as this weekend’s Midtown Community Festival held to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Sacramento. This festival allowed the raising of approximately $20,000 for the club. Local bands played and activities were held for kids.

One of my favorite local bands, One Eyed Rhyno, played a long set here and I think years into the feature they can look back at this event as one of the catalyst events that helped launch their early career. Andrew, Elaine and James put on a fantastic show. I chatted with Elaine and James’ mom for a little while as she taped their performance. Actually, today I saw 4 bands whose members were in High School or grades below. Mrs. Hunter was not the only parent who attended their children’s performance and I have noticed that many parents take an active interest in their children’s musical growth. One Eyed Rhyno put on quite a show as always. I saw them last week at the annual Chalk It Up event at Fremont Park and every time I’ve seen them they do something different enough where they’re not putting on the same show.

Further down the street between 20th and 21st Streets, off of J and K, the City of Sacramento Scottish Pipe Band put on a show and girls in costume danced to their music. Over in front of the 20th Street Art Gallery the Linda Bracamonte Band played a set. Other musicians were stationed at various other places throughout Midtown.

I also got a chance to pass by the Kings on L Street store front where Francisco Garcia was signing autographs. I stopped and chatted with him in Spanish for a couple of minutes. As we chatted, people came around to say hi and get his autograph. He was very pleasant and signed every request. Inside the store Sacramento Kings tickets and other merchandise was being sold.

Several other bands that had played at last weekend’s Chalk It Up performed in front of City Bicycle Works on K Street. This was the first time I’ve seen The Trees perform and I was very impressed. They played mostly cover songs and pleased the audience in attendance. As The Trees finished their set I walked back with some friends to their place on P Street but by the time I got back to City Bicycle Works Simpl3jack had finished their set and I was very disappointed since they’re becoming one of the best bands in Sacramento and they put on an energetic set. At the Chalk It Up performance last weekend their lead singer lost his voice and reluctantly they cut their performance short.

Dog Party played the last set of the night and again they delighted the audience. I’ve been following their progress over a year now and I continue to be impressed as to how far their progress has come. Their original tunes mixed with cover songs (my favorite right now is Los Angeles by X) are very striking. A lot of music comes from the Giles sisters and if you haven’t seen them perform I would suggest looking them up on their MySpace page and catch one of their upcoming shows.

Listening to some of these bands with young performers I tend to think of the Seattle scene of 15 years ago when so much rich music came out of there. Who knows maybe in the next few years the same can happen with some of our local bands. I believe we have some extraordinary talent that, in the not too distant future, will put Sacramento on the musical map.

As I was passing by the Sugar Plum I heard some music coming from their back patio. The Sub-Fobias were playing some hard core head banging music. This was another band that I had not heard play before and I should have kept some extra ear plugs. Their punkish sound was loud and they have reason to be proud. Their raw excess energy flowed to the audience and they put on quite a show. As they finished their set I could already hear the ringing in my ears. At the same time I committed their name to memory and I’ll be following their progress as they play in the Sacramento Area.

On Saturday art came second to the music on September’s Second Saturday.

Photos:

1 to 4 - One Eyed Rhynos,

5 to 7 and 8 - City of Sacramento Scottish Pipe Band, Hula demo

9, 10 - Linda Bracamonte Band, Francisco Garcia

11, 12 - The Trees (drummer not pictured)

13, 14 - Dog Party

15, 16 - Sub-Fobias

Things to Do In Sacramento: Arts, Lectures and Theatre

2010-09-11T04:59:13Z

Art Events:

As if you could miss it, it is Second Saturday. Here is information on the art side of Second Saturday. Free

The fourth annual Curtis Fest is being held in its’ namesake William Curtis Park Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This year will feature 60 local artists, musicians, and cuisine, along with activities for children and adults. More information from Sacramento365.com. Free

Lectures:

California Lectures kicks off its’ 2010-2011 season with a very timely interview with David Plouffe. From California Lectures press release:

California Lectures presents An Evening with David Plouffe on September 13, 2010, at 7:30 PM at the Crest Theatre in downtown Sacramento. David Plouffe will be in conversation with Dan Morain, discussing his book, The Audacity to Win, his work as political campaign manager for Barack Obama, and his effort to reach first-time voters in the 2010 midterm election.

David Plouffe was the chief architect of the groundbreaking campaign that put Barack Obama in the White House. Plouffe's grassroots approach and innovative use of technology helped guide Obama to a monumental victory in the 2008 presidential race. Plouffe's book, The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory, recounts the story of Obama’s run for the White House, reveals details of this historic campaign, and shows how the campaign revolutionized politics. In his November 4th acceptance speech, President Obama referred to Plouffe as an “unsung hero…who built…the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.” Plouffe has served as a leading political consultant playing a key role in elections nationwide. He is the key strategist behind Organizing for America’s first-time-voter campaign.

Dan Morain is senior editor and columnist for The Sacramento Bee. He has covered the California Supreme Court when Rose Bird was chief justice, the Legislature when Willie Brown was speaker, and the Governor’s Office during Gray Davis’ tenure. He spent 27 years at the Los Angeles Times and was part of the team that covered the 2008 presidential campaign. He joined The Bee’s editorial board in January 2010.

AN EVENING WITH DAVID PLOUFFEIn conversation with Dan Morain
September 13 | 7:30 PM
Lecture Preview at 6:30 PM, a biographical discussion presented by Sacramento State Associate Professor of English, Susan Fanetti.

Doors open at 6:15 PM. Books available for purchase and book signing after the event. For program information call (916) 737-1300.
Crest Theatre, 1013 K Street, Sacramento

$30 and $15 w/ Student ID Tickets Tickets.com or (800) 225-2277 Or in person at the Crest Theatre Box Office, 1013 K Street. Monday-Thursday 4:30-8:00 PM / Friday-Sunday 12:30-8:00 PM.

Theater:
Last chance to see B Street Theatre Mainstage production of “Old Love” A well acted Norm Foster Comedy. Kelsey Simpson’s SacPress review
5 and 9 pm Saturday and last show 2:00 pm Sunday
Tickets $18-30 B Street Theatre 2711 B Street Sacramento(916)443-5300

Just opened B Street Theatre 2010-2011 B3 Series “Neat” a fantastic play by Charlyane Woodard with a great performance by Sacramento native Danielle Mone Truitt. Bill Burgua’s SacPress review. Extended through October 10th. (Don’t put off seeing it. You will be sad if you miss it and you may want to see it again. Ticket information above.

Community Theatre:

Runnaway Stage Productions has a children’s show, Snow White. Opening Saturday noon and continues 2:00 pm Saturday and September 18th and 25th at noon and 2:00 pm. Tickets $5.00 24th Street Theatre 2791 24th Street, Sacramento (916)207-1226

Runnaway Stage Productions is also continuing its’ adult musical production “Rent.” This is the first regional theater production in the Sacramento area of this very popular contemporary musical from the always reliable Runnaway Stage Productions.
Friday and Saturday 8:00pm Sunday 2:00 pm through September 26th. $15-20 Tickets

Ending this weekend The Fair Oaks Theatre Festival’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” playing through Sept. 12. Barry Wisdom’s SacPress review
It will be presented by the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival at Veterans Memorial Amphitheatre 7991California Ave., Fair Oaks.
7:30 p.m Friday, Saturday and Sunday (last show) More info and Tickets $8-$15.
(916) 966-3683

Lambda Players continues the adult comedy "Poughkeepsi Porn Co,." A longtime gay porn production company needs some new tricks. Bill Burgua's SacPress review. Thursday, Friday and Saturday 8:00 pm through September 25th. Nudity Tickets $10 21st and L Street Theatre 1127 21st Street, Sacramento

Sacramento Concerts, Music Events, and The Local Music Scene This Week

2010-09-10T17:19:01Z

Here are some of the concerts and music events happening this weekend and next week in the Sacramento area. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to www.eMusiConnect.com

Concerts, Music Events, and The Sacramento Music Scene This Week:

Saturday, September 11th: Rick Springfield with Peter Noone and Davy Jones at Thunder Valley Resort at 8:00PM. Tickets are $19.00 - $59.00.

Second Saturday features art on display, live music events, street vendors, events at galleries, restaurants, and nightclubs in the Sacramento area. Maps and more event information can be found in Sacramento Bee Friday Ticket or Sacramento News & Review.

Monday, September 13th: CHK CHK CHK at Harlows. Show at 9:00PM. Tickets are $15.00 ADV.

Tuesday, September 14th: Primus with Mariachi El Bronx at Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. Show at 8:00PM. Tickets are $38.00 GA.

Wednesday, September 15th: Weldon Kekauoha at Harlows. Show at 6:30PM. Tickets are $15.00.

The Local Music Scene:

Friday, September 10th:

Jerry Perry presents Lite Brite - The Babs Johnson Gang at Old Ironsides 9:30PM/$7

Fortress of Attitude - Ol Cotton Dreary - Relic 45 at Marilyns 9PM/$7

Ian Ethan (early show 7PM/$12) The Workshop Reunion with 60 Seconds to Wreck & Harley White at Harlows 10PM/$10

Mick Martin & The Blues Rockers at Torch Club 9PM/$8

Attwater - Chris Twomey at Fox & Goose 9PM/$5

F*ck Fridays with Shaun Slaughter – Jon Droll – Roger Carpio at Townhouse 9PM/$3-$5

CrookOne TGIF at Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

Hip Hop & Forum on Community Justice at Sol Collective (2574 21st Street) 6PM/$5-$20

The Cuf at The Distillery 9PM/$6

The Show with DJ Billy Lane at Park Ultra Lounge 10PM

Get Down To The Champion Sound with DJ Esef at Capitol Garage 10PM/$5

Lost Angeles - Arlyn Anderson Trio - The Charles Ross Experience at Naked Lounge Downtown 8:30PM/$5

DJ Intensify at Dream Ultra Lounge 9PM

Reggae at The Red until 9PM at JB's Lounge-Red Lion

Nothin Personal at Swabbies On The River 6PM/$5

Love & Rockets Tribute & INXS Tribute at Blue Lamp 9PM

Salsa Fridays at Club 21 9PM/$5

Wonderbread 5 at Crawdad's on the River 9PM

Saturday, September 11th:

Fascination 80's Dance Club at Old Ironsides 9:00PM

Chuck's Annual Pirate & Wench Party at Marilyn's 8:30PM/$25

Kill The Radio Logic - Kooch - Dum Spiro Spero at Fox & Goose 9PM/$3

Kevin Seconds - Erik Hanson at Naked Lounge Downtown 8:30PM/$5

Bamboo Station at Blue Lamp 9PM

Doolin Run New Country Band at Harlows 10PM/$8

Shane Dwight at The Torch Club 9PM/$10

DJ Whores at The Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

Mix Saturdays with DJ Michael Moss at Mix Downtown 9PM

DJ Scene at Park Ultra Lounge 9PM

No Bozoz at Swabbies on the River 6PM/$5

Jazz After Dark at JB's Lounge-Red Lion 7PM/$12

Sunday, September 12th:

DJ Wokstar's 10PM/$5 at Blue Lamp

Brunch Beats with DJ Katz at Aura 11AM

Tess Honn CD Release at Torch Club 8PM

Alex Jenkins Trio at Shady Lady Saloon 9PM

Salsa Sunday at MoMo Lounge 7PM (Moving to WED 9/15)

The Remedies at Harlows 8PM

Diva Show at Faces 9PM/$5

Mother Mayhem at Swabbies on the River 3PM/$3

Benefit for Randy Valdez of Colma with Colma - Deconstruct & more at The Boardwalk 4PM

(Pictures 1.Rick Springfield 2. Primus)

Photo Tips for Busy Parents

2010-08-28T02:43:48Z

Photo Tips for Busy Parents was a class set up and conducted by Jenn Bartell, on September 25, at her studio on 2418 K Street. Eleven parents (all moms or expected moms except for 1) attended the workshop. This was a free workshop held by Jenn Bartell at a studio she shares with Catrina Maria Arcularius who specializes in Event Planning and Design and Suzanne “Weedon” O’Brien a floral designer-owner of Garden of Weedon. This is a good business location and the usage of space is greatly utilized by having three small businesses under one roof.

The class started off by going over the technical aspects of the camera. Most parents in the class had entry to intermediate level digital single-lens (DSLR) cameras making this a more challenging class for these parents but at the same time more rewarding once they learn how to use the functions of their cameras. Jenn tried to quickly cover aperture and shutter settings on the cameras. She recommended these two settings as a foundation for taking good pictures. She also covered ISO settings and looking at the parents it may have been a little bit more overwhelming than they anticipated.

She did pass on that she sets her camera on manual setting saying, “I like to use all the settings myself, this gives me more control. I try to stay away from flash as this tends to wash out skin tones and leaves harsh shadows.” This basically separates the “pros” from the rest of us.

The worried look on some parents seemed to disappear as she moved on to discuss an actual shoot. Jenn was very patient and reminded me of a second grade teacher reading a story to her kids. She was very attentive and thoroughly answered questions. Students patiently and eagerly took written and mental notes.

Jenn recommended looking for interesting places to photograph children. Take notice of these interesting places and more important observe natural light and the time of day. She also recommended candid shots. Have the child do something they enjoy such as playing with legos, drawing anything that grabs their attention and they enjoy doing. While the child is doing this the parent should move around them and photograph from different sides and angles. Once in a while ask them to show you their project this way you’ll capture moments when they’re not “posing” for the camera or saying “cheese” something that many of us do. Older children can be told how to pose and tend to follow directions better than younger children. Jenn indicated that one of the most important things you can do is to “stay patient and wait for the look you want.”

It’s almost unusual to hear of a photographer who went to school to learn the trade but Jenn has been interested in photography since she was a young child and this carried on to High School at Sacramento High. She chose to attend Sacramento High School because of their photography program. She mentioned her photography teacher from who she learned a lot Mr. Tafoya. Jenn noted that Mr. Tafoya moved to McClatchy High School where he still teaches. Jenn attended Brooks Institute of Photography graduating in 2005. She spent some time in New York and San Diego before deciding to come back to her home town. Back in Sacramento she decided to concentrate in portrait photography, children, and weddings. Her demeanor and patience, I believe, make her well suited to specialize in children’s photography.

Jenn’s studio will be hosting Sacramento Rocks! A Kids Photo Show on Saturday October 9 as part of the Second Saturday art walk. The studio will be open from 5-9 for this exhibit. This showing will be open for photographs taken by kids 12 or younger of their favorite person, place or thing in Sacramento. Photographs taken and submitted by Sacramento-area kids will be displayed along with the child’s name, age and title of their photo. Each child may submit one photo for the show and all photos will be printed and displayed. September 15 is the deadline for submission. Email submissions to jenn@jennbartell.com.

Jenn had many tips and tricks for parents to use when photographing their children, she also had 5 most important things that should be noted:
• Try to stay away from using flash
• Stay patient and wait for a shot you want
• Concentrate on the features of the face
• Keep eyes in sharp focus
• Clean up any distractions in your background

Children are very active and in order for them not to lose interest keep a shooting session somewhere between 30 to 45 minutes. Event with all the tips and tricks Jenn provided you have to know when to stop. Keep checking Jenn’s web page for future updates and if you’re in need of a photographer, a florist or even an event planner you can get all three by visiting The Studio at 2418 K Street.

Second annual Southside Sessions comes to Second Saturday

2010-08-12T07:44:30Z

Saturday’s second annual Southside Sessions will bring together people, music and food for an afternoon of memory making.

This year’s event is expected to be much bigger than last year’s, said event coordinator Josh Robichaud. “There were some smaller bands and food donations. This one is going to be bigger and better. We want to make it a force to be reckoned with.”

Full of musical performances by bands like Prieta, Smirker, O Street Dub, Majesty and Esteban Villa, Southside Sessions will feature skateboarding by amateur riders and art demonstrations by local professionals.

Following the day’s activities, there will be a movie night featuring “Monsters vs. Aliens.”

Other artists include Alchemy FX, Erick Veil, Rocío Mo, Dezi Bush, Charise Marie, Mariana Alverez, Christian DeWild, Cristina Avramoni, Alexandra LeMay, Kenya Cavaso, Hannah De La Rosa and more.

People of all ages are encouraged to come.

“My favorite aspect would be the people coming together for a mostly free event,” Robichaud said. “Bringing an organization of a Second Saturday event to bring together a community that hasn’t seen a Second Saturday before is what I look forward to.”

Contributors include Red Bull; The Home Depot; Art by Dumas; Opa! Opa!, Scott’s Seafood Grill & Bar; Buckhorn Grill; The Melting Pot; Nopalitos Southwestern Cafe; The Cheesecake Factory; The Old Spaghetti Factory; Nine 16 Skate Shop; Kline Music; Tricks Gymnastics, Dance & Swim, Bucca Di Beppo; SacDine.com and UrbanSac.com.

Southside Park is located at 2115 Sixth St. Southside Sessions runs from 3-8 p.m. Saturday.

Photos courtesy of Southside Sessions.

Celebrate Sacramento's Iceland this Weekend

2010-08-10T02:56:59Z

Friday and Saturday, there will be an opportunity to support the fire-devastated Iceland Skating Rink.

Antique Maison Privee, located at 2114 P St, will be hosting the event from 7-10 p.m. on Friday and it will feature light appetizers, wine, music and a video retrospective in addition to an art and a jewelry auction. Tickets cost $50 and are available on-line at icelandrestoration.com. Saturday from 5-10 p.m., the artwork of artist Wendy (Kerth) Nugent will be on display as part of Second Saturday.

On March 28, a five-alarm fire gutted the historic Sacramento landmark. It didn't take long for the Kerth family, owners of the arena, to realize that they needed to rebuild. Not just to preserve a piece of Sacramento history, but to provide a home away from home for the local skating community. The nearest rinks are now in Stockton and Roseville, a far drive for the young ice skaters who would visit the rink daily.

Unfortunately, there was no fire insurance on the building, and the business had not turned a profit for many years. Rob Kerth called the last 30 years of operating Iceland a "labor of love."

In order to rebuild, the Kerths have drawn upon the love that the community has for them. About 250 volunteers have come to the rink over the last four months to help with the rebuilding effort.

They tore down burned structures, removed heavy beams and pushed rubble-filled wheelbarrows.

"The Kerth family has done so much for the community," said volunteer Andy Hernandez. The cleanup days were "our turn to give back for all they have done."

But soon the cleanup will end and the rebuilding will begin, and that will take professionals and capital.

The Kerths estimate that it will cost $1 million to restore Iceland to a fully operational year-round rink, but they said they are not deterred.

They are raising the money the same way they cleared away the debris - slowly and with the help of friends. There have been volunteers collecting money on Del Paso Boulevard, a benefit urban flea market courtesy of Schiff Estate Services, and an ice skating show in Stockton.

-Natalie Kuffel is a neighbor of the Kerth family and has previously written about the Iceland rebuilding effort for Inside the City.

“The Art of the Game” struts World Cup-inspired fashion, art

2010-07-12T04:44:01Z

Although cheering fans with painted faces, yellow cards or buzzing vuvuzelas were nowhere in sight Saturday night at the Hot Italian restaurant, a little piece of World Cup soccer was in Sacramento.

The eatery hosted its second half of the 2010 FIFA World Cup “The Art of the Game” celebration with a fashion contest. Ten local designers randomly chose countries participating in the World Cup and were challenged to design an original piece based on them.

Local judges Leigh Grogan, Sacramento Bee’s fashion editor; stylist Health Hamilton; and fashion blogger Jen Wade and votes via Facebook and Twitter decided the winner.Lindsey Bee and her outfit inspired by Spain took first place, foreshadowing the World Cup win on Sunday, when Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0 in overtime.

Argentina came in second with a design by Mila Anatichuk and Anastasoa Clemons’ France-inspired outfit took third. Judging was based on the spirit of the game, craftsmanship, originality and creativity, said Hot Italian co-owner Andrea Lepore.

In addition to the runway models, members of the Sacramento Ballet and the Washington Ballet modeled Dolce and Gabbana and Calvin Klein World Cup men’s underwear. Midfielder Clemente Fonseca of the Sacramento Gold also showed off some fancy footwork during the show.

The first half of “The Art of the Game” displayed 15 pieces of FIFA-licensed World Cup artwork June 11 through July 11— the only ones in the United States.

The collection is part of 160 original pieces from international artists from 32 countries. Hot Italian had art on display from South Africa, the United States and Italy.

Lepore said the art has been well received.

“People come in to watch the games; it’s sort of an added bonus,” she said. “It was a perfect tie-in for us.”

Soccer fan Anabel Gil, originally from Mexico, was pleasantly surprised by the art.

“I really enjoyed sitting here and looking at it,” she said. “I am not a big fanatic, but I can feel the spirit.”

Although many have asked if the art is for sale, it is not and will be shipped back to Africa. The winning three fashion designs however, will be displayed in the restaurant’s windows.

Although she admits she is “more than a little sad” that Italy did not advance further in the World Cup, Lepore was happy to see two teams make it to the finals who have never won the title before.

“That’s what makes the World Cup so special — that anyone can win it,” Lepore said.

Fashion photo courtesy of Juan Ayora, jfayora.com

A mini-shot of Second Saturday

2010-07-11T19:56:23Z

Here are snapshots of what I happened upon during Second Saturday in midtown:

These women moved v e r y slowly through dances in front of the Marrs Building (above and below). They are members of Dangerous Lorraines. More information about them here: dangerouslorraines.org/ . They attracted lots of attention!

Joe Velez in Headhunters kept patrons happy with their favorite libations.

This artist pulled her "studio" on a wagon behind her bicycle.

Youngsters checked out their "apin art".

The Alkali Flats did their Lo-Fi and Honky-Tonk music in the Bike Kitchen (above and below).

Stephanie Oliveira (above) and Jen Cemaglio (below) were on J St. again creating an underwater scene in chalk leading up to the 20th Anniversary of Chalk It Up! on Labor Day weekend. For full details of this and other art events, visit www.downtownsac.org/secondsaturday

One of the little fish in the mural.

A tribute to the ocean in light of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of New Mexico by Sandy Thomas, a Sacramento poet.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

Zombie Walk

2010-07-11T19:34:09Z

Zombies roamed around at the Second Saturday Art show. Billed as one of the largest Zombie Walks the participants did not dissapoint.

Music from Second Saturday

2010-07-11T19:26:04Z

Second Saturday was very well attended for the July 10 Art showings. I think this was the largest crowd of the year.

Jen Cimaglio and Stephanie Oliveira actually started with their art starting on Friday. They were doing a chalk mural for the forthcoming 20th Aniversary of the Chalk It Up event. You can see their work on J Street near Cesar Chavez Plaza. Other performers that I stopped to listen to were Meghan Collier who also sings with the Corner Pocket Band was on hand. Meghan has a webise at www.myspace.com/myredsky. Mae McCoy and the Neon Stars played at the Sacramento Bicycle Kitchen. The last act of the night that I had the pleasure to listen to was Lindsey Cook playing in a court across from the L Street Lofts.

20th Street H and M seemed to be the busiest street (except for J Street) for art, music , drinks and people watching. Along the way I met Madame Red who even wore some red contacts to fit her motive. Her mom has a booth selling beanies and you can view her work by going to www.56greenbeanies.etsy.com. Conrad Lawrence was decorating 3 bikes he had finished welding together. He’s one of those native Sacramentans that has been in the area most of his life. He has his own website (http://www.onetonmagoo.com/ and also has various videos on youtube, a search can be done under onetonmagoo.

The evening included a Zombie Walk where a large crowd was expected and indeed this was the largest crowd of zombies I’ve ever seen. I think they should have done a Thriller dance to end their walk. Chris Riva from KCRA was on hand with an intern and played along by putting on some zombie makeup. Children of the Grave played and were well received playing their Zombie Black Sabbath tribute.

Photos

1, 2 - Chalk It Up (art), Jen Cimaglio, Stephanie Oliveira (artists)

3 - Unknown performer (anybody know?) 4 - Meghan Collier

5 - Madame Red 6 - Conrad Lawrence

7 - Mae McCoy and the Neon Stars 8 - KCRA's Chris Riva and intern

9, 10 - Kaela and Maddy (before/after) getting ready for Zombie Walk

11 - Zombies (if there was a prize they should have won)

12, 13 - Children of the Grave

14 - Lindsey Cook

Second Saturday Tonight- Watch Live Video Here

2010-07-11T00:10:08Z

Sacramento Press will be set up in front of KlickNation at 1015 20th Street tonight for Second Saturday. We will be serving free lemonade on this hot summer day and enlisting new community contributors!

KlickNation is also hosting two wineries, RailBridge Cellars and Ficklin Vineyards, and Mochii Yogurt. Sean Berry from Vis a V Salon 2381 will be offering free consultations and free services. Sandra Hoover @ SandraHoover.net will be showing her art, along with Kathryn Luna and Kristin Hartman, and Elizabeth Kaapcke. DJ Slyvano will be spinning live throughout the evening and there will be a live performance by Sacramento Wushu club.

Come join us or watch live video here!

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Trash Film Orgy Festival Starts Saturday

2010-07-08T03:15:08Z

The start of the 10th annual Trash Film Orgy film festival adds to this month's Second Saturday events.

The festival will have a showing every Saturday at midnight, starting July 10. It runs through Aug. 14 with a special showing on Halloween.

"It's a midnight movie festival," TFO Producer Christy Savage said. "A lot of people think it's the most terrible movies out there, but we're about the best exploitation horror movies."

Saturday's inaugural film, "Evil Dead 2," will be preceded by a Zombie Walk beginning at Sub-Q at 7 p.m. Participants of all ages dressed as zombies will roam Second Saturday, stop at Pyramid Alehouse for happy hour and watch zombie band Children of the Grave perform at Sub-Q.

TFO's website states the festival includes 35mm exploitation and cult cinema, live bloody stage shows, audience participation, games and prizes. And it is an "annual sleaze fest bringing you the trashiest, goriest and most bizarre movies ever made."

"Besides just showing the movies, we have a lot of interaction and audience participation," Savage said. "It's definitely different than other film festivals."

TFO features different films every year.

"We have five regular midnight films, and on our closing night we have Trash Till Dawn with three movies at the same price," Savage said.

Films scheduled this year include "Galaxy of Terror," "Crybaby," "Nightmare" and "Enter the Dragon."

TFO Director Darin Wood guessed the festival has a core fan base of 200 people who are open to most films shown. He said the audience varies beyond that, depending on how mainstream a film is.

"It really gives people a place to go and express that slightly wilder side of themselves. There's not too many places you can dress up in your fetish gear and have a good time," Savage laughed. "We get a good mix of people, geeks that never leave the couch, beautiful sexy ladies, and they can all comingle. If you like fun, you'll like the TFO."

Movie attendees must be 18 or older. Tickets are $9.50. Attendees dressed as zombies or other "cool-costumed cats" for any showing get in for $8.50.

Sub-Q is located at 1715 I St. Crest Theatre is located at 1013 K St. (916) 442-7378. For a schedule of TFO's showings, visit their website.

Photos:

1) A 2010 TFO poster.

2) A zombie version of "West Side Story" called "Dead Side Story" at a previous TFO showing.

3) Participants in a previous Zombie Walk.

Photos courtesy of Christy Savage.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

The Dead to Rise for Trash Film Orgy Festival

2010-07-08T03:05:31Z

The living dead will wander through Second Saturday crowds in downtown Sacramento this weekend. Zombies of all ages and decomposition will be present for the 2010 Zombie Walk.

The Zombie Walk is a commencing event for the 10th annual Trash Film Orgy film festival, which begins this Saturday. TFO runs through Aug. 14 with showings every Saturday at midnight and a special showing on Halloween.

"Our first few years were some of our biggest Zombie Walks," TFO Producer Christy Savage said. "And then we stopped doing them for a while. Then there was a big resurgence all over the world, so we started doing them again. This will definitely be our biggest one."

Cities including Seattle, Denver and Nottingham, England, have hosted zombie walks. The walks are not only for leisurely strolls but also to set world records.

Previous Zombie Walks in Sacramento have had peaks of 200 participants. Savage said the event's Facebook page has 800 people signed up.

"The nuts and bolts is it's a bunch of people that get together and try and create a spectacle," TFO Director Darin Wood said. "For whatever reason, it's really enjoyable to people."

Schedule:

7 p.m.: The dead assemble at Sub-Q. 1715 I St.

8 p.m.: The dead walk at Second Saturday

9:15 p.m.: Zombie band Children of the Grave performs at Sub-Q

10 p.m.: The dead walk again to Pyramid Alehouse for Zombie Happy Hour

11:30 p.m.: Doors open for TFO's commencing film, "Evil Dead 2"

"It's fun and it's all ages, which our Trash Film Orgy is not — the Trash Film Orgy is 18 and over," Savage said. "And dogs are welcome too. We love it when people dress up dogs like zombies. But it might be a little crazy for dogs during Second Saturday. Some dogs aren't into that."

Crest Theatre is located at 1013 K St. Movie attendees must be 18 or older. Admission is $9.50. Those dressed up as zombies at any showing get in for $8.50.

Photos:

1) Participants at the 2007 Zombie Walk.

2) Participants at the 2001 Zombie Walk.

3) Participants at the 2007 Zombie Walk.

Photos courtesy of Christy Savage.

Agnus-Dei Farrant is an intern for The Sacramento Press.

Chalk it Up Sacramento!

2010-06-14T21:39:21Z

Chalk artists Stephanie Olivera and Jen Cimeglio transformed the façade of 1018 J Street by painting a temporary chalk mural as part of a live Second Saturday show. The two-panel mural features a Japanese theme and spans approximately 320 square feet. A new mural will be painted live every Second Saturday throughout the summer to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Chalk It Up! on Labor Day weekend.

Jen Cimeglio and Stephanie Olivera, the chalk artists.

The mural marks the beginning of West of 16th Street and East of the River – a series of downtown arts-related events and programs that showcase Downtown’s public art, cultural history and architecture through temporary art exhibits, walking tours and artists-in-action events. The series is produced by DSP, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), Center for Contemporary Art, Crocker Art Museum and Chalk it Up!, and was inspired by the Mayor’s For Art Sake Initiative.

“We wanted to provide a way to support our identity as an arts-friendly city and affect change with a minimal budget. Using vacant spaces seemed like a natural match,” said DSP Programming Manager Julia Beckner. “Downtown is home to our region’s best public art, museums, theaters and arts groups. We reached out to local arts organizations to develop programs that connect Downtown’s history and cultural amenities.”

In addition to the art exhibit, pedestrians can experience Downtown’s impressive collection of public art and historic architecture on free public art tours presented by the Crocker Art Museum and SMAC. Tours are offered throughout the summer and fall, with special lunchtime chats and Second Saturday tours on topics ranging from the Crocker family legacy to Downtown’s collection of Chicano art.

For full details on all West of 16th Street and East of the River events, visit www.downtownsac.org/secondsaturday.

SacPress Photos | Kati Garner

June 12, 2010 - Second Saturday in Sacramento

2010-06-14T05:18:34Z

By Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager
www.hpiparanormal.net - President www.jazmaonline.com

Pictures of the Fairy Festival, Nancy Bradley’s Garage Sale and Second Saturday can be found here:
http://s970.photobucket.com/albums/ae185/PaulDaleRoberts55/2ndSaturdayFairyFestival/

The theme song for this article is All Night Long by Lionel Richie, the song can be heard here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiLziusKW4s

I have a very busy schedule and my weekends are usually packed with various events. In the back of my mind, I always said to myself that I need to check out Second Saturday and see what all the hoopla is about. That day is today, but first I had to do two things, before attending Second Saturday. I picked up my BFF Chantal Apodaca late Friday night and brought her over to my home, so she can be prepared to wake up early for Saturday’s events. 9am Saturday – Chantal and I are on the road and headed to Citrus Heights to pick up Raven Backrak. From there we headed over to Nancy Bradley – Celebrity Psychic’s home, there we met up with my business partner Shannon ‘Ms. Macabre’ McCabe. Nancy is having a garage sale and the benefits go to Noah’s Wish. This organization assists in saving lives of animals affected by disasters.

Think of all the marine animals in peril right now from the continuing oil spill in the Gulf! The images of pelicans and seagulls covered in black tar oil are a horrifying and chilling sight. Nancy Bradley is an animal preservation advocate. She knows animals can’t speak about their concerns and rally our support for their safety, so Nancy takes it upon herself to speak for the animals. Nancy is a heroine for animal causes. For information about Noah’s Wish, check out their website at www.noahswish.info or call them at: 916 939-9474 or email them at: info@noahswish.info - Nancy promotes ‘animal power!’

Nancy’s garage sale was a blast; there was a ton of cool items for sale. Raven found a very beautiful candle and a couple of interesting ‘ghost’ books. In fact Nancy gave Raven 4 of her books to keep. Nancy is a renowned paranormal author and her husband Robert Reppert runs Gold Rush Ghosts. Nancy’s website is at: http://www.nancybradley.org/ --- Gold Rush Ghosts is at this website: http://www.goldrushghosts.com/ At Nancy’s garage sale, she served doughnuts, coffee, margaritas and Pepsis. All of the refreshments were free! How many garage sales can you go to and be offered a margarita?

Shannon, Raven, Chantal and I headed over to the Fairy Festival in Fairoaks. There was Celtic type of music playing from the band. Met up with Rev. Stanley L. Morey II, who has been a card reader for 30 years. He reads energy crystals, talks about eternal processes, has psychic abilities. He tells me he is a 3rd degree high priest of English tradition – master level wizard and magical scientist. He teaches quantum Wicca and is the founder of Wizardcraft Technologies, Inc. – www.wizardcandles.com – wizardcraft@sbcglobal.net - Other vendors we came across were: Erik and Teresa – The Enchanted Rune, Irish Rune Seers (916) 675-1057/enchantrune@facebook – theenchantsdrune@yahoo.com ; Dragonsong Creations, Eileen & Michael Boadman dragonsongcreations.etsy.com – dragonsongcreations.etsy.com ; people handing out flyers about the Holistic Living Expo that is coming up – information here: www.holisticlivingexpo.blip.tv ; Verbatim – fusion bellydance – www.unmata.com ; Go For It Magazine – www.goforitmagazine.com ; Design Bazaar. Design Bazaar designs and makes jewelry. They paint acrylic on canvas. They design parties and weddings. They have a New Age store portion of the business for any magical supplies, incense, oils from India. / designbazaar@yahoo.com – Myspace – Phone- (916) 420-4507.

After leaving the Fairy Festival we headed down in two cars to Second Saturday – Sacramento! I consulted with Sarah Kay Hannon, formerly of the Sacramento Press and now a Starbuck’s employee about the festivities of Second Saturday. She says the place is becoming a festive Mardi Gras! Shannon, Chantal, Raven and I were completely amazed. This is what we saw!

DJs and bands belting out their music to the festive crowd! I looked around in total awe. Sacramento has grown up and matured, we are no longer a cow town, and we are truly a city. I felt like I was in San Francisco or Los Angeles, experiencing what a real city has to offer. This is the feel of the city, the people, the local music, break dancers on the street, even an island type of atmosphere when a group of people in line succession danced down the street with upbeat Caribbean music playing. We watched the line succession of people salsa, samba and tango from one end of the street to another end of the street. This line succession stops and gets funky with their dancing and the people are cheering on, while Mardi Gras beads fall from the 2nd floor windows of old Gothic styled homes.

We walk into the art galleries and the hosts of these art galleries befriend us with white wines and red wines. The wine tasting is ALL free. People are sitting outside of nightclubs, restaurants and coffee shops and are busy people watching. People watching is the best part. You see some people in costume, men dressed as women, women dressed as men, rugged cowboy men dancing together, gorgeous women in their Summer attires, Geisha faced men and women walking down the street in unison. Yep, Sacramento grew up, we are a city and we are seeing the multi-culture and diversity of what our city has to offer. My god, I have been all around the world and thought I have seen everything, but there was one scene where I was like a deer in headlights. What am I talking about?

Well, I guess you will have to go to Second Saturday in Sacramento to find out what I saw. The atmosphere is definitely festive, fun and exciting. Sacramento’s finest had the crowd fully monitored and established safety measures to assure that everyone was having a good time and felt safe amongst the masses.

Second Saturday is a place where people can display their talents; express the way they live, be whoever they want to be. People who have talent can display their talent to the masses and get their 15 minutes of fame as video cameras roll and digital cameras flash. There was a woman that displayed her hula hoop talents and people cheered at the top of their lungs for this lovely and talented lady!
There is a lot of walking at Second Saturday, but its well worth it. There are so many sights to see. I hope Second Saturday lasts forever.

Pretty soon we will have tourists around the world wanting to go to Sacramento and experience the flavors of what Second Saturday has to offer!

Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager
aka The Demon Warrior
Shannon McCabe's HPI (Haunted and Paranormal Investigations International)
www.hpiparanormal.net
Baycon 2010 - Shannon & Paul on the Panel Part 1:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/HPI_Shannon/videos/17/
Baycon 2010 - Part 2
http://www.viddler.com/explore/HPI_Shannon/videos/16/
Shannon McCabe/Paul Dale Roberts Paranormal Speaking Engagement at the Elk Grove Library:
http://www.viddler.com/explore/ParanormalView/videos/1/
HPI's Catlike Demon of Vacaville (Video)
http://www.viddler.com/explore/HPI_Shannon/videos/14/
http://www.chatterbrew.com/
Chatterbrew!
Email: pauld5606@comcast.net
Cellular Paranormal Hotline: 916 203 7503
If you have a possible investigation call: 1-888-709-4HPI

Second Saturday

2010-06-13T21:26:24Z

Last month was one of the only Second Saturday events that I’ve missed in several years. To make up for missing May’s event we headed for Midtown a little early to make sure we could find a parking spot. At around 5:00 crowds were beginning to gather. On 20th Street we passed by a street performer right outside of Jack’s Urban Eats. Next door a dj was beginning to set up his equipment next to Capitol Dawg and the same process was being followed by other artist around the area.

Summertime is the busiest time of the year for Second Saturday and art aficionados have much to choose from. Musicians, artists, street performers, dancers, and shoppers fill the streets of Midtown. Yesterday I started off in Folsom where, for the past couple of years, the number of places were art is exhibited during Second Saturdays continues to increase. Sutter Street contains the most art exhibits but other places throughout town have begun to open their homes and business for special showings.

Midtown is the place to be, on almost any weekend, for experiencing culture. One of our first stops for this month’s Second Saturday began on 20th Street were we stopped and spent a few minutes enjoying the Dangerous Lorraine’s Dance Theater performers. After walking around and visiting other galleries on I Street we came back to Lush Salon where a fashion show took place and where the ASPCA was present to promote their cause. Lush sponsored the ASPCA information area where food and drinks were sold and proceeds went to the organization.

Spanglish Arte was another obligatory stop where a Piñata Festival was taking place. Children were the beneficiaries of this event but adults enjoyed partaking in the festivities as well. There were piñatas of all shapes and sizes reminding me of Mardi Gras masks.

New aspiring artist also spend much time and effort practicing and perfecting their craft. I ran into a couple of young people at a table across from Barbers Alfa Romeo who were practicing their art. Haley “Graph” Massara patiently sat as her friend Alex VanNoland practiced his craft. Who knows perhaps one day one or both of them will have their own studio. Last month I met mode Natalie McGhie at a benefit classic car show and poker run event for the Fallen Warriors Memorial in El Dorado Hills. She was there for the Jay Warren’s exhibition. Right outside this exhibition the Sacramento Press had their tent set up and it seems I see representatives from the Press at many other events. They were present at the Concerts In the Park this past Friday where Mae McCoy and the Neon Stars, Los Blazing Hangovers, and The Nickel Slots performed.

Hundreds of other showings and performances continued until at least 9 p.m. As the event continues to grow, on a monthly basis, there is something to experience for all ages and tastes. We’ll see what next month will bring. If you go next month (July 10) make sure you arrive early to find a parking spot and be ready for all your senses to enjoy a great experience.

Pictures:

1 - Dangerous Lorraines Dance Theatre, 2 - Gabriel Alvarez, 3 - The Zoo Human Project

4 to 8 - Lush Salon Fashion Show

9 - Artist at Work, 10 - Piñatas, 11 - Queens

12 - Haley "Graph" Massara, Alex Van Noland, 13 - Natalie McGhie, 14 - Marji Elizabeth

Art and Wine: Second Saturday in Old Sacramento

2010-06-12T17:13:36Z

Against the backdrop of Old Sacramento's historic architecture, participating Old Sacramento businesses will celebrate local art, wine, music and food every Second Saturday, 4-7:00PM.

I have always considered Second Saturday to be a Midtown event. However, over the years I have also heard a growing number of complaints that Second Saturday was becoming less of an art walk and more of a party.

Now Old Sacramento businesses including the Artists Collaborative Gallery, Cafe Americain, Delta King, Fat's Catering, Firehouse Restaurant, Skalet Family Jewlers, Steamers Bakery and Cafe, Taylor's Art and Soul, and Ten 22 have teamed up to bring "Art and Wine" to those who may be disenchanted with what Second Saturday has become in Midtown.

It seems to me that Old Sacramento is trying to appeal to a more mature and affluent audience that prefers Jazz and wine over hip-hop and beer.

Visit OldSacramento.com to find out more.

Note: Practical Cycle is not formally involved with this event, but we do have local art on display from our good friend Kathy Caitano at Artistic Edge.

Local artists to transform Downtown into living gallery

2010-06-11T16:26:55Z

Vacant building or blank canvas? This weekend, local artists in collaboration with the Downtown Sacramento Partnership will blur the line with phantom galleries and temporary public art installations in vacant downtown buildings.

Chalk artists Stephanie Olivera and Jen Cimeglio will transform the façade of 1018 J Street by painting a temporary chalk mural as part of a live Second Saturday show from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The two-panel mural will feature a Japanese theme and span approximately 320 square feet. A new mural will be painted live every Second Saturday throughout the summer to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Chalk It Up! on Labor Day weekend.

Contemporary artists Amber Dias, Sally Worthing and Kelli Trapani will display their latest works as part of a temporary exhibit, Only Time | Reflecting the female perspective. The exhibit will be on display in vacant storefronts at the 800 J Lofts along 8th, 9th and J streets.

“Art is an important part of any city and especially Downtown. I’m happy to promote the arts in any way and make people stop in their normal routine and appreciate their surroundings,” said Dias. “Working in an vacant space wasn’t a challenge. I was able to take unconventional objects in the space like a drop cloth, paint cans and a metal rack and make it into something new. I married my art to the building.”

The installations and mural mark the beginning of West of 16th Street and East of the River – a series of downtown arts-related events and programs that showcases Downtown’s public art, cultural history and architecture through temporary art exhibits, walking tours and artists-in-action events. The series is produced by DSP, the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), Center for Contemporary Art, Crocker Art Museum and Chalk it Up!, and was inspired by the Mayor’s For Art Sake Initiative.

In addition to the art exhibit, pedestrians can experience Downtown’s impressive collection of public art and historic architecture on free public art tours presented by the Crocker Art Museum and SMAC. Tours are offered throughout the summer and fall, with special lunchtime chats and Second Saturday tours on topics ranging from the Crocker family legacy to Downtown’s collection of Chicano art. This weekend’s tour focuses on Merle Serlin’s collection at the Cal/EPA building at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 12. For full details on all West of 16th Street and East of the River events, visit http://www.downtownsac.org/secondsaturday.

Call for Artist Juried Competition - Sculptor Al Farrow will Select Awards

2010-05-13T21:47:22Z

The KVIE Art Auction 2010 juried competition and fundraiser is calling for artists to enter their best work into this year's Art Auction. Participants will have the opportunity for recognition in this highly competitive, prestigious juried show and have the chance to win cash prizes, which includes $500 for the Best of Show and $150 for First Place awards in each art category: sculpture, contemporary classics, figurative and still life, young collectors, California’s Gold, photos and prints, functional art, and watercolor.

Donated pieces will receive region-wide exposure in a 3-day televised event seen by up to 60,000 motivated art buyers. The KVIE Art Auction 2010 will be heavily promoted through television, direct mail, web, and live events leading up to the telecast.

The awards juror is sculptor Al Farrow, who has been exhibiting with galleries and museums since 1970. His work is featured in both private and museum collections including The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Di Rosa Preserve, and the DeYoung, as well as other collections throughout the United States, Hong Kong, and Germany. He exhibits with Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco.

New to this year’s Art Auction are Curator D. Neath and Art Auction Operations Specialist Liv Moe. D. Neath is one of the founders of Sacramento’s Second Saturday Art Walk. She has worked with many of Sacramento’s top galleries and museums including the Michael Himovitz Gallery, the Thomas A. Oldham Gallery, and the Crocker Art Museum. Liv Moe is a local artist, writer, and curator, and is the associate editor of Midtown Monthly magazine. She is a working artist who has received numerous awards for her work, including a Best of Show at the California State Fair Fine Art Exhibition.

A preview event and juried entry awards ceremony will be held on September 20 followed by the live auction September 24, 25 and 26, 2010.

The KVIE Art Auction 2010 is proudly sponsored by Niello and Mansour’s Oriental Rug Gallery.

To register, view entry specifications, deadline details, and additional participant benefits, please visit the KVIE Art Auction 2010 website at kvie.org/artauction. The deadline to deliver entries to the KVIE Studios is June 25, 26, 27 from 11am to 6pm.

Velo and Vintage on Second Saturday

2010-05-07T00:21:15Z

Whether your idea of an attractive model is Christy Turlington or a Schwinn classic cruiser, one particular Second Saturday Art Walk event this weekend could be for you.

Exploring the intersection between bike culture and fashion, Velo and Vintage will feature local models dressed in vintage threads - no Lycra allowed - from local shops. Thus attired, they will then cruise down the runway - atop color-coordinated bicycles.

Nevertheless, with two shows Saturday night in the expansive and stylish space of Hot Italian pizzeria at the corner of 16th and Q in Sacramento, Velo and Vintage isn’t just about wheels and wedges. It’s about community.

Conceived in the fertile, bike-obsessed imagination of activist and blogger Lorena Beightler and midwifed by style-crazed blogger and consultant Kari Shipman, Saturday night’s event began as a way to connect local communities. And it has stayed that way.

“It’s not about us, it’s about our community,” Beightler said.

Beightler, who was born in Venezuela but lived all over the United States before settling in Sacramento, decided to stage the event based on her experience in the Landmark Forum.

“I created this event and started working on it out of Landmark (a human potential organization)," Beightler said, "and what you’re supposed to do is create something that you’re committed to but not attached to. You need to find someone who’s a leader, who can take it over if necessary. And I found Kari.”

Shipman was not exactly enthused after she met Beightler. “It was two days after I finished doing this huge, time-consuming event, and I was not ready for another one,” Shipman said.

But Beightler’s enthusiasm, and the fact that, as Shipman said, “Everything about it was what I’m all about,” added up to her rapid agreement.

Andrea Lepore, owner of Hot Italian, was an instant convert to the cause, and Velo and Vintage suddenly had a home. Downtown fashion photographer Juan Ayora and graphic designer Jake Favour both got on board, and a community soon developed around the idea.

So what IS the idea, exactly? Beightler is passionate about it.

“The ‘cause’ is celebrating Midtown, these communities and cultures in Midtown,” she said. And the center of it is the bike.

“The fashion show is really abut the bike,” Beightler said. “People hear ‘fashion show,’ but the essence is the bike. We’re promoting biking, community, living your life with the bike as a mode of transport. Not as a toy, not as an exercise tool, but as how you get around.”

Beyond that, like biking, vintage fashion itself is green. Not as in bamboo fiber, but in the sense that, as she said, “Vintage clothing is recycled. And it’s a recycled way of promoting being conscious about the decisions you make when you’re spending your money. We want to promote the vintage shops in the town, and we want to promote good thinking, good decisions about how you spend your money, and how you impact our world.”

Getting local bike stores and vintage clothing shops to buy in wasn’t hard at all, the duo said. And now that they’re involved, the process of putting fashionable bike and stylish rider together is continuing apace during the week before the event.

Said Shipman, “We’re telling the clothing shop owner, ‘We’re bringing you this model; you dress them to represent who you are.' Then we’re matching the model with a bike that coordinates with it. It all resonates.”

Among the bike shops participating are Practical Cycle, Dutch Bikes from San Francisco, College Cyclery, Bicycle Business and City Bicycle Works. The clothing stores include Bows & Arrows, French Cuff Consignment and Fringe.

And the models are part of the community, too. Rachael Lankford of Sacramento365.com, musician Autumn Sky and bike maven Brad Gleed are among the models. West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, who lives in the central city, will be the MC.

There will be two shows, at 5:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday. For further information, visit
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108490159184471. Shipman blogs at http://juniperjames.wordpress.com/; Beightler blogs at http://www.saccyclechic.com/

Adoptable Felines Showing Art For Second Saturday

2010-05-06T00:22:24Z

This May, the Second Saturday Art Walk will be showcasing some very unique artwork made by some very cuddly and tolerant felines.

Volunteers from the City of Sacramento, Animal Care Services are hosting Second Saturday Cat Adoptions from 4 - 8pm, on the corner of J and 20th Streets, in the MARRS building. The event will feature cats available for adoption at the City Animal Shelter (2127 Front Street, Sacramento, 95818) and cats that are currently being fostered by volunteers. In the spirit of Second Saturday, artwork painted by a few of the cats themselves will also be on display. Be sure to stop by and show some love to these wonderful cats who are all in need of a forever home. You can also learn about the different programs offered by Animal Care Services, including Titanic's Pantry (a pet food bank), and the low-income spay/neuter program. To view adoptable animals and learn about the adoption process, visit: www.sacpetsearch.com.

Second Saturday Cat Adoptions:

Date: May 8th, 2010

Time: 4:00-8:00 pm

Location: 1928 J Street, Sacramento, CA

Live Streaming video of community events this summer

2010-04-29T00:48:09Z

The Sacramento Press is excited to be using live, streaming video as a new media tool. We hope that by streaming the events we go to live, it will enhance the connection we have with our current readership, engage the community at these events and encourage new readership not just in downtown and Midtown, but all neighborhoods in the Sacramento area.

Our first live streaming video experiment at the de Vere's Irish Pub's St. Patrick's Day block party was a big hit with The Sacramento Press' readers.

St. Patrick's Day allowed us to realize that live video really helps us to showcase the great events happening in our neighborhoods and entice Sacramentans to get out and explore our community and become more involved with where we live.

Visitors to The Sacramento Press will be able to read an article about an event happening in our community, click on an embedded link in the body of the article and watch the excitement as it happens.

When we live-stream video of events in Sacramento this summer, we plan to bring our readers live footage of all the entertainment as well as interviews with performers, participants, sponsors and involved organizations. We hope to get valuable feedback from our readers on our event coverage as well as opinions on how well The Sacramento Press serves the people of Sacramento.

Join The Sacramento Press via live steaming video or in person at Celebrate California at the Sacramento Zoo Saturday and The Jewish Heritage Festival Sunday on Capitol Mall

Additional events in May:...

Concert in the Park summer series every Friday starting May 7 at Cesar Chavez Park

Celebrate Oak Park, Saturday, May 8 at McClatchy Park

Second Saturday Art Walk at Zocalo, May 8 at 18th and Capitol

Oak Park Farmer's Market Saturday May 15 at 35th and Broadway

Walk-'N' Rock for local children's charities May 30

Events for June, July and August will be announced later on the site.

Celebrating the Bee at The Bee's Second Saturday

2010-04-29T00:08:22Z

There's a buzz going on around town and it's all about The Bee's Second Saturday. This year, come celebrate all things Bee with Scoopy - the newspaper's mascot - and amazing artwork by 60 local artists. All of the art depicts "the Bee" and will be for sale during the show. On Saturday, May 8, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Bee is turning its courtyard over to the local artists, musicians, and representatives from U.C. Davis for the show. The idea is to educate the public on the plight of the Honey Bee and raise awareness. It's also a benefit for the U.C. Davis Department of Entomology and the Honey Bee Haven, which will open on Sept. 11, 2010.

The Bee has organized the event with the help of local artist Laurelin Gilmore who recruited the local artists. Each artist will donate a portion of their sales to the Department of Entomology. U.C. Davis will be bringing their demonstration hive and lots of information on the new facility.

Representatives from Sacramento Beekeeping Supplies will have honey tasting and Burt's Bees is donating free items. Gimbal's Fine Candies of San Francisco also will be giving away free samples of their Honey Lovers candies.

And best of all, parking is free at The Bee lot on 21st Street. So park your car and buzz on over.

Midtown-Downtown Treasure Hunt to Benefit Local Volunteer Organization

2010-04-28T00:02:05Z

Teams of family and friends will race through parks, around landmarks and even inside local businesses deciphering clues to secret locations in Hunt the Grid, an urban adventure presented June 12 by Mastermind Treasure Hunts and Downtown Grid. Partial proceeds from this fun and challenging event will benefit Hands on Sacramento, the Valley’s full-service volunteer action center.

With the success of films like National Treasure, and reality shows like The Amazing Race, treasure hunting—solving puzzles to find “secret” locations—is more popular than ever. Hunt the Grid, an information-based urban treasure hunt, challenges players to discover answers that can only be found at specific Sacramento locations.

“Players need to think creatively, work together and move quickly in order to win,” says hunt designer and co-owner of Mastermind Treasure Hunts Nikolai Lokteff.

The top three teams will win prizes, but anyone who’s participated in a Mastermind hunt knows that the real reward is in the adventure.

“We love this event,” Rebecca Sykes of Downtown Grid says. “People explore the streets of Midtown and Downtown in a whole new way, discovering things they may have walked past a thousand times without noticing.”

Hunt the Grid is set to take place during June’s Second Saturday Art Walk, a Midtown favorite.

“We planned the hunt to work with the art walk,” says Lokteff, a Sacramento native now living in the Bay Area. “The excitement of hunting down clues and keeping an eye out for your competition is even more fun when you’re dodging strolling musicians and street vendors.”

Hunt the Grid producers will donate a portion of the event’s proceeds to Hands On Sacramento, an organization that has matched more than 16,500 volunteers with opportunities to help others.

“Hands on Sacramento’s mission to create social change through volunteerism and education felt like a great fit for what we do,” Lokteff says. “When we create a treasure hunt, we aren’t just looking at it as a game, but also as a means to educate people about a community.”

Hunt the Grid is open to the public, including children 11 and older who are accompanied by an adult. The hunt will take two to four hours to complete, and teams must stay together and on foot. A team can be as small as two or as large as eight players. Single players are welcome – there’s always room for new players in this adventure.

Tickets will be available online at www.mastermindhunts.com beginning May 1. Tickets are $20 per player if purchased online before June 6, and $25 after that date and at the start of the hunt. Space is limited.

Kill the Bag Monster

2010-04-11T19:42:53Z

Taylor Scoma played the Bag Monster during Second Saturday along 20th St., dressed in 500 plastic bags. She is a member of SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) at Sacramento State. She was advocating for the ChicoBag.

In a year, the average shopper uses around 500 plastic bags.

Two new Earth Day inspired reusable bags are now available:

The Vita rePETe™ Earth Bag is a fashion-forward, over the shoulder, lifestyle bag featuring a double-sided stencil image of the earth and the inspirational statement by Marshall McLuhan. The Original Earth Bag reminds you to listen to your mother. Mother Earth, that is! The playful graphic is a constant reminder to stop using single-use bags.

CHICOBAG™

ChicoBag's™ mission is to reduce single-use bag waste by offering compact reusable bags and packs that are designed to be unforgettable. ChicoBag™ specializes in offering fashionable, environmentally friendly reusable shopping bags and lifestyle totes.

http://www.chicobag.com

SacPress Photo | Kati Garner

Sacramento Concerts, Music Events, and The Local Music Scene This Week

2010-04-09T18:26:07Z

Here are some of the concerts and music events happening this weekend and next week in the Sacramento area. For more detailed information on these events and many more go to the www.eMusiConnect.com homepage. Get out and enjoy!

Concerts, Music Events, and The Sacramento Music Scene This Week:

Friday, April 9th - Sunday, April 11th: The Sacramento Children's Chorus presents Brundibar at The Hiram Johnson High School Auditorium on 6879 14th Avenue in Sacramento. Concerts begin at 7:30PM and 2PM on SUN. Tickets are $10-$15.

Saturday, April 10: Sacramento Philharmonic featuring Midori on violin at the Sacramento Community Center Theatre. Concert begins at 8PM. Tickets are $25-$65.

Second Saturday in Sacramento and Historic Folsom (4-9PM). Features art on display and special events at galleries, restaurants, and nightclubs. Maps and information on artists can be found in The Sacramento News & Review and The Friday Ticket in the Sacramento Bee.

Wednesday, April 14th - Sunday, April 25th: Broadway Sacramento presents Little House in The Prairie. Tickets are $20-$57.

Concert Tickets On Sale This Week:

Rihanna with Ke$ha on Friday, July 9th at Arco Arena. Tickets on sale Saturday $57-$87.

Warped Tour at SleepTrain Amphitheatre Marysville on August 12th. Tickets on sale Saturday $33.

The Local Music Scene:

Friday, April 9th:

Jerry Perry presents LP Sessions - The Ploymers - Love Dimension at Old Ironsides 9PM/$7

Silent Treament - Formula - Cynema at Blue Lamp 9PM/$8

The Polish Ambassador - Seventh Swami and DJ Sets at Sol Collective 8PM/$5/All Ages

Mother Mayhem at Marilyns 9PM/$7

On The Rocks at Torch Club 9PM/$8

Clan Dyken at Fox & Goose 9PM/$5

F*ck Fridays Nick Avey with Shaun Slaughter – Jon Droll – Roger Carpio at Townhouse 9PM/$3-$5

Wonderbread 5 at Harlows 10PM/$12

Gene Smith - Arrested in Mayberry - Crash Thimble at Naked Lounge Downtown 8:30PM/$5

CrookOne TGIF at Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

DJ Billy Lane & DJ Mark West at Park Ultra Lounge 10PM

Wonderland Fashion Show with DJ Stephan at Venue (fomerly Empire)

Get Down To The Champion Sound with DJ Esef & Daneekah Green at Capitol Garage 10PM/$5

MC RUT - DWH - Beautiful Day - A Monster - Dogfood at The Boardwalk 7:30PM/$12

Saturday, April 10th

2nd SAT with The Onlymen - Musical Chairs - Blvd Park at ClubHouse 24 at 6PM

2nd SAT at The Urban Hive with art on display and DJ sets with Dusty Brown & Paul Gordon at 6PM

2nd SAT with Stars and Garters - Darling Sweetheart - Gene Smith of Kai Kln - Del Fame - Danny Morris & Friends at The Bicycle Kitchen at 6:30PM

2nd SAT SAC State Envelope Exhibit at 6PM - Music with Amity at 8PM at Beatnik Studios

2nd SAT with DJ Peeti-V at Lounge on 20 10PM

The Stand-Up Comedy Project at 5PM/$15-$20 One Headlight at Marilyn’s 9PM/$7

Fascination New Wave 80's Dance Club at Old Ironsides 9:30PM/$3

Nick Ripley - Danny Secretion - Bobby Jordan at Naked Coffee Lounge 8:30PM/$5

Utz & The Shuttlecocks at Harlows 10PM/$12

ZuGh - Sensual Saint - FireWhiskey at Capitol Garage 10PM/$5

Monomyth - Canja Rava - Truth of Mars - Moth Spy Eros at Blue Lamp 9PM

10th Annivesary at 2PM - Volker Strifler at The Torch Club 9PM/$8

Attitude Adjustment - Psycosomatic - Cheapskate at The Distillery 10PM/$8

DJ Whores at The Golden Bear 10PM/No Cover

Mix Saturdays with DJ Michael Moss at Mix Downtown 9PM

DJ Jus James at Park Ultra Lounge 10PM

ADD - Guttermouth - The Darlings - The Stalking Distance at The Boardwalk 8PM/$13-$15

Sunday, April 11th:

Brunch Beats with DJ Katz at Aura 11AM

Harley White JR - Mike Farrell - Yard Dogs at Naked Coffee Lounge 8PM/$5

Blues Jam at 4PM & The Nibblers at Torch Club 8PM/$6

Salsa Sunday at MoMo Lounge 7PM

Diva Show at Faces 9PM/$5

Alex Jenkins Trio at The Shady Lady Saloon 9PM

Second Saturday Whiskey Tasting

2010-04-09T07:35:36Z

Looking for something different to do on Second Saturday? Cafe Americain is offering a solution that will not only please the taste buds, but educate them as well.

There will be a single malt scotch whiskey tasting and seminar at the restaurant from 5-9 p.m. Saturday.

Mike Wahba and his wife Natalya, owners of Cafe Americain, are hosting the tasting seminar, which has been on hiatus for a couple years now. This will be the inaugural event for the the couple, with hopes of successfully revitalizing it to become an annual occurrence.

Although the Cafe Americain is only a few months old, it has already begun to pique the interest of locals with its unique style offerings. The restaurant is a champagne and caviar house, but also offers a strong raw foods selection prepared by in-house expert Heather.

I was a bit skeptical at first, but Wahba asked Heather to bring me a plate of their raw foods lasagna, paired with spaghetti squash, and quickly made another believer. Wahba explained he is very proud to own "Sacramento's first restaurant to have caviar and raw food as regular dishes."

At the whiskey tasting, Cafe Americain will feature some classic dishes originally made for the Russian Imperial Court incorporating caviar. Traditional whiskey food parings will also be featured, such as imported cheese and chocolate, which are meant to complement and bring out hidden flavors of the single malt scotch.

Wahba has paired up with longtime friend and owner of gourmet grocery store Corti Brothers, Darrell Corti. Corti helped with the whiskey selection and will be responsible for personal orders through JVS Imports after the demonstration.

Wahba, who's knowledge is significantly stronger with champagne than whiskey, said he thinks "the event will be really interesting" and is excited about the idea of bringing new faces together. He also guaranteed that "this is single malt at its best."

Cafe Americain will have a guest lecturer, Signatory National Brand Ambassador Ed Kohl, who will lead the seminar. Kohl, who represents the largest independent bottler in Scotland, will guide the audience through the distilling and aging process as he tastes each whiskey along with the crowd.

The event will take place in the exquisite Mediterranean-style patio in back of Old Sacramento's Edwardian Mansion, 1023 Front st. Ticket prices are $55 per person and include appetizers. To purchase tickets, call (916) 498-9098 or visit cafeamericain.info.

Anyone attending the event looking for something to do afterward can head downstairs, where The Necropolis and Cafe Americain will be hosting the Capital's First Bohemian Ball. The event will feature a burlesque show, fire dancers, live music and a fashion show. Visit bohoball.com for more details.

Fine-tuning underway for Second Saturdays

2010-04-01T01:58:41Z

Sacramento officials and business leaders are working to keep the “art” in Second Saturday Art Walks and head off other problems as the event kicks into high gear.

With larger crowds expected in the coming warm season, officials from the city’s Code Enforcement Department, the Sacramento Police Department and Midtown Business Association are having a series of meetings to fine-tune rules and written guidelines.

One of their primary concerns is to prevent growing sidewalk sales from turning the art walk into a giant flea market. The city has had to discourage people wanting to sell appliances and other secondhand goods during Second Saturday, said MBA Executive Director Rob Kerth.

“The goal is to preserve Second Saturday as an art walk or a place where people can go out and see art and locally produced crafts,” he said.

The city recently released a flier to remind businesses, vendors and musicians about existing rules and point out one or two new ones for the monthly events.

Police will more strictly enforce requirements that businesses get a one-day alcohol beverage permit from the Sacramento Police Department as well as a special daily license from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control in order to sell or give away alcohol, said Sgt. Norm Leong, police department spokesman.

The 2010 flier tells business owners and temporary vendors that sidewalk sales and other outdoor vending can take place without a special permit if the goods are "the same items normally sold or displayed" inside. Vendors must get written permission from the adjacent business and leave a six-foot-wide path clear on sidewalks.

A special permit for sidewalk sales would be a new requirement. However, they are considering changing the wording to allow people who own or lease non-art office or retail space in Midtown or other popular Second Saturday areas to sell their own art or crafts outside without that permit, Kerth said.

There is also talk of enforcing things such as the requirement for written permission to hold a sidewalk sale and making sure amplified bands are spread out. Acoustic bands don't raise the same concerns. Outdoor amplified sound must always have a special permit, whether it’s on public or private property. That may now also need to meet the sound ordinance — although the way that’s monitored may be revamped for this event. The sound may be monitored close to the speakers, he added.

Police oversee the safety of pedestrians and vehicles, street closures and the enforcement of sound and alcohol ordinances so the event can remain successful, according to Capt. Dana Matthes, the police department’s central area commander.

Official hours and street closures for Second Saturday are from 5-10 p.m. For more information, call Special Event Services at 808-7888 or click here.

Capital Public Radio Presents "Tarmo Returns" at Second Saturday in April

2010-03-30T17:15:38Z

Capital Public Radio’s quarterly Second Saturday artist reception will be held Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 6 to 9 pm. Presented in partnership with Solomon Dubnick Gallery, “Tarmo Returns,” includes oils by artist Tarmo Pasto, Professor Emeritus, CSUS.

“Man walks about in two space dimensions, the vertical and the horizontal, interpenetrating volumes of which he is the dynamic and controlling center………. In my paintings I have attempted to create sensory space so that the beholder could feel at one with the painting,” Tarmo Pasto.

The Capital Public Radio Community Room at 7055 Folsom Boulevard will display the show from March 30 through June 30, and is available for public viewing during business hours 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

The reception is free and open to the public.

Capital Public Radio serves more than 420,000 listeners per week with classical music, jazz, and in-depth news and information. Capital Public Radio operates seven listener-supported, non-commercial public radio stations. 88.9 KXPR (Sacramento), 90.9 KXJZ (Sacramento), 91.7 KXSR (Groveland), 90.5 KKTO (Tahoe City), 88.7 KXJS (Sutter), 88.1 KQNC (Quincy), and 91.3 KUOP (Stockton) are licensed to Sacramento State.

Sac Show winner Autumn Sky's annual Valentine's Day Show

2010-02-06T03:15:55Z

Valentine's Day can be challenging for everyone out there, whether you've got a special someone to impress or not. The choices are limitless, and it can be hard to set something up that everyone will enjoy. This year, why not please the whole crowd with a just-before-Valentine's Day show starring local indie pop songstress Autumn Sky and up-and-comer Tre Burt?

Miss Sky, who recently won the Sac Show award for best Acoustic Show, holds a Valentine's Day show each year. 2009's show at Luna's Cafe drew a huge crowd, where patrons and audience members alike sat on floors and laps to fit in the tiny room. This year will prove to be no less of a good time, especially considering that the rules have changed some. This year's show is free, all ages and will be on the second saturday artwalk. It also happens to be hosted at a venue famous for it's tasty frozen treats. Feel the Valentine's Day blues coming on? Then make a stop over at this show and just try not to smile.

Autumn Sky with Tre Burt

Yogurtagogo, 17th and L Sacramento, CA

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13th

All ages, no cover!

7pm

For more information, please e-mail Autumn Sky at mermaid_sings@hotmail.com.

PAST SHOW R EVIEWS

"Then something unusual happens: as Sky begins to strum and sing, the audience chatter instantly stops. Adults, teens and toddlers are all held in rapt attention as Sky’s pitch-perfect voice fills the room. (Her) voice is on par with Joanna Newsome’s poetic warble, Chan Marshall without the baggage and Jolie Holland, minus the Vaudevillian rain clouds." - Tony King, Midtown Monthly

"Autumn Sky...has a lot of potential to be one of Northern California's break out folk artists as Joanna Newsome, Vetiver and Devendra Banhart have done in the past." - PerfSpot.com

Sac Food Bank to host 2nd Saturday art show

2010-02-02T04:05:55Z

Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS) is proud to host the Women’s Wisdom Teachers’ Art Show throughout the month of February. Teachers and volunteers who lead classes for the Women’s Wisdom Art program at SFBFS will have the opportunity to exhibit their art, a gift that inspires clients in the program year round.

Designed as a uniquely feminine environment that supports the artistic and personal growth of women in all stages of life, Women's Wisdom Art believes that artistic exploration naturally brings greater self-knowledge. Classes are free to clients and include drawing, textiles, clay, mixed media, poetry, gourd crafting, creative writing and painting with acrylics and water color.

Every day, nearly 20 of women congregate in the Women’s Wisdom Art classroom at SFBFS and are guided by a dedicated group of instructors. These individuals spend countless hours planning projects, searching out supplies and creating an environment that supports multi-level art students in one small classroom. This show will focus on the dozen women and one man who inspire our students to achieve greatness.

What: Teachers’ Art Show
Where: Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (3333 Third Ave., Sacramento 95817)
When: February 3-26, 2010
2nd Saturday reception February 13, 5-8pm
Who: The teachers of Women’s Wisdom Art

If you know of a woman who would benefit from enrollment in Women’s Wisdom Art program or know of an artist who would like to volunteer their time as a teacher or mentor, please visit http://www.sacramentofoodbank.org/Programs/WomensWisdom.aspx.A listing of free art classes offered by Wisdom Art and needed supplies is also listed on this site.
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, a local non-profit organization, serving families and individuals in need, was founded in 1976. Over time, SFBFS expanded to meet growing needs and now offers nine diverse programs at two facilities in Sacramento. A staff of 35 employees and several thousand volunteers accomplish SFBFS’ mission of assisting those in need by alleviating their immediate pain and problems and by moving them toward self-sufficiency and financial independence. Additional SFBFS information is available online at www.sacramentofoodbank.org

Leverage Sacramento offers open mics, entertainment

2010-01-14T07:51:05Z

What do a Sac State student, an entrepreneur, an emcee, a visual artist, a photographer and a sound technician have in common? They're all part of Leverage Sacramento, a new arts organization seeking to expose untapped local talent.

The group threw a launch party Monday night at Tré Nightclub with several local spoken word performers, comedians, and hip-hop, soul and R&B performers. Hosting the event was The CUF emcee Marc "Crush" Hayes, who also sits on the seven-member Leverage board of directors.

The party, which was only expected to draw 50 people, drew an estimated audience of 200.

The idea of creating an arts promotion company began when 24-year-old entrepreneur Justin Eve was asked to promote a Second Saturday event for Bisla's Sports Bar. He realized that he had several friends involved in art, music and fashion, but none of them worked with each other.

Of the seven friends, three have strong ties with the hip-hop community — emcees Crush and Carlos "Cawzlos" Lopez and Sacramento Hip Hop Congress Administrative Chair Nina Rebultan.

But it's not about hip-hop, or any other artistic genre for that matter. It's about talent.

"We're a very modest board, and we're worried about helping the lives of the music scene in Sacramento," Rebultan said. "Eventually we're making this a non-profit organization. We would like to make money to donate to sponsoring charities, and we're planning to have a quarterly event."

Aside from quarterly events at My BBQ Spot, the group also plans to have weekly open mic nights and a competition for entertainers vying for a prize. Their next event, Feb. 1 at Tré nightclub, will be a free open mic night.

"The goal is to change Sacramento so that every day of the week you'll be able to go somewhere and see entertainment," Eve said. "We're the capital of the greatest state in the world and we have to show people that."

The group will post events on their Twitter and Facebook page, and is developing a website at whatisleverage.com.

"It's unification of every aspect of Sacramento that we're striving for, (and) we're going to lead by example," Eve said. "The more people involved in a process, the quicker things move."

Photographs credit Zaved Khan.

Jeff Musser's "Message in Flesh"

2009-12-24T07:31:17Z

Following your dreams doesn’t necessarily mean following your checkbook -- a life lesson local painter Jeff Musser can relate to.

Musser was born and raised in Sacramento and began sketching comics and actions figures when he was 5. He didn’t get serious about his work until he got placed into an advanced art class his freshmen year at Sacramento High School.

"(I) was around 15 when I decided this is what I want to do with my life,” Musser said. “I wasn’t sure in what capacity -- whether I would be a sculptor or a graphic designer or (do) paint installation, but I just knew being creative and being an artist was what I was supposed to do.”

At the time, his work was mainly with pencil and charcoal.

Throughout high school, he attended various open houses in San Francisco hosted by The Art Institute of Chicago. His Father, Ron Musser, said he was admitted into the institute his junior year in high school after displaying his portfolio to an admissions representative.

But Musser didn’t go straight to the Art Institute of Chicago -- after high school, he attended American River College in order to complete his general education requirements and save some money.

By the fall of 1997, he headed to the "Windy City" and the school of his dreams.

“I knew at the time that it was the best thing for him,” Ron Musser said. “Jeffery’s never been a small-town person, he needed to get out of Sacramento and explore and gain an understanding about life, which he did in Chicago.”

While at the art institute, Musser was introduced to a new love: oil painting. He took three painting classes, but decided to major in graphic design.

Musser said he was only thinking economically about his future when he declared his major, but he never lost his passion for painting.

“During my first real painting class, everything just seemed to come together,” he said. “I can’t really explain it other then once I found it, it just fit and I didn’t question it.”

After graduating in 2000, Musser began working for an ad agency in Chicago where he designed McDonald's happy meal boxes and displays.

But Musser said he was unhappy with his career path.

Before he got the opportunity to leave the advertising industry, he was laid off at the end of 2001. He said that was when he decided he was going to paint for a living.

That decision proved to be harder then imagined.

The following two years were the loneliest and most terrifying years of his life, Musser said. He remained jobless and was living on food stamps, but refused to return to the advertising industry because it didn’t seem right.

“The part that people don’t tell you about chasing your dreams, they don’t tell you the terrifying revelations that come after you have made that leap,” he said.

After returning to Sacramento, Musser worked various “odd” jobs at the mall and warehouses.

While working these other jobs, Musser never stopped painting. In college, he became interested in figurative art, a representation of forms derived from life, but never found a market for it in Chicago. He said Sacramento, surprisingly, welcomed his form of art. According to Musser, he sells about eight to 10 paintings a year for an average of $2,000 per work--he is now able to paint full-time.

At the beginning of 2003, he was commissioned by Oprah Winfrey to paint her dogs Sophie and Solomon.

Since then, Musser has had much success and various shows around the area, including his recent “Messages in Flesh” display at Sacramento State. The body of work includes paintings of human figures with large tattoos.

“It took me a while to figure out what I was going to focus on,” Musser said. “Then I realized I wanted to work out our generation's obsession with tattoos -- why they get them, where they get them, why they express themselves on such a canvas using someone else’s artwork.”

Musser said he typically approaches locals with tattoos and asks permission to paint them. Garrett Van Vleck, co-owner of Shady Lady, said he agreed to be one of Musser’s subjects after he was approached four months ago.

Van Vleck said he’s not sure what Musser has in store for his painting, but can’t wait to find out.

“I was actually really inspired to let him do a painting of me because of how impressed I was with his other stuff,” Van Vleck said, adding that he has various tattoos, including ones on his back, chest and calf. “I think (his artwork) is pretty amazing.”

Musser has become heavily involved in Sacramento's art scene in recent years.

In May, he joined the Verge Gallery co-op, an art society with shared space, in Sacramento. The co-op currently has 15 members, including Musser as well as local artists Liv Moe, Lisa Marasso and Jacob Fossum.

Musser's next group show will be Jan. 9, the first Second Saturday of 2010, at the Verge Gallery on 1900 V Street. He said 10 pieces from his "Message in Flesh" body of work will be featured, 90 percent of them being new work.

For more information about the show, visit vergegaller.com

For more information about Musser, visit jeffmusser.com

Photos Courtesy of Jeff Musser

'Twas the Second Saturday Before Christmas

2009-12-12T01:21:26Z

I woke up this morning thinking "hey, tomorrow is Second Saturday". Of course I am talking about the monthly Art Walk and experience that happens in and around Sacramento's Midtown area.

Even though the forecast is calling for some chance of rain, that should be no excuse not to come to midtown and be a part of the monthly festivities and feel the season in the air.

Since last Christmas there have been some additions to the monthly event. For one, Midtown is hosting an ice skating rink between K St and L St on 20th St.

Tickets: Admission:
Adults, $8
Children, $5
Skate Rental: $2

Info Phone: (916) 442-1500

Secondly, artist Michael Kennedy opened the new Kennedy Gallery at 1114 20th Street, next to Headhunters. Michael's new gallery is the site of many artist who display and sell their work in a very eclectic artisan setting. Their website is: http://www.kennedygallerysac.com/

This Second Saturday, December 12th, the Kennedy Gallery will be open for visitors to view the art of

Angela Ridgeway Judith Monroe Terrie Bennett Margaret Sarantis Dana Bilello-Barrow Monica Lunardi Steve Anderson

Margaret Sarantis Pat Orner Keith Hopkins Michelle Mackenzie Kristen Hoard Phil Meyers Michele Fisher Pat Livingston

and local textured metal sculpture artist Lori Wylie( art shown).

A Christmas gift of art is not only a thoughtful gift but it is a unique gift that the recipient will just love to keep. There will be something for everyones budget.

So this Saturday, December 12th is a great time to get into the Christmas spirit and mingle with the artist and bless their art sales this season while finishing your shopping.

Lori Wylie's art photos are used by permission. No other uses of her art are permitted except by written permission from her. The art shown are representative of her work and not necessarily art on display this month. Lori can replicate any piece she has done in just about any size to fit your space and budget. Giant mobile shown is a permanent piece of art for the public who visit the Sutter Rehabilitation Wing in Roseville. It measures 12 feet x 12 feet and may be the largest hanging mobile in California.

Picture of artist Keith Hopkins/Pat Orner and Kristen Hoard/Michelle MacKenzie spaces at Kennedy Gallery are from http://2nd-sat.com/

3 Winning Strategies for Sacramento Area Small Businesses

2009-11-21T23:54:04Z

The Wall Street Journal featured a story recently that held some tremendous promise for Sacramento Area small businesses. The article titled “Three Best Ways to Win Community Support” outlines the some opportunities that small businesses can create or take advantage of. I think these are particularly ripe for those businesses around the Sacramento community.

First off, a recent trend in small business marketing has been to develop community around your products and services. Community is where loyalty comes from. It is why we have newsletters, a social networking presence, and why we all wish there was a bar where everybody knew our name. These tips will help you further to engage your customer outside the confines of your primary place of business.

The articles first recommendation was to hold a contest or event with local flair. Being a New York paper they pointed to the Nathan’s Hot Dog eating contest. Sacramento has an active community. This week my wife has our family signed up to participate in the annual Run to Feed the Hungry. The event is sponsored by numerous local and nationally franchised businesses and is a fundraiser for the Sacramento Food Bank. This is a great example of participating in events with local flair. My favorite new pizza spot in Sacramento is Hot Italian. As a fan on Facebook and recipient of their weekly emails I know that they participate in a lunch hour concerts held in the Freemont Park across the street. Another example may be a Second Saturday event. Monthly these events are hosted all over Sacramento with particular fervor in the Midtown area as well as some Suburban locations like the Fair Oaks Village. People who attend these events often are a good source of repeat business.

The second recommendation: Team up with other local businesses, especially those with complementary products. Every business is looking for that perfect partner. We often forget how teamwork works. One customer of mine is a local Max Muscle. The owner selected a site two doors down from a sports footwear store and shares the shopping center with a soccer supply store. Shortly after moving in the footwear store began to sell sports supplements. Now instead of stores working together to build a successful shopping center they are taking an isolationist approach. Why not offer complimentary products from other local businesses in your store. When local businesses win, we all win. A common mistake of marketing is also that it is done in sort of a self congratulatory manner. Working in community helps us to avoid this pitfall. It turns out that customers listen far more when we begin to talk about others. Find some complimentary businesses to partner with. Generate some conversation about each other. Begin a movement together! And that brings us to recommendation number three.

Join or start a grassroots business alliance. The Midtown Grid is a fantastic example of a business alliance in Sacramento. With a dedicated website at MidtownGrid.com these business has joined together in a variety of campaigns for mutual beneficial causes. One in particular is the Green The Grid initiative. When businesses set aside their own well being and put the community first they will experience the same in return.

I believe that most people want to shop local. Given the option of supporting a local business or not, I think there is a strong desire to participate in supporting a local economy. Show your community that your feel the same. Be a business that contributes to the community and see if the community does not give right on back. So host some parties, build some partnerships, and participate in a movement.

I am sure I have missed some well behaving local examples. What Sacramento Area business have you seen using these principles to better the community and grow their businesses? Please, include a link.

Dumbworld takes over

2009-10-11T05:36:35Z

"There's the normal world and then there's Dumbworld," according to filmmaker Jayson Woodward.

Hundreds of people came out to see unique art at the first Dumbworld Expo at the newly renovated Capitol Towers apartments.

All of the art, showing space, lighting, food, drinks, music, and entertainment were donated and dozens of people volunteered to work the expo.

"Sometimes I buy spray paint before I pay the bills," coordinator Mary Louise Picerno said.

The whole complex, which includes various restaurants that opened especially for the expo, participated. The restaurants, vacant stores, and top floor penthouse acted as galleries that held unique mixed media pieces as well as graffiti while original videos produced by Dumbworld Entertainment were projected in every room.

"Lumens lent us $5000 worth of lighting and the Art Institute decorated everthing," Picerno said

The show is an effort to bring awareness to all types of art in Sacramento

"Art is not for the elite," Picerno said. "We need to reach out to the community and unify our culture and say, 'Hey, we're here.'"

Among the oddities were people dressed as a big rabbit and robot walking around taking pictures with people.

"I saw it in the paper and my grandsons wanted to come and see the graffiti," attendee Sue Edelmayer said.

At 7:30 p.m. there was a fashion show and dance performance showcasing local dancers and break dancers.

According to CEO of Dumbworld Drew Hall, they will be having a new T.V. show on Cable Access channel 17 and 18 entitled "Chinese Math."

"We learn by doing," Hall said. "Anybody can be a part of the Dumbworld."

Second Saturday to welcome new gallery space

2009-10-09T05:06:25Z

Get ready Second Saturday, there’s a new gallery in town.

Bridge to Art, KLSC Studio and AIM HIGHER are coming together on Second Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of a 10,000-square-foot collaborative gallery, the “U20 Artist Studio Club”.

“With this particular location at U and 20 streets, you can truly have it all: great artworks in huge spaces, free parking, very good restaurants, easy freeway access and no mobbed congestion feeling. We call it a breathable fine art experience,” said Kevin Santos-Coy of KLSC Studio.

The daylong celebration will feature live music, art from children's group "KidzArt" and more than 200 original landscape, abstract, figurative and architecture paintings.

To raise money for breast cancer awareness, an artist will be creating a cast sculpture of a model that will later be donated. Glass, turned wood, and already-created body casts will also be on display.

The music will span the genres, with a lineup including Todd Morgan and The Emblems (Swing and Bebop), Luanne Trainor (harp), AIM Higher Jazz Ensemble, DJ Casper K and others.

AIM HIGHER, a service provider to adults with disabilities, offers fine arts classes by art professors. Works created by some of AIM’s clients will be displayed on Saturday.

The studio club is part of the larger “Expanding Sphere Project,” (ESP) which Santos-Coy describes as “ a concept designed to begin the process of identifying walkable microcosms outside the epicenter of Second Saturday art locations.”

Bridge to Art regularly partners with art-oriented individuals, groups and organizations to raise money for the arts, educate and help promote local artists.

When the owner of the building, which previously housed a dance studio, learned of Bridge to Art’s mission from Santos-Coy, she proposed collaborating on a project that’s art-oriented and benefits the community. From that collaboration, ESP and U20 were created.

Santos-Coy hopes to continue expanding the sphere of art beyond just Midtown with future ESP events.

One of the project’s goals is to encourage attendees to make more regional art tours beyond Midtown.

The project also will focus on developing the area around U20 as well as bridging relationships with the art community in the five blocks surrounding the space. This includes Verge Artist Collective, Gale Hart Studio, Mickey Abbey Stained Glass and others.

Two hundred to 300 people are expected to view the studio throughout the celebration.

“The most exciting part of opening exhibition night is seeing the community gather and sometimes overhearing the intelligent conversations that the arts evoke, often between people whom have never met before,” Santos-Coy said.

In addition to art and music, food and drinks will be provided by Jasmine Mediterranean Cafe.

The event is free but tips for the musicians and donations are encouraged. All donations will go to the artists and future exhibitions.

The grand opening celebration will be from 2 p.m. until 9.

U20 Artists Studio is at 1925 U St.

Second Saturday Michael Himovitz Dedication

2009-09-12T09:04:03Z

This month's Second Saturday event will pay tribute to founder Michael Himovitz, who pioneered the Sacramento arts showcase before losing his battle to HIV 15 years ago.

Julia and Lucas Himovitz organized this special Second Saturday to honor their father's legacy.

Nine Sacramento art galleries will be dedicating their shows to Himovitz. In each gallery a mounted display along with a donation box for Center for AIDS Research, Education and Services will be set up. The CARES Are You the Difference campaign is working to end all new cases of HIV in the Sacramento area within the next five years.

"He was very passionate about what he did," Lucas Himovitz said. "He wanted to educate and connect people through discussing art. He really helped to bring more art awareness to Sacramento."

Michael Himovitz created Second Saturday over 20 years ago after visiting art galleries in San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. He used these cities as models for Sacramento.

Since then, Second Saturday has grown and evolved in the Sacramento community. Now a number of area art galleries — in Downtown, Midtown, Uptown and East Sacramento — present an array of art pieces accompanied by a festival-style social atmosphere. Attendees will normally walk along the streets while also listening to music and indulging in food and wine.

Despite the party vibe, the original grassroots feel — people discussing and enjoying art — is still prevalent thanks to Himovitz.

"Michael encouraged new artists, and helped bring a level of understanding and appreciation of art to the public," a Michael Himovitz dedication flier said. "He was dedicated to AIDS prevention, helping organize various events in the community," Lucas Himovitz said.

"I am extremely proud of what my dad did," Lucas Himovitz said. "We want people to remember this and to honor him. He is my hero."

The nine galleries involved in Michael Himovitz's dedication are:

Axis Gallery
B. Sakata Garo Gallery
Jay Jay
Skinner Howard Art
Solomon Dubnick Gallery
Verge Gallery and Studio Project
A Bitchin' Space
Crandall Bear Studios
Vox Sacramento

The Night Harlem Came To Stockton Blvd

2009-08-30T13:33:44Z

Milton Bowens would like to believe that when you look at his art work you're not merely viewing paintings, his personal opinion or guarded pieces of his soul. You the viewer are being asked to confront history, truth, cultural stereo types and engage the possibilities of the future. Because when he paints he is not just engaging the viewer or confronting the critic over artistic merit, style and validity, he is confronting the use of art as a tool to communicate. He is asking questions, He is seeking solutions.

Born and raised in Oakland, Calif., Milton Bowens is the fifth boy of ten children. Milton’s artistic promise began at the age of five with nothing more than a few pencils and cut up brown paper bags used as sketch paper, thanks to his mother’s ingenuity of making the best of lean times.

Bowens received education under the mentorship of Fine Artist David Bradford, head of the Art Department and instructor at Laney College (Oakland). Inspired by great artists such as Jean Michel Basquiat, Robert Rauschenberg, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence and Andy Warhol, Milton changed his focus from illustration to fine art. That shift proved crucial for Milton now considered a great artist in his own right and inspirational public speaker/community activist in the struggle to keep art a vital part of public education and a tool to help build self-esteem in youth.

Milton works tirelessly to create thought-provoking exhibitions that will help restore a level of hope in communities desperately in need of inspiration. Bowens just wants to paint. Bowens paintings has been showcased at Avisca Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta, GA, 40 Acres Art Gallery in Sacramento, CA, on the walls of the Sacramento Mayors office, and the African American Art & Culture Complex in San Francisco, CA just to name a few.

The Night Harlem Came To Stockton Blvd exhibit is Bay Area acclaimed artist, Milton Bowens, first time ever showing of his 9 piece collection of Afro Classical: The Subway Series on the West Coast. Afro Classical is an anthology of paintings depicting the importance of Jazz, Art and Words during the Harlem Renaissance. Bowens will speak on the importance of documenting African American art.

Join Master Barber & Beauty Shop as we step back in time to salute the Harlem Renaissance and the importance of African American Art, Music and Spoken Word in American society. Come and enjoy the viewing of Milton Bowen’s Afro Classical: The Subway Series and welcoming local NeoSoul and Jazz recording artist Miss MouthPeace. Miss MouthPeace is a dynamic vocalist, whose music is compared to Billie Holiday and Eryka Badu. She will be performing an acoustic set live.

The Opening Reception will be held Second Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 7:00pm - 10:00pm. Refreshments and Wine will be served. Addmission $5 donation, all ages welcomed. A portion of the proceeds will benifit C.T.D. Dream Builders.

Milton Bowens and Miss MouthPeace are available for interviews. For more information, please call (916) 457-8708 or email: Masterreport@hotmail.com.

La Raza Galeria Second Saturday to showcase Latino art and music.

2009-08-08T06:57:10Z

This SECOND SATURDAY at La Raza Galería Posada will showcase the current art exhibition "Flying Solo/Visions of Aztlan" by Juanishi Orosco, a nationally known Chicano artist and LUVTAXI a Latin beat band who will perform two acoustic sets of original music from 7-9pm.

The event is scheduled to open at 5pm and close at 9:30pm. La Raza Galeria is located at 1022 1024 22nd Street at "K" Sacramento 95816.

(916) 446-5133 info@larazagaleriaposada.org

http://www.larazagaleriaposada.org/welcome/

http://www.reverbnation.com/luvtaxi

Two Second Career Artists Prepare for First Art Show

2009-07-13T20:53:02Z

Their backgrounds are as different as their ages but the love for their art consumes them.

“When I first cut into stone something happened to me,” says 81-year-old Tony Cano. “I know it’s what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Cano grew up in San Francisco, was raised primarily by his grandmother. Down the street from his grandmothher’s house lived a five foot tall, Italian-born, sculpting giant Beniamino “Bene” Benvenuto Bufano who handed Tony his first piece of clay.

“I watched Bene, I learned from him but then I rebelled,” says Cano.

Tony turned his back on his art in his late teens. Over the years he thought of sculpting but he had his family, his job, a busy life. He was a truck driver for the state printing office for 36 years. When he got close to retirement Tony started thinking about sculpting again. Eventually he started sculpting with wood. That’s when it all started happening.

“It was like I was channeling,” Cano explains. “Emotionally something happens to me. It’s like an innate predisposition in me to create. It’s what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Cano spends hours, sometimes days, looking at a stone until he feels something. When he does, he sketches a few lines on the stone until he is carried away.

“I work out my thoughts, my feelings on each piece,” says Cano. “How many of us have feelings inside, a capacity or propensity to create, to paint, to sculpt, to write, but we never do.”

“All those years at the state I was a truck driver. Something was missing. When I sculpt I feel good about me. It brings up feelings – sadness, resentment, happiness.”

Tom Walsh had the same experience as Tony. Even though Walsh, at 56, is 25 years younger than Tony, their stories are parallel in that Tom drew when he was a kid but “I put it all away when I got married.”

“I had kids, a family, responsibilities, but then the kids grew up and I got time to look at my life again,” Tom says.

In 2003, after 30 years of working in the automotive industry and then selling office furniture, Tom picked up drawing again. Pen and ink. He did that for a few years “but it didn’t feel right.” Somehow Tom found Susan Sarbach, the owner of Chroma Gallery and the founder of the School of Light and Color. He took an art class from Susan and found “what I needed to do.”

Tom still sells office furniture but he thinks about painting “twenty-four – seven,” he says. “I think about where I’m going to paint all week long.” Tom loves to paint at Stone Lakes Natural Wild Life Refuge and Cosumnes Wild Life Preserve.

Tom paints still lifes and landscapes. Plein air (is French for “the open air” or “the daylight of outdoors”) is “what I love,” he says calmly and confidently. “It’s what I was meant to do. It’s about light – seeing and experiencing the world in all kinds of light.”

First Friday Artists’ Reception and Show

Debut of sculpture by Tony Cano and oils by Tom Walsh. Eighty-one-year-old Cano has been sculpting for 30 years, since “I first cut into wood and something happened to me.” Also featured are still lifes and landscapes in plein air (painted on location) by Walsh who fell into painting after his children were grown. “I now know painting is what I need to do.” 6 – 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7. Sutter Lawn Tennis Club, 3951 N. Street, Sacramento. (916) 451-3336.

Dancers stepped away from financial disaster

2009-07-13T18:12:39Z

"The 2009-10 season is a dream come true," said dancer Alexandra Cunningham.

A financial crisis in the 2008-09 season has given the 24 dancers a new perspective on their dancing career. Relocating from the 2,398-seat Community Center Theater to the studio with only two rows of seats was perhaps the biggest eye-opener.

For the in-studio shows, only the bare minimum -- chairs, curtains and lights -- separated the dancers from the audience. Both the community and the dancers loved it.

"Performing to sold-out audiences in our studios was exhilarating!" Cunningham said. "I felt that I could share so much more with audience members because I could see their every reaction."

Cunningham praised the entire organization -- staff, dancers, the board of directors -- who all worked to keep the ballet afloat. The community responded with great enthusiasm, she added.

More than 50 businesses became "Ballet Businesses" by donating goods for a silent auction, a space to perform in or donating part of their income. The dancing troupe also created a website, saveoursacballet.org, to give the community a better idea of who the dancers are and inform them about performances.

During Second Saturday Art Walks, they became living sculptures at various art galleries.

When all was said and done, they performed a record number of more than 40 shows, including more than 50 pieces at five different venues.

"It was exciting for us, and therefore translated into our bodies as a new, raw and fearlessness energy," Cunningham added. "I think as dancers we learned a lot from the experience, and overall I feel that we all became stronger because of it."

Administrators of saveoursacballet.org shut down the site, but will reopen it as sacballetdancers.com. The new site will feature information on the dancers' lives, backgrounds and interests.