Listen & Be Heard Weekly Archives

When you’re¬?an artist with your own studio,¬?the pressure to¬?produce work¬?must be daunting. When¬?you are part of a¬?large¬?co-op¬?studio,¬?with so many¬?other¬? talented people¬?around you, that pressure must be almost overwhelming. But from that group there also must be the support¬? and drive¬?that comes with working with them as well.¬? ¬? The work that I saw¬?this last weekend [...]

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The term adaptive reuse, most often used in the preservation of old buildings, has become a growing trend in local arts scenes. Empty storefronts in historic downtowns are being put to use, although temporarily, to show the diverse work of association and guild member artists throughout the country. When the city of Fairfield and the [...]

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Once you find the place, it may appear abandoned…the guy on duty was studying in an adjacent room…when i entered the room i was struck by a site studded by melted recycled plastic…formed …slumped….pinned to walls…kaleidoscopic…visionary…silly….shallow and deep…. The current show by Mike Wittels, aka Benny Shaboy, is a great show of creativity. He is [...]

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It was one more chance to see the work of six artists. The show is destined to close on the 2nd of November. But it was also a chance to dress for what I lovingly call “Amateur Night” for costumes. Not to say that what people wore was any less well done, or down right [...]

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This show might as well have been named after the Franz Liszt?Äôs famous polonaise ?ÄúImpromptu.?Äù But because of the diligent last minute work of a few new and core members of the Vallejo Artists?Äô Guild, the show will go on. Well at least a show will. Because of a number of unrelated circumstances, what started [...]

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photos by s.n. jacobson This was the first time, in the three years since I joined the Vallejo Artists?Äô Guild, that I have not had a place to show my work. I was to show at Tiki Tattoo parlor but they were in the middle of a move (and I thought they just didn?Äôt like [...]

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Misty Gamble, San Francisco State University Maddy Matches, ceramic, 30″ x 30″ x 25″ This past Sunday?Äôs reception for “Cream from the Top” at the Arts Benicia Gallery drew a big crowd. Featuring ?Äúnew talent emerging from the [bay area?Äôs] graduate art programs?Äù it was an eclectic show with everything from oil paintings and video [...]

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Labels are in my opinion (and this is MY review) an artist’s biggest problem. It can make or break an art piece. It can sometimes even be better than the art in question. (My brother once owned an only fair 7×5 foot nude painting with the great title “Woman with Knee.”) Labels can also pigeonhole [...]

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It may come as no surprise to most who know me, that I am the consummate voyeur (it came with the Nikon). I love to sneak peeks behind closed doors. And this weekend, Benicia?Äôs Open Studio was good for me. An artist?Äôs studio is usually as private as any sheiks harem. Whether it is a [...]

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¬? I¬?once was told and have since stolen the phrase “Photoshop is my¬?Bitch.” But after going to the new show at¬?the Fetterly Gallery that opened¬?last Saturday with a reception, and runs through June 16, I have learned humility. I guess it is because with my knowledge, I know¬?how complicated and layered (Photoshop pun?)¬?most of the [...]

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