First Friday concert right down your Alley
| Wednesday, Dec 02 2009 04:51 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Dec 02 2009 04:53 PM
First Friday in December
Wine Bar on the roof of Little White Dress, 1800 21st St.
Santa at Ellie Jayes Boutique, 1608 19th St.
Yappy hour: Wine for you, treats for your dog at at Biscuit Boutique, 1617 19th St.
Mariachi at Kuka's Folk Art, 1609 19th St.
Opening of "Abstract Expressions '09"; live Music with Kama Ruby, hors d' ouerves by Enso Japanese Bar, Metro Galleries, 1604 19th St.
First Friday Concert in the Alley -- free live concert featuring Joel Jacobs in Wall Street Alley
Strolling carolers
Free carriage rides
Trunk show with local jewelry designer JJ and refreshments at Tangerine, 1602 20th St.
FLICS screening of "Departures" at the Fox, 2001 H St.
"The Secret Garden" at the Spotlight, 1622 19th St.
"Christmas Show" at Stars, 1931 Chester Ave.
Metro Galleries, 1604 19th St.
Don Martin at Metro Galleries has developed a reputation for bringing together some of the best of Bakersfield's locally grown talents and emerging artists from around California, a tradition he continues with the opening Friday of "Abstract Expression '09."
"I've wanted to do an abstract show for quite some time," Martin said. "These three artists have very different styles and I think they all work well together. My openings have been extraordinarily accepted by not only the arts community, but by Bakersfield as a whole. This show will definitely captivate all audiences."
Johnny Ramos
"Johnny's work is fun and people connect easily with it," Martin said. "The colors, the subject matter and Johnny himself add up to making him approachable and successful as an artist. My attraction to his work built over time, watching him evolve to create these stunning works of art. I think he will continue to grow and mature as an artist. It's going to be great fun to see where he is with his work in another few years."
Ramos said visitors to the gallery can expect some of the work he's come to be known for, but he's throwing his loyal followers a bit of a curve: "I will be showing some new floral paintings at this show because they sell very well but my passion is abstract paintings. My new abstracts have a sinister feel to them; bold, strong, Japanese brush strokes and very emotional feel to them."
Dan Slayton
Originally from Bakersfield, Slayton's job forced a move to Shell Beach, where he took up pottery.
As for the work being showcased Friday, Slayton said it's best described as "Order to Chaos."
"This describe the current changes reflected in my artistic style and approach," he said. "A change from the order, precision and tight control required to produce quality wheel-thrown pottery, to a more relaxed, intuitive and chaotic approach coming out in the sculptural pieces. This change is no doubt driven by my career change from the corporate world of machines, conformity to the "company policy" and external motivation, to what I believe to be the more personal world of art and its embrace of an individual's expressions of their beliefs, emotions and inspirations."
Károon
After careers in styling everything from hair in the fashion industry to food for magazine shoots, Károon started painting in 2002. Her work is vibrant and exudes life.
"For me painting is an expression of emotion, it is a response to the sirens' call, which is sounded in color. While I paint, I listen to music; I crank it up and it is usually sung in a foreign language so I can get outside of myself," she said.
-- Jason Gutierrez, contributing writer
Concert in Wall Street Alley
From the Guthries to the Dylans and beyond -- music history has plenty of traveling minstrel stories that could fill a library. But rarely do you get a chance to discover an evolving local talent whose stories and skills are as captivating as Joel Jacob's.
This Canadian has had an on-and-off musical affair with the streets of Bakersfield over the past four years. But his next journey just make take him to the majors.
"I try to write songs like the artists I look up to -- make them timeless, not part of a fad," said Joel (whose real last name is Dipert).
Joel, 26, works by day as a music teacher at Olive Knolls Christian School in Bakersfield, along with his loving wife, Lidy.
Joel, after winning $25,000 in recording gear in a Guitar Center contest, built his studio in a spare room inside his home. For two years, he wrote, recorded and performed every instrument at all hours of the day and night.
The result is "Makeshift Motive," a 12-track independent wonder of catchy compositions, ranging from soulful roots, reggae, hints of hip-hop and more.
Check out Joel and his new material at the first Wall Street Alley concert Friday.
-- Matt Munoz, editor of Bakotopia.com, a sister publication of The Californian
Surface Gallery, 1703 20th St.
Surface Gallery is currently showing "A Trio of Oakland Potters" with pottery by artists Jason Dunn, Noelle Nakama and Hue Yang. The show runs through Dec. 19. Also on First Friday, Surface welcomes the BHS choir, which will perform carols for patrons from 6:30-7:45 in front of the gallery. Wine and sweet treats will be offered. The gallery offers gift wrapping this season on any items purchased in the current exhibit. In addition, Surface is accepting donations of unwrapped, unused toys to support a charitable endeavor by Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar, which has adopted 10 families in need during this holiday season. The children are between the ages of 18 months and ninth grade. Feel free to bring any donations to First Friday or during the gallery's regular business hours.
