We have had an event downtown for years on the 3rd Saturday of each month where some of the galleries and businesses stay open from 6-9 pm and serve munchies and some have wine and such and live music sometimes. It's just been called "Third Saturday" for a long time.
Our Arts Council (El Dorado Arts Council) is spearheading an effort to enliven and enhance 3rd Saturday and to that end there was a committee formed (I'm a member) and we have been working on the "new and improved" (and renamed) Placerville Art Walk. Gold Country Artists Gallery is one of the major sponsors, along with the City of Placerville, Placerville Downtown Association and others. It will really get going once the weather gets nicer (April-May) with music, more promotion, and (hopefully) more businesses staying open for the event each month. I'll keep you posted about it.
Banners on Parade 2009
As in the past 4 years, we are having art downtown from June through September. The overall effort is named Art on Parade, with banners being the types of art this year (and over the past two years). The application information is out now to people who might be interested. Last year we had 30 banners up in the downtown area. The banners are 30"w x 60"h and each is hand-painted by an artist.
My main job with this effort has been to be the photographer of the banners once they are completed. The photographs are then used for the brochure and other items that we produce. You can see 2008 banners on the PDA website (and previous year's Art on Parade items).
The pic above on the left (Alchemy by Tracy Lewis) is one from last year's Banners on Parade and one of my favorites.
Flower Power
Nope, you aren't having a 60's flashback—I did say "Flower Power"! We have an effort in Placerville by some folks to have hanging flower baskets on all the light poles downtown, and this year we will have 22 of them hanging in the downtown area thanks to a very successful fundraiser last year.
The effort started with 4 baskets in 2007 and 8 baskets in 2008. After the fundraiser last year we had enough money to fund 14 more baskets for a total of 22 this year! We're planning another fundraiser for May 1 and hope to raise more money for more baskets.
The pic on the left is one I took of the baskets hanging on the Bell Tower in downtown Placerville last summer.
As in past years, the baskets will go up on Earth Day, April 22. And how beautiful they are!
http://billstales.blogspot.com/2009/02/februarys-goings-on.html
Bill Robinson
Placerville, California, United States
I'm a photographer living in Placerville, California and displaying my work at Gold Country Artists Gallery on Main Street in Placerville. I'm also involved in may other activities and learning new things all the time!
View my complete profile http://www.blogger.com/profile/04246519620769363524
