Dear Friends,

We are dedicating our energy towards making a Petaluma Art Center a reality. Beginning groundwork is taking place and we want to include you in this stage. We need your input and energy. Please come and join us on June 3rd. to be a part of this. It will be an important day. We value your time commitment and interest.

This workshop will be lead by organizational development leader, John Kinsella. Using a process known as Appreciative Inquiry, he will help us focus on the best of what we are and what we want to carry into the future. We will develop a strategic plan to further develop our long term goals which include the creation of the new Petaluma Art Center and education programs.

John has worked with many organizations, community groups, and businesses with much success. We are fortunate that John has agreed to donate his time to support and effectively grow the Arts Council. This should be an inspiring day and your participation is very much welcomed and appreciated

Saturday June 3rd, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
RSVP Required: 766-5200 or kpetersen@santarosa.edu
We will send address and driving instructions to those wishing to attend.
Please bring a brown bag lunch.

Dear Artists and Art Lovers everywhere!

Please join us for the third and final Art & Conversation #3: What's Next? Preparing for a Career as an Artist which takes place this week on Tuesday, May 16, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. on the SSU campus. Guest panelists include Ray Beldner, artist and Assistant Professor at St. Mary's College; Catharine Clark, owner, Catharine Clark Gallery, San Francisco, and Bob Nugent, artist, Santa Rosa. Our moderator for the evening is Stephen Galloway, artist, Assistant Professor of Art, and Chair, Department of Art & Art History at SSU.

Working together in partnership, the University Art Gallery at Sonoma State University and Community Foundation of Sonoma County, have organized a 3-part lecture series which began in April. Art & Conversation features a star studded list of arts professionals who are talking about the business of art--making it, selling it, collecting it, showing it, what to do after graduation, etc.

If you have attended either of the two standing room only Art & Conversation panel discussions at SSU, you already know what a fabulous program we've put together to strengthen the visual arts community in Sonoma County. If you missed these exciting events, fear not---you are invited to the final discussion of the series on Tuesday, May 16.

Q&A will follow each discussion, and light refreshments will be served. All events are FREE and open to the public; however, you'll need 10 quarters to purchase a guest parking permit (guest parking is not permitted in Lot A--please plan to park in Lot G, east of The Commons).

See http://www.sonoma.edu/university/maps/pdf/ssucampus.pdf for a map of the SSU campus. Please make the attached flyer available to your students, friends, and/or colleagues who may not have received this e-mail.

Please do not hesitate to write or call me with questions at (707) 664-2295. I look forward to seeing you this Tuesday at SSU!

Sincerely,
Carla Stone

Carla Stone
Exhibition Coordinator
University Art Gallery, Sonoma State University
p: (707) 664-2295

Yes, Art and Jazz on the River is back!!!
Come Join the Fun
beginning Friday, June 2, 2006
At 2nd and B Streets
Sponsored by the Apple Box, the Peter Welker Quintet, the Petaluma Arts Council, the Petaluma Arts Association and Basin Street Properties

Peter Welker and his fellow musicians will be playing on the Apple Box Deck 6-8PM.

Local artists will be displaying their latest creations starting at 4:30 between the Apple Box deck and Graffiti Restaurant patio, and between Basin Street Properties and the river.

If you would like to participate as an artist, email kjspratt@comcast.net for all of the details.

Summer is HERE!!

San Antonio is a tantalizing mix between Disneyland, the tropical Riviera, Nashville & Restaurant Row...

I was consumed by the atmosphere as I strolled along the river walk with beer in hand. The casual nature even caused the ducks to throw order to the wind. I had over heard a cop tell a passerby that he could trail a cooler with beer & picnic if he wanted-. Even the stench of cigar & cigarette smoke seemed worthy of my attention. Weird!

There is a stream of constant humanity along the path, atop the water & entrenched in the outdoor café style restaurants, enjoying the summer temperatures. I sat a long while & watched the river tour boats make the tight left turn under one of the bridges. They slowed as they approached the underpass, beginning to put the rudder to port. Just under the bridge they put the port engine back to create a twist in the water to ensure safe passage. Each took the same steps to make the turn- some more smoothly than others as they carried on their oratory describing the age of the restaurant ahead or of the bridge above. Unable to get myself to head back to the hotel on this moon drenched eve, I found myself settling in at the same bar I had enjoyed the night before. Familiarity seemed to dominate my drive. Women passed in their pointed summer sandals as the men shuffled next to them in their flip flops in a hypnotizing cadence. The air was heavy with the anticipation of summer.

I found myself lingering in unusual fashion over the french fries before me, breaking the gulping trend that typically dominates my eating habits.

After studying the passers by, I noticed a table full of the USO people who were attending the conference at which I presented. I struck up conversation with genuine admiration for the service they provide for our troops. It was a good night.

San Antonio has a romantic feel to it. I look forward to returning to San Antonio with Donna. For now, I look forward to returning to Petaluma, CA, my home & favorite place in the world.

w/smile, Linda

It was a treat for me to get to spend several days in Albuquerque with family & friends prior to & after my Taos experience. Family is truly an important part of my life. I'm lucky to have healthy parents, siblings with a boat load of nieces & nephews. I finally beat my nephew at Mario baseball. I would do it all again (get beaten at least a dozen times by at least 5 runs) to enjoy the time & get to know Isaiah & his sister Nikki a bit better. These are Gene's (my twin) brother's kids. After this school year, they are packing up to join Lousie (Gene's wife) in Cincinnati. We'll have to find a marathon for Donna to run so we can go visit.

Speaking of running, at Nikki's track meet yesterday, the wind whipped up so much dust that the mountain disappeared. When I can download pictures, I'll post them to show it. It got so cold with the wind & lack of sun (from the dust) that they postponed the awards ceremony! I keep wondering the best way to paint this scene. Just amazing!

On the art front, here in San Antonio, my last stop this trip, I got a taste of the river walk. It's very picturesque with all kinds of art hanging in lobbies & along the restaurant walls. It's a fun city once you get past the 98% humidity with 80 degree temps. I plan to get my walk a bit later in the day when it cools off. Tomorrow is my conference for the USO (see www.uso.org/mailcall). I'm back in Petaluma on Friday. I appreciate the interest as I've travelled. We'll get back to Petaluma Art next week.

Buckeye Sculpture Park, a new sculpture garden
Located at Buckeye Nursery, 2425 Old Adobe Road, Petaluma.

Grand Opening
Sunday, May 7th, 2:00-5:00 p.m.

Buckeye Sculpture Park is an invitational project that will showcase fine art sculpture by highly distinguished artists. The art, usually viewed in museums or private collections, will be sited outdoors in the landscape and open to the public to view.

The Sculpture Park is the project of Gwenda Joyce, of Art and Landscape, an art consultant who is also the project manager and sales manager. The sculpture will be available for sale at the nursery complex, which also sells California Native plants, ornamental trees and shrubs, and large screening plants.

Many different styles of sculpture are presented, including contemporary, classical, Japanese, figurative, abstract, and art with references to nature. The outdoor sculptures are made from a variety of materials that withstand the elements such as steel, bronze, limestone, basalt and terrazzo. The Sculpture Park presents a unique opportunity to view art placed in the landscape, especially when presented by a landscaping venture. In this context, both
homeowners and design professionals are encouraged to bring fine art into their lives and create their own unique, beautiful, water-wise and sustainable gardens.

The first exhibit is titled, "Shifting Into Balance," in reference to finding balance in art and in nature. Exhibiting artists are local, such as Penny Michel's large female figurative works and Nuala Creed's adored "fledglings". Tom Collins will also present one of his "Rain Catchers." Another one of the esteemed artists is Bruce Beasley, whose one-person show of his sculptures at the Oakland Art Museum last year celebrated a lifelong career of making monumental bronze sculpture.

For more information, Please contact Gwenda Joyce, 707-236-0111
artandland@direcway.com or Buckeye Nursery 707-559-7081 <<Buckeye Art flier 5-06.doc>> <<ATT1024730.htm>>