Tuolumne County can proudly boast to have one of California’s fastest growing arts communities. It’s almost unbelievable when you start counting all the artists that are tucked away in these hills doing their work!
This festival is about celebrating that talent. So, we’re looking for lots of chances to show off and tell you about these folks. Here are three: Diana Boyd, John Hongola, Barbara Beaudreau…Each one an award-winning artist.
DIANA BOYD’S brush stroke has a strong signature. Her expressionist style captures the motion of her subject. And Diana paints lots of chickens! Well, that’s not all she paints. On my wall hangs a whimsical red stiletto high heel shoe with leggy straps, very playful, even sexy!
But her chickens run about the barn yard. They move—a flash of feathers. Let’s go gather the eggs, and make an omelette! Or hang her expert oil painting (perhaps chickens) on your wall.
BARBARA BEAUDREAU is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and a popular artist among collectors. I’ve watched her work. She goes into an alternate world, a dream state as she creates with vibrant colors. Much of her art is done “en plein air,” and nature’s wonder give pure inspiration for her. I sat in on one of her workshops last year. She’s a great teacher, pulling out the best from her students. Barbara is donating a piece to the Foothill Farmlands ARTS Festival’s auction. Lucky the person who takes her artwork home!
In Tuolumne County we have furniture envy. If you’re lucky enough to sit at a JOHN HONGOLA table, then you must be a true “La-Dee-Dah.” In the words of Tuolumne Counthy’s own style diva, Kathleen Lorimer, your home must be “tickety boo.” About ten years ago John ventured out into the world of Glass Blowing. After a successful career as a custom fine furniture artist, John began an apprenticeship at Chaos Glassworks in Sutter Creek, CA. Now John’s elegant vessels and vases are in high demand. With an absolute liquid feel, John’s glass evokes a sense of calm. His use of color, shape, line—is it artful skill or a beautiful accident? Either way, his work is beautiful.
These three artists, along with many others, will be featured during the Foothilll Farmlands ARTS Festival. Plus, their works are available at our Festival Gala—Swinging in the Pines. On Saturday September 13th from 5:30-9pm at Twain Harte Tree Farm, we’re throwing a huge party! In the true sense of that word “GALA,” we’ll have great entertainment—Swing Gitane and its Paris Hot Club jazz sound. Delicious locally grown food, prepared by chef Robert Bannwarth of BANNY’S CAFE. We’ll sip Mt. Brow and La Bella Rosa wines.
AND come check out an auction laden with an abundance of Tuolumne County goodies, from a monthly bouquet of fresh flowers to our county’s finest art. Ten local artists have stepped up to offer very generous donations of their work. In our Farm Art Blog we’ll continue to feature each of them.
WHAT ABOUT VOLUNTEERS? Oh, a quick thank you to Sarah & Matt Nesper! (“Dr. Matt,” we call him in Sonora). Matt plays stand-up bass in Swing Gitane. We’re looking forward to him and the boys in the band. Sarah is one of our Guardian Angels. She’s working tirelessly to help secure sponsors and donors for our event. She is a wonderful visual artist, Matt a musician, and their kids (4–from the Segerstrom Clan & the Nesper Clan) are all wildly creative. All of the Nesper/Segerstrom gang appreciate the creative spirit of Tuolumne County, and they work to nurture that same spirit.
If you’re a local and would like to volunteer, please call us at (209)532-2787 or email us at info@farmart.org.
Once again, see in you in the garden or in the studio…Pray for peace, love and a bit of sweet rain.
B.Z.
1 response so far ↓
Barbara Beaudreau // Aug 16, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Hey, BZ its’ good to see all you have done here - I like it, and of course especially the part about me! I’d like to add an exciting new note - I’m going to paint a cow for FFAF! (explain who gets it and why?) Am still waiting for my paint to arrive - this cow will be painted with acrylics in a style reminiscent of my brightly defined youth and I can’t wait to begin, tho am busy finishing up a painting of lavender growing at the farm of Joy and Sandy Severin.
Also, in your blog about the story tellers, perhaps you should mention that such things as music and art (me) will be at Aspen Meadow??
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