Danville Fall Crafts Festival
October 24 & 25 • 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Downtown Danville
 DANVILLE - This year marks the 18th anniversary of the popular weekend event. Come to beautiful downtown Danville and wander along Hartz Avenue enjoying the work of more than 200 artists from all across the country. From colorful oil paintings to ethereal water colors. Hand crafted jewelry and luscious photography, hand blown glass and whimsical ceramic work. Basket makers and bell makers will also be on hand as will fiber artists, wood workers, leather artists and more. There will be hundreds of examples of creative works available to take home.
"This is always a perfect time to begin thinking of holiday gift giving," says Melony Newman, President and CEO of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce.
"And it is such a family friendly event, with the activities for children and fun for everyone all weekend long," she added. Activities such as the Halloween Costume parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. It kicks off at the corner of Hartz Avenue and School Street. Goodies will be given out by the Hartz Avenue merchants to all of the wizards and witches, spacemen and superheroes that choose to trick-or-treat. There will also be face painting for the little ones and even train rides.
Keeping in the spirit of fall there will be the second annual Glass Pumpkin Patch with more than 1,800 glorious, translucent orbs in all sizes and rich autumnal colors just waiting to be picked and purchased. Stop by and see the magnificent hand blown glass created by two dozen artists and Presented by the San Jose Glass Artist Alliance. The patch will be located on School Street between Railroad and Hartz Avenue. One of the most popular areas last year it is sure to draw a crowd of folks looking for that perfect pumpkin to pluck from the garden and take home.
As always there will be a wide range of music provided for festival goers. Street Corner Concerts with Kaweh, Heartstrings and Jeffrey Michael will create the perfect background music while art lovers wander the Avenue. On Saturday, Next Step Dance and their performers will entertain the crowds with their skillful footwork on Prospect from 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
But this is not an event just to fill the artistic soul. Delicious food will be available to nourish the body and adult beverages, wine and microbrews, will be served up at the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Beverage Garden.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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More than pumpkins in this patch
DANVILLE - For the second year in a row members of the San Jose Glass Artist Alliance will be planting their pumpkins in a glorious patch at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, October 24th & 25th, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. in Downtown Danville. But this year, tucked amid the rows and rows of glorious hand blown glass orbs you will find a garden of glass flowers as well. Posies whose petals never droop or leaves that never wither, all in a rainbow of colors. And unlike many other gardens, here you will be invited to pick. As an added bonus Bay Area artist Lionel Chapital, a member of SJGAA, will be on hand all weekend demonstrating the art of glass blowing. Make sure to set aside time to see how it is done.
"The artists are excited about creating new work for the Danville Patch. Expanding the selection to include botanicals gives them the ability to showcase their amazing skills in creating glass art," says Janett Peace, President of the SJGAA.
There will be two dozen artists participating in the weekend event. They have created 1,800 blown glass pumpkins, some small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and some weighing up to five pounds in a range of colors as wide as the artists' imaginations. Deep reds and burnished golds, fiery oranges and sunset pinks, enhancing their charm as they shimmer in the sun. Each piece is unique and one-of-a-kind. A bounty of beauty just waiting to be picked.
The glass pumpkin patch proceeds help to support programs offered by the SJGAA. Stop by and visit these dedicated artists on School Street between Railroad and Hartz Avenue and see how their garden grows.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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Take time to really listen to the music
DANVILLE- When it comes to musical entertainment at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., October 24 & 25 there is something for everyone at the Street Corner Concerts.
Al Fabrizio and Hugo Wainzinger are the founders of Heartstrings Music. Based in Mountain View they have become widely known all around the Bay Area. Fabrizio, who plays the mandolin and Wainzinger, who is a master on the guitar along with several other instruments, specialize in the sounds of love. Romantic tunes. Although the duo has been recording for years, their first love is performing. If love isn't in the air when they begin, it certainly is when they have finished.
Jeffrey Michael of Hermosa Beach has been in love with the sound of music since he was two years old. Especially if he was the one responsible for the tune. A talented pianist as well as composer he has written scores for films as well as television. In 1996 he created Fireheart Music, an independent music label and has sold thousands of CDs. Jeffrey Michael knew who he was and what he loved early on and that is reflected in his elegant music. He was meant for the piano and the piano was meant for him.
Kaweh is known for their Mediterranean, Flamenco, Latin and Middle Eastern sounds. This San Francisco based group is afraid of nothing when it comes to music. On their album "Espana" you will even hear the sounds of an Australian didgeridoo. They have learned how to combine unexpected elements and create a sound all their own. And rave reviews follow every live performance.
Set aside some time to enjoy the wide variety of music at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Perfect as we transition into fall.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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Filling the blank spaces with color and life
DANVILLE - San Ramon artist Mindy Goldman finds inspiration for her paintings everywhere. Whether she is filling canvases with sensual women in her "Diva" collection, or capturing the essence of soulful jazz or exuberant dancing in one of her spirited "Jammin" creations, Mindy uses her skill with mixed media to turn blank space into something alive and vibrant. Her paintings seem to pulse with color and energy.
"I've been interested in drawing and painting my whole life," says the woman with the brush. "The most rewarding aspect of my work is when people remark that my art makes them happy," says Mindy, who is also very comfortable with a camera. Often she will snap photos of folks on the street, and then turn them into the subject of a painting. Lately she has begun to find the seeds of artistic creativity in words as well as people and has begun painting images based on the emotions evoked by those words. But none of her paintings are complete until the viewer as stood before it and reacted to it. That is the final piece of the puzzle for Mindy. The cherry on the top of the ice cream.
Mindy Goldman will be one of the 200 artists at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., October 24 & 25. It is one of her favorite shows. Stop by. Perhaps you will be the inspiration for her next painting.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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Things aren't always what they seem
DANVILLE - Camarillo artist Larisa Thaney practices magic. Organic magic. Where we may see leaves fallen on the ground after a heavy wind, she sees the makings of a woman's skirt. Rough textured bark may become a cottage roof top. This mixed media artist uses what she discovers in nature to create one-of-a-kind compositions. Using a magnifying glass and tweezers she carefully places dried flowers, moss, leaves, anything that else that catches her eye and constructs a three dimensional world one can't help but want to step into. Her work is full of harmony and warmth.
"This form of art has been around of over hundred years and originated in Europe," Larisa says. "Because of our special drying process, the artwork will keep its beauty for more than fifty years, as long as they are not in direct sunlight or extreme moisture," she explained.
Larisa Thaney will be bringing her whimsical pieces to the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., October 24 & 25 in downtown Danville. Stop by and see just how organic art can be.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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Size does have its benefits
DANVILLE - When it comes to creating large ceramic vessels Bay Area artist Kurt McCracken has an advantage over other potters who enjoy working at the wheel. At 6'4" he manages to wheel-throw one large piece of clay into one-of-a-kind forms impressive not just in their beauty but in their stature as well. Some are more than three feet in height. He has also created ceramic towers measuring up to eight feet tall. But not everything this artist coaxes out of clay is oversized. He also is known for his unique decorative plates and sculptures with glass. A self taught artist Kurt has spent most of his adult life playing with clay.
"I got interested in ceramics, way back, in a high school art class at Miramonte in Moraga, more interesting to me than English or Math," says the ceramist. And as his talent grew he began to explore the ancient Asian art of Raku, which dates back to the 16th century. He has become known for his pieces which are glazed with materials such as straw and leaves and even pine needles which produce unusual colors and a crackle effect on the finished pieces.
Kurt McCracken will be coming to the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 24 & 25. Stop by and meet this talented local artist who literally grew to love his work.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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The photographer saw the light
DANVILLE - It is difficult to imagine a young man becoming bored while photographing formula Ford auto races, but that is what happened to Michael Kirwan. After becoming interested in photography as a teenager he moved into the world of freelance which took him to the races. After noticing that fast moving machines began to feel less than inspirational he did a 180 and started to explore his options. He began working more in black and white, focusing on landscape photography as well as figure, nude and portraiture work in his studio. This much quieter environment is where he found his calling as a photographer.
"I just love the beauty of our world," says the Walnut Creek artist. Now, after more than 20 years behind the camera he still finds great excitement in attempting to capture the split second of perfection using an 8x10 view camera. He is always searching for the light. The magic of Half Dome. The sun slipping down behind a mountain.
"As a photographer I live for the light. The most challenging aspect of my work is creating an image that is unique, not a cliché, and an image I am proud of," explains the gifted photographer.
Michael Kirwan will be making a neighborly visit when he leaves his studio in Walnut Creek to come to the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 24 & 25 in Downtown Danville. Come see what his lens has captured.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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He really digs making jewelry
DANVILLE - It isn't everyone who actually finds the treasure at the end of a rainbow, but jewelry maker Doug Malby did just that. It was on an adventure with his son and brother that he not only found the metaphorical pot of gold, but a new passion to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. They had made a trip to the Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine in Nevada where he found his first stone. That led him to a gentleman who crafted a pendant out of it for Doug's wife. In no time, Doug was hooked on the entire process. He has been mining for treasures ever since and turning opals as well as garnets, sunstones and other gemstones into earrings and pendants using gold and silver to enhance the natural beauty of the various kinds of stones.
"I create designs by hand, but also use computer aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques. In my CAD work I utilize an art program as the initial design tool and translate the image for use in on my CAD/CAM system. I know of no other jewelry artist producing work this way", says the Bay Area designer. Doug Malby will be bringing his hand crafted jewelry to the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. October 24 & 25 in Downtown Danville. Stop by for a visit. He is looking forward to sharing some of the experiences he has been lucky enough to enjoy.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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A bushel of baskets headed this way
DANVILLE - Imagine a picnic basket which is not only filled with fried chicken and thick rich brownies, but memories of picnics past. A beautifully, hand crafted basket which is passed down from generation to generation. These are the kinds of baskets made by Polly Davis and Greg Barber. More than 30 years ago this couple from Charleston, Oregon were boat builders. Greg's father, who had also been a builder of boats had retired but took up the centuries old craft of basket making. He then taught Polly and Greg. Now the couple has been turning out baskets made of Myrtlewood and solid copper for three decades. Not just picnic baskets, but baskets of all kinds.
"We start with the tree and mill the wood ourselves," says Polly. Although the designs are traditional and classic the quality of construction is what makes these baskets so unusual. Each is finished with food grade mineral oil allowing the rich and varied shades of the wood to shine.
"We still use many of the tools used in their original trades of boatbuilding, construction and basket making," says Polly.
"There are good memories from those early days of the basket making and every time I use my father-in-laws hand plane (every basket I make) I am reminded of those times and also of all the years he used the same tool in his boat work," adds the artist. Polly Davis and Greg Barber will be bringing their work to the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 24 & 25. Stop by and visit. Perhaps you'll discover a basket just waiting to be filled with memories.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400.
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From the farm yard to the shipyard
DANVILLE - Bell maker Silvio Modena learned how to weld and work with metal as a boy growing up on a farm. As a young man he went to work in a shipyard and one day while tapping on an oxygen air cylinder and noticing the lilting sound it made the bells went off in his head.
"The seed of a future creative career was born," says the Half Moon Bay artist. Silvio has been turning air cylinders of all sizes into bells ever since. Each one different in its design. Each with its own unique tone. The secret is finding the sweet spot, the artist explains. In crafting these reclaimed spun steel air cylinders into bells Silvio makes use of recycled old farm implements, industrial gears, chains, wrought iron. He then cuts designs into the metal and uses scrap metal for detail work as well as for the hangers. Some bells are freestanding while others are for mounting on a wall, either indoors or out. All are made with environmentally friendly materials. Each has its own personality.
Silvio Modena will be bringing his bells to the Danville Fall Crafts Festival, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. October 24 & 25 in Downtown Danville. Stop by and see if he hasn't got something which rings your chimes.
Come out and enjoy all the beauty of Danville at the Danville Fall Crafts Festival. Admission is free. Complementary shuttle service will be provided by Byron Park and Diablo Lodge both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Park & Ride at 680 and Sycamore Valley Road exit. For those wishing to park closeby, there will unlimited parking in all city-owned parking lots and on all street curbside parking spaces. For more information visit www.mlaproductions.com or call 925-837-4400. |
