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Charles Jarrett

Aidan Cox: Plywood Artist

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“It’s bringing us lots of smiles during a not-always-so-smiley time.”

Last year, Aidan Cox, a San Ramon Valley Highschool Senior, discovered artist Mike Bennett displaying his cleverly conceived cartoon-like artwork in Tik Tok interactive social media videos on the internet. Aidan was utterly fascinated with Bennett’s nearly life-sized cartoon characters, crafted on scraps of wood, artfully painted and made nearly life size. They were left peeking into and out from bushes in the park, or standing on walkways and stairways.

Like most youth today, Aidan and his friends enjoy using emoji caricatures (little art form heads with smiles and frowns), to illustrate and exaggerate their emotions graphically while sharing thoughts with friends in many communication programs. Most commonly when we wish to express feelings such as “I miss you”, “I love you”, “I’m Sad”, “I’m very happy” in written form, people often attach to that expression an exclamation mark “!”.  These emoji have become so popular that you will find a nearly unlimited supply of little artful expressions that you can borrow and attach to your own comments that you can share in other social media programs.

Aidan thought that since these smiley faces make us feel better in those kind of communications, maybe they might also help to lift up our spirits, when coming upon them (sometimes unexpectedly) especially out in public places lately when we are all dealing with repercussions of the Covid Catastrophe. 

Aidan began to experiment about six months ago in crafting on scrap plywood, some plywood that he collected from construction sites, some of which he purchased, and some donated by neighbors. Aidan cut the basic circular form with a hand jigsaw, followed by sanding and painting. Some happy face artwork signs are attached to telephone poles, and some trees and or fences in Alamo, Danville and San Ramon. And guess what, the response has for the most part been incredibly positive! For example, Vicki on “Nextdoor” said, “Thank you to whomever recently put up smiley faces, on telephone poles on Danville Blvd. and Livorna Road near their intersection. A treat to brighten the day for all of us!” In addition, Lauren on “Nextdoor” added  “Just a note to say how much we love the smiley face posted at the corner of Ramona Way and Danville Boulevard. My kids look for it every time we drive by and get so excited. It’s bringing us lots of smiles during a not-always-so-smiley time. Thank you for this small (but mighty) gesture!”

To date Aidan has made and sold approximately 60 Smiley Faces.  Some of his pieces of art adorn private driveways and hiking trails and even a couple of front porches!

My wife and I first saw them a couple of months ago as we drove around our beloved Alamo, and guess what, we smiled or laughed every time we came across them. We thought we would love to have one for the driveway entrance to our property and maybe even the trail adjacent to our home near Oak Hill Parl. We Googled “Aidan”, bought two signs and put them up on our trees, and people walking past our home tell is again and again how happy they make them feel.

Now you too may add and share these uplifting icons of joy, and love and help make a statement that your community also cares. If you wish a sign for your home or neighborhood, simply contact Aidan at (925) 856-7254 or at https://signtosmile.wixsite.com/smile  to order yours. He might even add a special accent in his made to order creations if you have your own idea you want to share!

Car Art

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Norman Prickett’s interest in automobiles began as a child, while working in his father’s automotive garage in Piedmont, California. At first, he just cleaned tools, but by the time he reached age twelve, he started working on and overhauling cars. The repair shop remained at that location for about six years, until his dad became frustrated with politics in the big city. Then, his father, who had grown up on a Nebraska farm, decided to move the family back to the small community of Hamilton City, between Orland and Chico, near the Sacramento River. There, his father leased a huge World War II Quonset hut, to be used as a two-story repair shop. He named it “Pappy’s Auto Repair,” Pappy being his father’s nickname.

The family lived on the hut’s upper floor, with the repair shop below. The building had extensions on both sides. One side contained a machine shop and the other side was rented to a tenant who sold arc welders. The building was wide enough that the central work area could contain about 16 cars at one time. Norman lived there until he graduated from high school; a high school with a senior graduating class of only 32 students.

Norman didn’t see much future in Chico or the surrounding area. When he returned to the Bay Area after graduation, he found a job as an apprentice on construction crews. When he was 19 he got his journeyman’s card and soon ran work crews until age 21. He then joined the Army. After his Army service, he came back to the Bay Area and again ran a construction crew for a while, then obtained a part-time real estate sales license while still working in construction. Eventually, realizing how much money he could make in the real estate business, he became a full-time realtor. Following another inspirational and motivational moment in his life, he started buying old houses and fixing them up. Before long, he began building spec homes, apartments and condos, which led him into his lifetime work in managing, building, and selling real estate.

Norman doesn’t consider himself a collector of cars, but purchasing good cars became his passion—cars that he could drive to and from work and enjoy on a daily basis. When he finished his military service in 1965, he bought a green 1965 Pontiac GTO convertible with a black top, which he loved. However, one day while driving a couple around in that car, the wife got out of the car and told her husband that she never wanted to ride in that vehicle again. It became obvious that the back seat of the car was not the most comfortable for taking customers out to see properties. Wisely, Norman sold his GTO and purchased a larger vehicle—a new station wagon that could accommodate more people comfortably.

In 1989, while on a drive in Sacramento, his wife, Sherry, pointed out a Red 1965 GTO convertible and asked Norman if this wasn’t the same type of car that he had owned previously and spoke fondly of many times. She suggested that he take a look at it, which he did. He then bought it and brought it home. It had the wrong engine and a few other things wrong with it, but he soon found the correct engine and installed it. Originally, it was a tri-power, four-speed transmission car with factory air, which was unusual for a convertible. Consequently, it was quite a rare vehicle. He later modified it further with a four-barrel carburetor, replaced the four-speed transmission with an overdrive automatic transmission, and upgraded the old air-conditioning unit with a more modern one. After making the changes, that GTO is what he now considers his primary highway car. In fact, it has taken them to Canada, Texas, Yellowstone, and Las Vegas, and is now a vehicle that his wife, Sherry, also enjoys driving.

At one time he owned as many as five vehicles. One of his favorite cars was a 1950 Ford coupe that he purchased 50 years ago, in 1970. A friend of his called him one day and told him that he had found a 1940 Ford sitting underneath a tree in a backyard in Castro Valley. It had a near perfect body for restoration, but no motor or transmission. Norman purchased it and towed it home. He installed a small block Chevy engine in it and drove it with a stock transmission and rear end for 30 years. He then added a brand-new engine, a new rear end, air conditioning, and completely rewired the car. Today, this 1940 Ford even has power steering, power brakes disc brakes on the front, and is almost a brand-new car. He also owned a Ford Ranchero for 15 years, which he sold last year. Prior to that, he had a 230 SL Mercedes that he drove for 18 years.

Norman reminded me that he did the mechanical work on these cars himself, and “remember,” he said, “I’m not a car collector. I simply like to buy and maintain great cars and keep them in great condition for the pure enjoyment of driving them.” 

And for the right price, he may eventually sell his exquisite 1940 Ford coupe and seek another adventure!

Car Art

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Today, I am fortunate to share with you the car love story of Chris Oldag, a boy from northern Florida whose mother spawned his love of high-powered cars. She worked nightshifts managing a highway motel about an hour’s drive north of Daytona. It was in this motel’s parking lot where Chris discovered super-cars—meaning race cars, that is. It was in that parking lot that NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) teams would occasionally stop over on their way to or from the Daytona races with race cars sitting on the open trailers.

Back in the 60s when he was a little kid (born 1958), Chris and his older brothers got to see the racetrack crews working on the old race cars, and were able to watch them drive the cars up and down the freeway frontage roads along Highway 95. This exposure to the race car world sparked his interest that led to his love of high-performance cars.

Added to this was the fact that he had a couple of older brothers who were, what he calls, motor-heads, whose interest was all about cars as well. After they returned from their service in Vietnam, they were constantly debating as to which car was better; Chevy versus Ford, Dodge versus Plymouth.  Also, at that time in their life, something new had come to the foreground; drag racing, along with the new term “muscle-cars,” both of which reigned tantamount in their minds. His brothers had an assortment of old cars they turned from jalopies into less safe and much lighter and faster vehicles. Their jargon permeating the household atmosphere, so you can see how the love of hot rods and modified muscle cars became implanted on Chris’s young brain.

Eventually in 1970, the family moved to the Midwest, where hot-rods were popular. Due to the fact that the weather in the mid-west often has very long, cold winters, hot-rod owners often worked on their cars in their garages most of that time. In addition, Chris’s family lived close to a couple of large wrecking yards where lots of spare time was spent rummaging through those salvage yards looking for replacement parts.

By 1971, the same year as Chris’s current Oldsmobile, legislative changes marked the end of the muscle car era because after that time, new federal regulations required cars to burn unleaded fuel. That meant lower compression engines and lower compression meant less power, which, when tied with the oil crisis of 1976, put nails in the coffin of the American muscle-cars.

However, as if America was not yet ready to let go of the “muscle-car,” a purely escapist movie opened in 1977, in thousands of theaters across the country that featured a black 1977 Pontiac Trans Am Firebird, starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Fields, in  Smokey and the Bandit. This madcap movie involved little more than a 28-hour Texarkana round-trip police-chase condensed into 96 minutes on film. (As a side note, the “Smokey & the Bandit promo Trans Am car” was eventually sold at auction in 2016 for a mere $550,000. A pretty handsome sum!)

Years later, in or about 1998, Chris bought an old Jeep Comanche from a neighbor which rekindled his interest in restoring and rebuilding cars again. Next, he bought a Miata, followed by an Infiniti G37 coupe, which of course, was a high-performance model. Right about that time, Chris became a docent at the Blackhawk Museum as he had recently retired from his job and had a little more time on my hands. Luckily. Chris says, “my wife saw a notice by the Blackhawk Museum of their ongoing recruiting effort. She reached out to them, and they informed her that they had a training class that was available, provided that those who signed up for the class, would agree to serve at the museum a minimum of five hours a week.” Chris smiled and said “it was a lot like running into the brother you never had, or never met, who thinks the same way you think and reacts the same way you do and hangs onto every detail of collecting, repairing, driving and understanding these collectors’ cars. It was really fascinating and I’m now literally at my 10th anniversary as a docent.”

“How many cars do I own currently? I have my 1971 Olds Cutlass that I bought from another Blackhawk Museum docent, and more recently I found a 65 Mustang convertible that is a ‘barn-find’ car, which I intend to bring back to collectible condition with lots of love and hard work in the restoration process. In my work today, at Pacific Service Credit Union in Walnut Creek, my love of cars is furthered by my knowledge of collectible cars and cars in general. I spend a certain amount of my time in the process of financing what my company might call ‘special-interest’ cars. We provide a service for the cars that we will accept, providing a financing rate that is much more attractive than what other finance companies are currently charging for comparable collectible used cars.” He cautions however, that they don’t finance projects cars or junk, and there must be a clear title on a car that is at least in drivable condition. In addition, it has to be registered in California, is insurable, and the purchase price must be at least 20% of the vehicle’s value. In in summary, he says, “I have to say that I emphatically love collectible cars, and the company of others who share the same love.”

Car Collector

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When I opened my first article in this series of articles about the art of car collecting, I shared the fact that some people I have spoken with have given me a lot of reasons why they have been inspired to purchase, drive, restore and love their unique automobiles. During a gathering at the Blackhawk Museum this past July, Gordon Johnson explained to me how he admires his three-car collection and invited me to come out to his home to see his award-winning 1928 Rolls-Royce.

During that visit to his home this past month, I asked what inspired or accelerated his interest in buying and selling cars. Gordon thought for a moment and said that his keen interest in cars was not necessarily the thought of owning them. While he always considered old-fashioned, collectible cars as works of art, and admired them for that aspect alone, he confessed that he certainly didn’t buy collectible cars to drive or exhibit them. What he enjoyed most of all was the process of working on and restoring those old cars to the beautiful works of art originally envisioned by their creators.

Having been raised on a farm in Iowa, Gordon was quite familiar with making repairs on farm implements and equipment as his dad needed and encouraged him to do. He explained that the challenge of solving problems is what spurred his automotive acquisition attention. His first collectible car was a 1925 Model T Ford doctor’s coupe which he purchased in the 1960s. He later converted it into a touring car because there just was not enough space in the two-seat coupe for his four-member family.

In the 80s, Gordon and his wife were building a cabin in Northern California near Lake Almanor, and one day as they wandered the back roads in that area, they eventually ended up in Greenville. While driving through town Gordon saw an old car sitting in somebody’s yard. It looked disheveled but unique, and curious to find out what it was, he went up to the house and knocked on the front door. Nobody was home, so he returned to the yard and looked a little closer at the frame of this car immersed in high grass and weeds. It was really in sad shape, but Gordon determined that it was a vehicle called a Paige.

Gordon went to the mailbox, wrote down the name and the address he found there and returned home. With a little research, he discovered that the name and house number on the mailbox was listed in a telephone book, providing him with a number which he consequently called. The woman who answered the phone said that the car was her son’s. She gave Gordon her son’s number and Gordon called, requesting permission to go back out to the property and look at the vehicle more closely. The owner said that he wasn’t even sure if he wanted to sell it, but told Mr. Johnson to go ahead and take another look.

Shortly after that, Gordon drove over to Harrah’s Club in Reno, which had a big car collection and an automotive library. A gentleman in the library informed Gordon that the seven-passenger Paige convertible he had discovered was potentially a collector’s car and that there were not many of them around. Ultimately, Gordon worked out a deal with the owner and purchased that old skeleton of a car, consequently spending the next 12 years rebuilding and refurbishing it. He did most of the work himself, including painting much of the vehicle in his garage. That experience was Gordon’s introduction to serious car collecting and rebuilding, which had come at a time when he was open to a change in his life. He had been a typical stockbroker, primarily focused on an office environment but became a guy who found himself spending two or three nights a week working in a garage, totally engaged in restoring his old car.

A few years later, Gordon came up with the idea to purchase another car that he had long admired—a Rolls-Royce. He bought one of Paul Wartenberg’s books on Rolls Royce vehicles, and while perusing the pages, he stopped when he saw a particular car that he liked. It just happened that at that same time, in the San Francisco Chronicle want-ads section, he found a similar type of collector’s vehicle for sale. The car was located a long way away, in Muskogee, Oklahoma and that the man who owned it lived nearby in Santa Barbara, California. The vehicle could not be driven home after he went to Muskogee to check it out, because in the photographs he was shown, the vehicle was in pieces in a garage in Oklahoma.

None the less, Gordon decided to take a huge risk and literally bought it sight unseen. He then found a car rebuilder in Oklahoma who could at least put it back in basic running condition. After bringing it to the West Coast, he took it to Santa Barbara where it was painted. This car was beautifully restored and is now a shining example of a 1928, T1 Seven Passenger Springfield touring car. Today it is one of only two identical vehicles still in existence.

The first time Gordon took the car to a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it won third place in its class. At the show, Gordon discovered that the woman who first purchased this vehicle in 1928 paid $19,000 for it, which in 2017 dollars would be worth approximately $490,000. What’s it worth today? Whatever the right person is willing to pay!

Today Gordon also owns two Bentleys, one of which he traded the Paige convertible for, and another, a ‘34 Bentley that is currently on exhibit in the Blackhawk Museum. He bought and sold several other cars over the years as well, including a Delahaye, a Delage, and an Auburn. At one time he had as many as seven cars in a show at Pebble Beach. His love of restoring and buying cars has made him and his wife many close friends who hold similar interests.

The Art of Cars

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As my wife and I drive down the freeway, or the streets of a town, or the back roads in the country, I find my attention often being drawn to the image of various automobiles I see along the way, while my wife’s attention is generally drawn to the visage of beautiful scenery, gardens, farm animals, and objects of nature. I often ask myself, “What do I find so interesting, exciting, or intriguing, about the many various types and models of cars that catch my attention, especially those of years gone by?”

I have asked that same question of other men, especially those who have one or more old cars stored away in a garage in various states of repair or restoration. Just what is the mystery surrounding men’s passion and love of their cars? One person told me that the mystery of why men tend to fall in love with cars more often than women may be no mystery at all.  He said, “Men often bond with their cars because they perceive their cars as an extension of their self, as a confirmation of their maturing and growing up, and as evidence of their success in life.” Even more important, I believe, like many people who collect the paintings of Cassatt, Picasso, Monet, Kahlo, Seurat, and other renowned artists, car collectors love the emotional rush they get when they see a beautiful automobile that has been restored, preserved, driven, protected, and treasured.

While touring the Blackhawk Automotive Museum, I was intrigued by my conversations with a couple of the docents who shared with me their stories of how many of the beautiful and collectible automobiles there have become such revered, admired, and sought-after icons of years gone past. In search of the back-stories of how these people came to be such great promoters for the preservation of these works of art, I went back during a docent gathering and contacted and interviewed several more docents who work at the museum. Over the next couple of months, I will share with you some of the car owners and collectors’ personal stories of how innocently and passionately they became shareholders in this never-ending story of “The Art in Collecting Cars.”

Ed Spencer, for one, has always loved cars. He taught himself to drive his dad’s car and got his driver’s license at 14 years of age.  He would drive his dad to work and then continue on to school by himself.  He owned no car himself in high school, but his father bought him a used Corvette (1954 model) when he started college. Then, in 1956, after he graduated, he was drafted into the Navy and sold the car.

He served his tour of duty aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Shangri-La. After one tour of duty in the Pacific when his ship returned to its U.S. port, his dad bought a used Cadillac sedan and gave it to him. After receiving new orders sending him to Atsugi, Japan, he simply asked a yeoman in the command service office if there was a way to get his car shipped to his new duty port. The yeoman clerk simply asked for a copy of his orders and to Ed’s great surprise, when he arrived in Japan, there it was, his great big 1956 4 door Cadillac sedan sitting on the dock waiting for him. He still does not know how it happened because his rank did not entitle him to get that kind of bonus. He was never questioned about it, nor did he receive a bill!

At that time, he says, the only cars prevalent in Japan were little Nissans and Datsuns, so can you imagine how popular he became when he showed up anywhere in Japan with what must have appeared to be a car worthy of royalty. When he went on liberty with his Cadillac, the local bar doors literally sprang open and the Japanese girls poured out and swamped over him and his Ichiban (meaning #1, the best, or First Class in Japanese) vehicle. No wonder Ed developed such an early appreciation of having the “Best” in vehicles!

After leaving military service, he worked for his father’s finance company for several more years. When his father passed away, he inherited some money and a friend suggested that they form a partnership in a new car dealership, which ultimately became a Chevrolet dealership in Livermore. For a while, they also owned a Dodge dealership across the street as well, and their business did very well. Cadillacs and Corvettes became his personal passion. The dealership continued under their ownership for about 15 years until he sold it. He continued to work for other car dealerships just to keep busy but now Ed is retired and living in Rossmoor.

Over the years, he continued to collect his “toys” until he got to the point that his home in Blackhawk with garages designed to hold up to eight vehicles, was not large enough to accommodate all of his vehicles. His wife Sheila is comfortable with her Cadillac Escalade type vehicle and he loves his 2007 Cadillac XLR (basically a Corvette convertible hidden in its Cadillac skin). Consequently, his love of luxury vehicles started early in his life and even today, he still prefers to own and drive what I might call “Ichiban,” vehicles.

A lovely couple they are, who value beauty, such as their home with its exquisite furniture, paintings, and artwork… and their beautiful cars. Indeed, these cars are pieces of art; art that is fun to drive and “take out for a spin.”  

Valley Art Gallery 70th Anniversary

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The Valley Art Gallery on Botelho Drive in Walnut Creek has a lot to be proud of this year as it celebrates its 70th anniversary of serving our surrounding communities in so many ways. We are indeed fortunate to have so many artists around us who have helped educate and inspire our children, provide us with beautiful art in our parks and on street corners, and enrich our lives through their music and theatrical talent. Artistic groups and individuals have stepped forward time and again for many years, keeping the arts alive throughout our community.

The historically significant Valley Art Gallery in Walnut Creek not only provides a place where people can purchase fine art, it is the only place in the East Bay where people can rent to own all forms of award-winning art for their homes and businesses.

Many people may not realize the value of renting fine art to enhance the value of a home you are trying to sell in today’s real estate market. My wife and I recently sold a rental property and purchased another rental property. In both cases, the realtors who managed the sales of these properties insisted on the owners employing home staging companies to make the properties as beautiful and as attractive as they could before potential purchasers came to evaluate and appreciate the properties that were for sale. In both cases, I can testify that fine art selected by the staging companies both increased and enhanced the sales.

The story of this local gallery began in 1948, when a small group of area residents, comprised of a Clayton Valley rancher, two artists, a local attorney, and a civic leader, formed an alliance to promote art exhibitions in the area encompassed by Walnut Creek, Lafayette and Orinda. Their inspiration and hard work led to the formation of an organization that became known locally as the Outdoor Art Shows. The media that they chose to include in their outdoor art shows included all forms of artistic painting, sculpture, photography and fine crafts (ceramics, jewelry, textiles, etc.).

These shows took place during the annual Walnut Festival and became so successful, that when a significantly expanded re-organization of the outdoor art shows took place, it included both an artist’s market, where the art could be sold, and an art rental service, which took place in a storefront on Mount Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette. The gallery was open several days a week, staffed by volunteers of the organization so that its members could provide classes in drawing, painting, and ceramics, as well as providing their first painting rental program, all of which flourished.

In 1955, as the organization continued to grow, the name was changed to the Valley Art Center. About this time, the city of Walnut Creek established a city arts commission with the intent of building a civic arts community program of arts education, theater performance, and art exhibition. Consequently in 1967, Valley Art and their rental gallery moved into a portion of what was formerly known as a walnut processing facility on Locust Street where it continued to operate until the old warehouse facility was razed by the city in 1987 to make way for the Lesher Center for the Arts. It was at this time that Valley Artmoved to its current location of 1661 Botelho Drive in downtown Walnut Creek, where their new space would be known as Valley Art Gallery.

The organization has always been a nonprofit entity and continues to be operated and staffed by volunteers. Today it boasts a stable of over 100 artists and 40 craftspeople. Most all of the gallery’s artists have had extensive education in the visual arts; many have taught art, and some have made careers in art-related occupations. Since 1994 the gallery has presented the Gloria Marshall Memorial award annually to local schools, to provide a cash gift to public school art programs in need of that financial support.

The Valley Art Gallery has survived and prospered for 70 years and as Julie Armstrong, president of the Valley Art Gallery has informed me, there are many citizens in our communities that come into their cleverly designed store, to view and examine many pieces of fine art, often renting it for a period of time so that they can enjoy it in their home while making up their mind if they wish to purchase it. A very appreciative lady by the name Nicki Scott, invited me into her home in Alamo where I could see for myself, 21 of the 22 beautiful pieces of art that she and her husband have rented and then purchased over the past 21 years. She pointed out that it was through a real estate stager she employed when selling their home in Concord in 1998, that she first learned of the Valley Art Gallery’s art rental program.

Nicki repeatedly praised the gallery and the fine art that she and her family have enjoyed personally in their own home, year after year for many years. She told me that the ability for her to rent a piece of art and place it in her home for up to one full year, before she purchases it, has made her a firm believer in this unique and wonderful service. She said that it was almost like a layaway program!

You might wish to visit their lovely and informative website at valleyartgallery.org. I suggest you call them (925) 935-4311 at your first opportunity to determine the best time to meet with one of their volunteers for a personal showing. The regular shop hours are 11:00 am 5:00 pm, Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Precious Metals

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Are you driving your dream car or is your dream just an elusive work of art? The mission statement of the Antique Automobile Club of America states “Since its inception there has been something about the sight, sound, and feel of the automobile that stirs the imagination and the desire to experience the freedom of the open road. Whether it’s the clatter of the single cylinder brass era car or the heavy thumping of big block Detroit muscle cars that fuels the addiction, we are all kindred spirits.”

In the late 1950s when I was in high school, cars were the focus of most young men. The rage at that time was for cars with big fins and blaring mufflers, but the main goal of a high school boy was obtaining his wheels. It was their ticket to freedom and independence, and of course, necessary for picking up one’s date and showing off to one’s friends.

It used to be that automobiles had unique style and shape, with real personality and could even be recognized by make and model from far away. But now, I have a fear that the artistic beauty of American cars and cars in general is rapidly going away as they become more and more mundane looking. Many cars today can only be identified when you are close enough to see the name on the back fender and the symbol on the car’s hood. Yes, I applaud the fact that cars are now designed to create less air drag to improve gas mileage, which is indeed important for humanity, but I also fear that we have relegated one of our great forms of metallic art design to the dustbin of history.

This past month, in my search for my next art inspired article, I had the good fortune to visit with Andrew Warren in the Blackhawk Museum where he gave me a tour of the museum and shared with me the story about the evolving mission of the museum, to bring our communities great opportunities for edification and inspiration. Mr. Warren photographed, edited and refined the beautiful current images of the cars the Blackhawk Museum supplied to me for this article.

Originally, the museum was designed exclusively to exhibit historic and collectible automobiles, however, today this vision is changing. Yes, there is still a beautiful and intriguing “Automotive Gallery” that contains exquisite gems of our automotive yesteryears, but today there is so much more for you and your family to explore within the new gallery walls.

June is an excellent month to take a little trip down memory lane in the automobile gallery and learn some really neat things about automobiles you probably never new. Among the 50 gorgeous pieces of “precious metal,” as I like to call collectible cars, you will have an opportunity to see and examine historically significant classic, sports, and innovatively stylish vehicles that range from conventional American masterpieces, to works of automotive art from many corners of the world.

Along with their collection of automotive dream-cars you will discover a myriad of associated stories tied to the passions that brought these “precious metals” to fruition. The selection of vehicles is broad, beautiful, and provides a wonderful trip down their memory lane for many people. Some of my favorites are the Blue 1931 Pierce Arrow, the Yellow Cord, the red Delahaye convertible, Chevrolets, Packard’s, Plymouth’s, Mercury’s and Fords of the 50s and 60s. I would also suggest that you seek out the Docent presentations, where you may even be able to learn the stories behind the stories that made specific automobiles the legends that they have become.

In addition, the museum offers another gallery which is described as the “Spirit of the Old West,” a historical exhibition primarily designed to edify and encourage interactive learning experiences. Now you and your children may explore the lives of Native Americans and American settlers in the old West. There is also an opportunity for you to explore and experience the “Art of Africa” gallery, where you will see art created by the many indigenous people of sub-Saharan Africa. It is my plan to focus on several of these subjects over a couple of months, to give you some idea of where you can go and what you can do that would be lots of fun for dad and mom and little kids too.

For the July issue, I will share some insights from an actual tour in the “Spirit of the Old West” historical exhibit and the Art of Africa exhibit.

The museum is located at 3700 Blackhawk Plaza Circle in Danville. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 AM to 5 PM. The admission fees are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors/students, children six years of age and under and active military personnel are free. There should be ample free parking in the Blackhawk Plaza parking lot near or adjacent to the Cinemark Century Blackhawk Plaza Theater facility.

Lovely Art on the Lane 

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Art on the Lane, a fine art gallery, working studio and art school in the heart of downtown Danville, is an exquisite educational and holistic art school, where resident artists and college-trained art teachers exhibit cityscapes, local landscapes, seascapes, floral, equestrian art, portraits, handcrafted jewelry and resin-based works of art. Art classes are available at the studio for all experience levels and ages. Highly qualified and trained, practicing artists teach and work in various mediums including watercolor, oil, acrylic and drawing.

I admired the beautiful paintings and artwork in the Art on the Lanestudio, stepped inside, and introduced myself to one of the owners, Barbara Davies. We chatted for a while about the gorgeous paintings on the walls of her studio. Eventually we shared our stories of how learning about and experimenting in our respective fields in the arts changed our entire life paths. As a youngster, Barbara said that two things stood out as early passions in her life, art and horses.

Even though art was her primary passion, she fully realized that a career in art was a difficult path to financial success. Being both a smart and sensitive woman, she enrolled in college where she earned a degree in computer science. She worked in the high-tech industry for approximately 18 years. However, her love of art was still constantly beating an artful cadence in the back of her mind where the original passion persisted, frequently reminding her how much she loved and missed painting. She continued to paint in what little spare time she had left at the end of the day, but after many years of supporting herself in a far less rewarding environment, she decided she’d had enough.  She subsequently quit her job and went back to school, graduating from the California College of Arts in Oakland California with a degree in painting and illustration. She then decided to add another year to the process in order to obtain the highly coveted CLAD credential (cross-cultural it’s talking Language and Academic Development Certificate), which is a cross cultural teaching credential. Barbara is credentialed to teach children in grades K-12, which has allowed her to teach art in the San Ramon unified school district for seven years. She then decided to rent her first commercial space to begin teaching her own classes for both adults and children. She teaches children and adult classes each week, on Thursdays. She limits her teaching classes to one day a week so that she can continue to produce the personal art that she loves most, work of her own, which she sells in her studio. The ages in the children’s art classes range between nine and 16. She dearly loves what she does now and it has worked out very well for her.

Barbara and I soon realized that we both have witnessed the joy, excitement, and personal growth that people have experienced through their work in art. She shared with me that she had a young student with serious ambulatory issues who started taking classes from her at about age 10 and stopped working with her when she was about age 17. Today this young lady is gainfully and happily employed, working for Walt Disney Studios.

Then, there was another young lady who was extremely shy, in fact so much so that she couldn’t even look you eye-to-eye when she was talking with you. She took Barbara’s art classes over several years, subsequently went to college in England, and now is fully engaged in drama writing and art.

Also, when Barbara worked at Rancho Romero school in San Ramon, she had one boy who was mainstreamed into the regular classroom even though he was dealing with a very high rating on the autism scale. He couldn’t even communicate verbally with his parents or anyone else. When Barbara came into his classroom to conduct the art class, his whole face lit up and he would become very animated. One day, Barbara walked into the classroom with a big picture book of Van Gogh’s paintings. At the end of the class on that particular day, he made it very clear to Miss Davies that he “really” wanted the book, so she gave it to him. He took it back to his desk and before long, he returned to her having made the most amazing “Starry Night” painting, although, upside down on the paper. It wasn’t until Barbara turned the picture upside-down again to look at it, that she figured out what a marvelous thing the young man had done. His parents were absolutely overjoyed at seeing this work. Barbara added, “in fact, a lot of the parents who come into the class tell me that they bring their children to the art classes as sort of an antidote to what’s going on in our society today.” “You see,” says instructor Davies, “art can be really transformative to young people and adults. Yes, art is just so important!”

This past week I sat in on the six-member morning class. For class-member Debbie, her forthcoming image of the Big Sur will be the object of her painter’s eye. Melanie is capturing a beautiful sunset patio on a lake surrounded with Wisteria. Gina was capturing the beauty of a lotus blossom and Donna was creating an impressionistic landscape. Debra, whose husband is an avid “precious metal” enthusiast (i.e.: classic car collector) is painting something very special for him as a birthday gift. During the afternoon student youth class, I met several talented young artists, including Vivian, who was creating a beautiful mountain waterfall. A couple of days later I managed to catch up with her good friend and fellow “Art on the Lane” classmate, Alexa, who was painting a beautiful and somewhat abstract mountain scene while standing in the lush green grassy knolls of Danville’s Oak Hill Park. In the back of the studio, Elizabeth worked on a colorful acrylic “abstract pouring” piece of art, as did Celine, and twins, Karina and Valerie. A day earlier, Sasha was found creating an ocean scenario, and Addison was painting a lovely lighthouse landscape.

All in all, this is a fantastic class in a close knit, loving, supportive and fulfilling teaching environment.

If you’d like to investigate your artistic abilities and ambitions, call (925) 683-0120 and ask for Barbara Davies, or email bdaviesart@gamil.com. Art on the Lane, 124 Prospect Ave., Danville, California 94526. On the web at bdaviesart.com

Author’s correction: My article last month listed an incorrect web address. The correct address is https://colorbundles.com

Accidental Art Awareness

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For the past year Alive, the east bay magazine, has allowed me the wonderful opportunity to share with you my belief that the arts are important to society, especially to our children, for so many important reasons. I have been echoing this cry for us to support these organizations in society that allow us to engage with and find value in the many forms of creative art available to us.  I have to keep asking myself, why do people in power positions such as politicians and administrators often demand cutting funding to the arts so that limited funds can only go to math, science and other academics, and/or their own pet projects, with the belief that the arts are not important?

In the January issue of Psychology Today, columnists Michelle and Robert Root-Bernstein declare in their current Artsmarts column: “Why Cutting Arts Funding is Not a Good Idea – – that “Congress is once again making plans to gut the National Endowment for the Arts!” According to W. James McNerney, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Boeing Company, “At Boeing, innovation is our lifeblood. The arts inspire innovation by leading us to open our minds and think in new ways about our lives – including the work we do, the way we work, and the customers we serve.” His remarks are repeated over and over again by other key professionals, including George David, CEO of United Technologies, and Randall Tobia, CEO of Eli Lilly and Company. They all reflect a similar thesis, “Don’t Gut the Arts”. In other words, support the arts! This article can be found at: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/imagine/201102/artsmarts-why-cutting-arts-funding-is-not-good-idea.

Today, I would like to share with you my story of Alamo resident, art teacher-instructor and artist, Fariba Sasson, who owns and operates the very popular art party place, Colorbundles Art Studio at 301 Hartz Avenue (#104) in Danville. This colorful studio and gallery provide a gathering and opportunity space, where children and adults can have fun while learning to draw, paint, create mosaics and engage in other forms of art creation with their friends in a summer camp or birthday party atmosphere.

Fariba told me that when she was a young girl she always loved to draw and carried a sketchbook with her everywhere she went. Her parents recognized that she had a special affinity and talent for art, so they began sending her to art classes. The older she got, the more classes she sought. She did everything from painting on canvas, painting on glass, painting on fabric. “When you are interested, you are thirsty to explore more concepts.” She did floral arrangements and jewelry making, and then she had children, three sons which changed her life’s focus for a number of years while she raised her three boys. When her third son was in the Alamo elementary school, the teacher knew that Fariba was an artist so she asked her to come to school and assist the teacher with their art program. While assisting the school with an art fundraising program, Fariba expressed her desire to show them different ways to do a more hands-on kind of art program, which turned out to became very popular. They tried out Fariba’s new clay project in which the children learned how to make grape shaped objects out of clay. The ending result was a beautiful three-dimensional art project on a china plate. It was fun for the children and easy for them to make with their little hands in their third-gradeclass. Fariba quickly realized how much she enjoyed working with children and how much excitement and satisfaction she received. This prompted her to start her own business of an art summer camp which then led her to also create a throughout-the-year birthday party art program using simple concepts to introduce children to art. Before long, Color Bundles Art Studio became a fixture in Danville.

Once a month on a Wednesday or Thursday, the Color Bundles Art Studio painting class in which the subject matter might be a lighthearted personal caricature images of people and animals. Adults or children may be asked bring a photo of their favorite pet which can become the subject matter for their next art project. Monthly art classes will begin in February but there are always birthday party art classes every weekend.

Fariba explains that when a third party, such as the teacher, praises your child’s work it seems to have a greater meaning than when parents alone support their child’s passion. When the children paint in a party atmosphere it becomes a collective experience. They discuss what they are creating with their friend sitting next to them, in a noncritical sharing. It can change lives, as a common bonding experience can overcome insecurities and build confidence. So now, when I think about it, incidental, perhaps even accidental art exposure may well create better art awareness. What a great way to introduce the great fun and satisfaction that can be derived in creating works of art.

Two young ladies, Sydney and Laney, who first attended Fariba’s birthday party classes became so excited about painting that they took additional summer camp classes for two years with her and eventually asked if they could help her with her birthday party or summer camp classes because they loved working with the children as well as creating the art. Laney Hogue fell in love with painting, drawing and art creation at the elbow of her older brother who had a natural talent in creating art as well. Laney, now a junior in high school, is planning to go to an art college pursuing goals that include becoming a professional artist and perhaps even a teacher of art.

 I asked Fariba if I could attend an upcoming weekend birthday party and take pictures of the children to exhibit what they were doing and how much fun they were having in this party atmosphere in which they would learn the basics of painting. My images show birthday girl Rachel and her younger sister Alison together showing off their work, as did their friend, Emily. Assistant Laney Hogue and her mentor, owner Fariba Sasson are shown as well.

 I believe the party consisted of 10 to 12 guests, most of whom were probably 10 to 12 years of age. This party became a fun-filled experience for everyone; parents, children and even myself as the observer. In the art studio one table was set up with small portable easels on which the children would experiment with their artwork. Nearby was a separate table adorned with birthday decorations similar to what you would have in a normal birthday party. After the painting introduction class, this is where the children sit with the birthday party girl or boy, eat the party treats, share the birthday gift package openings, and give their birthday salutations.

Fariba and her assistant, the very talented and friendly Laney Hogue, both guided the children through the experience of painting the subject matter on their canvas. This group of young ladies laughed excitedly and chattered back and forth between each other as they listened to Fariba’s carefully orchestrated instructions on how to use different sized paintbrushes, how to meld, blend and apply the colorful layers of colors, and how different strokes can add depth and context to their work. I stayed through most of the party and took a few photographs of the young ladies having a great time with something that was totally new and exhilarating to most of them. Fariba provides all the painting materials, including the paints, brushes and canvases on which the student party goers will share their painting experience. Following the painting work, the canvases were signed by each participant, then dried so that they were safe to handle and were set aside to be retrieved when the birthday party itself was concluded.

It is my belief that if you teach kids at a young age how to use the creative side of their brain in a way that will be fun and get their creative juices flowing, they will most likely continue with this openminded and creative path that can last them a lifetime. Reiterating what corporation executives are saying, a foundation in the Arts can provide the building blocks that could lead the way to success as adults in whatever vocation the decide to pursue.  Not only do the arts provide creative thinking, they also provide an outlet for relieving tension and stress in one’s life, much as going for a walk, taking a yoga class or watching or playing a sports game.

I encourage you to engage your children in what I think is truly great way to introduce them to art, a program that might even seem to be an incidental or accidental art awareness program, but a program that is working quite well! I would suggest that you call (925) 727-3137 to book your own child’s birthday party or visit Fariba’s website at www.colorbundle.com to more fully understand what happens in this fun-filled atmosphere.

Carve Your Heart Out

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In my pursuit of the important aspects of art in our lives, I often seek less common roads to find stories and subject matter that offers a new perspective on an art form that may not be discussed or explored very often. In my June article about Rick Holcomb, the former Danville resident who, through a relatively kindly twist of fate, was fortunate to have joined forces with Cathy Riggs in her delightful “I’ve Been Framed” frame shop in Martinez. Subsequently, Rick has become a picture framing craftsman who demonstrates a unique vision in framing customers’ art. While in the shop, I was inadvertently introduced to Jim Marieiro, a master wood carver, who just happened to be conducting a wood carving class in the back room of the frame shop on that particular day.

I had never really thought of wood carving as an art form previously, nor had I ever been to an exhibit of this type of art. Rick introduced me to this gentleman as “both a state and national champion wood carver for many years.” I was surprised to see such exquisite examples in that classroom of birds and fish carvings, I was taken aback.

I recently followed up on my previously piqued interest and requested an interview with Jim Marieiro. When we spoke, he told me that he did his first wood carvings primarily of decoys that he could use in his hunting adventures when he was between 15 to 16 years of age. He continued carving and also got into taxidermy. Before long, he became so good at this art that friends began asking him to do their taxidermy and eventually he became the founder of the California Association of Taxidermists. Taxidermists, especially some of the best in the world, also compete in state, national, and world competitions, and at state shows, and the top taxidermists in the world conduct seminars as well. Originally, the California State association show and meeting was held annually in Redding California.

Jim retired from taxidermy 12 years ago as his love of wood carving had grown into such a fine art that he was in great demand as a teacher of wood carving and was capable of generating considerable income from it as well. Jim said, “Some of the miniatures go from $250 each to upwards of $5,000 for the larger items, such as one Eagle I sold.” One of his duck carvings replicating a Hooded Merganser (which is found locally in the Walnut and Pacheco creeks) has become a truly beautiful specimen of his work.

He dutifully studies each of the fish, ducks, birds and other animals that he carves so that he can be completely accurate in his presentation of these subjects. He can even tell you that the Hooded Merganser only eats fish and/or crawdads.

Jim explained that a simple carving takes about two to three weeks to complete. Of course, he is very experienced and works at a professional level. “And that’s not steady, continuous working; sometimes (it’s) only two or three days a week,” he says.

The Pacific Flyway Decoy Association is the big show in the Western United States, held annually in Sacramento, every July. “Unfortunately,” says Mr. Marieiro, “the PFD Association doesn’t advertise like it used to.” He used to find used posters on just about every telephone pole in Martinez informing the public about the upcoming gathering, but today their marketing has primarily shifted to the Internet.

The Association’s convention is still attended by thousands of people, but is nowhere near the “shoulder to shoulder” crowds that they used to have. It is still a terrific show but not as many people are made aware of it. Each year the show brings competitors all the way from New York, Texas, and Idaho. In addition, the show includes seminars and thousands of exhibits during the three-day event.

There is another group called the Capital Woodcarvers in Sacramento that meets in May of each year, and this group carves everything you could imagine—from fancy rocking chairs to gourds, and from human figures to antique-style artifacts.

Locally, Jim says his students range from beginners and intermediate woodcarvers, up to some of the finest experts in the country. This community of artists has become an extended family; a wonderful group helping each other to learn this art. He says that the kind of competitions that his class, the California’s Contra Costa County Critter Club, like to do, is primarily to carve fish and birds. “We have a lot of kids in our club, especially on our Thursday night classes, and some of these kids range from real youngsters to older kids, clearly into their twenties,” he said. “I do this because I love to teach kids this art and I want to get this art more out there, and these kids especially love carving these birds and fish,” he added.

While there is a ten dollar per class fee for each student to pay for the use of the studio space, Marieiro provides this instruction to all without any remuneration going to himself, and he has even worked out a deal with the frame shop owner, Cathy Riggs, so that all students 18 years of age or under are absolutely free!

When I attended one of the Thursday evening classes, I met adult student, Alex Kobylik, who originally investigated the class to find an educational art program that his two boys, Jonas and Alan could enjoy after the Martinez “Art Euphoria” program came to an end. The instructor of that program referred the Kobylik family to Jim Marieiro’s Thursday night program. Alex says that his boys fell in love with the program, not only because they love the projects that they were working on but primarily because instructor Marieiro became like a second grandfather to them.

This family had emigrated from Europe and all their extended family was still there. Alex says that Mr. Marieiro treated them like family and demonstrated such great love of this art that the boys took it to heart. The proof may lie in the fact that within two to three years both boys have become national award winners. It is also noteworthy that when Alex brought his children to become involved in this art class, he had no intention to become a student himself, but he discovered that he really enjoyed it while working with his boys in this activity. Further he says, “it has brought his entire family even closer together.”

I also attended one of the Wednesday afternoon classes where I met Mr. EB Mussa, who in the span of three years, has become a national champion and award winner. He discovered this class quite accidentally while he was on his way to have lunch at a restaurant across the street from the frame shop. He noticed some beautiful carved fish and birds in the window and went inside to inquire as to who created them. He was invited by shop owner Cathy Riggs to come back and attend one of the workshops for free just to get acquainted. Now after three years, he’s knee-deep in artwork.  

Ngam Worley attended a December Wednesday afternoon class and quickly decided that she too will be joining the 2019 class.  Even Jim Marieiro’s grandson, Dominic Pruett, has been a national champion three years in a row and I photographed one of his exquisite blue ribbon, award-winning fish carvings.

Hopefully, after you see this article and the beauty that can be accomplished through these classes and the love that this art form has generated in these talented carvers, you won’t simply “eat your heart out,” but you will come down to the “I’ve Been Framed” frame shop and art studio at 411 Ferry Street (at the corner of Marina Vista Avenue) in Martinez, and drop in on one of these classes and maybe, eventually, “Carve Your Art Out” too. It’s a great group of people in a very supportive atmosphere.  In addition, this is a great little frame shop.  If you call Cathy Riggs or Rick Holcomb at (925) 228-7353 and ask either of them about these classes, they will gladly explain what they’re about, when they happen, and will invite you to their frame shop to get acquainted. And Jim’s beautiful work is on display and for sale in the shop as well, so you can start your own collection of these exquisite art pieces!

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