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Where is the Pinole Art Center?
We are located at 2221 Pear Street in Old Town Pinole.
Here is a printable MAP.

Art Center Classes

Mar 08 Class Calendar
April 08 Class Calendar
May 08 Class Calendar
June 08 Class Calendar
July 08 Class Calendar
August 08 Calendar
September 08 Calendar
October 08 Calendar
November 08 Calendar
December 08 Calendar

Artisans Newsletter

January 2008
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008

Next General Membership Meeting

Friday, November 7th, 2008 at 7:00 PM

Join us as we return to our usual meeting place at the Pinole United Methodist Church (located at 2000 San Pablo Avenue, just past the Bus Stop Mural) at 7:00pm.

This month at our general meeting, we will be welcoming Joan back from Hawaii and Joyce Yamada back from her trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. (Many congrats Joyce!) Joyce will be our featured speaker of the evening as she tells us about her journey, accompanied with a slide/film presentation.

We also encourage you to bring artwork to share - at least one piece to enter for peer awards. Bring new pieces to show us what you have been working on, or old favorites.

Important Dates To Remember

Friday, November 7th, 2008: General Meeting 7:00PM
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008: Take-In for the Gallery Show “Holiday Antics” from 10:30-4:30
Thursday, November 20th, 2008: Last Day of the Gallery Show “Autumn Repose” New Gallery Show installation, pick up artwork from previous show
Saturday, November 22nd, 2008: Grand Opening for the Gallery Show “Holiday Antics” 1:00-4:30PM
Thursday, January 8th, 2009: Last Day of the Gallery Show “Holiday Antics”
Saturday, November 22nd: 2008: Grand Opening for the Gallery Show “Holiday Antics” 1:00-4:30PM
Thursday, January 8th, 2009: Last Day of the Gallery Show “Holiday Antics”
Wednesday, January 14th, 2009: Last Day of the Library Show “Every Day Matters”

Letter From The President

Letter from the President Aloha Members (The Spirit of Hawaii is still with me),
Our current show at the Art Center (AUTUMN REPOSE) is going well. I thank all of you who have filled in the empty places in our schedule. On November 20 we will be receiving art work for the Holiday Show entitled "HOLIDAY ANTICS". There will be a SIGN UP list at the next meeting (November 7) for you to indicate your desire to participate in this Show. (Only previous show entrants are eligible to participate). The Holiday Show will end on January 8. Don't forget that we will need decorations for our Holiday Tree, which will go up shortly after Thanksgiving. Please include the tree decorations in you're collection of artwork delivered November 20, and use the OTHER Inventory List to describe and price these items.

Unfortunately our plans for the City Hall Plaza Mural are currently on hold until after the election, and the budget for doing the mural will be less than we anticipated. All of us are hurting financially, including the State funding and City funding. We must look forward and hope for recovery soon.

My thanks to all the Pinole Artisans who showed up at the AC5 Award Event. Your presence gave me comfort and support. It is my hope that this award will give Pinole Artisans legitimacy, and open up opportunities for us in the months to come. Keep painting, beading. sculpting, drawing.and expressing yourselves with art. Your spirit and creativity are important to others and to our community!

Hawaii, was of course, wonderful and I came home with enough photographs to keep me painting for at least another year. More than a beautiful place though, for me it is a place for spiritual renewal and again this year that was the case. The mighty Mauna Kea, which we see from our windows and deck, was especially spectacular this year; and the sea turtles came out on our beach to nap and gave us a fabulous photo op. It was a great vacation!

Aloha!
Joan Landis

UPDATED 10-26-08

Pinole Artisan Foudation Events & Information

Artisans ! We have just turned back our clocks for fall, marking the end of daylight savings time and preparing us for the winter that awaits just around the corner. Our first rain-storm of the season has passed and the Holiday Season is almost in full swing. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is just three weeks away?!

They say that time flies when you are having fun - and fun we have been having. Our passion for art has been both fun and kept us busy as the organization expands. This past year we have welcomed many new members, contributed to a number of public art projects, successfully run a gallery for almost a year now (1 full year later this month), held a variety of art classes, and offered a number of shows.

So now, while the economy seems to be in a (dare I say it) recession, and large and small retailers across the country are unsure about what to expect this Holiday Season, we still have much to celebrate. Let art, people and Holiday cheer fill our gallery as we welcome the next show, entitled “Holiday Antics.” Let that cheer and celebration of our accomplishments in the arts bring people into the gallery.

Since people are going to be tightening their financial belts overall, they will be looking for even more meaningful gifts. What better way to say that than with something carefully hand-crafted by a local Artisan. Encourage your friends and family to come by to do some Christmas shopping, or to pick up Holiday cards. I think we still have much to look forward to this year, so don’t forget to check the back page for important dates to remember.

Secretary,
Amanda Bruun

UPDATED 11-6-08

Artisans Bulletin Board

Artisans Bulletin Board Library Art: The Pinole Library is asking for help in putting together some classes for children in the summer of 2009. Anyone interested should contact :

Dori DeCommer
Youth Services Librarian
Pinole Library 2935 Pinole Valley Road
Pinole, CA 94564
(510) 758-2741 ext. 13
ddecomme@ccclib.org

UPDATED 11-06-08

Poet’s Corner

In Passing

The look

on your calm face

as now we meet by chance…

When I seek your eyes’ truth, you look

past me.

Commentary by Claire Baker

“In Passing” is a Cinquain: five lines of 2, 4, 6, 8, 2 syllables (or sounds) respectively...In this form, the poet has the challenge to select words carefully for utmost impact in a small space…

Visual artists know that less can be more —a suggestion, a hint, the understated. In other words, let the viewer or reader fill in what is not painted, written, etc. Then the appreciator realizes part ownership or creation of the piece, a joy one remembers.

Tomye, an accomplished painter friend who uses acrylics and gouache, once purposefully left a squarish bare canvas space (about 2”x2”) in the lower mid portion of her finished painting hung in The Art of Being Black yearly show at the Richmond Art Center. That bare section drove me crazy until I, a relative non-painter, began to imagine what I would wish in that space. My doing so surprised and delighted me. I have entered Tomye’s painting.

For anyone wanting to try a poem, the Cinquain is a KIND form. You already have the above outline...The word choice is strictly yours. Good luck.

Claire J. Baker, Poet
Pinole Artisans Member

Note: I thank Joyce Odam, a poetry friend of many years for use of “To A Sick Geranium,” which she told me first speared in Manifold #24 (Yule 1967) England, and later appeared on her illustrated bookmark which I cherish.

UPDATED 11-06-08

Peer Awards

February
1st Place: Janie Chambers for “Magnolias in Bloom”
2nd Place: Barbara George for her Pastel Life Study
3rd Place: Stanley Satchell for his sculpture “Stickball”

March
1st Place: Lisa Steiner for her landscape quilt
2nd Place: Joan Landis for “Provencal Market”
3rd Place: A tie between Semion Mirkin for his watercolor and Joe Shaw for his “Giraffes”

April
1st Place: Stanley Satchell for his sculpture “Twins”
2nd Place: A tie between Vickie Resso for her acrylic painting “Local Liberty”and Bonnie Tiber‟s beaded necklace
3rd Place: A Tie between Jean Fisk for her watercolor of a “Hibiscus”, Semion for his painting of a “Church”, and Lisa Steiner's necklace

May
1s Place: A tie between Janie Chambers for "Calla Lilies" and Joan Landis for "Crashing Waves"
2nd Place: Jim Davis for "Abandoned in Hercules"
3rd Place: Joe Shaw for "Catch a Wave"

June
1st Place: Casey Northern for ―Down the Rat Hole‖
2nd Place: A four-way tie Penny Bledsoe for "Matillaja Poppy", John Darke for "Rainbow Trout", Semion Mirkin for "Castle on the Sonoma Coast", Stanley Satchel for "The Gang"
3rd Place: Ira Nelken for ―Freestone Retreat

July
1st Place: Semion Mirkin for “Princess”
2nd Place: A two-way tie between Penny Bledsoe for “Windmills of Santorine” and Gony Solidum for “Mighty Waves”
3rd Place: A two-way tie between Jean Caudell for “Baby Serra” and J. Davis for “Odd Fellows”

September
1st Place: A two-way tie between John Darke for “How It’s Done” depicting the wood carving process and Joan Landis for “Walrus Love” inspired by our two sessions of gourd painting and decorating
2nd Place: A three-way tie between Janette Walters for “Blue Mood,” her bracelet of beaded-beads, Casey Storm-Northern for “Beast,” a drawing of her boyfriend, and Emmy and Mommy for Emmy’s diorama “Fishing Hut”
3rd Place: A three-way tie between Lila Banuelos for “Mr. Bojangles,” inspired by her work with kids, Alan Vaughn for “Revelation,” and Vergie Blackmon for her ceramic “Bowl with Face”

October
1st Place: Alan Vaughn for BEFORE THE STORM
2nd Place: Sharon Banuelos for HUNTING BEACH PIER
3rd Place: Noel Wilcox for THE MASKS OF LIFE, and Jim Davis for PORTRAIT OF JEN

Congrats to all of you who have received awards for your art. Doesn’t it feel great to share your artwork and know that other people are connecting with it?! Don’t forget that each month we encourage you to bring your art work to share at each general meeting, where we will do peer awards.

UPDATED 10-26-08

Pinole Art Center Classes

Art with Vickie: “Uniquely ME!” is a continuation of acrylic painting, for kids 8 and up in which they will launch a self-esteem project by doing self portraits.

Madden Watercolor with Lorena: In this beginning-intermediate class with Madden Certified Teacher Lorena Fink, you will spend 6 hours bringing the “Koi Pool” to life.

Madden Watercolor with Penny: This beginning-intermediate class is given by Penny Bledsoe, a Madden Certified Teacher. Over this 8 hour class period, you will paint “New Portland Lighthouse.”

Bob Ross Landscape with Lorena: In this beginning-intermediate class offered by Certified Bob Ross Instructor Lorena Fink, you will work on “Mountain Majesty” over 6 hours.

Altered Books: Transform a used book into a unique art journal, exploring a variety of techniques such as color washing, antiquing, masking, collage, image transfer and much more to create pages in your book to commemorate occasions or a pictorial history of your life and interests. Bring a used book to class.

Jewelry Finishing with Jill: For all skill levels, teens to adult. Make your own jewelry findings, look at samples of materials, make a pair of earrings, repair jewelry, make jewelry projects and receive a handy booklet of tips to take home.

Peyote Beading with Casey: Learn to make unique peyote stitch earrings and jewelry in this freeform class.

Melinda’s Bead Night: You bring whatever bead project you want to work on. Get together with others to exchange ideas and have fun.

Melinda’s Crop Night: Whether you’re an experienced scrap-booker, or a beginner, bring your photos to crop and drinks to accompany snacks provided by Melinda, to get you going. Space is limited, but there are 4 evenings scheduled (3 more left this month).

PMC Charms “101” : In this class you will use PMC+ to make charms for a charm bracelet, with many different options to choose from, including making charms for earrings or pendants, and sterling silver bracelets available for purchase. (Please note that this class was held Nov. 2)

Introduction to Airbrush with Joe Shaw: Classes by appointment. Hands on airbrush lessons. Students will learn what equipment to use and how to use it effectively, leaving with a booklet of information and a piece of artwork made by you.

Watercolor Techniques Class with Ira Nelken: This class is for intermediate and advanced watercolor painters. We will learn specific techniques for use in watercolor; perspective, color mixing & balance, and wet vs. dry brush technique. You will also learn lots of ways of doing specific scenes and moods, contrast, lines, and place, etc… Students need to bring their own watercolor paints, brushes, and supplies. This class will be held on Thursdays from 7:00-9:00PM from 10/30—11/20 at the Pinole Senior Center Arts & Crafts Room, located at 2500 Charles Ave. Cost is $80 per session for Pinole residents and $88 per session for non-residents.. For more information, or for a four week course outline and class materials list, please contact Ira Nelken at (510) 222-9668 or via e-mail at IraNRich01@aol.com.

For More Class Info… visit our website, where you can link to a calendar with all the dates, times, costs, and registration information. For further info, contact the Class Coordinator, Lorena Fink, at (510) 222-2425.

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UPDATED 11-06-08

Help Wanted

If you have experience in administrative work, can do some basic computer record keeping as in cataloguing artwork for shows, or have a willingness to learn, please contact us online or in writing.