Trouble in the Wind @ Boar's Crossing

On November 13th a handful of friends and I went down to check out Boar's Crossing's house band, Trouble in the Wind. The band is made up of five members with instruments including the acoustic guitar, accordion, stand up bass, drums, banjo, and melodic. Their sound is really unique and lively. Everyone was tapping their foot to beat of every song. The singer's voice is very distinct and rich with emotion which added to the band's overall presence. Aside from their sound and good music I really enjoyed the crowd that went to see them. Like I said, everyone was into it. Feet were tapping, people were dancing and even singing along. No one moved from their spots when the band took a break. They wanted to be right up front. My favorite songs were definitely the ones with the banjo. I love the twang that the banjo offers and it also perfectly complimented the vocals. I also loved the accordion. You don't see many of those in bands in USA and it's a crying shame. It has such a fun and funky sound. Jumping back to the crowd, it was people of all ages...people of all ages but it didn't seem like it. The 50+ group were just as rowdy (if not rowdier) than the younger crowd. I also am a sucker for dancing, so when a hired DJ mixed oldies and pop hits while Trouble in the Wind was taking their break, the dance floor opened up with my favorite crowd bumping to the jams.

Very fun and entertaining night. I look forward to their next show!

Art Splash!

On Saturday, September 25th, I splashed on over to Carlsbad's Art Splash where a TON of artists had been asked by various companies and people to chalk-paint an area of asphalt for them. My good friend, Lydia Martin, was asked by Peabody's (delicious bar and grill with multiple locations) to participate for them. It was a hot day and I did not envy the multi-colored artists on their knees

chalking their hearts out...however, I did enjoy their creations...

My friend, Lydia, and her gorgeous piece "Sea Swept"

I loved this artist's earthy pallet and subject matter...I am such a sucker for anything native looking.

I love this woman's color use in this breathtaking piece. Reminds me of the art on the Nika bottles. So much color.

This was a neat piece. I loved it's simplicity and the pop of the colors together. I also loved the note from the artist, "Back in 5 mins" Let's just put it this way...he/she never did come back.

The biggest Zooey I've ever seen!

So much patience!! I loved the mosaic look and feel of her work.

Classic Van Gogh...I just had to have it in here.

Love, love, LOVE, their noses. Totally dig big robust schnozz's like these.

Love the symmetry, the warm earth tones, and the nautical feel.

Not sure about this one...but I did like that the subject reminded me of Frida Kahlo.

Overall, it was a super inspiring lovely day. It is also neat to know my neighboring city is so supportive of our local artists and the art culture. Maybe when next year rolls around all get the UMPH to enter...and if so, hopefully it won't be as hot.

Basket Weaving

A couple Tuesday's ago, I had the chance of attending a demonstration and talk on the art of basket weaving and some local Indian culture. The two key ladies were Lydia Vassar and Rosemary. They ladies were both talking to people they knew in the crowd while basket weaving before the talk started and I admired the laid back feel of the demonstration. Their tables were elaborately adorned by baskets that had been weaved, cactus/ cactus fruit, chia seeds, dolls, and other native foods. The show began with a story told by Lydia's cousin of a little Indian girl who wanted to weave the most beautiful basket for her grandmother. It was a neat story with the moral of kindness and determination as its foundation. Rosemary did most of the explaining while Lydia weaved, and told her audience about the process of weaving, collecting, drying, dying, and the food you eat along the way. Lydia chimed in every so often to elaborate on something. Both ladies were very nice and the demonstration was very interesting. I also really enjoyed how hands on it was...as in they were passing around things to smell and touch.

San Diego Easel Art Show

September 5, 2010 was just one of the days set aside for the San Diego Easel Art show with donations going to creativity in schools (I believe). A great friend of mine, Lydia Matin, was featured in the show and graciously invited me to partake in the festivities and viewings of some fabulous local art. This little vixen's chosen painting for the show had sold quickly and was taken by the purchaser before I had a chance to see it in "real life" and snap a shot of it. This is her stunning second painting she was asked to bring for empty easel. Congratulations, Lydia, for your sale-creativity-and fantastic heart. Love you girl!

The "main" artist who had much more than one piece featured was a man named Justin Bower. His pieces were wall-sized sprawling canvases covered in some of the most beautiful color work I have ever seen. His subject matter was life in its most easily understood form, the human face, typically portraying a vivid (painful) emotion. Here were some I enjoyed. I really love the emotion he can cature in the eyes.

Hidden in the back of the show were two rooms. The room on the right held a piece that really touched me. This room was dominated by an artist named Michael Maas (who let me shake his hand) who has this amazing ability to create an energy from his paintings. No joke, this room vibrated with energy...energy so strong that it made some dizzy. My favorite piece of his was much more simple than the triptych pieces on the other walls and it literally jumped out it me as if it were going to swallow me up whole...in the best possible way.

There was a lot great and talented artisit at this local show and it was very neat to see the dynamic, diverse, and versatlie style the San Diego community has to offer. 

To highligt a couple other artists, I really dug Renetta Happe's Bathers and Fran Carder's Sabrina. I encourage you all to seek out local shows on top of all the fancy big-shots (because I know they can be fun too)

Thanks for reading!! Love, Jonnie