This is no April Fools joke–this month’s ArtRide ends at Art City! We plan to arrive about 8pm to catch the tale end of Steve Aguilar’s art films from his archives (starts at 6pm). Also on deck at Art City tonight: music and art from Dept’s new groovy space! Read on to discover all the details.
via Bikergo Gal
One hundred or more professional stone masons from around the world are converging on Art City and Ventura to build something MASSIVE and WONDERFUL up at Grant Park aka “The Cross” and to teach and learn more about the ancient art of stone stacking and stone walling as well as stone carving.
Among them is stone mason Janine Hegy from Sequim Washington. This is the third Stone Foundation Symposium Janine has attended. She
’s been doing stone stacking for over 15 years, and a jeweler for many years before that; now she’s wanting to move more into stone carving and so she’s here to take an architextural carving workshop with Colleen Wilson next week at Art City.
Pictured is an example of Janine’s boulder stacking–beautiful, isn’t it? I know I’m ready to hire her to do something here! Also pictured is bench project of hers.
This week, the emphasis of the 2010 Stone Foundation Symposium is on wall building. Several Japanese masters, with generations of experience, are in town, and have been for a few days. Yesterday morning they had a tea ceremony, then began building two walls and a staircase. Lots of friends from Art City crowded around the site.
In stone stacking, walls and other structures like ancient castles and places like Machu Pichu are built without mortar. In a dry stack, everything is fitted together in such a way that in shifts in earth, water, other natural forces work with the wall to stay stable for centuries whereas mortar cracks. Stacking is a more green method of building because it doesn’t take anything: no chemicals, no mortar. It’s the oldest style of building on earth and examples abound because the structures have lasted. It typically uses locally sources rock; the project here will feature all local rock local sandstone.
Next week’s workshops at Art City will feature an architextural stone carving workshop with an emphasis on flora and fauna by Colleen Wilson, and then the symposium of lectures will complete the two week event. Those will be held at the Lodge on Main at Ash.
Each year, the Stone Foundation Symposium takes place somewhere around the world and they build and carve and socialize as well as learn. In previous years, Janine attended the Hood River OR Symposium then spent several weeks in Spain, then went to Berry Vermont. Last year they made this giant scrabble board with 10″ x 10″ letters!
“It’s just such a pleasure to be around like minded people,” she said. “The learning that is occurring is so nice. It’s all the conversations, and a way to interact with your mentors. Alan Ash is here,” she continued, “and he’s into restoration so he’s looking at restoring a fireplace from 1854 in the Dalles OR. To be in contact with him– it’s like a door is opening so it’s very good for my career.”
Primarily she builds dry stack rock walls, benches, and patios, but she wants to expand her skills so she’s come to study with Nathan Blackwell (pictured here with Janine at a previous Symposium) who teaches lettering and Zack Zacovy from Boseman Montana who she met in Spain and has studeued with several times since, most recently in the previous month. Zacovy will lecture on his Meditation Garden and Stone Door (pictures by Janine). Janine also gave him design ideas for one of the segments of the Garden. Zacovy’s over work includes public art as well as private commissions including this “Waterfall Arch” at Great Falls Library where a sheet of water flows and kids can ride under it on their bikes.
Fun and games are also planned–lithobolos (like bocce ball but with stone balls), the Famous Wheelbarrow Steeplechase, and drinking a special brew “Rocknockers Ale” at Anacapa Brew Pub.
So if you’re local, drive on up to the cross. Park just below and walk up to see the progress. You can also come back here for updates.
Greetings, Can someone put a photo and note about the upcoming Cambria, California Sculptors Symposium? Contact Russel or Paul about the info and photo. The California Sculptors Symposium starts this weekend, then the closing party and art show is Saturday, April 25, 12 to 5 PM. Thanks! Gordon
Fiddling legend Phil Salazar of Ventura
will headline Fandango Americana with his new band “the Harlem Holler” with Hans Ottsen Saturday March 8 about 8pm and close down the show with a jam filled with bluegrass luminaries. The event starts at 3pm with music going on all day on two stages and clowning and magic by Lucy aka Purplicious the Victorian Clown from 3-5pm.
Tickets are only $20-$10 sliding scale for a full day of entertainment for the whole family. Children under 10 are free.
The weather prediction for next Saturday’s Fandango is fair and sunny which is great because the musical perfomances will be both INSIDE in the Community Room and OUTSIDE (by MB Universe). Food service–fish tacos, cerviche and other yummy items by Spencer Mackenzie’s Fish Company–and the coffee cart will also be outside. (The bar will be inside!) Since the event starts at 3pm and goes until LATE, remember to bring a coat!
Bring some extra cash, too, to buy food and drink (a portion of which will go to ART CITY IN VENTURA), and homemade cake slices (all money from the bakes sale goes to ART CITY IN VENTURA), to buy a commemorative poster or button. Bring your check book in case you are inspired to buy art work on display in the brand new gallery at BAF, or if you want to make a tax deductible donation to ART CITY IN VENTURA.
And wear your dancing shoes! See you next Saturday!
“FANDANGO AMERICANA”
Proceeds from Fandango Americana will help re-construct the Westside Ventura icon, Art City. This innovative collective of artists has been part of the community since 1985. Art City has recently undergone great struggle, having to tear down most of its existing building structures in
there’s another meeting already scheduled in the community room so we’ll have to start a bit late…
