Artists from Calaveras County explore the beauty of the Northern California Motherlode

ARTSPIRIT
​A show by and for Calaveras teens
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Awards reception on April 4 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
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The Calaveras County Arts Council Gallery is open Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
22 North Main Street, San Andreas
209/754-1774

​ After a two-month hiatus for cleaning and painting, the Calaveras County Arts Council Gallery in San Andreas is once again filled with artwork. The popular show ArtSpirit is on view during the month of March. Executive Director Kathy Mazzaferro couldn’t be happier.
 
“Having artwork back in the gallery is like having the kids come home for the holidays,” she said. That’s a particularly poignant observation, since ArtSpirit is dedicated to the work of Calaveras County teens.

The show spotlights more than 100 artworks from the students of three Calaveras County high schools—Bret Harte, Calaveras, and Sierra Hills Education Center—and includes paintings, drawings, collage and ceramics.
 
While some of the works are serious artistic explorations—for example, Elias Harrison’s single flower gazes longingly at it’s reflection in a darkened window—other works are sheer explosions of joy—Calaveras High School ceramics collection features hilarious pieces like “monster” sculptures, a winsome frog on a box, and a smiling winged “snitch.”

Much of the work is done by students in their classrooms. According to Mazzaferro, “ArtSpirit is back because of the teachers. The show happened because the teachers took the time to bring it all over.” Mark Waelty of Bret Harte, Devon York of Calaveras High, and Lynn Lynn of Sierra Hills Education hung the show.
 
“The kids made the art and the teachers made the show.”
 
Arts in Education is one of the Arts Council’s signature programs. At their behest, March has officially been designated Arts in Education month by the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors.
 
"Calaveras County is so fortunate to have the support of our Board of Supervisors,” Mazzaferro said. “They understand the importance of all of the arts, be it music, dance, art, theater, etc. in the quality of life and the economic advantages the arts provide for Calaveras County. The Board's Resolution acknowledges the importance of arts education as part of the foundation for our future.

ArtSpirit will be on display through April 4, when it ends with a reception from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., and an awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m. You can view select pieces from the show at www.calaverasarts.org.
 
“I love all our art shows, but this is my favorite show of the year,” Mazzaferro said. “It’s alive, vibrant. There’s a fresh energy. There’s a newness. The kids are consumed with the joy of making it, and they’re excited to see their art in a real gallery.”
 
Mazzaferro encouraged everyone to visit the gallery and enjoy the show. "I cannot stress enough how much community support of the arts means to our kids. Please take the time to come to the Gallery and celebrate their accomplishments. Vote for your "People's Choice Award".
 
“These students will be our legacy, the ones who tell our stories in years to come."
 
And oh, what stories they already tell.

It seems like we need winter cheer more this year than ever before. The Calaveras County Arts Council aims to deliver that cheer on the sparkle of harps and bouzoukis and a warm draught of fiddle music with their first winter concert and fundraiser in nearly two years.
 
On Sunday December 5, at the Alhambra Music Room at Ironstone Vineyards in Murphys, the Arts Council will present “Christmas in a Celtic Land,” a concert by the Celtic trio Golden Bough. The concert celebrates all things British Isles, with rare holiday music from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall, as well as traditional music from other Celtic nations like French Brittany and Spanish Galicia, and compositions by members of Golden Bough.
 
Golden Bough, venerable and respected musicians in Celtic music circles and beyond, has been providing an opportunity for loved ones to join together in song and celebration with their concert program for over 40 years. Margie Butler, Paul Espinoza and Kathy Sierra capture the essence and joy of traditional music on a wide variety acoustic instruments, including; Celtic harp, penny whistle, guitar, accordion, violin, viola, mandolin, and bodhran (a hand held drum, particular to the Celtic culture). The whole family will enjoy lively instrumental pieces, haunting ballads and humorous sing-alongs as the band creates an atmosphere in which the listener is transported to another place and time.
 
The intimacy of the Alhambra Music Room amid the glow and shine of holiday decorations make Ironstone Vineyards the perfect setting for Golden Bough’s rare carols and songs of celebration for the Winter Solstice and the New Year. Due to Covid restrictions, the Bret Harte Theater was not available for concerts this year, but as board member Ruth Morrow said, “it’s good to shake things up. And Ironstone at the holidays is really something special.”
 
Executive Director Kathy Mazzaferro agreed. “We’re grateful that Ironstone is welcoming us. As much as we will miss the high school theater, Ironstone is such a beautiful facility. What better place to welcome the holidays?”
 
The concert is also a fundraiser to support the Arts Council’s music programs Music in the Parks and Ovations. In a pre-concert gathering, you can increase your merriment with  champagne and hors d’oeuvres served by Ironstone. “We hope that you will join us for this fundraising event in support of our music programs,” Mazzaferro said.
 
After such a long hiatus, Mazzaferro is overjoyed to once again be bringing music to Calaveras County. “I want joy and sparkle to return to Calaveras County,” she said. “A chance for us to be together.”
 
“It reminds me of the song, When the Lights Go On Again (All over the World). There’s no better time for the lights to go on in Calaveras County.”
 
Tickets: $50 adults. Available online at www.calaverasarts.org, or call 209/754-1774 Monday through Thursday. Proof of Covid vaccination required for entry. “We take the health and safety of the citizens of Calaveras County seriously,” affirmed Mazzaferro. “We stand with other performing arts centers across the country in our joint efforts to crush this scourge. We will be following all current health department rules to keep everyone at the concert safe. Please respect the health of others.”

After a year of online gallery shows, the Calaveras County Arts Council is pleased to present Artists In-Person Studio Tours.
 
This popular event is traditionally held on the third weekend of September (September 18-19, 2021). Artists Studio Tour is an opportunity to tour Calaveras County and meet artists who create artwork that ranges from paintings and sculpture to handcrafted soap and hand-stamped jewelry.
 
Visitors create their own self-guided tour using a printed or downloadable brochure with maps of each artist location. This year 28 artists will be exhibiting at 19 sites. “Seeing artists’ studios in person, getting a glimpse of their processes and work, is an experience that just can’t be duplicated online,” said Kathy Mazzaferro, executive director.

>>Browse the artists

​Calaveras Poetry Out Loud 2021 Winners
 
Poetry transcended pandemic when Calaveras high school students competed online in the annual Poetry Out Loud recitation competition. CHS student Sydney Button won first place with his stunning version of All This & More by Mary Karr and Israfel by Edgar Allen Poe. Coming in second was Rayne Cutchall. Ana Hernandez took third place. 
 
Poetry Out Loud, presented by the Calaveras County Arts Council in partnership with the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance at a series of events leading up to a national competition. 
 
“This was our third year sponsoring the Calaveras Poetry Out Loud competition,” said Kathy Mazzaferro, executive director of the Arts Council. It was a difficult year. “Because of Covid and its impact on school site time, coaching was at a minimum. We couldn't hold our on-site pizza lunches. Ultimately, we held the competition on Zoom.” 
 
Students and judges participated from home, a chancey proposition “because of WiFi drop spots throughout the county with internet connections that can fade in and out,” said Mazzaferro. But despite faulty internet , the students  performed beautifully. “I am always impressed with the work the students take on in memorizing a minimum of two poems each,” she said. “This was our champion's second attempt to win the title.”
 
Ingrid Hjelmervik took the lead for the third year serving as Poetry Out Loud coordinator. “She does an outstanding job,” said Mazzaferro, who wants to also thank judges Noel Helmbrecht, Lisa McInturf, Catherine Sargeant, and Linda Toren for their careful attention to each student. 
 
Mazzaferro is proud of the students and the hard work they do for this competition. “We congratulate all the participants on a job well done.”
 
Students interested in competing in Poetry Out Loud next year can contact Kathy at (209) 754-1774 or goldrusharts18@gmail.com.

SUPPORT THE ARTS IN CALAVERAS COUNTY
How do your contributions to the Calaveras County Arts Council keepthe arts blooming in Calaveras County?

• You support signature events like Music in the Parks and the Ovationswinter concert series.
• You beautify our towns with public art
• You give local artists a place to exhibit their work
• You support an arts economy that benefits the community
• You strengthen arts education for Calaveras public school students.

 Without you, the Arts Council could not do all that it does.
​We appreciate your generosity.

Calaveras County Arts Council's mission is to build a unitedcommunity by awakening, supporting, and nourishing the arts.

We rely on people like you, who believe that the arts make this world a better place.

Give us a shout to find out how you can help. We need volunteers, helpers, members, and artists!
​
Call us at 209/754-1774 (message) or email at goldrusharts18 @ gmail.com

Part 3 in a series about artists going online
Other parts in this series: 
Putting your art on(line)
Should I show my art on Facebook?
How to Instagram

​Instagram tends to be a happy place, devoted to image scrolling and tending towards the inspirational. You can follow friends, artists you like, cos-players, dress makers, car collectors, gardeners—there are loads of random topics to make you smile.
 
Instagram is built primarily for smartphones. You can see your account on a desktop system, but you can only post to Instagram via your smartphone, unless you pay for a service that posts for you, or use a complicated workaround.

Part 2 in a series about artists going online
Other parts in this series: 
Putting your art on(line)
Should I show my art on Facebook?
How to Instagram

Facebook is the biggest dog in the social media yard. It’s probably the most popular platform right now. While you may have personal reasons for not joining FB, it is currently one of the easiest ways to reach new collectors. A smart social media plan can reach hundreds, if not thousands of pairs of eyeballs. Remember that FB has right around 1 billion users. That’s quite a potential audience.

When I follow a business page, FB (mostly) feeds their posts into my newsfeed, especially if I’ve engaged with them on their pages in the past (this is why engagement with posts is so important). Engagement can be simply saying, nice work! on one of their posts. Or it can be a question for them to answer. Always answer comments on your posts. (You can block people if you get a nasty commenter. Your page is your space.)
 
The upshot: Facebook is still the leading way to advertise your artwork. To effectively advertise and sell your art, you need to create a business page.
 
How to make a business page on Facebook
https://sproutsocial.com/insights/facebook-business-page-guide/

The difference between a personal page and a business page www.outboundengine.com/blog/facebook-business-and-personal-pages-the-differences-dos-and-donts

www.thrivehive.com/why-you-need-a-facebook-business-page/

​Facebook marketing strategies
https://blog.hootsuite.com/facebook-marketing-tips

Part 1 in a series about artists going online
Putting your art on(line)
Should I show my art on Facebook?
How to Instagram

One of the things we’ve learned during the current crisis is the importance of taking your business to the internet. In March, as the shut-down began, businesses that made a nimble pivot to online were able to mitigate the damage caused by the shut-down. Even as we tentatively open businesses, customers who are leery of shopping as they did before COVID-19 spend more time (and more money) online.
 
The business of art is a business just like any other. Artists need an audience of collectors and a great way to reach those collectors is online—in fact, until we are able to safely open the country, online might be the only way you can reach collectors. And online takes your art show, which was probably local, and gives you the opportunity to make it national, if not international.