You are invited to help paint an exciting Phantom City mural on the stage of Fairgrove Academy. I will be there on each of the next two Saturdays from 8 to 2. come for an hour, or paint the whole time. Be part of the energy!

Start Time: Saturday, February 13, 2010 at 8:00am
End Time: Saturday, February 20, 2010 at 2:10pm
Location: Fairgrove Academy www.fairgrove.hlpusd.k12.ca.us 15540 Fairgrove Avenue La Puente, CA 91744-1620 (626) 933-8500

Dennis McGonagle and his partner, Tyler Kinnaman, have begun work on their latest mural, a 300 square foot scene of Broadway Lights on the stage of the Fairgrove Academy Auditorium in La Puente, California. The mural was commissioned by the school's principal, Penny Fraumeini, who wanted a backdrop for the school's upcoming play, Broadway Lights. Unlike most stage backdrops, this mural will become a permanent fixture in the school. Mcgonagle is running with the idea of Broadway lights. "I think of the historic nickname of the Broadway theatre district, which is "The great white way", said McGonagle.
"My mural will have strong dark light contrast. The brightest lights will emerge from the darkness of the midnight sky. I will also contrast warm and cool, and very close and very far. I want this wall to be exciting and inspirational for the students and teachers of Fairgrove." McGonagle is drawing further inspiration from The Phantom City parable in the Lotus Sutra. In the parable, a fabulous city is created by the leader of a caravan who is guiding exhausted travelers on a journey across time and space. When the travelers have been rested and refreshed, the leader waves his hand and the city disappears.
The Fairgrove mural will be painted on Saturdays in February and its scheduled completion date will be February 27th. The pair of mural painters plans on inviting a team of artists to assist and collaborate with them beginning in mid-February. "Once the lines are blocked in, we're bringing in an all-star team of painters to help us", Mcgonagle declared. "The eneregy level of this mural will be off the charts".

Aili Schmeltz: La Fuente de la Vida
Exhibition Dates: January 26 – February 25, 2010
Artist Talk: Thursday, February 25 at 5:15pm
Closing Reception: Thursday, February 25 from 6:00-8:00pm
Hours: M-F, 9:30am to 5:00pm
Location: 13406 Philadelphia St, Whittier, CA 90603, 562.907.4200

The La Fuente de la Vida (The Fountain of Life) project is a collaboration between American and Mexican artists, filmmakers, professors, writers, dance professionals, and students. The body of work is comprised of four elements: a video installation with sound, drawings, a catalogue, and still digital photographs. The video component of the project is a three-channel projection in which each video is edited by a different artist, one American and two Mexican.

Beginning in the midst of the Flu epidemic outbreak, the project is an epic story surrounding a civic fountain in downtown Monterrey, Mexico entitled “La Fuente de La Vida” (The Fountain of Life). The monument has fallen from grace in the eyes of the city. To regain its glory the characters from the fountain, Neptune and his nymphs, begin a search for a new location for their monument. By paralleling Mexico's ‘fall from grace’ in the eyes of the international community - ranging from the ‘Swine’ Flu outbreak and drug cartel infused US border conflict – the project fosters a creative rethinking and examination of cross-cultural currents between Mexico and it’s sibling neighbor nation to the North. Fuente de la Vida serves as a rebuttal to the persistent negative media effluence that has helped perpetuate cultural stigmas and discrimination.

Special thanks to all of the hard work from the collaborators on both sides of the border including the video editors Samuel Ceped and Iván Pujol; music composer Greg Bryant; Audio/Visual Technician Daniel Annareau; essay writer David Hernandez Casas; book designer Aissa Deebi; cameramen Marco Treviño, Rubén Gutierrez, Aissa Deebi, Julio Orta, and David Hernandez Casas; performers Iván Pujol, Vanessa Moya, Janna Samira Alcaraz Sona, Cristina Garza, and Areli Morán; and Director of Projecto Arte, Héctor Santos, who graciously provided the private discothèque for filming with two in-house DJ performers: DJ 22 locos and DJ Ninja. This project would not have happened without each of your contributions and I humbly thank you.

Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts - February 26, 27 & 28, 2010
On February 26-28, Hillcrest Congregational Church will be hosting its 50th annual Festival of Fine Arts. Come celebrate with us!

On display and for sale at the Festival of Fine Arts: Watercolor & oil paintings, sculpture, fiber arts, handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, photography, glass, wood, pottery, batik and mixed media. Wide range of prices to fit any budget!

Activities include: Arts and Crafts Boutique, Starving Artist Cafe, gallery exhibits, artist demonstrations, musical entertainment, and the free children's art workshops (Sat. & Sun.) sponsored by Target.

Featured Artist for 2010: Ernest Lacy. Award-winning watercolor and oil painter who uses the dynamics of passion, exploration and spontaneity to transform everyday subjects into magnificent designs of form and color who is committed to find the truest expression of his artistic vision.

Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts
Celebrating its 50th Year!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
February 26-28
Fri & Sat: 10am-5pm; Sun: 11am-5pm
2000 West Rd.,
La Habra Heights, CA 90631
(562) 947-3755
Free Parking & Free Admission

PAINTINGS by JENI BATE
RECEPTION: FEBRUARY 6, from 4 - 7 p.m.
SHOW RUNS: FEBRUARY 3 - MARCH 4

JENI BATE has been exhibiting throughout
Southern California since 2003.

Artist's Statement:
Painting was a frequent joy as a child growing up in Wales and I dreamed of becoming a skyscapist. In 1995 I came to Southern California, and the vastness of the spaces rekindled that childhood love affair with the skies.

After moving to Malibu, I had an opportunity to work on photography skills. Another 5 months later I was having difficulty getting my mind off one particular photograph I had taken. I had an epiphany :“Now, you have to paint!”. The sky remains the major influence in my work.

Visit the artist's website here: http://www.jenibate.com

Need a gift for your sweetheart?
Check out this jam packed schedule of Jewelry events at the Casita del Pueblo!

Vow of Silence Jewelry Designs
Jan. 29th, 6-9pm

Pieces of Bones Jewelry Designs
by Sonya Correon
Jan. 30th, 2-6pm

Ilaments Jewelry Designs
by Lisa Rocha
Feb. 5th, 5-9pm

Mi Queta Jewelry Designs
by Cynthia Montero
Feb. 6th, 2-6pm

Maribel and Zulma Jewelry Designs
Feb. 7th, 2-5pm

Cynthia Morehouse Jewelry Designs
Feb. 12th, 6-9pm

Casita del Pueblo
6738 Greenleaf Ave.
Whittier, CA 90601
562-693-2844

"The opening of the "Nothing Over $99.99" show was wonderful. What a great selection of colorful, interesting works. I was impressed with the variety of media. It is inspiring to visit a show to see paintings, ceramics, assemblage, jewelry and photography displayed so well. The Gallery has recently been painted and it lent a bright, clean, venue to this great show. The show will be open until January 31st., Wednesdays through Sundays, 12-5 pm." -Vicki Schramm


Jeff Ulrich, "Creation" assemblage


Liz Dorn, "Chicago St." acrylic


Maud Aretz, "Sunflowers" assemblage


Pat Brown, clay

Would YOU like to write a review of a local show? Email me at robin@WhittierArtists.com

"Collaborations" the current show at Casita del Pueblo, is a colorful, high-energy display of the colaborative work of Dennis and Terry McGonagle. I was facinated with the multiple techniques used to apply acrylic paint layers to canvas. Dennis and Terry have worked together to produce works of exquisit texture and color. Very creative! - Vicki Schramm


This show runs through Feb. 10, 2010 - don't miss it!

This Saturday, catch the Whittier Art Gallery 'Nothing Over $99' reception from 2-4pm...
AND THEN...
head over to the Casita del Pueblo for the reception for 'Collaborations' by Dennis and Terry McGonagle.
What a night!

Nothing Over $99.99
Whittier Art Gallery

Reception: January 16, 2010, 2-4pm
This is the first show of 2010 and everything is for sale!

Whittier Art Gallery
8035 SOUTH PAINTER AVENUE
WHITTIER CA 90602
(562) 698-8710
OPEN: WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY noon to 5 p.m.
www.WhittierArtGallery.org

Announcing: The Bluebird Art House's BLOG!
Check out the Bluebird Art House's blog here:
http://bluebirdarthouse.wordpress.com/
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On this blog, just click on the word 'subscribe' in the menu at the top of the page under the picture of the mixed up paint. :-)