Butte County's 101 Things to do

Chico Art Center

www.chicoart.com
www.chicoartcenter.com

We could write a book about the artistic talent and galleries in this town, honored repeatedly as one of "100 Best Small Art Towns in America."

A gallery and gift store to be savored is the Vagabond Rose. Some of the area's finest painters, photographers, woodworkers, and potters exhibit their work here. Many have received national and international acclaim, including Janet Turner, Salvatore Casa, and Kenneth Parker. Fine art is displayed amidst quality crafts and collectibles.

Art etc. etc. etc. has been in town, centrally located between Main and Broadway on 3rd, for 33 years and has had artist-owners for the past few. Especially unique about the shop is that the entire staff are artists (paper, oil, watercolor). The shop is popular with local artists because all of the framing work is done in the store. Particularly interesting here are the estate print collections.

At the Sally Dimas Art Gallery & Studio, the owner, an artist herself, also carries works by other local and regional painters, potters, and jewelers. Every wall is adorned with works by different artists.

Chico Paper Co., a Chico tradition for more than twenty years, is owned by a unique husband-wife team. She has a masters degree in fine arts, and he has been a framer for 25 years. They now carry works by both local and international artists. You'll find paintings, non-utilitarian sculpture, hand-made paper, pottery, and gorgeous bonsai.

The Janet Turner Print Collection of over 3,000 fine art prints spanning 40 countries, six centuries, and a thousand different artists (including Rembrandt, Renoir, Goya, Miro, Dali, Tamayo and Hockney) hopes to move to a permanent location on or near the CSUC campus sometime in the future. Call 530-899-1205 or 530-343-1110 for information on this outstanding collection.

In 2006, Avenue 9 Gallery received the Chico News and Review's Editor's Pick for Best Place to Buy Art. Avenue 9 serves as the north state's center for outdoor, on location painting (Plein Air). It organizes local "paint-outs" and landscape exhibitions, and features a yearly "Chico Icons" show that celebrates our area's visual wealth. The staff installs art in homes and businesses and has a "try before you buy" program.

All Fired Up Ceramic Art Center and Gallery invites you to "Come Clay with Us!" Don't miss the local art: ceramic, 2-dimentional, 3-dimentional and fiber. The vision behind the center is to create a gathering place for ceramic artists and students to connect with each other to share ideas and inspiration; create a learning environment to encourage growth; provide access to supplies and materials at competitive prices and have a studio where the community can see artists at work and purchase local art.

Chico is home to more and more Public Sculpture, and one of the most interesting pieces is the outdoor teleidoscope found at Park Avenue and 13th. It's fun to use it, and many people do. I've heard adults say that it makes them feel like a kid again.

Art First Saturday is a new venue where local galleries, studios, nightclubs, restaurants, and coffeehouses open their doors the first Saturday of each month from 4-8 p.m. Most of the art galleries listed on the previous page are participating. Because additional locations will be added from time to time, for an up-to-date listing and map, check the local newspapers when you have time to enjoy this fun event.

The new Art Benches found in downtown Chico are the result of a project to create artistic tributes to world-renowned persons who either lived in Chico at one time and went on to become famous in his or her field, or who contributed to the character of Chico in a significant way.

Benches celebrating the following Chico luminaries are installed in downtown Chico: Architect Julia Morgan is honored by artist Jenna Mae Hepworth; the achievements of Astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker are celebrated with a bench by artist David Barta; Painter Jackson Pollock is depicted in mosaic tile by artist Robin Indar; Writer Raymond Carver, who lived in Chico in the late 1950's, is honored by artist Dylan Tellesen; and Actor Erroll Flyyn and the 1938 filming of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in Bidwell Park are recognized by mosaic artist Christen Derr.

Julia Morgan was California's first female architect who designed well over 700 buildings including Hearst Castle and the Albert E. Warrens Reception Center (formerly the President's House) at CSU, Chico.

The achievements of astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker are celebrated with a bench by artist David Barta. Ms. Shoemaker, who holds the world record for comet discoveries, grew up in Chico and graduated from Chico State College with her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in 1949 and 1950, respectively.

A bench not to be missed is one done by mosaic artist Christen Derr in remembrance of Chinese workers' contributions to Chico's early history. It is dedicated to Andrea Spessard (1980-2004).