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ArtWalk: a great bash
T he 2008 edition of ArtWalk was a rousing success. Everything cooperated. The weather couldn’t have been better, the crowds large and enthusiastic, the art was extraordinary. Top all that off with plenty of good food and good music and the two-day event had to go down as one of the best. For instance, the Alpine Public Library is nearly $13,000 closer to completion, thanks to the generosity of local arts, galleries, business owners and art lovers from all over the state who gave to the silent auction. The estimated 175 donations offered something for every taste and every pocketbook. The art included everything from an oil by Mike Capton, the 2009 Trappings of Texas featured artist to a print by ArtWalk featured artist Tom Curry, to Christmas cards featuring original art. The art was all part of a silent auction held Friday and Saturday in the just-renovated Granada Theater. Karen Travland, the Granada’s new owner, donated the use of the building to the library for four days for the silent auction. Large crowds streamed through the building to (a) look and bid and (b) take in the newly renovated Granada. The Granada provided the perfect venue - a large, sparkling, friendly space that seemed to impress everyone who wandered through. The sign is a hit By the way, the Granada’s newly functional sign - which contains more that 300 bulbs of some form or another - was the beacon for all activities Friday and Saturday nights. Travland’s vision is of a venue like nothing Alpine has had before. Friday and Saturday, her vision was realized. That Ivey dude is weird We were talking to Bill Ivey at Ivey’s Emporium on Saturday night. Ivey was wearing a very cool, very colorful shirt, one that he said had its roots in Indian culture. Ivey also said that when he put the shirt on Saturday evening, his youngest son looked at him and said, “Dad, you look weird.” Ah, the honesty of kids. Ahem, sorry, Bill. You really looked great in that shirt. Love the music Mark Pollack did a great job of pulling together the musical entertainment. Headliners Matt Skinner and the Derailers delivered just like we all knew they would. And Terra Peters and the Doodlin’ Hogwallops continue to impress. Perfect snapshot of mellow A stroll down Alpine’s main streets during ArtWalk is the perfect snapshot of the wonderfully diverse piece of the human condition that’s attracted to Alpine. We had the cowboys, the old hippies, the new hippies, the vaqueros, the short-haired artists, the long-haired artists and short-haired dudes and dudettes. And the mood was upbeat mellow. Yep, there really is such a thing and we found it Saturday night about 7:45 p.m. Cristina’s dad Lionel Lionel Sosa of San Antonio, whose daughter and son-in-law, Cristina Sosa Noriega and Victor Noriega, own the new Murphy St. Raspa Co., was in town for Gallery Night/ArtWalk. He and John Dyer were at the raspa shop signing copies of their hardcover book, “El Vaquero Real: The Original American Cowboy” which was published a year ago by Bright Sky Press. Gallery Night visitors from last year may recall seeing a couple of Cristina’s brilliantly-colored vaquero paintings in the Avalanche windows. Lionel, who wears many hats (he’s a political consultant, marketing whiz, portrait painter, author and public speaker), and Dyer set out in 2006 to tell the vaquero’s story and started at the legendary King Ranch. Lionel said last weekend that they’re planning to interview and photograph even more vaqueros, then have exhibits/book signings across the Southwest. Cristina, also an accomplished painter, is probably most recognized as the talent behind the “My Loteria” line of dinnerware and merchandise, in addition to the updated version of the traditional Mexican game similar to bingo. Her father proudly noted that Cristina devoted many long hours and days to “My Loteria” and wisely retained the rights to her art. Four chickens are a hit Artist Avram Dumitrescu displayed his paintings and prints of Big Bend critters in the Elms Bookkeeping shop on North 5th Street during ArtWalk. Among the most popular paintings was the one of four chickens appearing to run angrily (or quirkily) toward the artist; people who stopped in front of it consistently smiled or laughed. Avram said his landlord has a flock of chickens, so he’s got a bunch of subjects close at hand. He also had finished his last piece for the exhibition on Thursday, barely in time for ArtWalk. For the next few months, you’re going to hear a lot from Larry Johnson, pastor of the University Baptist Church. Folks who want to help, donate time or money or simply want more information can email University Baptist Pastor Larry Johnson at ubc1707@sbcglobal.net and reference the Food Pantry T ArtWalk: best little intercontinental party in the world A Avalanche staff Homes tour: Holland-Robinson house is one of most imposing Holland-Robinson home at 103 North 11th Street, which is one of five residences on Alpine’s Christmas Historic Tour of Homes, is one of the more imposing of Alpine’s historic homes. |
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