Art Center Ukiah

DeMania Trio Pre European Tour Concert ... April 9

Featuring Alex de Grassi on guitar, Michael Manring on bass, and Chris Garcia on percussion.

This is the first time this trio has appeared in the Ukiah area!

Two innovators of solo instrumental music, acoustic guitarist Alex de Grassi and electric bassist Michael Manring, join forces with percussionist and tabla player Chris Garcia (of the Zappa alum group, The Grandmothers) for a set of arranged and improvised music.

With influences from India to Appalachia to Latin America and the Blues, this trio fuses new sounds together with their original compositions and unlikely arrangements — think the Stones' Paint It Black in 7/8 time, and an improvised take on the traditional folk melody, The Water is Wide. De Grassi's sympitar (sympathetic string guitar) and Manring's liquid and ever-changing fretless sounds combine with tabla, kanjira, mbwata, and a myriad of percussion to produce a distinctly world twist to many of the tracks.

From moments of introspection to pure grooving, the DeMania trio covers a lot of terrain and leaves no stone unturned.

"...a jaw-dropping performance mixing warmth, humor, inventiveness and monster chops ... Each member of the group is a master ... a musician's musician." — San Jose Mercury News

Art Center Ukiah, 203 S State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482
Doors Open at 7:30
Performance from 8:00 to 10:00 pm
Tickets $15.00, or $17.00 at the door
Tickets Available at the Corner Gallery Ukiah and Dig! Music

First Friday featuring Christos Nikopoulos on March 5th

In March, Corner Gallery Ukiah features Christos Nikopoulos with his unique creation of “ARTGRAPHY…the blending of art, lens and technology…”  His dynamic expressions of every day experiences take the viewer to a new perspective of the world. Meet Christos at the First Friday reception on March 5th.

Christos is professionally trained in photographic portraiture, commercial photography and is an expert with enhancement skills. He is also the creator of “Design Art Images,” a boutique art form where he photographs a portrait of you or one of your personal items, and artistically enhances them, creating your personal one-of-a-kind work of art.

Christos resides in nearby Anderson Valley. He was winner of Best of Show at the 2007 Art in the Redwoods Fine Art Exhibit. He also shows his work at the Dolphin Gallery in Gualala, the Burnett Gallery, Gualala Arts Center, Howard Fine Studios in Hollywood, and Third Dimension Gallery at the Mauna Lani Resort, Kohala Coast Hawaii.

At the First Friday reception on March 5th, Chris Gibson with the Broadcasters will provide musical entertainment. Wayne Bauer of Tahto Winery will pour his local Mendocino County wine and the gallery will serve appetizers.

Art Center Ukiah presenting Japanese Traditions - Contemporary Expressions

For the month of February, come see artwork in the Japanese tradition by Satoko Barash, Bonnie Bell, Laura Fogg, Cassie Gibson, Mac Magruder, John Marshall, Anita Sison, and Red Wolf, shown along with traditional Japanese prints, silk screen, and a wedding kimono. Reception for the artists is First Friday, February 5th, from 5 to 8pm.

First Friday featuring Ree Slocum and Bonnie Belt

The Corner Gallery Ukiah is showcasing "Landscapes and Beyond" by inland photographer Ree Slocum, author of "Artists of Inland Mendocino County." Showing with Slocum is clay artist Bonnie Belt, displaying her signature tree, sea, and heron bowls and vases, along with bamboo design mugs and plates. Come talk with Ree and Bonnie!

Ree has recently published a beautiful photographic book profiling inland Mendocino County artists. Most of us are familiar with Ree’s fine art flower photographic studies.  Her talent of working with natural light and f-stops to create landscape images brings us yet another inviting view of the natural world — her rarely shown framed landscapes.

George Husaruk will play flute and Jim Milone of Terra Savia Winery will pour wine. The wildlife that inspires Terra Savia just happens to fit the theme of landscapes and nature of this show. As their website says, "Our integrated farming and limited cultivation provide pleasure and purpose for all involved, but also serve to finance our conservation plan. A portion of our revenues directly supports several wildlife rescue and conservation groups in the communities where we work and play."

At the Crab & Wine Salute, the demonstration of painting on silk was really popular. So this time you'll also get a chance to see potter Adriana Dakin demonstrate how she makes salt and pepper women sculptures.

What's Happening for the Holidays

Our member artists and guest artists have brought in new pieces for the holidays! Our front window this month gives a taste of what's inside by highlighting a piece from each artist.

It's always changing ... come see!

For the holidays, we are open daily, Monday through Sunday, from 11 am to 6 pm.

Friday, December 4th, 5 to 8 pm: Holiday Showcase at First Friday Artwalk, Featuring All Artists

All two dozen artists from the artist cooperative will select pieces to show for this holiday season First Friday. From the Ukiah symphony, we're happy to announce we'll have a "String Quartet and Guest" playing for the evening.

As he did last December, Josh Metz from the Magnanimus Wine Group will pour wine for the occasion. The wines reflect sustainable, organic, and Biodynamic methods and the bucolic aesthetic of Mendocino County.

Santa Workshops in December

As part of the Main Street Program’s “Home for the Holidays,” the Art Center Ukiah Annex will host Santa Workshops on:
December 10th from 3 to 6 pm
December 12th from 1 to 4 pm
December 17th from 3 to 6 pm
December 19th from 1 to 4 pm
 
Kids can have their photos taken with Santa. We will have a holiday tree with artistic decorations. While you’re here, see the gallery and learn about upcoming classes.

Book signings: Member Ree Slocum signing her new book, Artists of Inland Mendocino County, on December 5 in Ukiah and December 20 in Willits. Read more.

News: Member Ann Maglinte was presented an award on October 25 — she is the 2009 Mendocino County Art Champion in the category of Artist! Read more.

Nancy McHone Featured at First Friday, October 2nd

The Corner Gallery is happy to feature the work of Nancy McHone in October, with the opening reception at the First Friday Artwalk on October 2nd, from 5 to 8 pm. At the reception, Simaine Wine will pour and appetizers will be served.

Artist Statement

I am a sculptor who makes armatures from wire, foamcore board, canvas and found wood and then lays a skin of paper and glue over them. While most of my work is wall-hung, this recent series (called Rural Weave) has many free-standing pieces. A basket-like nexus of warp and weft creates an interdependence of parts that are painted with the spirit of wood as textures, branches, leaves and stems interwoven. These artworks are containers of this spirit and an associative memory of my rural lifestyle.

As part of a group of artists I call Mendocino County Ruralists - mostly urban people whose art chronicles their relocation to Northern California in the 1970’s as part of the back-to-the-land movement - I helped support a family and rural homestead through private and public art making, community arts organizing and teaching. For me, art is therapeutic and this intention is the source of its value. An ethical purpose makes it visually engaging and that is why my artwork recalls the multiple strands of my life as a ruralist. My “extroverted” art (masks, figurative and still life) reflects commitment to home and community, and my “introverted” art (non-objective based on natural forms) patterns a personal response to the world of nature that surrounds me. Each piece is a reminder of the moment that created it, but all are linked through their shaped and layered surfaces which parallel the layers of my life. Early experiences with theater design taught me to make forms that were held together with a glue soaked cloth called Celastic. This translated into a personal art medium that has always involved sculpting base shapes and covering them with my version of papier mache – materials devalued in the art world but accessible, cheap and plentiful for me.

My work is real in itself rather than a representation of reality. Outlines re verify the constructed shapes; surface texture and brushstrokes, and value added with glazes of transparent and opaque color all emphasize the 3D of real and invented shadows. I create variety in a more physical, satisfying way by bending forms to an internal feeling for the shape of things rather than what would come from observing the real variety of nature and humans. I am making art to restore health – metaphors for an increasingly unpredictable world as “topographies” exploring asymmetrical balance. These are surfaces on which I can have some impact in a world in which I have trouble trying to do so.

First Friday Featuring Ree Slocum and Katie Gibbs, Sep 4th 5 to 8 pm

This month we feature the work of metal sculptor Katie Gibbs and photographer Ree Slocum. Come talk with them at our reception on September 4th, from 5 to 8 pm, while listening to guitar music by Michael Guleff and tasting wine poured by Mendocino Wine Company.

Katie does metalwork and is currently working on a very large steel garden gate with the design of a Valley Oak. She is also making steel garden sculptures. Her current sculptures are of sylvan creatures who might be hiding in the oaks. She works with steel plate and tube, and cuts the design with a plasma torch, sometimes grinding and welding. Most of her work is done for a specific site, and she enjoys working on commission.

Ree Slocum's photographic flower images have been shown in shows and galleries in Northern California since 2004. Her work is in private collections in many countries around the world. Ree's use of natural light and color tantalize the imagination...one is drawn into the heart of a flower, and the image is continually unfolding, as the flower is frozen in time.

Classical Guitarist Michael Guleff will play at the opening with selections from the baroque and classical period as well as some contemporary work. Michael has a Masters Degree in classical guitar and teaches world music for Mendocino College.

All Mendocino Wine Company wines are inspired by (and essentially connected to) Mendocino County, the place and its people. Paul Dolan along with Tom, Tim, and Tommy Thornhill Jr. have come together to create Mendocino Wine Company, which acquired Parducci Wine Cellars and is developing several new brands and wines consistent with a theme of sustaining what's best, and creating what's next.

Writer's Read Open Mic on July 30

On Thursday, July 30, Writers Read will have an open mic night. Poetry, prose, songs and dramatic readings are welcome. Readings are limited to 6 minutes per person, but there should be time for at least two rounds.

The reading begins at 7PM at the Art Center Ukiah Annex, 203 S. State Street, Ukiah. (The Annex is next to the Corner Gallery at the intersection of Church and State in downtown Ukiah.) Refreshments available. Donation requested. For more info: (707) 463-6989 or (707) 462-4557.

Upcoming Writers Read (monthly last Thursday readings at Art Center Ukiah Annex, 7 pm):

Thursday, August 27: Featured reader Claire Blotter, followed by open mic.
Thursday, September 24: Featured reader Armando Garcia-Davila, followed by
open mic.
Thursday, October 29: Featured reader Chris Olander, followed by open mic.
Thursday, November 19: Featured reader Robin Rule followed by open mic.

For information on these and other Northern California events, check our events page, or www.coloredhorse.com and www.poetryflash.org.

First Friday Ukiah! Artwalk Featured Artists, Brown Chicken Brown Cow Music, and Scharffenberger Champagne May 1st

This Friday, May 1st, from 5 to 8 pm the community is invited to enjoy featured art by potter Adriana Dakin, wood worker Sun Wolf, illustrator and painter Carol Heady, and painter Minnie McQueary. We have a special treat — champagne pouring by Scharffenberger Cellars and live oldtime fiddle music by Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band (you can hear great pieces on their webpage)!

Adriana has created a dinner setting for the occasion — matching handmade plates, mugs, casserole, bowl, and salt woman.