Where did that month go?

Wellll.... We did do 2 art shows and we are about to do another on Dec. 10 at the Waldorf School in Santa Barbara.

Queen of Arts at the Elverhoj and Queen of Arts Revisited went really well. It was so good to see everyone again.

We raised a really nice sum for Domestic Violence and had fun too at Queen of Arts Revisited. Thank you everyone who contributed!!

Wg

Day of the Dead Show and Artist Salon

Last night we had a great time at our Artists Salon gathering and Day of the Dead Art Show. The winners are Betty Seaman Colleen Darling and Vicki Andersen. We had 23 pieces of art. I am glad it was a popular vote show. It was really tough to make a choice. Thank you everyone who came and who helped and who participated....I will add more later .....I have to go move the art to Valley Books . Come by and see all the great work on display until Nov 17.

...so what is Day of the Dead?

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos)is a day of remberance. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.

next question: Why sugar skulls?

Sugar Skull Tradition - Sugar art was brought to the New World by Italian missionaries in the 17th century. The first Church mention of sugar art was from Palermo at Easter time when little sugar lambs and angels were made to adorn the side altars in the Catholic Church.

Mexico, abundant in sugar production and too poor to buy fancy imported European church decorations, learned quickly from the friars how to make sugar art for their religious festivals. Clay molded sugar figures of angels, sheep and sugar skulls go back to the Colonial Period 18th century. Sugar skulls represented a departed soul, had the name written on the forehead and was placed on the home ofrenda or gravestone to honor the return of a particular spirit. Sugar skull art reflects the folk art style of big happy smiles, colorful icing and sparkly tin and glittery adornments. Sugar skulls are labor intensive and made in very small batches in the homes of sugar skull makers. These wonderful artisans are disappearing as fabricated and imported candy skulls take their place.

Day of the Dead...call for artists

Lots happening in Oct. at the Art Clinic. On Tues. Oct. 25 the Art Clinic is hosting the Artist's Salon along with the opening of our first Day of the Dead Art Show. The show will be moved to Valley Books the following day and will hang there until Nov. 15th.

The in gathering is Tues. Oct. 18 at the Art Clinic from 11 til 3. All mediums accepted and 2D or 3D. Entry fee $10. Art can be for sale or not. Sales will be through the artist. You may want to reward Valley Books for hosting the show...up to you.

The judging will be by popular vote during the Artist's Salon. One ballot per person. The cash prize amount will be determined after ingathering. Contact us for more info....our contact info and address is in the side bar.

At the Salon we will have a non religious altar, an ofrenda, set up. Guest can bring an offering if they would like. We will have it up until Nov.3. We will have a few fun art projects set up for guests to play with....like a matchbook shrine, paper flower making and more...

So if you are not familiar with Dia de los Muertos here is some info:

Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.

Metal Clay- Private classes

Metal Clay- Private classes

I have had the pleasure of hosting private parties for classes. Below are some pictures of the fantastic creations made. Send me an email- lifsart@verizon.net for more information if you are interested in making some incredible jewelry in 99.9% pure silver. ( Syd and Carol are also hosting private parties for other art possibilities. Email us for more info.)

This is what seven people made in a day class- 2 to 4 pendants each.

(click on photo to get a better look at the silver pieces)

Thank you guys for all the fun!!!

deMeng was in the house

It was a great weekend with lots of great students, lots of laughs and lots of deMeng talent, insight and generosity. I know we are all so glad Michael came to Solvang.

...is this jelly brain purple or serial killer red?

Thanks also to Colleen for providing the eats, Courtney and Hanna for the coffee, Art Sevtap for lending us the use of his new back room at the wine bar for our critiques...that was awesome everyone!