Too Good to Forget: "Lighten Up" at Studios on the Park

Remembering the Past at Studios on the Park

This blog preserves what I find interesting in Paso Robles. Of course, I can't keep track of everything that interests me or I wouldn't have time to go enjoy it, but I try to make frequent visits to Studios on the Park. Much that is worthy to remember from there happened before this blog started. This "Lighten Up" exhibit had lamps designed by many of my favorite artists.

Many artists in residence back in January 2014 whose work I feature here are no longer there. Many artists not in residence also exhibit their work here. I featured Dale Evers' contribution to this exhibit on my Tidbits from Templeton blog which preceded this one. See his amazing lamp here. Laure Carlisle was also in residence then. So was Joe Thomas. This post will show some of what I skipped when I wrote the first post on that event.

Hanging Lights

In the photo above you can see the display of lamps hanging in the atrium. The one in the foreground was painted by Anne Laddon.  One of my favorites isn't visible in this shot, so I'll show it to you below. The title is "Smudge and Squiggle" -- the mascots of Studios on the Park. This lampshade was created by Joe Thomas.

Table and Floor Lamps

Most of the lamps on display were table lamps, with only a few floor lamps to be seen. Here is a typical display from this exhibit, and this one also has a floor lamp.

This mixed media lamp below is one of my favorites. I like it because I need a lot of inspiration and bright ideas myself. Although to the best of my knowledge Nancy Vest has not yet been an artist in residence at Studios on the Park, she usually is a participant in the Paso Robles Art Association exhibits.

Ever wondered what to do with your collection of old cameras? Laure Carlisle had a great idea. Make a lamp out of them. I'll bet you've never seen a floor lamp quite like this before. Displays were crowded close together and in odd places -- wherever they would fit, so it was hard to isolate this lamp from its surroundings. I blew up the cameras a bit so you could see them in more detail without the shade.

Which lamp do you think is most inventive? Which would you rather have in your home?Have you ever made a lamp? Feel free to share in the comments. 

Making Music at Studios on the Park

The City Daily Photo Blogger Theme for August is Music. Paso Robles is full of free music all over town. My favorite place to get my music fix is at Studios on the Park. Every month at Art After Dark a different musician is featured. I  took this photo at Art After Dark in October, 2016. I loved listening to  Julie Beaver and Wally Barnick as they entertained us. I couldn't keep my toes from tapping. 

Julie Beaver and Wally Barnick Entertained Us

See what other City Daily Photo Bloggers have posted to this theme. 

Art after Dark Was Quite a Party Saturday Night

Art after Dark Is a Progressive Party in Paso Robles

Art after Dark happens on the first Saturday night of every month. Most of the partying takes place at Studios on the Park, so that's where I went tonight.

Although all the studios and galleries were open, I spent most of my time in four places:

• The Paso Robles Art Association Showroom Gallery
• The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Gallery
• The Studio currently shared by Dean Crawford Jr., Sharon Sobraske, and Deb Hofstetter. 
• The Atrium Gallery

I did peek into the other studios and galleries. I enjoyed the music provided by the Julie Beaver Trio. I always enjoy their toe-tapping western music. It fit right into the theme for the Atrium Gallery Exhibit: In Love with the West.

Partying with the Paso Robles Art Association in their Showroom Gallery

Art, Food, and Conversations Are What Makes the Artist Receptions Special, © B. Radisavljevic

After stopping by to trade gossip and jokes with Robert Simola where the printmakers hang out just to the right as you enter the Atrium, I headed back to the PRAA Gallery for their exhibit, Artist's Choice. The artists chose their favorites from among their works to enter in this juried exhibit. 

Here is some of the art I saw there. The photos can only give you an idea of what's to be seen. It's worth a trip to Studios on the Park to see the art up close before this exhibit closes February 28. 

Art on Display for Artist's Choice Exhibit in PSAA Showroom Gallery, © B. Radisavljevic

Two of my favorites in this photo are the "Chapel on the Hill" in the upper left corner, and the man painting with his feet on the railroad tracks (left in very bottom row). I somehow got away without getting the titles and artist names on all the art pieces this time. It was crowded, and I was just photographing walls, not individual works. I hope to get back later and vote for my favorite for the People's Choice award. It will be really hard to decide. 

Art in PRAA Showroom February 3, 2018, Photo © B. Radisavljevic

My favorite piece in the collection above is the photo of the gate into the San Miguel Mission Cemetery. You have to see it up close to fully appreciate it. That could also be said of the other works in these photos. 

More Work from the Artist's Choice Exhibit in the PSAA Gallery, © B. Radisavljevic

I'm quite sure there was no one at the exhibit that was not captivated by the lion on the rock you see above. The photographer was at the reception to explain how he got that photo. It took patience. 

I had just gotten in an interesting conversation with someone about photography when we were called to attention as the juror, Julie Dunn, announced the awards. She approached each work of art and explained why she chose it for an award. In this photo you can also see some of the delicious food that was offered to us. 

Julie Dunn Explaining Why She Made Each Award, © B. Radisavljevic

The photos of the photographers with their works came later. I apologize for not getting all the names of those in the photos. I hope to correct that later when I get back to Studios on the Park again. I hope the award winners will forgive me until then. Deprise Brescia, who won the best of show award, seemed to be taking the photos of the other winners beside their winning art pieces. See some of Deprise's work in my October PRAA costume party post. 

One Award Winner Photographs Another, © B. Radisavljevic

Award for Art Just Above the Artist's Head, © B. Radisavljevic

After seeing the over seventy art pieces that were on the wall, I'm very glad I wasn't the judge. I would have wanted to give at least twenty of the entries awards. 

I didn't have much time after the awards to look around before it got too crowded to take more photos. So I grabbed some cookies and moved to the next gallery. 

The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Gallery: Salute to the Military

Work of Elementary School Students from Paso Robles Schools, © B. Radisavljevic

Although I spent some time here, there were no artists and the room was almost empty. This is where students and faculty of the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District display their work. My last visit to this gallery was in October of last year, and all the displays were different. This time almost everything was on the walls and the tables were gone. 

The theme here was students saluting the military. The photo above shows how the elementary students addressed this topic. Below I show a portion of what the Paso Robles High School student artists did. 

Pictures by Paso Robles High School Students, Photo, © B. Radisavljevic

My eye was immediately drawn to the colorful picture in the center of the bottom row. It is titled "Brotherhood" and was done by Clay Wilshusen. As I looked at the contributions of the other high school students, I was struck by another picture on the same theme by Andrea Lopez: "Man's Best Soldier." The quote at the bottom of the label reads: "The bond between man and his dog is so strong that not even a bullet could tear through it." 

"Man's Best Soldier" by Andrea Lopez, Paso Robles High School, Photo © B. Radisavljevic

On to "Color Me Red" in the Studio 4 Gallery

Meet Photographers Dean Crawford Jr and Deb Hofstetter in their Studio, © B. Radisavljevic

When I arrived at Studio 4 Gallery, resident photographers Dean Crawford Jr and Deb Hofstetter were ready to meet and greet guests at their weekly "Meet the Photographers" event. There was a lot of interaction in this room. Definitely a party of its own. Below, Dean is standing with his back to the red wall talking to visitors. 

Dean Crawford Conversing with Studio Guests, © B. Radisavljevic

Although I spent some time talking to Deb, she vanished when I was ready to take her photo. I'll catch her one of my next visits.

It Was a Continual Party in the Atrium Gallery

Music from the Julie Beaver Trio fit right in with the theme In Love with the West. The audience, as you will see, was having a grand time moving with the music and sometimes singing along. 

Wine was $8 a glass, poured by RN Estate Winery

There were many types of art styles displayed in the Atrium Gallery, but it was so crowded it was really difficult to do justice to the wonderful sculptures. There was no way they could be isolated from the crowd. Unfortunately they are not on the website along with the paintings from this exhibit.

If you are able, I encourage you to come to Studios on the Park to properly appreciate the excellence of these pieces. Here are some visitors looking at the art on the wall. Most of the sculptures are on the pedestals in the center. 

Visitors Appreciate the Art in the Atrium Gallery, © B. Radisavljevic

I have many more photos, but I would encourage you to come in and look. I think I'll call it a night and go ahead and publish.

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Meet Vincent Bernardy: Musician, Painter, and Artistic Recycler

Vincent Bernardy is a New Resident Artist at Studios On the Park 

I met him for the first time during the October Art after Dark Event. His assemblage works are so unique that after you've seen a few of them you wouldn't need a sign to know they are his. He seems to love creating things related to construction, but he doesn't limit his subjects to that. He does like bold colors. You can see that in the assemblage behind him.

You can also see that he has fun mixing his media.  Vincent shares a studio  with others, so what's on the shared desk isn't necessarily his. I'm guessing those toad abodes are somehow connected with studio mate Anna Meyrick who speicalizes in mosaics and ceramics.

Anna used to share a studio with Eve Provost Chartrand. My favorite source of news at the studios told me that the reason Eve left is that she thought she didn't know enough about art so she left to teach it. I had to chuckle at that, but I knew what he meant.

An Overview of the Art in Vincent's Studio Corner

When I first saw this corner, my first thought was "This guy really loves tools!" That large assemblage on the upper right side especially fascinated me. I asked Vincent about it. He told me he doesn't like to tell people what his works mean to him, since he wants each person to come at it with their own fresh perspective. If someone tells you what a piece of art is supposed to represent or mean, it limits what you might see for yourself. He did finally share his perspective with me, but I won't tell you what he said. It would be really interesting if you look at it and share what it means to you in the comments below. See the full frontal view of this piece, as well as Vincent's other art, on his webpage

The Tools

It's obvious that Vincent likes to use tools in his work -- not just to create it. As I looked at these, I thought what great gifts they might be to your favorite carpenter or handyman. What may not be obvious is that those screwdrivers actually are real and removable. One could actually use them and put them back. What a functional work of art -- especially for the person who can never find the right screwdriver when he or she needs it. Not only that, as you can see, you can also use it to hang smaller pictures. Only your imagination limits the uses.

The assemblage below also has another use. Technically, it's a coat rack. Look carefully and you'll see the hooks. The shadows will give you a hint as to where to look. Notice how carefully the screwdrivers are arranged to show off the various colors and sizes.

Music

Vincent Bernardi takes his music to many local venues. You can sample it on his YouTube channel. The song I liked best was "Rodeo Clown." He teamed up with Jade Jackson for this one. I met her for the first time when she was performing at Sculpterra one day in 2010. Here's a link to the video I made while looking around the tasting room while she was performing. It includes a brief interview with her at the end.

You can connect with Vincent on Instagram or on his website.

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Meet Jordan Hockett at Studios on the Park

Jordan Hockett is New at Studios on the Park

I first met Jordan there on October 7 while waiting for Art after Dark to officially start. He was moving between studios setting things up. I finally caught him in his own studio and he confirmed he was an artist in residence -- not part of a set-up crew. Of course, artists in residence often do seem to be the set-up crew for a lot of events, so there's that.

Once I figured out Jordan belonged in that studio and I saw his work, I asked him to pose in front of the painting he's currently working on. You can see he likes abstract art. He gets some of his inspiration from tribal art in Africa and Mexico.

Jordan got some of his training as a student at the Atascadero Fine Arts Academy. He uses many different materials to express himself in art, and is proficient in both painting and sculpture. Find out more about him on his website.

Jordan Hockett Has a Zazzle Store

Here's where you can find all his store products there in one place.

Here are some of the designs that might give you an idea of the diversity of his work on Zazzle.  I'm sorry about all that white space, but I don't know how to get rid of it. Zazzle puts it in.

 day of dead skateboard deck alien wrist watch alien Two-Tone coffee mug

Jordan's Abstract Paintings

 Here are some of the paintings hanging on the wall of Jordan's studio.

These are some of his  smaller paintings with lower price points. This image is the correct size to pin on a Pinterest board.

Jordan's Halloween Jack-o-Lantern Sculptures

Jordan made these unique Jack-o-Lanterns and has been teaching classes on how to do it. The last class is this afternoon at 1, on Pioneer Day, but here's what he's been teaching people to do. I'm guessing it's at Studios on the Park. Class size is limited to eight. Cost is $60. All you need is to bring a pumpkin.

Which of Jordan's works do you like best?



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Big Changes at Studios on the Park

Guess What and Who Are Missing at Studios on the Park?

If it's been a long time since you were last at Studios on the Park, one of the first things you will notice is that the entrance has changed. You will notice these two differences the minute you walk in.

Yes, the car is no longer facing you as you walk in. It has disappeared.

The Printmasters studio, which used to be near the back of the building where the  Paso Robles School District Gallery is now located, have moved to the front. They are replacing the Earth Sea Pottery Studio that used to be in that front showroom. The Printmasters have been settled in their new home for a couple of years now.  Why does it just seem like yesterday to me?

More Has Changed at the  Printmakers Studio Than the Location

Robert "Rosey" Rosenthal and his wife Barbara have moved out of the area. Rosey had been working with the Printmakers at Studios on the Park for as long as I can remember. A little bird told me that the move had something to do with distant grandchildren. Rosey and Barbara are both missed. I took this photo of Rosey in the new studio location in December 2015.

When I arrived at the Printmakers studio Saturday night, Robert Simola was there to greet me and other visitors. Earlier in the evening he'd been wandering around the other studios. If you want to know the latest about what's going on at Studios on the Park, he can give you the information you seek. He has been a great help in explaining who has left and why and where they have gone.

The books below are illustrated by longtime studio resident Helen K. Davie. Click any cover to get more details on the books. They are part of the popular Let's Read and Find Out series of children's science books. I used to sell them, but now you can find all the books Helen illustrated at Amazon, and the rest of the series as well.  The series is quite large and features the work of many authors and illustrators besides Helen.

If you have small curious children, check out the entire series. If you buy one of the books Helen illustrated, I'm guessing she would autograph it for you. You could even bring your child in to meet her. I believe Helen also sells the books in the Printmakers studio.

 Dolphin Talk: Whistles, Clicks, and Clapping Jaws (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) Ducks Don't Get Wet Animals in Winter (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) Penguin Chick (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science) What Lives in a Shell? (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1)

In the photo below, Robert Simola sits surrounded mostly by Helen's prints. They are on the wall behind him. Her books are displayed in front of him.

The new resident of the Printmakers studio is Betty Wick. I haven't met her yet, but you will see her work on the wall on the left of the photo below.  The printing press is at the center of the room, though it's currently almost disguised as a display for its output. Stop in and see it some time. Maybe one of the printmakers will demonstrate it for you. It's impressive in action.

As you can see, resident artists come and go from Studios on the Park. I will explain the transitions in each studio separately as I get to it. Stay tuned.

Art after Dark: Steve Johnson Explains His Work in Progress

Meet Steve Johnson, New Resident Artist at Studios on the Park

I actually met Steve a week ago when it wasn't so crowded, and that gave us more time to get acquainted. He shares a studio with painter Judy Lyon and the works of the late resident artist, Harold Spencer. Steve's wall of paintings is behind him. The paintings hanging at the back of the room are the work of the Harold Spencer. I miss him every time I visit Studios on the Park.

Steve is very excited about his work and I love the enthusiasm with which he discusses it. Like most of the resident artists, he is happy to answer questions. When I saw how much Steve loved his work, I asked if he would let me video his explanation of the work in progress you see on his drawing board. It's obvious he considers his talent a gift from God and that he wants to honor God with his work. The current drawing has a Biblical theme related to the Christmas story of the visit of the Magi.

Let's Watch the Video Now

This video was completely spontaneous. I had never met Steve before this night. Neither he nor I had expected to make a video. But when Steve started to talk, I knew I wanted to preserve what he had to say. I hope you will be glad I did. 

Another Look at Steve's Shared Studio

The photo below was taken the night of Art after Dark.

Steve's work is to the left of the photo. Harold Spencer's work hangs on the back wall. Judy Lyons works on the right side of the studio as you look in. She paints lovely watercolors of local scenery. She is rarely around at night.

The shot below is candid and unposed. It was cut from the shot above to size for Pinterest. Steve isn't facing the camera because he's engaged in conversation with someone you can only see in the photo above.

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A Visit to the Paso Robles School District's Gallery During Art After Dark

Studios on the Park Is Very Active in Art Education in Paso Robles

Studios on the Park invites community members of all ages to enroll in workshops taught by local artists. The Paso Robles Joint Unified School District also maintains its own gallery there where art students and faculty create and display art on weekends. Currently, until the end of October, the PRJUSD Gallery is displaying the work of school staff and alumni. That is what I saw Saturday night.

I have seen some elaborate displays here. One special display I remember was a wall of Alice in Wonderland costumes that had been used in a student production. Another exhibit I really enjoyed was for Presidents Day:  Paso Robles Public School Students Show Off Their Art at Studios on the Park. It featured elementary school drawings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Others drew what the USA meant to them.

An Amazing Chess Set

My husband loves to play chess. So when I saw this chess set sitting at the back of the studio surrounded by ceramic dishes, I headed straight for it. It had no label or price. It would not surprise me if it were not for sale or had already been sold. I could not find out who created it. It was the first time I'd been in the studio when no one was supervising the gallery. No one else I asked seemed to know.

Here's a closer look at the set and its pieces.

Below you see closer views of the chess pieces from the opposing sides.

Mechanical Birds

Above this table housing the chess set and the ceramics hung some mechanical  birds created by Joshua Gwiazda, a ceramics teacher at Paso Robles High School. I couldn't help but wonder if he also had something to do with making that chess set, especially since he seems to be involved with the Chess Club. If so, his talents are diverse.

Here's a close-up of one of the mechanical birds. Each was unique.

The PRJUSD Gallery Has New Exhibits Every Month

Keep track of the changing exhibits on the PRJUSD Gallery page on the Studios on the Park website. If you visit Studios on the Park, be sure to stop in at the gallery at the back on the left side. You will always see rising talent on display there.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The image below is just right for Pinterest.

Do you play chess? Do you know anyone who would like this chess set? If you were going to create a unique chess set, what would your chess pieces look like?

Do the K-12 students in your town have a place to display their work in a public gallery in the same building with professional artists? What advantages can you see for that?

Paso Robles Art Association Throws an Art Costume Party

The Paso Robles Art Association Hosts an Artist Reception Every Month

The party normally coincides with Art after Dark dates, but the artist receptions usually start at 5 pm, an hour earlier than Art after Dark. I usually go to Studios on the Park for the PRAA reception before five to get an early start. I go directly to their Showroom Gallery near the back of the building.

Each month has a new theme to inspire the artists, who then try to address it. This month's theme was appropriately "Costume." Some artists came in costume,  but some only put the theme in their works. By the time I took this photo, the party had become quite lively.

An Early View

Saturday I was later than I wanted to be because my Charter technician hadn't called to confirm our 6:00 appointment and I wanted to make sure my husband was home before I left. He never did call and he didn't show up, either, so I'm glad I didn't stay home. They must have fixed our connection remotely and not bothered to tell us.

I usually arrive to these art events early because the early birds usually find the best parking -- unless there are too many of them. I was really lucky Saturday night. Someone pulled out right in front of me, right across the street from Studios on the Park. Naturally I swooped right into the place. When I entered the building, it was almost empty with hardly an artist to be seen. I did run into artist Jordan Hockett as he ran between studios arranging things. I'll be featuring his art in a future post.

When I arrived in  the Showroom Gallery, they were still setting up. This is how it looked when I arrived as the party began.  There's still plenty of food, and the art is easier to see when there aren't so many people blocking the view.

Not All Art Hangs on the Wall

Although many painters and photographers participate in these art exhibits, not all the artists have works that can hang.  Here is one of my favorites from this show. Unfortunately the title of this acrylic painted bottle created by Deprise Brescia was only partly legible. It appears someone had left a cup on it and the title was smeared. I'm glad no one harmed this delicate but elegant artistic expression . I love the way the shadows dance on the wall behind it.

Deprise Brescia is also responsible for creating "Breath of Fire," an encaustic mixed media piece that does hang on the wall.  "Orange Magnum," which was created by a guest artist, sits below it. What a shame someone had to leave that drink behind. I wasn't sure whether to cut it cut or not, but that would have also cut off the design on the bottom of the decorated bottle.

I wish I'd managed to get a photo of my favorite painting, but somehow I didn't. It might have been too crowded when I found it. The painting was an exquisite tree in its "autumn costume."

Speaking of Costumes

Were I to give a prize to the best costumes on the peope I saw, it would go to this pair. I'm sorry I didn't get their names. They were so social I had to round them up to get this photo of them together, since they were both circulating with others, usually with their backs to the camera. I'm glad they agreed to pose for me.

So Much to See, So Little Time

This the second of my series on the October Art After Dark event at Studios on the Park. Here's yesterday's post, Welcome to Art After Dark at Studios on the Park , Part 1. I have often written about Art after Dark and Studios on the Park in the  years I've written this blog. To find the related articles, just use the handy search box in the right side bar. You will also see the future posts I'm about to write if you look in the Blog Archive near the bottom, in the right-hand column of the of the side bar. 

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