Welcome to the June/July issue of ARTscan! Summer is just around the corner, and what better time to get out and enjoy all the arts and culture Napa Valley has to offer? Outdoor movies, Third Thursdays in downtown Napa, new art classes at Napa Valley college, festivals across the valley- art is "busting out all over" this June and throughout the long summer months. In this third issue of ARTscan, Art and About and Under the Radar will help you plan artistic outings throughout June and July. Learn about the cognitive effects of music education on children in State of the Arts. Discover Sofia Harris' eclectic artistic talents in our Artist Profile, and read new poetry by Sean Gillihan and Michael Mautner in Poetry and Postscripts. ACNV News contains information on Open Studios Tour 2005, as well as our exciting new grassroots Salon series, and as always, you'll find terrific new job postings and classes in our Artist Opportunities. For submission information, for extended event listings and opportunities, and to learn more about ACNV, go to our website at www.artscouncilnapavalley.org. Also, make sure to check your email on Friday, June 10th, to find out about Arts Council's Summer Temptation Raffle! You could win box seats for a major sporting event, a luxury wine tasting with eight of your friends, a private curatorial tour at one of the largest art preserves in Northern California, dinner at a fabulous Napa Valley restaurant, or beautiful glass art made by a local artisan... are you tempted? Find out how to win on June 10th!

It seems that every week, on the local news, there is another story about yet another school closing in California. As schools consolidate, class sizes rise, teachers lose jobs, children have to travel further and further just to get to school, and parents' voices are drowned out by political banter about budget cuts. And those budget cuts have been extreme. Not only is our country in terrible debt; the belt around our soft state belly is cinching tighter and tighter. In contrast to those budget cuts are higher demands for standardized test scoring, which directly affect which schools are chosen for the axe. In times like these, it is no wonder that school art programs have all but dissolved in the public sector. Who has the time and money to put a paintbrush in a little boy's hand, a cello under the fingers of a little girl? Why should teachers spend valuable class time teaching fourth-graders how to read music? Why should high school students learn how to stipple or shade?

I remember wondering, when I was in high school, why I had to learn Pythagoras' Theorem, why I had to memorize the difference between atomic weight and atomic mass, why I had to diagram William Blake's "Tyger, Tyger". As much as some of this work was interesting (the poetry far more so than the geometry) I couldn't figure out how this would serve me later in life. But I never questioned my 8 AM drawing class, nor Music History, and certainly not Choir. These, I knew even then, were the foundation of the rest of my life. I believed myself a born artist, a natural performer, a true writer. I absolutely took for granted that these kinds of classes would always be an option for those of us who were lost or utterly bored in Calculus or Russian History. But only now, fifteen years out of high school and the director of an arts non-profit, do I really know what arts education means. Of course, I also have a much greater appreciation of history, math, and the sciences as part of a rounded education; I even chose to attend a liberal arts college rather than a music conservatory because I knew it would give me a greater depth of experience in the world at-large. But the effect of arts education on young minds is so profound, so pervasive, and so influential that cutting it from our schools will directly affect the future of our communities, our state, and ultimately, our country.

It has been well-documented that the immediate effects of arts education on children involve enhanced social skills, creativity, teamwork, and self-expression. It is also documented that arts ed as part of a curriculum greatly enhances performance in the core disciplines, such as history, language arts, science, and math. But the affects are long-lasting as well. The MIND Institute, at the University of California, Irvine, is dedicated to brain research and to preparing students in grades K-12, regardless of cultural or socio-economic background, for success in school, work and society. Dr. Gordon Shaw, co-founder and Chair of the Institute, declares that "Music will not only help us understand how we think, reason, and create, but will enable us to learn how to bring each child's potential to its highest level." According to MIND Institute research, music education, such as piano keyboard training, can "enhance children's abilities in proportional math, which include such difficult concepts as symmetry, proportions, fractions, and graphs".

Robert Floyd, Executive Director pf the Texas Music Educators Association, seconds this notion via the Texas Music Project website: "Music education helps develop the necessary skills required to be successful in the world of work. For example, thinking creatively and analytically, solving problems, and envisioning are strongly incorporated into a music experience. Music often utilizes complex technologies and builds capacities for teamwork and skills for leadership. Music education contributes to the nation's need for creative, skillful workers and for innovative leaders."

These quotes and statistics are the tip of the iceberg of studies done on the effects of arts education, and also only cover music education. The affects of literary and visual arts education are equally important. Throughout 2005, State of the Arts will periodically continue this vital discussion about our future artists, arts patrons and supporters: our children.

For more information on the Texas Music Project, please visit www.texasmusicproject.com; for more information on the MIND Institute, please visit www.mindinstitute.net.

Vision - Tough - Breaking - Liar - Obsessed - Baby - Evening - Protects - Decide - Cut. Sofia Harrison understands how words bring up feelings, personal associations, and memories. Stringing together seemingly random words, she tells a story out of surreal, poetic and evocative phrases. She collects these pieces of text and rearranges them in her mosaic sculptures to confront, inform, comfort, and entertain viewers.

Although Sofie comes from a creative family, she never considered herself an artist growing up. She studied business administration in school, but was always drawn to creative things. About seven years ago, she discovered mosaics and began working with materials that would become a huge part of her creative life. This self-taught artist began by making mosaic gifts but as time went by and she began to master the technical process, her work became more and more detailed.

Sofie wanted a new challenge to re-invigorate her work. Then she made a random discovery that would alter her work dramatically and become her signature style. She set a wine glass down over an open magazine and loved the way the words looked through the glass. Instead of creating mosaics with opaque glass, she began backing pieces of clear and colored glass with words cut from magazine pages. For her raw materials, she collects glass scraps from stained glass studios in Santa Rosa, Berkeley as well as Gordon Huether's glass studio in Napa. "Their trash is my gold." She also buys whole sheets of glass and collects auto glass scraps and mirrors. When choosing the text, she is drawn not only to the words or phrases themselves but also to the printed stock, choosing paper colors like they are paint. This way she doesn't have to confine herself to the colors of the glass she has, since "there are only so many red glass colors."

Sofie searches for text in many different kinds of magazines. "For anything tragic, Vanity Fair or any news magazines - Time, Newsweek - are great." For more loving and sensuous language, she goes to cooking and home magazines, because "there are more superlatives." The next step in the process is to glue the glass covered words to a backing object. She has used window panes, mannequins, plastic baby dolls, books, and mirror frames, among other things. Thenn she grouts, cleans and seals. Her favorite part of the process is cleaning. "It's like a present, seeing the finished piece coming to the surface." The end product is Durable - Tactile - Stunning - Beautiful - Arresting - Fun.

Sofie has made a living as an artist full time for the past two years out of a large open studio in her backyard. Presently, she is represented by two galleries: G Gallery in Napa and Steel Gallery in San Francisco where her work will be part of the upcoming exhibit, "Summer Reading II", showing June 7-July 30 with a reception on Saturday, June 4 (12-5) [www.steelgalleryinc.com]. Her piece "Man-I-Can" was also recently exhibited as part of the Designer's Showcase in San Francisco but is now back at G Gallery at 815 Main Street, Napa [www.ggallery.net]. Her work is also available at retail shops like Murray & Gibbs in St. Helena as well as by private commission.

[Click here for more examples of Sofia's work]

Maybe it is about sex after all,
this taste for earth, this longing
fruit swelling on the vine,
fall's persimmons
bright as blood,
golden stars and queen anne's lace,
other tiny flowers, pink sparks cooling.

Past is vine and tendril, lace and vein,
white hyacinth and purple owl clover.
Your body like sweet milk.
The roses back stronger this year,
dinner on the table and getting cold.
 
--Sean Gillihan
 

Odysseus Suburbanus
For Kerry on our Fifth Anniversary

Each day he wanders far
From the warmth of your bed,
Always to return, bread
Won in hand like a star
Gripped in a Giant's fist.

     This day enroute to the litter box
     (Each workday's first trial and conquest)
     As he rounds the red van
     A sprinkler mists his vest
     When the garage door opens.

     Hearth & home indeed are best.
     The work-world is cold like that
     Broken sprinkler: the contrast
     Cuts like the claws of their cat,
     Who scratches at his overcoat

     As he gets into his car.
     He closes the door and sits
     On the damaged coattail. The gar-
     ment, a comfort in winter
     And gift of your dear parents

     Will survive. The engine turns
     Over. He backs out, nearly hits
     The pilaster of bricks burned
     In the barbecue accident
     Of last Memorial Day.

     Another near miss: more dents
     Averted and no nicks. The way
     To the office is clear. Some days
     It's more like an obstacle course -
     One's parking space, then, is well earned.

Every day he wanders far
From your sumptuous table,
Returning for supper hoarse
From verbal jousts harsh as what's forced
A rhyme scheme on this fable.

     All day every day - a war
     Of words: motions, pleadings, ar-
     gu-ment - stomach acids churn
     Bitter bile to painful heartburn
     Computing one-third the mid-term

     Of each defendant's sentence.
     In the "adversary system"
     One cannot "sit on the fence."
     Hard decisions have to be made;
     Every hand dealt must be played.

     Even criminals who plead out
     Their cases deserve a lecture:
     Prosecutors ought to note
     Their actions' moral character
     And prompt them to cleanse the motes

     From out their legal "eyes."
     A Janitor of Justice -
     He sweeps its hallowed Halls;
     But, like every modern-day
     American Breadwinner

     The Grail of his lay quest is all
     Contained in one bi-weekly stub:
     Limp in his palm, the paycheck sits
     Like Light in Winter or the sun
     When Apollyon opens up his.

Every day he journeys far
From the warmth of your bed.
He will always return, bread
Won in hand like a star
Grasped in a god's fist.
You can count on it.
 
--Michael Mautner
 

Mark your calendars for Open Studios Artist Tour 2005! OST is a self-guided art discovery tour that covers the entire Napa Valley. Whether you're an avid collector or just curious about art, this is an incredible opportunity to peer into the creative space of Napa Valley painters, sculptors, photographers, ceramists and craftspeople, and to buy local art right from the source. In August, colorful brochures complete with artist descriptions and maps, as well as suggestions for dining, shopping, and staying overnight, will be available all over the Bay Area.

Don't miss the Open Studios Tour Exhibition hosted by St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery from September 12th through October 12th. The exhibition is an excellent place to preview all of the artists' work and mark the tour map for selected studio visits. Meet the OST artists at the kick-off reception on Friday, September 16, from 6 to 8 pm. At the reception, after seeing our artists' incredible work, make sure to visit the "Magnanimous Magnums" silent auction where you will be able to bid on some of the finest magnums of wine the valley has to offer, with all proceeds benefiting ACNV.

Artists living or working in the Napa Valley are eligible to participate in the Tour, creating an excellent opportunity for the public to view a wide representation of technique, approach and media. In the open studios forum, there is no pressure, no competition and no middleman, just you and the artists and the fruits of their imagination. Purchasing art directly from the studio means that you avoid gallery mark-ups and get the satisfaction of making a personal connection with the artist, and hear the stories behind their work. Most importantly, you show support for the thriving arts community in the Napa Valley and make Open Studios possible for years to come.

This summer, keep your ears open and your eyes peeled to find out about Arts Council Salons, happening somewhere near you! Our Salons are events- dinners, parties, barbeques, brunches- that support the Council. But these events will be like nothing you've seen before: keep your ear to the ground to find out how you can witness the unwrapping of a mummy; participate in a Napa Valley version of Burning Man; be bewitched by beguiling chanteuses; and many more. However, we'll make two of them easy to find... can't make it to Vegas for a little fun? Can't make the trip to New York to see opera at the Met? We've got Salons for you!

On Saturday June 4th, the joker's wild at the Vintner's Collective! We'll have a Texas Hold 'em Poker table and a roulette table upstairs, courtesy of Atomic Casino! This event is a little different from our usual parties, because we're asking you, our friends, to help us support a great cause. The Arts Council of Napa Valley has a new mission, new faces, and new energy. They are working to become the fabric of the arts in the Napa Valley, uniting and supporting all of the museums, cultural organizations, arts groups, educators, artists, art students and lovers of the arts and culture, LIKE YOURSELVES. PLEASE HELP US SUPPORT THE ARTS COUNCIL FROM 2-5 PM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH! The fee for food and wine for the event is $25. per person. [Click here] to purchase Entry tickets in advance on our website. We encourage you to enter our Full House Raffle! Raffle tickets are $25, and the proceeds from all raffle tickets go to benefit the Arts Council. If you are unable to attend, you may also purchase Full House Raffle tickets [Click here] and be entered to win. Prizes include paintings by Kim Murphy, tickets to Slurps & Sips, Napa Valley Opera tickets, restaurant gift certificates, and more! SEE YOU THERE!

All the way from the New York Metropolitan Opera, soloist Eduardo Valdes will be in singing in the valley- ONE NIGHT ONLY- at a benefit for the Council. This highly-acclaimed tenor has sung nationally and internationally and is on many recordings with Domingo. Mark your calendars, watch your mail for an invitation, and contact ACNV for more information.

The Mission of the Arts Council of Napa Valley is to support a thriving and diverse creative community by expanding arts education, collaborating with arts organizations, and nurturing the development of artistic talent. ACNV is at the service of all Napa County artists and arts organizations, serving as a touchstone and support network for all the arts. Our primary programs include Arts in Education, the Professional Artist Workshop Series, the annual Open Studios Tour, and the ARTscan E-Newsletter. ACNV welcomes community input and involvement, and encourages communication via phone or email. The ACNV office is located in downtown Napa; office hours vary, so please call ahead.

Volunteer Opportunities: ACNV is always on the lookout for more stellar volunteers. Currently, we are seeking people for the following positions:

Artist Registry Administrator (2-3 hours/week)- work with our Registry Coordinator by following up with artists who submit, calling for missing information, and maintaining the database.

Membership Coordinator (2-3 hours/week)- work with staff to maintain the membership database, update contact information, and assist in membership mailings

Events Volunteers (varies)- we need 2 volunteers per PAWS series for set-up, ticket taking, and break-down of each event. Volunteers would be admitted to PAWS at no charge.

"Mailing Party" Volunteers - periodically, ACNV has a "mailing party" when we stuff, stamp, label and seal over 2000 envelopes.

If you have just a few hours a week to commit to helping us support the arts in our community, we'd certainly love to have you join us! Basic computer knowledge is all that is required for the Registry and Membership positions. If you are available for any of these positions, call or email today!

The oldest commercial stone building in the city of Napa is the landmark Pfeiffer Building, which now houses Vintner's Collective, a multi-winery tasting room that also houses beautiful local art and a gift shop. The sandstone building, now completely renovated, was once home to the Barth Brewery in 1875, and the Stone Saloon and brothel in the 1890's. The building became the Sam Key Laundry during Prohibition, and remained so for over 40 years. In 1976, The Andrews Meat Co. and Deli made its home in the Pfeiffer Building, until the business closed in 1999.