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. 

Photo Journal of an Atypical Day of Art, Nature, Dogs, and an Accident Scene

An Accident at Kennedy Fitness Paso Adventure

I'd been feeling guilty about not using my gym membership much this month, so I decided to go today. I had two other reasons for going, too. First, I wanted an excuse to finish a book I was reading, and I could do that riding the stationary bike. Second, I knew two of my favorite photographers had their work on display and I wanted photos to share with you.

As I drove into the parking lot, I saw the scene above. I found a place to park, and then went in, hoping no one had had a stroke or heart attack. Lots of us senior citizens exercise here.

When I got inside I learned that a woman had fallen from the rock climbing wall. I saw her on a gurney just under the wall and the paramedics were moving her leg. I hope she is not too badly hurt, and will heal without too much pain or permanent damage. I have never dared to take up rock climbing. I'll stick to riding that bike and walking. 

The Photo Exhibit

The photographers with work currently on display on the walls at Kennedy Club are Dean Crawford Jr. and Deb Hofstetter, both of whom I saw in their studio Saturday night at Art after Dark. These photos and paintings are all part of the display.

Picture on lower left is by Deb Hofstetter. The others are by Dean Crawford, Jr. 

The picture on the left left is by Deb Hofstetter. I believe the one on the right is by Dean Crawford, Jr. 

I'll let you guess who did each of these. If you belong to the Kennedy Club, come in to see if you guessed correctly. 

A Walk at Larry Moore Park

The Dogs

I wanted to get some sunset photos again tonight, so I set off for the park as the time drew near. I was not too thrilled when these two dogs who should have been on leashes almost knocked me down multiple times. Their owners had no reason to give why they were loose, but it didn't seem to bother them to be violating the law as long as no one was there to enforce it.

These dogs should have been on leashes. 

The Trees

On the way to the park I passed the lemon tree I had seen packed with fruit in December. I wish now I'd been brave enough to knock on the door of its owner and ask if he wanted to sell any of the beautiful lemons. It looks as though the frost got them instead.

Lemons Bitten by Jack Frost

As I walked by this Bradford pear tree, I could see it was budding already. I expect to see it bloom within a week or two in this warm weather.

Bradford Pear Tree Budding

As I passed this pepper tree with its dried fruits, I could not help but notice the contrast with the bright colors the peppers trees had displayed in autumn.  Winter in the park is drab in comparison.

Pepper Tree Fruits Dry on Bare Trees in February

The Sky

When I started my walk the sun had just disappeared below the hills, but it was still golden.

After a few minutes it became more pink.

Pink turned toward orange a few minutes later.

In no time the contrails had combined and turned bright orange.

Although life seems pretty routine most days, this one stands out as unique this week. Maybe I should get out of the house more often.

If you enjoyed this post, why not pin this photo to a Pinterest board?

Has anything unusual happened to you lately?

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. 

If you enjoyed this post, please share it. The image below was designed for Pinterest. 

Welcome to Art After Dark at Studios on the Park , Part 1

Welcome to Art after Dark at Studios on the Park

Studios on the Park in Paso Robles is just what its name implies. It's packed with artist studios and galleries. Most of the artists show up for events like the monthly Art after Dark. During these occasions you'll usually find at least one resident artist in each studio. I had the opportunity to meet some  new resident artists tonight. I hope to be featuring them in subsequent posts.

People Enjoying Art After Dark at Studios on the Park, © B. Radisavljevic

Since I saw enough tonight to fill several blog posts, this will be an overview of the entire event with few details. It will give you the pulse of the event with some of the sights and sounds. In other posts I'll take you into individual studios so you can see the work of many of the artists.

The Paso Robles Art Association Was Having a Party

Paso Robles Art Association Partying, © B. Radisavljevic

They have a gallery in this studio. The party was in full swing when I took this photo about an hour after it had started. As you can see, there aren't too many refreshments left. People are mingling, catching up with each other, and discussing the art. I'll do a post on this party later, and show you the art up close. This event started an hour before the main event.

The Main Event Begins with Music

By the time the event officially begins there is a musician or group ready to entertain those in attendance. Tonight that vocal artist was Swedish Sofia Talvik. I attempted to get a video, but decided not to use it. Instead, you'll hear Sofia live in the background when you see the video below of the Bound Scissors Project. Here's Sofia performing.

Sofia Talvik Performing at Studios on the Park October 7, 2017, © B. Radisavljevic

Sofia has many videos on YouTube that will give you an  idea of her diverse styles.  This is a bit different than what she sang tonight, but I loved the way she did it so I share it here. She is singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." You can find the lyrics here if you have trouble understanding them.  Here's the video.

I also loved this audio version of "When It Rains on Chrismas Day." You can listen to it for free.

The Wine

Local wineries donate wine for Art after Dark so that Studios on the Park can sell it and raise money to keep up its work of art education in our community and to keep its art programs accessible for both children and adults. I wish I'd had these kinds of opportunities to experience art when I was young.

People Waiting for their Wine, © B. Radisavljevic

Alta Colina donated the wine for tonight's event. You can see that many art lovers are also wine lovers. There's a lot of pouring going on.

The Bound Scissors Project

The Bound Scissors Project, © B. Radisavljevic

When I saw this, my first reaction was "What in the world is this?" After all, the scissors are useless for cutting anything. Creator Suzanna Scott bound them all tight in fabric and thread.

 So what is this good for? It encourages people to be creative. As people walk by, a sign invites them to rearrange the scissors in some design and then to post the photo to Instagram with the tag #boundscissorsproject. Many people did stop to do some rearranging. Here are some subsequent photos.

Obviously it takes an artist to do this artistically, so I noticed Anne Laddon having a go at it. She's the one with the red sleeves in the video. You will hear Sofia Talvik's voice in the background and experience a bit of what the rest of us heard throughout the evening.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to my series on tonight's Art after Dark. If you did, please share it. Use can use the image below on Pinterest.

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Linda Loebs Art Exhibit at Kennedy Fitness, Paso Robles

Kennedy Fitness Promotes Local Artists

As a fan of local artists, I was delighted the first time I noticed the art wall at the Kennedy Club in Paso Robles. That was last September when Dean Crawford's photography was on display.  This month we are treated to Linda Loebs' paintings. Here's a sample. 

Below you see some of her oak paintings. 

Here are some brighter colors.

I especially like Linda's painting of Heart Hill you see in the lower right of this grouping. 

Add caption

Buy Your Favorite Artist a New Mug for the Studio

I'd Rather Be Painting Watercolor Artist Mug

Linda Will Create a Painting Just for You 

Would you like to gift someone with a special painting of a person, pet, or scene that's special to them? Linda Loebs will work from your photo or she will take one of your subject to use as a model. You can contact her by phone or email at 

Linda Loebs

linda@kmiwifi.com

805-296-8670

What will you commission Linda to paint for you?

Related articles

• One of the Most Painted Buildings in Paso Robles
• Encaustic Art at Studios on the Park
• E is for Electric Wires
• Photo Memories of the Paso Arts Fest 2011-2015
• J is for Judy Lyon, Artist
• Sculptures by Central Coast Artist Vel Miller

Dean Crawford Jr. Work on Display at Kennedy Fitness, Paso Robles

Dean Crawford's Work Needs No Words

Perfect for Wordless Wednesday

Related Art Posts

 Encaustic Art at Studios on the Park Sculptures by Central Coast Artist Vel Miller Heritage Gallery West - Judy Larson's Scratchboard Art

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A Brief Tour of the Paso Robles Library in Photos

The Photo Tour of the Paso Robles Library Begins at the Entrance

The September theme for City Daily Photo Bloggers is Library, so I decided to take you on a photo tour of our city library. To get to the Paso Robles Library entrance, one must pass under this massive oak tree. ( Unless one uses the street entrance on the other side of the building.) Most library visitors park in the lot, though, and enter by the oak tree entrance.

Oak Tree Near Entrance to Paso Robles  Library, © B. Radisavljevic

Once through the doors, you find yourself in in a foyer that leads into the library, the city hall, the restrooms, the conference rooms, and one of the library bookstores. You can also see across to the other entrance. It looks out to the park where you can walk across to Farmers Market on Saturdays mornings and Tuesday afternoons. Most people don't use that as a library entrance because parking is harder to find there.

Paso Robles Library Foyer, © B. Radisavljevic

Behind these glass doors are the library and the staircase leading to City Hall. The table is used for sharing literature pertaining to city events.

Doors to  Library and City Hall Access, © B. Radisavljevic 

Inside the Library: The Children's Area

As you enter the Paso Robles Library and walk past the service desk, the first thing you really notice ahead is the display wall of the children's area of the library. Here is an overview. 

Children's Area of the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic 

The row of reading tables runs through the center of the children's area. Here's another view. The children's periodicals are on display here. To the right of the display shelf is the picture book area. We will get a better view of it in the next photo.

Children's Area of the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic 

Picture Book Area of the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic

You can see the Highlights magazine we used to read when even I was a child is still around.

The aquarium below acts as a wall divider between the hallway and the children's area.

Aquarium which Divides the Hallway from the Children's Area,  © B. Radisavljevic

You can look through the water to see inside the picture book area.

Today's Library's Are Multi-Media

The library gives a wall for the display of local art. The exhibits change frequently.  If you continue down this hallway, you will find CD's and DVD's to borrow. You can see one of the cases at the left corner of the photo.

Art on Display at the Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic

A library would be nothing without real books. The Paso Robles has lots of them, though they now also let you check out digital books for your reading devices. I haven't tried it yet. The picture below shows the heart of the adult section. First you see the reference desk in the center where you can ask questions and get directions to what you need.

The Heart of the Library for Adults, © B. Radisavljevic

Beyond the reference desk are the stacks. On the left side you will find fiction. On the right you will see the first cases of the nonfiction stacks. You can also see the computers near the middle. Along the wall by the window are study tables and some cubicles. The windows look out on City Park  across the street. This next photo focuses on that area by the window a bit more.

In the photo above you can also see the row of upholstered chairs where people often sit to read periodicals or books. The homeless often catch a nap here. I often sit here and read on Smart Days when I want to stay cool outside the house.

Fiction, Graphics, and Reading / Study Areas for Adults, © B. Radisavljevic

The Paso Robles Library Has a Section for Graphic Novels

The label on the prominent case in the photo above reads Graphics. When I was a child, the books in this section did not exist. The closest thing we had to today's graphic novels were comic books. Libraries did not have comic books.

This form of literature has become important in the past few years. It became a book category in bookstores in 2001. Although these are called graphic novels, they are not all fiction. Many nonfiction graphic novels can be found in classrooms today. I used to sell them when I was selling educational books. They appealed to young people whose reading skills could not handle normal books at their grade level.

The first graphic novels I carried were the classic collections of Tin Tin books by Herge. Both my husband and son loved them. They were some of the few graphic novels you might find in a library in the 1980's. If your library doesn't have them, you can find them at Amazon.

 The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 1 (Tintin in America / Cigars of the Pharaoh / The Blue Lotus) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 2: The Broken Ear / The Black Island / King Ottokar's Sceptre (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 3: The Crab with the Golden Claws / The Shooting Star / The Secret of the Unicorn (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 4: Red Rackham's Treasure / The Seven Crystal Balls / Prisoners of the Sun (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 5: Land of Black Gold / Destination Moon / Explorers on the Moon (3 Volumes in 1) The Adventures of Tintin, Vol. 6: The Calculus Affair / The Red Sea Sharks / Tintin in Tibet (3 Volumes in 1)

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Here are some of the nonfiction graphic novels you can find at the Paso Robles Library.

Nonfiction Graphic Novels at Paso Robles Library, © B. Radisavljevic

The Library Helps Bring the Community Together. 

As you come through the library doors, the first thing you see on your right  is this table and bulletin board.  They explain volunteer opportunities in Paso Robles. Just past it are two other information displays -- one announcing community events, and another with hand-outs about community resources.

Volunteer Opportunity Announcements, © B. Radisavljevic

You will often see volunteer tutors with their students in the library, but I'm not supposed to take pictures of them. I didn't see any today anyway, but I often do  see them.

People  who don't have computers use those in the library.

Those who want to find cheap books to keep can find them in the library bookstores run by the Friends of the Library.

The City Council and other  groups hold meetings in the library conference room.

The library also has special programs for children to keep them interested in reading. These are often seasonal.

The Paso Robles Library is a vital service that helps every segment of our community.

How does your city's library compare? Does it offer much the same kinds of services? Does it have services we may not have?  What do you like best about your library?

If you'd like to see what other City Daily Photo bloggers around the world have shared about their libraries, check out the theme photo gallery.

To see my other posts about our library,  click one of the icons below. You will see details that I haven't included here.

 Paso Robles Library During the Holidays L is for Library

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