by Jack Lee
I don’t know about you, but with all the bad news in the headlines lately I need a break! Well, looks like we’re all in luck, because the Silver Dollar Fair opens May 23rd and runs thru Sunday, May 27th. Tickets can be purchased at the gate or online. The bands Gloriana will open followed by the Blue Oyster Cult on Friday night. Concert tickets are just $10…can’t beat the price.
The fair has expanded their horticulture and art exhibits over last year’s entrees and that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.
Linda Christiansen (left) a local artist from Paradise is this year’s Silver Dollar Fair Art Exhibits Supervisor. Linda and her staff have been busy hanging paintings since 10 am this morning and will continue to receive entries through till tomorrows deadline. If you didn’t sign up previously to now, it’s too late to enter this year, sorry. Mark your calendar for 2014 and check for the sign up time to be posted about a month before the Fair.
This year over 300 original works of art by some very talented folks that include seniors and juniors, professionals and amateurs, all will be on display for just the price of the fair’s general admission ticket. Hey, what a deal, and I can’t think of a better bang for the family buck than the
Silver Dollar Fair!
Entering one of her paintings is Patricia Mills (purple tank top) of Oroville. Patricia is holding a snow covered scene, titled Midnight Stroll. It’s really a knockout, gotta see this one in person! Next we have Caroline Hernandez of Chico holding her entry titled, Obama Wants You! (Mmmm..glad I’m not the only one who thinks he’s after us! Hey, just kidding…sort of) This is a charcoal drawing and shows the word Chico reflected in the sunglasses. Pretty cool, but you’ll have to see it up close to really appreciate what this artist has done. The detail is impressive.
There are abstracts, portraits, still life, landscapes, even some aviation art. They’re done in all kinds of mediums from oils, acrylics, pencil to water colors. This might sound corny, but it’s still true, there’s something here for everyone of all ages to enjoy.
I know that art is in the eye of the beholder, but if you don’t spend at least a half hour touring the Art building you’re really missing out. These paintings and drawings reflect a lot of thought and of course… talent. So, please allow yourself enough time to see them. This is the only way you can fully appreciate what went into making this art exhibit a winner. And hey, who knows, but you may be looking a future famous work of art and you can say you saw it when you could have bought it on your kid’s allowance. lol But, seriously, the quality of art this year is the best I’ve seen and I’ve been attending for over 20 years. So, here’s my suggestion: Skip that trip to Crocker Art Museum this month (save the gas) and instead visit Chico’s best art exhibit of the year. And while you’re there, throw in a few carnival rides with the kids just for good measure.
Okay, times up, but before I leave you I have just one more painting. This one is called, Covered Bridge. If you are a PS regular you may recognize it as being posted on here weeks earlier. It’s by me and it’s an acrylic (similar to oil, but dries in fraction of the time). Since I’m a starving artist I had to scrounge up some used canvas, then I sanded down what I could, painted over the old picture (it was junk, trust me) and later I found the frame (not shown) at the Goodwill for $5. It was a fun (cheap) project to learn by.
This painting is one of several I recently completed as part of my Chico State art class. I’m a first year student just learning the basics…which just goes to show you that you’re never to old to start something new. Prior to this I was busy learning the art of horology (self taught). Don’t ask me why, I dunno, just seemed like something fun and it definately tested my mechanical abilities, if not my patience. Too bad they don’t have an exhibit for horology (pocket watch collecting and repair), well, that’s an idea for next year.
So don’t forget…Fair opens next Thursday, see you there.