In honor of those who served, the Calaveras County Arts Council Gallery Store will be closed today, Monday, June 29, 2017. Please take a moment to remember all those who put their lives on the line for us.

June 11, 2017 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The two most beautiful words in the English language (besides Ice Cream) are Summer Afternoon; those two words are even more beautiful after we’ve all slogged through a long, wet winter. To celebrate the resurgence of all things blooming, the Calaveras County Arts Council will be hosting the 2nd annual Garden Party at Rising Sun Nursery in Burson.
 
Burson, on the northwest side of the county, might be a place you don’t visit much if you’re on the east side of Calaveras, but the CCAC Garden Party gives you an opportunity to enjoy the sight of the summer-gold hills along Highway 12, and then spend the afternoon, wine glass in hand, wandering the aisles of Rising Sun Nursery. With 3 acres of bedding plants, perennials, and roses—all in full summer bloom—as well as fruit trees and shrubbery, Rising Sun breathes the perfect atmosphere for a garden party. Add local Calaveras wines, trays of noshable snacks, and good company, and you’ve got the seeds for a great shindig.
 
Of course, the Arts Council will be adding even more: art and music, natch. Artists will be displaying their work—floral and garden art are the images of the day—and local floral designers will create flower arrangements to complement the art. 

​To help heat the party up, Nevada duo Ten Dollar Pony will perform heart wrenching ballads, raucous blues, and what they call “Outlaw Country music,” all delivered in tight vocal harmonies by singers-songwriters Larry Nair and Liza Beth Oliveto, accompanied by acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, and mandolin.  Dance if you want, or just listen while you schmooze with friends.
 

​Tickets to the Garden Party are $20 per person; space is limited so order early. You can purchase tickets online (see the button above?) or buy calling the CCAC at (209) 754-1774 or at the CCAC gallery in person, or at Rising Sun Nursery.

​There will be an opportunity drawing for art related gifts. The Garden Party is a fundraiser for the CCAC’s Arts in Education Program, which helps provide art classes in local schools, arts scholarships, and matching grants to bring professional artists into the schools for education and fun.
 
And after that long winter, who doesn’t need a little more fun?         

For the 26th year, the Calaveras County Arts Council is presenting Music in the Parks, starting June 14 and ending August 16, every Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. There’s an all new line up of local and not-so-local musicians, and one returning favorite. The popular program, which brings free toe-tapping tunes to the county, is part of the Arts Council’s mission statement to “support, nourish, and awaken the arts in our community.”

Yes, Music in the Parks is free to all comers, but we still must pay the bands. MIP relies entirely on donations from the community, and your generosity helps keep our hills alive with the sound of music. You can donate using the button below; don't forget to write us a note about Music in the Parks when you donate. (We also offer exciting sponsorship opportunities; learn more about how you can become a sponsor at 209/ 754-1775 or arts@goldrush.com.)

This year the council is partnering with community groups to provision concert goers with real-time grub ranging from simple dessert-centered pie and ice cream in Moke Hill— thanks to the Moke Hill Lion’s Club—all the way to a full-on Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner in Mountain Ranch, served up by the Mountain Ranch Community Resource Center. And in August, the Murphys Community Club will be serving brownies with a scoop of ice cream. Future concert feasts and community partnerships will be announced on Facebook, on the website, and by weekly concert emails.
 
The first concert of the summer starts on June 14 in Copperopolis, and then on successive Wednesdays takes place respectively in Brice Station, Angels Camp, Mokelumne Hill, Mountain Ranch, Rail Road Flat, San Andreas, Valley Springs and Murphys.

On June 14, the Lava Cats will shake you awake at the first concert on June 14 in Copperopolis Town Square when the 4-person dance band swings into gear. When you hear their lively mix of 40s and 50s Rock-and-Roll, country swing, and Blues, you’ll want to grab your partner to do a two-step and twirl, or just jitterbug across the square.

On June 21, Western singer and entertainer Juni Fisher brings her award-winning songwriting skills to MIP’s newest venue, the breathtaking Brice Station Vineyards. Juni sings and tells tales about ranch life, horses, love, sorrow and joy with authenticity that can only come from someone born to it in California’s Central Valley. She’s been called “The best thing to happen to Western music.”  Feel free to bring your own food and non alcoholic drinks with you. Beer and wine will be for sale; offsite alcohol is not permitted under the Brice Station alcohol license.

 From El Dorado County, the Random Strangers will tear up the night in Utica Park in Angels Camp on June 28 with Country-soaked rock and roll. They’re a great dance band with covers of faves like “Burning Ring of Fire” and “Lay Down Sally,” so get ready to boogie.

​On July 5, CAMPS restaurant in Angels Camp will host Almost Blue, a trio of musicians who explore popular mid-century American standards like “I’ve got a Crush on You,” and “Blue Skies,” that will make you want to sing along as you dance. If you like Pink Martini, you’re going to like this band.

Swing Gitane will blow into Shutter Tree Park in Mokelumne Hill on July 12 with swing from another era: the Gypsy rhythms of up-tempo Hot Club jazz, swing music, and cowboy jazz. Their website says it all: Peggy Lee meets Django. Plus, the Lion’s Club of Moke Hill will be serving pie and ice cream!

On July 19 you won’t have to pack a picnic lunch (but you can if you want); the Mountain Ranch Youth Alliance will be serving their ever-popular Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner right before Brothers Strong take the stage. Brother’s Strong combines the power of youth and crisp talent; with fiery fiddle, bumpy bass, and chunky guitar, they’ll wail through Bluegrass, Jazz, and Blues-style tunes with tight vocals that straight-up carry across the hills.

Rail Road Flat Elementary School in Rail Road Flat will go global on July 26 with the High Life Band, an authentic and unique world reggae music band from Seattle, Washington. Rhythms from the French Caribbean and West Africa are combined with Jamaican rockers, bif-baf, steppers, one-drop, and dancehall reggae traditions. Bring your best moves! As we will be at a school, substance-free-zone rules apply – no alcohol or smokables on site. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

On August 2, Turner Park in San Andreas will ring with the sound of banjo, dobro, mandolin, and guitar as Hick’ry Switch sings sweetly enough to bring down the moon and stars, set them dancing a happy waltz, and whirl them back into the sky.

Slade Rivers is the quintessential Country band, playing a little Bluegrass, a little Bakersfield twang, a little country swing, and a whole lotta music. They’ll be warming up the night at the Jenny Lind Veterans Memorial District Gazebo in Valley Springs on August 9.

Coyote Hill wraps up the 2017 Music in the Parks series on August 16 with their blend of Jazz, folk, blues, bluegrass and Brazilian beats. Bring your dancing shoes and howl at the moon or you can just sit back and enjoy the ride at the Murphys Community Park. In addition to brownies and ice cream, the community club will be selling Margaritas, beer, wine and soda.
 
We’re all eager for summer this year, and long, warm afternoons for stretching out and relaxing with friends and neighbors. So pack up your picnic, dust off lawn chairs and beach blankets, and come out for some music and schmoozing and old-fashioned neighborliness at Music in the Parks.

Photo by Gordon Long

We had a great morning but all our artists and models have gone home. So we are closing early. Stay tuned for more images and information from our project.

Winifred Wilson shared the painting she made from our April Veterans Vignette for our ❤️Art Beats for Veterans project. It's a sweet piece, and it's been living at my desk since she brought it in. I love glancing up and seeing it.

This Sunday we will be creating scenes from World War II, with live models in costumes. Plus, we'll have collectibles from that time period to inspire your art. All artists, photographers, writers, and musicians are invited to attend and create a piece the examines homecoming for Veterans. 

Veterans and their families are especially invited to attend, create art, and share their stories.

While a RSVP of your interest would be appreciated, it is not required. There is no charge to participate although tipping the models is appreciated. You may come any time after 10:00 and stay as long as you want until 4 p.m. 
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