A relative once told painter Sheldon Skillie that if he listened closely to the language, songs and dances of his Native American Haida culture, he would see them reflected in their visual art forms as well. He followed that advice, imbuing the lines of his paintings with the movements of his language. While Skillie’s confident, […]
Art Beat
Artists, galleries, museums, arts nights and shows around the county.
Posted inArts + Scene
Up, Up and Away!
There’s something about that one-time shot. That now-or-never, do-or-die, decision. Hesitate, and you lose. Act, and you’re a hero saving the day. Well, OK. At the Malia Matsumoto Pop-Up Show, acting fast may not save the day, but it will score you a fine piece of original, hand-made art. And that hero part? Totally true! […]
Posted inArts + Scene
eARTh Week Outreach
Like ants, they’re crawling all over the concrete. On hands and knees, small groups of students congregate here and there while others strike out on their own. Brightly colored chunks of dusty pastel smudge their fingers with pinks, yellows, and greens.. It’s Earth Week, and McKinleyville High School’s quad has a festival atmosphere in anticipation […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Have Can, Will Travel
Who the hell allowed this to happen? Graffiti art? At the Humboldt County Airport? Well, yes and no. Bands of masked graffiti writers did not invade the airport and spray paint the planes. But four well-known artists from the Humboldt graffiti scene have installed a show that, while leaning toward street art, still holds tight […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Metal Pin Cushion
“When I was in grad school I was making art in little boxes,” says Sondra Schwetman. “I realize I’m back to making art in boxes, but the boxes are really big now!” For March’s Eureka Arts Alive!, Schwetman and her husband, Patrick Williams, will be taking over the space at Piante Gallery. Their show, “Between […]
Posted inArts + Scene
I’m Vic James!
On a wall in a gallery, there’s no safety net. It’s not like the front of a refrigerator — mom’s soothing words making you feel good about your finger painting. No, no. Once that painting is hung on a white wall, the artist is exposed and vulnerable. Maybe that’s why Jim McVicker, one of Humboldt’s […]
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Multiplicity in a Post-singularity World
Some artists work in fastidious repetition, creating works that rarely deviate from whatever prescribed formula they’ve set for themselves. Ananda Oliveri is not one of those artists. He freely admits that his work is all over the place, recklessly mixing materials and wrestling with different formats. It’s no surprise then that his new show, “The […]
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Local Color
Arts! Arcata is … Well, it just always is. Arcata has talented artists, supportive businesses and even a fine symbiosis of both in the Arcata Artisans cooperative. HSU’s art major is historically popular, and live music offers cheer in several stores. Despite all this, the event remains Jan Brady to Eureka’s Marsha. Which is all […]
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Conversation Starter
The year just started and already you have a mission: Don’t skip this month’s Arts Alive! Whether due to post-holiday fatigue or icy weather, January is the most neglected of the monthly art-music-social-appreciation events. But Friday’s Arts Alive! offers, in addition to the usual collection of fine arts and enjoyable bands, a chance to experience […]
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Laughing, Dancing and Drooling Cats
“It’s getting harder and harder to make people laugh or smile,” says multimedia artist David White. His wacky, comical characters have a life of their own. Somehow, though, we can all relate to them, laughing with instead of at them. White likens it to theater, noting that “through laughter, you can slip in a truth.” […]
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Luminous Muses
Demetri Mitsanas’ new collection of paintings started as utter garbage. After his daughter gave him some strange bottles found in a Berkeley dumpster, he composed them, painted them with vibrant Mediterranean shades and fell in love with all of the possible compositions. Gold leaf and saturated hues may hide the humble beginnings of these paintings, […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Behind the Bark
Sometimes it’s a little stain from a rusty nail that catches his eye. Other times, it’s the cavities chewed into a cheap piece of plywood by beach grime and salt. While most people would rather ignore these aesthetic imperfections, for Arcata artist Zachary Shea, they’re inspiration. The history implied by these marks attracts him. Time […]