Downtown Santa Ana is known in Orange County as the heart of the arts district.  Home to such places as Grand Central, The Yost Theater and the Artist Village, you never run out of things to do.  But this holiday season downtown Santa Ana is going to be a little different.  Two art center graduates, Adam Voorhees and Shin Fujita have come together to develop special animation components for Project: Holiday Projection. Using the Spurgeon Building in downtown Santa Ana as a facade, high powered projectors will be spilling a spectacle of light and shadow to create animated illusions of 3D design. It’s a trend that has been sweeping Europe and is now making its very first appearance in Orange County.

The process of the projection project combines some creative 3D mapping software that will trace the downtown Spurgeon building allowing the projectors to use it as a canvas to display some visually stimulated holiday animation.  And if that was not enough, it’s all set to an immerse soundtrack created by the co-owner of Santa Ana’s Crosby Restaurant. Chris Alfaro created the music to sync perfectly with the visual performance that will transport you into a glee of holiday ecstasy.

Project: Holiday Projections is a perfect mash-up of visual stimulation and auditory overload in a location that is perfectly well suited.  It’s needed to be seen to be believed and you only have a couple of weeks to do it.  Take your whole family and invite all your friends to visually feast on a really awesome collaboration of designers and artists that will tickle your senses.  It’s way better than that lump of coal that’s going to be getting in your stocking this year.  Go check it out!

PROJECT: Holiday Projection
The Spurgeon Building
206 W. 4th Street (between Main and Broadway)
Santa Ana, CA 92701
www.downtownoclife.com

Project Projection performances continue Thursday – Saturday evenings from 7-9pm through December 27th

NOTE: In the event of rain, the performance will be canceled

Not too many years ago, the characterizing quality of the Jabulani Village in Zimbabwe would have been it’s thriving community of gifted artisans known for their wood carvings of some of the country’s most breathtaking creatures.  These carvings, made from a single piece of local Mucwa hardwood and some standing as tall as 15 feet, are carved using the most simple tools, but each is intricately detailed and finished into a prized piece of art.  Not long ago, these artists would have been the face of the Village – but now, the economic crisis with it’s 234 million% inflation rate, a nation being plagued by rampant AIDS, Malaria, malnutrition, untreated illnesses and infections has made these remarkable carvings take a back seat to the simple idea of survival.

This small village of around 500 lives in the bush of Zimbabwe with no electricity or running water.  With each member usually taking in at most one meal a day, and disease ravaging the country, the future of the village looked rather bleak until a small group of Orange County women took it upon themselves to make a difference.  The Ndebele Art Project began with plan to start a pre-school and community water project.  With these initiatives in place, the last three years have focused on an expanding list of goals including a medical clinic, installing a windmill and six water tanks for clean water, emergency provision of food, distribution of clothing and shoes, nutrition and first aid supplies, and now focusing on the cultivation and maintenence of a garden to both sustain the villagers nutritional needs but also provide surplus produce for local sale.  Though the funding for these projects come from private donations, another huge source for their efforts is the now annual Hope and Possibility benefit – with this years event taking place this weekend.

The Ndebele Art Project is a non-profit organization located right here in Orange County.  This organization began with the hopes of restoring the community to it’s former state of prosperity. I had the opportunity to speak to one of NAP’s volunteers, Mire Molnar, about her experience working with the project.  Mire first joined the board in 2008 and produced the first Hope and Possibility event on the rooftop of The Camp in Costa Mesa. Since then, her passion for the villagers has increased thremendously and driven her to continue working for their greater good even from a continent away.

“Traveling to [Zimbabwe] and meeting the village was life changing.  The people I met and the family we stayed with was so happy and full of grace it made me feel so ashamed of how much I take for granted.”, says Mire.  Indeed, with a culture like Orange County, it is difficult to imagine what it would be like to live without the easy access we have to the finer luxuries our society has to offer.  Even in the midst of terrible hardship and an unsure tomorrow, these courageous people seem to possess what we all are looking for – freedom.  “They live in the moment and cherished each other in such a tangible way.”

When Mire returned from her trip, she discovered that NAP didn’t feel like a charity – it felt like a trade situation.  “They were offering our spirits a place to be free and heal and we were offering them all the skills we have within the realm of organization and project completion.”   And the trade continues on.  With this small village shining as a beacon of hope and freedom of spirit, NAP continues to fuel the flame by continuing their funding efforts.  And now, they offer the chance to get involved to you.

On July 19th, NAP will hold it’s Annual Hope and Possibilities event at Memphis in Santa Ana.  A portion of the profits, as well as a silent auction, poker tournament, and opportunities for pledges will go towards upcoming and ongoing projects in the Jabulani Village.  Dinner and silent auction will be held from 5-9pm, with the poker tournament and dj party running from 7-1am.  Reservations can be made by calling 714-564-1064.  You can also benefit NAP by shopping through their online mall at http://shop.napafrica.org/shop

“There are so many places in the world that need extra attention, extra love and extra healing,” Mire adds.  “Find the people that you have a connection to and live your life WITH them. Include them into your thoughts your budget your projects.”

Photos by Todd Puchalski.

Congratulations to Cori Westphal!  We’ll be sending your showerhead out this week!

Thank you everyone for entering.  We had a great turnout!

I wish we could have had more winners but if our glowing review of the product piqued your interest, you can order off their website at a 25% discount!  Simply enter OCAC25 – (case sensitive) for 25% off!

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You may have read recently about the fascinating new archaeological discoveries in Egypt: Cleopatra’s tomb, a new cache of mummies in the Valley of the Kings, ancient gold jewelry in Luxor. Equally wondrous findings, however, are being carried on every day, not in the sands of ancient Egypt but in the dusty storage bins of museums around the world: ancient papyrus documents that record the words and deeds of millenia ago.

The ancient Egyptians wrote in hieroglyphs, pictographic representations of the sounds of their language. It is these hieroglyphs which bring us back to Orange County. Saturday, May 16, the Orange County Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE-OC) will present for the first time a workshop on the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs at the Heritage Park Library in Irvine. The workshop will be presented by Dr. Elizabeth Waraksa, whose impressive credentials include a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies (Egyptian Art and Archaeology) from Johns Hopkins University, a fellowship at UCLA’s Young Research Library for a Web portal of resources relating to the ancient Near East and Egypt. She is also assisting with collection development, providing reference and instruction, and together with the Digital Library Program, working on the all-digital UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology.

OCAC spoke with Robin Young, President of ARCE-Orange County Chapter, about the Chapter and also with Dr. Waraksa about the upcoming workshop.

William Dean (WD): Robin, can you give us a little background about ARCE in Orange County? Is there a lot of enthusiasm and support for ancient Egyptian studies in our area?

Robin Young (RY): ARCE OC is the largest of 12 regional chapters of the American Research Center in Egypt, based in Cairo and San Antonio, Texas. Our membership covers six Southern California counties, and we are proud to number quite a few Egyptologists among our membership.

Our chapter was founded in 2002, and over the years has hosted many big names in Egyptology, notably Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dr. Mark Lehner. Every month, we offer a free lecture, normally at the Norma Kershaw Auditorium at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, one of our partners. Many of our speakers are featured in specials on the Discovery and National Geographic channels on TV. Between one to two hundred persons attend each month. Our mailing list numbers about 1100 persons with a wide demographic spread.

Roughly twice a year we host special seminars, classes or visits to museums accompanied by an Egyptologist. Our hieroglyphs class on May 16 is being held at the Heritage Park Library in Irvine because we can set up tables so the students have plenty of room to draw the figures of the hieroglyphs. On December 5, at the Bowers, we are offering a seminar by two of the foremost Eighteenth Dynasty experts, Drs. Donald and Susan Redford, Interpreting Amarna, the Reign of the Heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten.

In January of 2010, the chapter is operating a tour to Egypt, with emphasis on visiting special archaeological sites not normally open to the public.

Membership in ARCE supports excavation and preservation of Egyptian antiquities.

There is huge interest in Southern California for Ancient Egypt. Several million people attended the King Tut exhibit in Los Angeles a few years back, and the Bowers enjoyed record attendance with the British Museum show which closed in early 2008. Ancient Egypt remains part of the curriculum in California schools, and many people continue that interest throughout their adult lives.

WD: Dr. Waraksa, it seems that interest in the culture of ancient Egypt is constantly being “re-born” through various means, including new archaeological finds as well as popular culture such as movies and documentaries.. What are some of the challenges presented to “keeping it real” and dispelling some of the myths and inaccuracies portrayed by “Hollywood”?

Dr. Elizabeth Waraksa (EW): You are absolutely right that all of the new archaeological finds reported in the news keep interest in ancient Egypt running high; the news coverage is also a useful reminder that only a fraction of what remains from ancient times has been uncovered. Popular culture definitely adds to the high level of interest. For Egyptologists, all of this coverage is largely boon, because it opens up opportunities to talk and teach about ancient Egypt to folks who have already encountered aspects of the culture online, in the paper, on television, or in the movies. As you say, it can sometimes be challenging to counter popular opinion – I often have to assure people that scarab beetles are not flesh-eating bugs after all! – but most often I regard inquiries about ancient Egypt as opportunities not only to correct a mis-stated or exaggerated fact, but to direct interested folks to a more nuanced – and sometimes, more interesting! – understanding of the culture.

WD: What are some of the most fascinating and surprising things still being learned about Egyptian hieroglyphs?

EW: Some of the most fascinating recent discoveries have been “lost” beginnings to well know texts written on papyri. For example, in 2003 Richard B. Parkinson of the British Museum published the previously unknown beginning of a piece of ancient Egyptian literature known as “The Dispute Between a Man and His Ba.” Many museum and other Egyptian collections still contain a significant number of as-yet untranslated texts, so there will no doubt be more discoveries to come.

WD: When you present a workshop such as this, how do you — briefly — connect the culture of ancient Egypt with the pictographic writings? Are they strongly linked?

EW: It is absolutely crucial when teaching the Egyptian language to discuss exactly what the glyphs represent, because each sign is intimately related to the Egyptian worldview. Among the most common hieroglyphs are everything from a simple house plan to parts of the human body to the flora and fauna of the country – not to mention all of the signs associated with water, constant reminders of the Egyptians’ dependence on the annual flooding of the Nile. The signs used to write the Egyptian language are taken straight from daily, as well as religious, life in ancient Egypt, and I think that one of the most engaging parts of the language for beginners is learning to recognize and distinguish between the glyphs.

WD: Do you recommend attendees “brush up” on their studies or is the workshop directed toward both aficionados and the general public?

EW: This is the first time I am offering this workshop for the ARCE-OC group, and it is open to both ARCE-OC members and members of the public. No prior knowledge of the language is necessary, although I know that many people will have either taken formal courses, or performed some self-study, before taking the class, so deep is their interest in ancient Egypt. I always look forward to introducing newcomers to this fascinating – if sometimes daunting! – language.

WD: How did you initially select this area of study yourself? What inspired you to become an expert in Egyptian hieroglyphs and what are some of the personal rewards you’ve gained from such studies?

EW: I became interested in Egyptology all the way back in seventh grade, when my Social Studies class completed a unit on the ancient world and I learned about the pyramids at Giza and Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tut’s tomb. From that moment on, I was hooked. For the rest of middle school and throughout high school, I wrote as many ancient Egypt-themed essays as I could – for example, in an essay for my high school Latin class, I compared Cleopatra and Livia. I also specifically researched colleges that offered a major in archaeology. Most fortunately, I was accepted to the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore for college, and then for graduate school. I believe that I held onto that initial feeling of wonder and curiosity throughout my studies, which made them thoroughly enjoyable.

During my doctoral studies at Johns Hopkins, I was fortunate enough to be able to teach the year-long course, Introduction to Middle Egyptian (hieroglyphs) for five years. My students were both undergraduates and fellow graduate students, and I enjoyed every minute. Especially rewarding were the days when, after some weeks of study, my students and I would visit a local museum so that they could apply their newly-acquired language skills by reading Egyptian texts inscribed on actual monuments. Also personally rewarding for me during graduate school was the opportunity to excavate at the Temple of Mut, part of the Karnak temple complex in Luxor, with the Johns Hopkins Expedition. Not only was it a daily thrill to be excavating at a temple precinct, but my dissertation project on ceramic female figurines also sprung from that experience, which made me all the more dedicated to my topic.

By the way, if your readers would like to learn more about the ongoing Johns Hopkins Expedition to the Temple of Mut, they can visit the online dig diary, Hopkins in Egypt Today, at http://www.jhu.edu/egypttoday.

The workshop will be held at the Heritage Park Library, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, on May 16. Contact the ARCE-OC at their website: http://www.arce.org/chapters/orangecounty/events/u89 for more information.

1.  Phonetic guide to hieroglyphs
2.  Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs carved in stone
3.  Dr. Elizabeth Waraksa surveys an archaeological dig in Egypt (Photo courtesy of John Hopkins University)

The Orange County Museum of Art is known for their exciting exhibitions of historical and contemporary art, but recently they have teamed up with Target to bring to the public something even better. The second Sunday of very month for this past year has been free, yes thats right FREE. Thanks to a sponsorship from Target (everyones favorite store) The Orange County Museum of Art has and is able to give to the people of Orange County a fun and educational experience that is cost effective.

During these tough economical times its nice to be able to do things that don’t cost a lot, and now you and your family can come to the art museum for free. But you won’t just look at art, you will be able to become a part of it by creating your own!

Interactive guided tours, performances from prestigious theaters and art groups, arts project tables where kids have the opportunity to create artwork that relates to the current exhibition… these are just some of the fun things that you and your family will be able to do.

The next Target Free Second Sunday happens to be this Sunday, and both Target and The Orange County Museum of Art have a fun filled day planned. All of this Sundays events are based off of Mother’s Day and the current exhibition titled Illumination: The Paintings Of Georgia O’keeffe, Agnes Pelton, Agnes Martin, And Florence Miller Pierce, a series of beautiful watercolor like paintings. This Target Free Second Sunday is also held in conjunction with the annual Orange County Imagination Celebration. Which is a great opportunity for children to be recognized for their artists talent!

Listed below is a list of the fun types of activities that will be available this Sunday!

Free Family Portraits: Make sure to sign up for these free family portraits and create a memory that lasts!

Keepsake Photo Frames: Decorate and design your own keepsake photo frame. Pick up your free family portrait to showcase your special day with Mom!

Sun Hats: Personalize your own hat and have fun in the sun with style!

Festive Flower Pot:  Pot your own colorful flower and embellish it with style. Add your name and other fun stickers!

Watercolor Wonders: Explore unique forms from nature creating colorful and abstract flowers. Use special watercolor crayons and paint inspired by artwork from the Illumination exhibition.

In addition to all of these fun art projects there will be a performance and workshop done by Backhausdance; which is sure to be really exciting!

This is sure to be a really great day Mother’s Day, so if you have some free time come and check it out, if you can’t this month there is always next month! I will be there this Sunday helping out with the art projects so I hope to see you there all there!

This event runs from 11AM-4PM Sunday May 10, and every second Sunday at the same time.

For more information on The Orange County Museum of Art please visit their website here www.ocma.net

Photos courtesy of The Orange County Museum of Art

Here at OCAC, we mostly focus on the local arts and music scenes. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t care about the environment. About 6 months ago, I was given a Roadrunner showerhead from Evolve.  Initially, I was skeptical.  I’m not a fan of water-saving showerheads.  I’ve tried many in the past and they always leave me unsatisfied with the water pressure.  But evolve “lower-flow” (rather than low-flow) showerheads deliver in a way that nothing else I’ve ever tried could.  First off, the surface area of the showerhead was a lot larger than typical models and that meant a larger spray pattern… I wasn’t trying to wash my hair in about a quarter-sized stream of water.  Secondly, the water pressure didn’t seem to suffer one bit.  They have a philosophy about flow rates.  According to the website, “A showerhead with a flow rate between 1.75 GPM – 1.5 GPM can deliver an optimum blend of savings and comfort when designed into a properly engineered showerhead. A good quality 1.75 GPM – 1.5 GPM showerhead lowers your shower-based water and energy consumption by 30% – 40%, doesn’t require increased shower times and leaves you feeling clean, happy, refreshed and warm.”

And I’m sure by now, you’ve noticed the funny looking cord and medallion?  “We wanted a way to save time, water and energy without having to make sacrifices or behavior changes.  You see, we figured that many people were probably a lot like us in their morning routine – really busy running around to get out of the door on time. So to save a little time we typically turn on the shower and sneak away to do something else while waiting for the water to warm-up.  We brush our teeth, use the toilet, make our beds, we even hug our kids … When we get back to the shower it’s warm and ready … but how much hot water just accidentally ran down the drain?  Even a little adds up to be a lot.  Losing only 1 minute of hot water per shower can mean an additional $75 in utility bills and 2,7000 gallons of water wasted per year – and that’s for a family of three.  ShowerStart technology changes that equation because it watches the shower’s temperature and “triggers a trickle” as soon as the shower is warm enough to jump in.  This prevents your hot water from inadvertently running down the drain before you can hop in the shower. Not only have you eliminated the water and energy waste, but the sound of the trickle tells you that your shower’s ready.  The hot water for your shower is now warm and waiting instead of warm and wasted. “

Or perhaps you’re completely enamored of your showerhead and you’re unwilling to part with it?  That’s okay too!  For you, Evolve offers the Ladybug adaptor.  It turns any showerhead into a water saving, green showerhead!  The bottom line is: you can still step into a warm, comforting shower while still feeling great about your decision to conserve water.  And in case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a severe draught here in Southern California.  We need to conserve in every way possible.

Now you may be wondering why I’m writing this article.  Not only am I trying to inspire you to conserve a little water, and showing you how you can do so without sacrificing the few, small pleasurable moments of alone time we each get (hopefully) every morning.  But Evolve has generously offered us one Roadrunner showerhead set to give away to a lucky reader!  Simply fill in your name and email in our form (there’s a surprise after you click submit!).  And, for fun, in honor of Earth Day, be sure to leave a tip or trick for going green.  :)

www.evolveshowerheads.com

Disclaimer: Contest winner must be a US resident.  Entries accepted until midnight on 5/10.  Readers can gain extra entries by following OCAC on Twitter and tweeting @ocac or blogging about this contest.  Just leave a separate entry.

This contest is now closed.

There are many benefits to riding a bike.  During the work week, those fortunate enough to live within a reasonable cycling range enjoy the diminished stress of traffic, the decrease in upkeep costs for a commuter vehicle, and the added benefit of being that much more in shape than the average nine-to-fiver.  Imagine… instead of a morning filled with blaring horns, stop and go foot work on the gas and brake (lets face it… more on the latter), and the alternate shifting of the eyes from the clock to the car in front of you – some people enjoy a morning gliding down the streets with only the occasional traffic light to get in their way, while the morning sun graces their skin and the fresh air brushes past them as they peddle their way to a better day.

On the weekends, bike riding can be a tremendously enjoyable way to be active in the great outdoors, whether conquering a challenging trail or enjoying quality time with the family.  No matter what your location in Orange County, there is an open invitation from a trail near you.  Just think: at a moderate 13mph pace, a twenty-something can burn on average 250 calories per half hour of bike riding…or 550 burned while at a 20mph race pace.

Or you can race for the sake of donating $10,000 to charity.

This January, the Dana Point Community Cycling Foundation (DPCCF) donated a check totaling this amount to the Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley, the funding of which came from the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling run during 2008.  Now in its third year, and with a soaring reputation, the organization is set to do it again.

According to their press release, “This premier event attracts cyclists and fans from across the country to the picturesque harbor community of Dana Point.  The Grand Prix, a criterium style race, also hosts a public race and five youth events, adding a family atmosphere to the exciting professional appeal.”  The challenging course is a tight, L-Shaped course which cyclists young and… not quite so young, will race through on Sunday, April 26, 2009.  The sport of Cycling is an ever increasingly popular sport, with self-proclaimed enthusiasts in the tens of millions (60 million in the states alone) and a near even split of male-to-female ratio.

In addition to contributions to the Boys and Girls Club, the Dana Point Grand Prix of Cycling will raise donations to be given to the 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton.  So, what can you do to help?

In events like these, there is always the chance for involvement.  The organization can put together customized sponsorship packages which can address the goals of the individual or company interested in donating to the cause.  As well as personal donations, the event calls for volunteers as well.  What a great way to spend a weekend with the family – volunteer to spend a day in the gorgeous Dana Point Harbor, assist in a high-class sporting event, and do something good to benefit the Boys and Girls Club and the Marines of Camp Pendleton.

For more information on volunteering, visit the website at: www.danapointgrandprix.com

You think you know Art pretty well?  You say you’re familiar with artist names like Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir?  Good.  Then you know what plein air expressionism is, right?  Briefly put, without all the fancy art critic and art historian adverbs and adjectives, en plein air refers to “painting in the open air.” After 1870, with the growing popularity of paint in tubes (like toothpaste today), artists began toting their box easels outside the studio to try to capture the elusive qualities of sunlight and shadow on what they saw in Nature, village, and city.   What followed was a cornucopia of paintings that introduced viewers to the spectacular views of southern France, Tuscany, and… Southern California.

The quality of light, unusually good weather, and the panoramas of southern California attracted those with painterly urges no less than the gold strikes of ‘49 had for miners and get-rich-quick folks.  From the 1870s onward, Orange County places such as Laguna Beach and the picturesque ruins of San Juan Capistrano Mission, the exquisite bays and the dramatic cliff sides competed on canvas and watercolor paper for artists’ attention just as they do today.

Our current time often seems to reflect that digitalization and computer-generated Art reign supreme, but there is one place here, in our county, the only museum in the state, in fact, dedicated solely to the preservation and display of California Impressionism or Plein-Air painting: The Irvine Museum.

I spoke with Judy Thompson, Director of Media, recently about The Irvine Museum and its current exhibit, “The Good Life.”

William Dean:  Briefly, how did The Irvine Museum come to be?  How was it funded and what was the driving force behind its goal to preserve and display California Expressionist paintings?

Judy Thompson:  When Joan Irvine Smith began collecting historic California plein air paintings, she decided to create a museum in order to show the art and to publish books about it.  She not only wanted people to enjoy the beauty of the paintings, but also to make people aware of how much of our fragile California environment has been lost and how necessary it is for us to protect what remains.  In 1992, Joan Irvine Smith and her mother Athalie R. Clarke founded The Irvine Museum, which is dedicated to the preservation and display of California art of the Impressionist Period (1890-1930).

WD:   Certainly, we know that southern California has been compared countless times to Tuscany and southern France for the quality of its light and color.  To you, personally, what are the qualities of California’s plein air artists which set them apart from, say, their European counterparts, such as Monet and Renoir?  Is it just the choice of what they illustrate or are there deeper considerations?

JT:   All visual experiences begin with light.  The intent of representational art is to render physical objects, and that, in turn, is solely the portrayal of the effects of light on those objects.  Color is the way light is either reflected or absorbed by an object.  The land became the principal subject of this style, and it was represented as clean and unspoiled, with strength and grandeur.  California was ideal for painting out of doors (plein air) with its seemingly endless summers, perpetual sunshine and favorable weather conditions.  The state offered such varied terrain stretching from the mountains of the High Sierra to the shores of the Pacific Ocean.  Only in southern California, could an artist, travel from the seashores, to the desert, to the magnificent snow capped mountains, in just a few hours.  While the French Impressionist yearned to capture the immediate moment, or the temporal fragment of societal activity, California’s Impressionist instead sought to catch the fleeting moment of specific natural light as is the true subject of California Impressionists.

WD:  The current exhibit, The Good Life – California Watercolors 1930-1950, seems to present such a vibrant — if nostalgic — portrait of southern California life in that time period.  Apart from preserving visions of that past, what are the qualities museum visitors might want to pay attention to?  What kinds of emotions are evoked by the artists’ works?  What is the power of the artists’ choices in color and image on viewers?

JT:  This was a new path, completely uncharted.  These artists were not looking to France or Europe for inspiration, perhaps their greatest contribution was giving to California its first native, homegrown painting style.  This group’s main tenet was to experiment, push boundaries: “We didn’t know what we couldn’t do, so we did what we wanted.”  Our visitors are surprised by the bold styles, vibrant colors and exalted presence given to ordinary subjects such as train yards, freeways and pedestrian locales.

WD:  In your opinion, in these times of economic hardship for many, how important are free exhibits such as those presented by The Irvine Museum to the community?  And how might, for example, parents easily explain and interest their children in such Art?

JT:   During the economic downturn, families are staying close to home, looking for either free or inexpensive ways to spend time with their families.  Our museum is free and it gives parents a wonderful opportunity to explore and learn with their children about California’s rich environmental and artistic history.  Many of the local school children that participate in our school educational programs will proudly bring their parents to the museum on Saturdays to share their experience.

WD: Although we still frequently see “weekend painters” with their easels at various locations throughout Orange County, the life stories of many of the earlier California Expressionists were far from “leisurely”. From your knowledge, what were some of the challenges and life obstacles these artists overcame to produce such masterpieces of Art?  And do you think our modern plein air artists face similar challenges?

JT:   If one was not from California, it wasn’t an easy task to get here.  California was a distant, isolated region and time-consuming to reach.  The initial transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869.  Prior to that the only ways to reach California were overland through hostile territory or by ship around South America.  Once in California, they were free of the tight restrictions of the eastern art world, especially for the female artists.  Art stores were not available at that time and the artists had to make their canvas’s and mix their own paints.  Some of them learned how to make frames.

I think that today, the plein air artists are facing vanishing landscapes and rare open spaces, and unfortunately, it’s not going to get easier to find.

WD:  Finally, in relation to The Irvine Museum, what new exhibits are in the works, so to speak?  What can we visitors look forward to in the near future?

JT:  Following our current watercolor exhibition “The Good Life”, which will continue through May 16th, will be “The Outsiders”, Modernism in California, 1920-1940.  This show will continue in the same vein, primarily with oils, on the modern approach to California landscape painting.  The fall season will see a return to our hallmark of Early California Impressionist painting.

The Irvine Museum
18881 Von Karman Avenue Ste. 100 (Ground Level)
Irvine, California 92612
www.irvinemuseum.org
(949) 476-2565

Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission and parking are free.

Photos:
Stan Backus (1910-1984) San Bernardino Train Yard, 1939
Arthur Riley (1911 -1998) Clam Forks
Frank Meyers (1899 – 1956) Cash For Your Car

Diabetes has become a worldwide epidemic. In 2008, the United States housed about twenty-four million Americans with Diabetes. In Orange  County alone, we have approximately two hundred thousand diabetics.  I can guarantee you that at least one member of your family or friends live with it. But what can you do about it?  The Light Gallery in Costa Mesa recently hosted an exhibition to help raise awareness and money towards the research and the eventual eradication of diabetes.  Thirty one different artists from LA and Orange County came together to host a group art exhibition from their perspective of Type One Diabetes. The show was entitled Pre-Existing Conditions. Each of the artists are effected by Diabetes in some way.  Whether they are Diabetic, or have a close friend or family member who is, each one of these artists share in the hope that one day, Diabetes will no longer effect anyone.  It was a noble cause and an amazing night of art.

The gallery was jam-packed; we were sandwiched in like sardines.  This ‘one night stand’ art show had so many powerful pieces that the walls were completely littered with different works.  Mixed media installations, acrylics, photography and even digital art were all on display. Each piece had a different take on what Diabetes meant to each artist and you could really feel the honesty and earnestness in all the works displayed.  It was as if no one was holding back.  It was really nice to let each piece entice you and speak directly to your core.  One of my favorite canvases of the night was by Anthony Ausgang, whose modified canvas was entitled “What my father saw” (right). It really spoke to me.  Anthony used a canvas he had found and modified to represent the loss of eyesight that his father had been stricken with after living with Diabetes.  It was one of those pieces that really jump right off the white walls of the gallery.  Since most of his canvas had been painted black, it immediately stood out and continued to draw large crowds throughout the night. It was such a simple execution, yet it was a very deep, inspired piece of art.

Just a few canvases down, Scott Aicher’s “Evening Drift” was painted on a panel of wood. It was a vibrant acrylic piece that had a reminiscent, sci-fi, nineteen fifties feel to it. It reminded me of Ed Roth’s work, yet a little more other-worldly.  It was vibrant in color and so infectious.  It was begging you to get lost in all the minor details. This was also another favorite of the evening.  Scott’s father and uncle were Diabetics.

Last, but certainly not least, Zoey Stevens (who is Diabetic) had a few works to show. Both of his art pieces were acrylic on canvas, yet it was hard to tell because his work is so lifelike.  He really understands how to capture characters in his paintings.  Something that struck me was how he captures the eyes in all of his paintings.  Since they say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, he really uses the eyes of his characters to give his paintings the soul that makes them seem so lifelike.  He really has a unique style and his painting entitled “The Man in Black” was such a great take on that famous photo of Johnny Cash. This one catches the same amount of attitude from Johnny, with a pricked finger in place of the ‘bird.’  Without a doubt, this painting had everyone talking and seemed to be the feature piece of the show.

Pre-Existing Conditions will be traveling to other locations in six other cities.  It will stop in various cities like the Brett Wesley Gallery in Las Vegas, PRAVUS Gallery in Phoenix, Terra SF in San Francisco and eventually will end up at it’s final stop in Los Angeles.  As the show travels it will pick up new artists and art pieces along the way.  So if you get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it.  All the proceeds from sales will be donated to the JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund).

www.jdrf.org
www.zoey.com
www.ausgangart.com
www.totallybitchen.com
www.thelightgalleries.com
www.pre-existingcondition.blogspot.com

It’s okay really, you know.  You’re among friends.  You can admit — entre nous — when you go out to dine, you want culture, too.  Not fast food culture of plastic and fast fake smiles.  You want the real stuff.  Linen napkins, suave and genuinely friendly folk, maybe some light jazz or soft blues in the background, upscale, sophisticated conversation, and the solidity of old brick walls, crystal glass, a good wine list, and quality enticing food and desserts.  If the weather’s fine, you want to sit out outside and watch the world pass by in its never-ending panorama.  Bienvenue to bistro culture, cheri.

Pierre Des Jardins of Bistro 400, on 4th Street, across from the Santa Ana’s Ronald Reagan Federal Building and US Courthouse, knows his culture as intimately as he does his regular customers.  Pierre’s from Quebec – that quaint and yet modern cultural spot that is, if possible, more French than Paris.  Birthplace of Cirque du Soleil, Quebec’s old world charm mixes and blends with its always cutting-edge Art.  It’s also home to some of the best cuisine on the planet with plenty of bistros and sidewalk patios for people watching.  I know all this because I lived in Montreal for two years and never tired of its European flavors and vibrant art and culture sophistication.

At Bistro 400, Pierre and business partner, Robert Fontes, treat you as if you’re a returning friend who is ready for some pampering in high style.  And what tender mercies they dispense:  mouth-watering Black Mussels (very big this year in culinary circles), Peppered Lamb Chops, Petite Osso Buco, and Pork Chop Dijonnaise (one of my favs!).  Or if you’re in the mood for lighter fare, sip cocktails and dip into their new Artichoke and Bacon Melt served with bread rounds (delish!).

“We change the menu around from time to time.  Sometimes it comes from us, sometimes from something a customer suggests,” Robert confided at a recent visit while Pierre talks about their plans to work with the local artist community to co-host event nights.  On Friday and Saturday nights, the Bistro serves a Prix Fixe dinner (another new hot ticket in 2009) selected from the chef’s specialties and customer suggestions.  No matter what you choose for an entrée, I highly recommend a Chocolate Vesuvius for dessert (Molten Chocolate Cake with a Bittersweet Chocolate center).

Along with the new prix fixe dinners, on Friday and Saturday nights, you can also hear live jazz or blues at Bistro 400.   Upcoming performers include:

• March 21 The Huge Blues featuring, Tim Lewis, Vocals; Brett Caplinger. Harmonica; Paul Hughes, Guitar;  Lisa Duncanson, Bass.  Also introducing some special guest performers.
• March 27 Rebecca Hyrkas with the Three Strangers jazz trio.   Doug Carter on the Piano, Bill Been on bass, and Jon Hyrkas on drums.
• March 28 Maryanne Reall , a local favorite returns to the Bistro by popular demand and Linda A. Smith, just back from touring Japan with Rick Hils on the Grand and Jaco on stand up bass.

Bistro 400
400 West 4th Street
Santa Ana, CA 92701
(714) 543-9821 tel
bistro400.com