Local Social Network for the Arts Community in Central Valley

July 2008 Blog Posts (19)

Website fun- the ups and downs of learning and managing a site.

I spent the last three days updating my website. Still need more updating, but it is better and currant, at least, mostly.

It is amazing how little things can take so long to fix. I am working in 'Dreamweaver' and am no expert by far. I have the 'learn as you go' philosophy which makes it really fun when I need to figure out things.

I was trying to do a simple thing, but it took most of the day to figure it out. The very large book that goes with the software is very informative, but… Continue

Added by Kathy Ritscher on July 31, 2008 at 10:58am — 1 Comment

Patrick Contreras Plays The Crossroads - Saturday Aug.2

I've had a few places I feel that I can call a musical home in Fresno. Somewhere I feel a slight less prick of insecurity and am free to express myself through my music. Full Circle Brewing, Arte Americas, and lastly The Crossroads. THis might seem like an unlikely choice. Believe it or not this place is turning out to be "the" place to be for music in Fresno. I know we have starline and club fred(audie's olympic), but I dont' think theres a place that has such a vast array of music explored… Continue

Added by Patrick Contreras on July 30, 2008 at 7:23am — 1 Comment

New Threads: Part 2

Burlee Vang opened the second half of the evening. I can't decide which to share here. "Love at the USPS" reminded me of those maddening people who would have us be a safer, tamer, more manageable version of ourselves, who wouldn't mind if we happened to serve them in the process, too. I listened to him describe the first glimpse of snow as "The silence of paper shattered" ("Winter, Fresno '98") and I wondered about the "white" that fell on them, seducing them from their mother's tables. It was… Continue

Added by Victoria Cochran on July 27, 2008 at 5:00pm — 2 Comments

The road less traveled. A journey of pain.

I'm taking a different road than some.

I just got through 'googling' art and pain. Many paintings of gruelsome images, splotches of deep, dark colors, shapes, images. Expressions of what pain feels like. Moving the viewer to emotions of sympathy, horror and shock. It seems that many have the need to express pain in their paintings, sculptures, music and writings. A need for others to see and hear how they feel. I do empathize. I actually do understand. I live with chronic pain. The… Continue

Added by Kathy Ritscher on July 27, 2008 at 11:00am — 3 Comments

New Threads: An Evening with Hmong American Writers & Artists

I've just returned from the most wonderful event. I was enthralled and, at times overwhelmed, by the words, voices and images presented by the members of the Hmong American Writers' Circle. Normally rather reserved in public settings, my eyes repeatedly filled with tears at the accomplishment displayed and, also, at words that spoke to my own experiences of growing up in an immigrant family, to the struggle to weave an identity that could span worlds, both past and present. I'll share the first… Continue

Added by Victoria Cochran on July 25, 2008 at 11:30pm — No Comments

Reasons Every Artist Should Have a Flickr: Part 2

I really appreciated the feedback on my first post about this topic; it encouraged me to continue! And, after adding to my original post this morning, it occurred to me that it was getting a bit long and that it might be easier to chew if it were served up in smaller bites. So, I've given Point 3 its own blog entry.

Reasons 1 and 2 covered having your own online gallery and getting maximum exposure for a minimum of effort. The third point is: Cross Linking.

3.… Continue

Added by Victoria Cochran on July 25, 2008 at 3:30pm — No Comments

color pencils gain art respect

The color pencil is often ignored or disregarded as a true art form. These small pieces of wood and pigments have come a long way from the school geography pencils. True art pigments are held in a wax or oil base and many companies are addressing and fixing the light-fast problems of old.

Support is as important as the pencil. Acid free, archival papers, vellums, drafting films, pastel boards and even smooth woods are used by many cp artists. Under paintings of water colors, watercolor… Continue

Added by Kathy Ritscher on July 25, 2008 at 12:39pm — 4 Comments

Invitation to Entertainment of Various Sources

Two events of note upcoming:

On Saturday August 16, 2008, my broadcast of the readings from the international literary competition I directed this year, the William Saroyan Centennial Prizes (fiction, nonfiction, and one-act play) will be broadcast on KFCF. The readers are me, reading Bethany E. Chaney's winning essay, Learning the Alphabet, Skip Sargenti reading Hal Ackerman's one-man, one-act play, Testosterone, and Paula Fansler reading Elizabeth Edelglass's winning short story,… Continue

Added by Megan Bohigian on July 24, 2008 at 8:31pm — No Comments

Getting started

I'm not good at blogging, but here goes. Maybe I'll actually have something worth sharing! lol

Who am I? (This first one will be a little long-winded, sorry in advance!)

First off, I am an artist. Born in a family of artists, I can't remember a time without art. I have always have been creative and I bring that into every aspect of my life. Whether it be gardening, running a house, raising children, working at jobs that I have had or any aspect of my life.

I've been married for… Continue

Added by Kathy Ritscher on July 24, 2008 at 3:53pm — No Comments

Reasons Every Artist Should Have a Flickr

Good morning :)

I've got just a few minutes to get started, busy day ahead, but I thought I could begin now and come back to it later.

I recently asked Rattananan if she had a flickr account and she asked me WHY she should have one. I like the question, because with all the things you CAN do on the net, it's important to sort out and focus upon what you really SHOULD do to meet your goals. So, I'll start with some… Continue

Added by Victoria Cochran on July 24, 2008 at 6:30am — 6 Comments

North Pointe Arthop

This Thursday at North Pointe Center at Stands Salon we are Displaying 8 different artist. Fernando Garcia is hosting this Arthop. Music will be by Lance Canales at Sambas restaurant.

Added by Donald Goodman on July 16, 2008 at 1:00pm — No Comments

OurTown Launches in Fresno with an ARTS section

OurTown.com has launched it's preliminary site for Central Fresno and included an arts page for the community. OurTown.com is a website that will serve 70,000 communities across the US. They have named Brad L Johnson as the local editor for Central Fresno. You may remember Brad from Arthop. He bravely opened an Art Gallery and the Blister Mill Artist Village in Madera. Brad knows first hand how important it is for community support. For more detailed information email ourtownfresno@yahoo.com

Added by Brad L Johnson on July 15, 2008 at 8:22am — No Comments

Yoga and the Arts

I found out about this yoga retreat through a MindHub posting (from Randy Fresno):

"A couple of weeks ago, I met two tabla players who had come to town

from the Berkeley and Los Angeles areas. These two had individually

toured Europe and been trained by some of the world's BEST players.

They had come to Fresno to perform at a FREE Sahaja Yoga meditation

meeting on the Fresno State campus where the number of people… Continue

Added by Victor Ramayrat on July 10, 2008 at 9:06am — 1 Comment

Join Violinist Patrick Contreras @ The Cellar Door in Visalia!

Come enjoy downtown Visalia Saturday July 12 and Join The Patrick Contreras Band at The Cellar Door on Main St. doors open at 9pm!

Added by Patrick Contreras on July 5, 2008 at 1:17pm — No Comments

We have two blogs...check them out

We have 2 blogs that showcase our latest work. Check them out...comments are welcome!

Added by Johnny Stafford Photography on July 4, 2008 at 8:19am — No Comments

OK, I'm wondering...

Have not got the energy to prep yesterday's photos, yet, but nevertheless, my thoughts are bubbling...

We have a "Blossom Trail."

I found the public art catalogue page, on this site. Will we have a "Fresno Art Trail" sometime in the future? Or, many of them?

Gas isn't friendly, but some of these public installations are within walking, others within biking distance of each other....I can imagine official trails, with directional signs and even maps, to… Continue

Added by Victoria Cochran on July 3, 2008 at 7:30am — 8 Comments

Vermicompost

Does anyone have a worm bin?

A couple of weeks ago I ordered one online, put it together and waited until today to get the "Red Wigglers" I ordered. Wow! I have always loved photographing nature and gardening, I have never liked worms but theses are really kewl I'm excited about the shots I envision. I am putting together a video to show the progress of my worm farm. I will keep you posted. Would love to hear about your worm bin…

Added by Naomi R. Hendrix on July 2, 2008 at 8:44pm — 9 Comments

What sizes?

I am a new photographer and have never shown my work in public. (not counting friends and family) My intention is to be in an Arthop in the near future but I am unsure of the sizes my photos should be printed. My plan is to print in series so the main print would be what size? Leaving the other prints (how many) to be… Continue

Added by Naomi R. Hendrix on July 2, 2008 at 7:00am — 2 Comments

Getting ready for more...

Tomorrow, I hit the road early, again, for another public art tour and picture taking event. Today was just a taste, as I accompanied Bob Gifford while he did welding in prep for installing a gate designed by Chris Sorensen, at a private home. I couldn't look (it's not safe), but my camera could, and this is what it saw. Looks like a high end Fourth of July… Continue

Added by Victoria Cochran on July 1, 2008 at 6:00pm — 4 Comments