Mendocino Fun » bruce

Land Trusts Seeks Trail Building Volunteers for June 24

bruce — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:46:21 +0000

After seeing what an amazing job the Land Trust did on the new Caspar Uplands Trail (starts /stops) opposite Caspar State Beach, it makes you want to rush down and volunteer to help on another trail in process. I encourage you to do just that. Here’s a news release the Land Trust just issued:

The weather is great and it’s time to get outdoors and explore coastal trails. Or, even better, help the Mendocino Land Trust to make new coastal trails here on the Mendocino coast. Mendocino Land Trust is seeking volunteers to help June 24 with a trail building workdays on a new trail on the coast south of Mendocino. Volunteers will aid in trail finishing work. Tools will be supplied. Friday, June 24 volunteers are needed between 9:00 a.m. to noon Volunteers will meet at 9am at the pullout at the bottom of Comptche-Ukiah Road and then head to the worksite. This is a great opportunity to get outdoors and help build the newest segment of the California Coastal Trail. RSVP is requested. For more information or to RSVP, contact Louisa Morris at 962-0470 or email lmorris@mendocinolandtrust.org. For regular updates on trail construction and volunteer opportunities, “Like” Mendocino Land Trust on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MendocinoLandTrust.

Schedule for July Trail Work

Land Trust Trails Program Manager Louisa Morris has just set our July workdays as well, which are Fridays July 8, 15, and 29 from 9am to noon. All workdays will be between Elk and Little River. Sign installation, trail construction, general trail work, outdoors and fun! Again, folks can contact me or Louisa at lmorris@mendocinolandtrust.org

Go Fly a Kite … Have Some Fun

bruce — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:12:13 +0000

Today at noon is the Habitat for Humanity Annual Kite Festival at Todd Point in Fort Bragg. Kiteflying is a sport loved by kids of all ages and generations. Even if you miss today’s event, enjoy the day and go fly a kite.

Caspar Uplands Trail Newest Mendocino Coast Adventure

bruce — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:58:05 +0000

Nothing more invigorating than a new trail. I have already taken a peek at part of this one-mile trek from Caspar State Beach to Point Cabrillo Drive near the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. Just one more wonderful effort by local preservation groups. Here is a news release issued by the Mendocino Land Trust announcing the official March 13 opening:

The Mendocino Land Trust invites the public to celebrate the Grand Opening of the Caspar Uplands Trail, on Sunday, March 13, 2011 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., at Caspar Beach in Caspar, California. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m., followed by trail tours. This event will be held rain or shine.

The one-mile Caspar Uplands Trail is the newest segment of Mendocino Coast’s California Coastal Trail. The trail starts at Caspar Beach and ends at Point Cabrillo Drive near the northeast corner of the Point Cabrillo Light Station State Reserve. This pedestrian trail winds through the southernmost stand of Sitka Spruce in North America, providing users with beautiful forest and meadow views, as well as an occasional glimpse of the ocean. This trail was built as part of the Land Trust’s Coastal Trail Program.

Funds for trail construction and the Land Trust’s Coastal Trail Program are provided by a grant from the State Coastal Conservancy. Additional State Prop 40 funding through Mendocino County helped complete the trail construction. The Land Trust thanks the State Coastal Conservancy, Mendocino County, California Conservancy Corps, Surfriders, West Coast Landscaping, Caspar R.V. Park and Campground, Kendall Smith, Art and Jean Morley, Tamira Jones, and numerous trail volunteers for their support and collaboration in building the Caspar Uplands Trail.

Notably, the Caspar Uplands Trail is on a 55-acre property that Mendocino Land Trust plans to donate to California State Parks. This conveyance is scheduled to occur in 2011.

39th Annual E. John Robinson Art Auction 1-4 pm Oct. 9

bruce — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:55:28 +0000

Some 60 pieces of art by many of the top artists on the Mendocino Coast will be auctioned from 1pm – 4 pm Saturday, October 9, at the Mendocino Art Center in Mendocino at the 39^th Annual E. John Robinson Art Auction & Raffle. Come meet the artists just before the auction, from 11 am to 1 pm. Organized by the Mendocino Rotary Club, proceeds will fund scholarships for college-bound high school students and grants to local non-profit groups.

Auction art, including photography, sculpture, watercolors, oils and carvings, will be on display 10 am to 5 pm the week before the auction, from October 2 to 8. To preview the art, visit www.MendocinoArtAuction.com.

Winesong Tickets Go on Sale

bruce — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:10:00 +0000

If you haven’t been to Winesong — where you eat great food and drink great wines while wondering around in the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, then get your tickets now. They sell out fast. If you have been, remember this event raises money for the Mendocino Coast Hospital to build facilities and buy equipment.

Mobile Momento Movie Debuts

bruce — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:15:33 +0000

The Skunk Train Railroad in Fort Bragg, California, recently commissioned two artists to turn a old train car into a “mobile momento.” Here’s how the project came about and what the artists have to say.

MAPA Progressive Dinner A Big Success

bruce — Tue, 18 May 2010 04:06:46 +0000

Melinda Ellis Cakes Created the Excellent Desserts for the Progressive Dinner!The evening serving ladies worked hard, but were happy to clean up at the end!Finding money for California State Parks is increasingly difficult and requires some creative thinking. As a result, the Mendocino Area Parks Association, a volunteer organization that supports State Parks on the Mendocino Coast and mans the visitor centers at Mendocino Headlands State Park (The Ford House) and at MacKerricher State Park, held a progressive dinner: Navarro Vineyards champagne and hors d’ouerves at the Ford House in Mendocino Village, then dinner at the Mendocino Hotel with GoldenEye Migration (a great red), right across the street, and finally, dessert and a nice port at the historic Kelley House next door.

About 40 people attended the May 7 event at $75 / person. The atmosphere was upbeat, participants in a good mood and a lot of good conversations going on between the small group. Everyone I spoke to thought it was a great event and can’t wait for next year. The proceeds go to help restoration projects for the Ford House.

2010 “Arts for the Parks” Juried Art Competition Winners Announced

bruce — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:01:32 +0000

Winners of the Mendocino Area Parks Association’s 2010 “Arts for the Parks” juried art competition were announced today. Out of 129 accepted entries, 21 artists were recognized for their work in four contest categories: Drawing, Painting, Photography, and Other. The annual competition focuses on the 17 California State Parks in Mendocino County by showcasing the works of artists who live in Mendocino County, as well as artists who visit these parks from out of the area.

“There were so many great works and such varied talents to appreciate this year — all worthy of high praise,” says MAPA volunteer Marilyn Boese. “This made it very difficult for the judges to make their award selections. All the judges were new to us and they did a great job. Special thanks are due our final judge, Jemima Harr, Executive Director-Curator, Humboldt Arts Council, Morris Graves Museum of Art, who determined the cash award winners.”

View Winning Entries, Bid On Art, Have A Picnic And More At “Arts for the Parks”

Winning entries and other works by local artists — over 100 in all — will be available for silent auction bid or purchase at “Arts for the Parks,” sponsored by the non-profit Mendocino Area Parks Association (MAPA), Saturday, May 1 at Pentecost Hall, 822 Stewart Street, Fort Bragg. There is free entry to the art show and silent auction from 1-4 pm, followed by a $25 per person indoor “Picnic in the Parks” (includes one glass of wine) and live auction 5-8:30 pm. Proceeds support Mendocino County’s17 magnificent state parks. Tickets available at www.MendoParks.org; Harvest Market, Fort Bragg; Out of This World, Mendocino; and Ford House Museum, Mendocino. For more information, call 707-937-4700.

And The Winners Are….

This year there are four Grand Prize winners, each receiving $1,000; four Second Prize winners, each receiving $ 400; four Third Prize winners, each receiving $ 100; and 10 Honorable Mention recipients, each receiving a certificate.

First Place, Grand Prize:

Juriaan Blok, Fort Bragg, Pen & Ink Drawing: “Redwoods in Sunlight”
Eleanor Harvey, Fort Bragg, Oil Pastel Painting: “Here Today…”
Laura Fogg, Ukiah, 3-D Textile: “Navarro Dawn”
Don McCullough, Mendocino, Photography: “Island in the Clouds”

Second Place:

Eleanor Harvey, Fort Bragg, Colored Pencil Drawing: “Mending Fences”

John Loomis, Fort Bragg, Brass Sculpture: “Ling Cod”

Suzi Long, Mendocino, Pastel Painting: “Russian Gulch Reflections”

William Kidd, Mendocino, Photography: “Duck Roost”

Third Place:

Michael Henderson, Gualala, Graphite Drawing: “Solitude”

Susan Goodmundson, Rocklin, Pastel Painting: “A Winter View in MacKerricher SP”

Ron LeValley, Little River, Photography: “Bull Kelp on Beach”

Wendell Rickon, Mendocino, Wooden Chair: “Pygmy Forest Rhododendron Arm Chair”

Honorable mention:

Linda Riedel, Lakeport, Pen & Ink Drawing: “Hendy Woods”

Trish Orchard, Monroeville, PA, Oil On Canvas Painting: “Across The Gulch”

Chris Grassano, San Francisco, Oil On Gessoboard Painting: “Morning at Jughandle”

Ron LeValley, Little River, Photography: “Sanderlings on Ten Mile”

Faye Kala, San Jose, Jewelry: “Sunset”

Ann Maglinte, Willits, Watercolor: “A Foggy Day at Pt. Cabrillo Lighthouse”

Rachel Harris, Martinez, Photography: “Parallel”

Sylvia Bartley, Fort Bragg, Photography: “Sand Lace”

Denice Breaux, Fort Bragg, Photography: “Old Time Point Cabrillo”

Erin Dertner, Fort Bragg, Painting: “Misty Gold and Lavender”

The Judging Process

Entries were judged on the basis of artistic merit, originality of vision, quality of execution and appropriateness to the theme of the contest. Artists were asked to submit park-inspired works reflecting a variety of subject matter, including landscapes and seascapes, close-up subjects, wildlife, historical or Native American themes, and people in park settings.

Entry Categories Entry categories were:

Drawing: Includes pencil, pen & ink, charcoal, etchings, woodcuts/block prints and etchings. Painting: Includes oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic, alkyd, collage and serigraph.

Photography: Includes digital.

Other: Includes any other media – jewelry, textiles, terracotta, sculpture, three-dimensional artwork, felted wool, etc. as long as the subject matter can be identified with a specific State Park in the Mendocino District.

The Judges —

Final Judge: Jemima Harr

Jemima Harr, Eureka, has been the Executive Director-Curator of the Humboldt Arts Council and the Morris Graves Museum of Art since 2004. An Art History and Museum & Gallery Practices graduate of Humboldt State University, Harr has collaborated on and curated over 300 exhibitions throughout California. Prior to returning to the North Coast, Harr worked at the San Francisco Airport Museums, the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara and the Richard L. Nelson Gallery at the University of California, Davis.

Drawing: Chuck Hathaway

Chuck Hathaway came to the Mendocino Coast in 1970 and began Mendocino Graphics, which among other things, has been publishing the Real Estate Magazine for the last 25 years. Hathaway’s first love is drawing dinosaurs. In his continuing effort to retire and spend time between his garden and drawing board he is spending more and more time at home in his studio.

Painting: Robert Rhoades

Mendocino resident Robert Rhoades is an arts educator, artist, and avid supporter of community arts. He is Professor of Art at College of the Redwoods.

Photography: Steve Eberhard

Willits resident Steve Eberhard has been an art lover for many years, and a serious photographer the last eight years.

Other: Owen Edwards

Owen Edwards, a resident of Mendocino, is an artist and master woodworker. He is also the curator of wood arts at Highlight Gallery in Mendocino.

Traveling Art Show May-August, 2010

From May through August 2010, the Traveling Art Show featuring all of the prize winners and other designated artworks will tour selected art galleries throughout Mendocino County.

Raffle For Three Works Of Art To Be Held In Conjunction With “Arts for the Parks”

A raffle for three works of art by local artists is being held in conjunction with this event. To view them, and to buy tickets visit www.MendoParks.org, then click “Arts for the Parks.” Tickets may also be purchased by calling 707-937- 4700, or onsite at “Picnic in the Parks” taking place at the “Arts for the Parks” event May 1.

About MAPA: The 17 state parks in Mendocino County include some of the finest ocean views, redwood groves, beaches, ocean bluffs, lakeshore, trails, and campgrounds in the world. Non-profit MAPA funds natural and cultural history programs in these local state parks. MAPA’s educational mission is to inspire better understanding and appreciation of the plants and animals that also call this land their home, and to encourage protection of our parklands – and our planet. For gifts, endowments, or contributions of stock or other non-cash items, please contact MAPA at 707-937-4700, or mapa@mendoparks.org

Little River Whale Festival – March 12 – 14

bruce — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:17:21 +0000

For 28 years, Mendocino and Fort Bragg has held whale festivals. Now Little River, just south of Mendocino Village, is joining the annual celebration with its own offering …

Food and wine tastings and whale watching will be the featured attractions at the first ever Little River Whale Festival.

Six Little River gourmet chefs pair up with local wineries to bring you a Taste of Little River. From artist studio tours and our history museum grand opening, to docent-led walks and photo workshops, the first annual Little River Whale Festival has something for everyone. Don’t forget to turn in your passport for a chance to win exciting Little River travel prizes.

Fort Bragg’s Whale Festival is the following weekend.

28th Annual Mendocino Whale Festival March 6 & 7

bruce — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:30:58 +0000

Wine, whales, chowder, whale watching cruises and whale walks are just some of the highlights of this year’s Mendocino Whale Festival. But there’s something new this year: the Little River Whale Festival March 11 & 12. Don’t forget the Fort Bragg’s whale festival the following weekend. All the information is at the official website of the festival. There are still plenty of rooms on the coast if you want to come this weekend or anytime this month during the great whale migration.