Announcing a new Class!

Bill Dunn has been featured previously featured in our blog.
He now is offering watercolor sessions beginning Tuesday June 25, 2013.
This will be on-going every Tuesday and is open to all.

Chairs for Charity

Calling all artists! Paint a chair for charity!

Alice Picado’s “Strawberries on Main Street” Wins Vista Strawberry Festival Poster Contest

 

 Like the strawberries celebrated at the annual Vista Strawberry Festival, artist Alice Picado is a homegrown Vistan, so it’s fitting that her “Strawberries on Main Street” original artwork entranced poster contest judges. In a blind judging, Picado’s oversized luscious berries being delivered in an old-fashioned pickup truck to the heart of downtown Vista was the unanimous choice. Her first-place image will be featured on posters and other publicity for the 2014 festival. 

Picado’s artwork, for which she was awarded a $250 cash prize, and those of other winners, were displayed at the Art Beat on Main Street Gallery during the May 26, 2013 Strawberry Festival. As an event sponsor, Art Beat coordinated the contest for Festival presenter, Vista Chamber of Commerce.  Judges included Chamber members and local artists.

Karen Weichert’s “Strawberry Baby” won second place. Arthur Williamson’s “Strawberries in the Sky” won third place. Cheryl Hogue’s “Strawberry Shake” received honorable mention. All winning entries will be on display at the Gallery through mid-June.

ArtBeat co-owner Kait Matthews states, ”We were delighted at the creativity and diversity of entries, which were submitted by artists from Vista and throughout the area. Judges felt that Alice captured the true spirit of the Festival and of Vista in a charming, hometown way.”

Picado displays her water color paintings, many of which are Vista scenes, at the Gallery. She gained her inspiration for “Strawberries on Main Street” from her memories of growing up in town. She relates, “I drove out to the Vista strawberry fields and got an image in my mind of a truck bringing the fruit right to people downtown. I am very excited to have won the poster contest and look forward to seeing my artwork come alive on posters next year. With all the new things popping up, Main Street has really turned into a happening place.”

Matthews and ArtBeat co-owner Kris Petersen agree with Picado’s assessment of downtown. They say, “A primary goal in establishing our Gallery in June 2012 was to become a multifaceted cultural beacon that promotes the renaissance of the community and economic rebound of the region. We were happy to partner with the Chamber in the Festival and poster contest, which fit into our Vista Loves Art campaign to support the arts and local artists.”

ArtBeat on Main Street is located at 330 Main Street in downtown Vista. It is open Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 am-6:00 pm; Saturday, 9:30 am-8:00 pm; Sunday, 9:30 am-4:00 pm. For information, visit www.artbeatonmainstreet.com,  www.facebook.com/artbeatonmainstreet or discover Vista’s creative new vibe in person. To learn about gallery partnering opportunities, email info@artbeatonmainstreet.com.                                                                                                                                  

City of Vista's Civic Gallery's WATER Exhibit

(LOVE ME) SAN DIEGO STYLE!

Join Stacy Dyson and  the hottest voices on the San Diego Poetry scene for (LOVE ME)  SAN DIEGO STYLE! Poet Laureate, acapella vocalist, playwright, and co-founder of Page to Stage:Women's Words, Stacy is ready to rock, roll, revel and reveal poetry and love songs to the city that loved her back! May 11th, 7pm, $10 cover. Nunzi's Italian Eats and Gourmet Treats on University. This is a FREE SPEECH JAM, so 17 and up ONLY, please.

Want to see the process that gets our words into the wind? Then come and join us for Page to Stage:Women's Words!!

Led by Stacy Dyson and Jeeni Criscenzo del Rio, these sessions are going to shake your soul,stir your blood, and get your voice ready to rock every corner of the world! (Hey, we're poets. We can do a little hyperbole)!

Lyric 1 (beginning) classes start April 26. Classes include writing, body movement, vocals, stage technique.The graduation show is on June 14th. (That's right, you WILL have the chance to strut your stuff)!

Cost is $20 per session; $105 if you pay all at once. We have scholarships and partial scholarships available. Due to mature subject matter and language, participants must be 17-plus.

To register or to get more information, contact :
www.Page2StageWomensWords.org or jeenicdr@gmail.com.
You can also call 619~358~3461

Acclaimed Artist Robert Freeman Presents Etching Workshop at ArtBeat on Main Street – Current Exhibition Features His Works

Etching by Robert Freeman ©

ArtBeat on Main Street’s featured artist of the month, the acclaimed Robert Freeman, presents a three-day etching workshop at the Gallery located at 330 Main Street in downtown Vista. The three four-hour sessions take place on May 27, 28, and 29.  The $275 cost covers all supplies. Reservations can be made at info@artbeatonmainstreet.com or 760-295-3118.

Freeman works in a array of mediums, including pencil, pen, ink, acrylic, mixed media oils, and wood, stone and bronze sculpture. His public art, much of which reflects his Native American roots, is on display at Cal State San Marcos, Los Angeles County Library and in an iconic bronze State of California Commemorative Seal embedded on the steps of the Capitol building in Sacramento.

Freeman, a master artist and print-maker, demonstrated the age-old technique that was a favorite medium of such artists as Rembrandt, Picasso and Dali, at a reception on April 20^th kicking off his featured exhibition, on view at the Gallery through May 12^th. Enlivening the event was the Native American band Cloud Feather, led by Vista Village Business Association President Mario Carrillo.

Dozens of guests were entranced by Freeman’s etching and print-making demonstration, and by his many evocative works of art; from sepia to vivid color.  Tami Sutter, owner of Grapes Wine Bar & Café, and her husband, Jon, provided tastings of wines that will soon be part of the ArtBeat experience. “I’m looking forward to a great collaboration,” said Sutter, explaining that not only is she partnering with co-owners Kait Matthews and Kris Petersen in this new on-site café scheduled to open soon, but that, as an artist, she also exhibits at the Gallery.

The reception attracted a wide audience, including artist Juanita Ayson of Escondido. “This is my first taste of ArtBeat,” Ayson revealed. While trying on a hand-crafted scarf, she said, “I knew as soon as I walked in that this gallery is not just about one type of art, but the diversity of creativity; and not just about art, but about community. It’s a lovely place to come and spend some time.”

ArtBeat on Main Street is located at 330 Main Street in downtown Vista. It is open Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 am-6:00 pm; Saturday, 9:30 am-8:00 pm; Sunday, 9:30 am-4:00 pm. For information, visit www.artbeatonmainstreet.com,  www.facebook.com/artbeatonmainstreet or discover Vista’s creative new vibe in person. To learn about gallery partnering opportunities, email info@artbeatonmainstreet.com.     

Ashley, Robert Freeman's granddaughter prepping the press for an etching demonstration At ArtBeat on Main Street

 

 

Robert Freeman with gallery co-founder, Kait Matthews

The talented musicians of Cloud Feather, in front of Robert Freeman's artwork

    

                                                                                                                       

Art Exhibition at the San Diego County Vista Library

Fine Artist : Alexsandra Babic MFA - "Alizarin Solo"  45 Paintings Art Exhibition

What: Free Public Fine Art Exhibition. Titled: "Alizarin Solo".

Where: San Diego County Vista Library, 700 Eucalyptus Ave. Vista, CA  , Public contact # 760 643-5100

When: Exhibiting: 2/11/13 thru 4/6/13. Meet the artist Reception: SUNDAY, March 10, 2013  Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm at the Vista library.

Why: To provide No. County San Diego and local Vista residence access, information, and an understanding for storytelling, reflecting, and learning through Art.

Alexsandra Babic accrued her desire for art as she immigrated to the United States in 1959. She could not speak English, art became her primary form of communication and only language here. Art has remained her first love and passion. Growing up in the mid-west, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. and living in California since 1973, she has always been inspired by nature and prefers organic form around her. Alexsandra's work is influenced by realism and impressionism. Her European background prompted her to study classical art, focusing on the figure. She now chooses painting landscapes, still life's, and portraits. Alexsandra prefers to paint with oil or watercolor. Her signature on her paintings is "Sasha" a personal and intimate nick name from her heritage. Sasha states: " With every painting, I hope to evoke an emotional response from the viewer with a particular subject, time of day, atmosphere or space". At the library reception Sunday, 3/10/13 from 1-4pm : Alexsandra will present three thematic statements for this group of 45 paintings, she will discuss, and explain them : Exile, Beyond the Trees, and Cheep-Cheep, with time for viewers questions about her work, education, and professional background. Alexsandra received her BFA in drawing and painting, and her MFA in painting, from Laguna College of Art & Design in Laguna Beach, CA. She now resides in Vista, is a co=op artist and represented by Artbeat on Main Street Gallery, Vista, and on the Board of Directors of the Vista Art Foundation. She welcomes your responses to her work and solo exhibition.