#73 Art Abounds in one of the
      "100 Best Small Art Towns
        in America"

Chico Art Center

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."

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 these pages 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.

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 cornerstone for more than 38 years, is owned by a unique husband-wife team. She has a masters degree in fine arts, and he has been a framer for 27 years. All design staff members have either a Master of Fine Arts or a Bachelor of Arts degree. Housed within the 2,500 square foot gallery are works of sculpture, jewelry, pottery, paintings, limited edition prints, hand-blown glass, posters and bonsai. The gallery focuses largely on representing more than 25 local artists but also shows regional, national and international art. Also known for its extradordinary selection of frames and skill at framing three-dimensional art and mirrors, as well as traditional media on paper or canvas. The shop is a long-standing member of the P.P.F.A. (Professional Picture Framing Association.

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 April 2009, Avenue 9 Gallery, founded in 2004, became a professional artists' guild with 20 members who make major decisions collectively. Guild artists always have representative work on display and each can have a yearly 'featured artist' show. Avenue 9 also mounts group shows such as "Chico Icons" that are open to other artists, collaborates with advanced students and faculty from California State University, Chico and Butte College, and co-hosts the Pacific Flyways Uptown-Downtown art exhibition, as part of the Snow Goose Festival.

Once or twice a year Avenue 9 organizes plein air "Paint Outs" on such themes as "Heritage Trails" calling attention to the natural and built treasures of our local environment. The gallery has been honored with a Mayor's Award for excellence in the arts.

All Fired Up Ceramic Art Center and The Artistry invite 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.

There is a new art endeavor centrally located in downtown Chico, upstairs at 336 Broadway. Chico Art School & Gallery focuses on painting and drawing instruction with an emphasis on fun. Artist and owner, Janet Lombardi Blixt, teaches children ages 7+ and adults.

Oils, watercolor, acrylic and pastel mediums are taught in a small class setting offering individual instruction. The school nurtures the creative spirit in all of us, no matter what skill level. Home school, after school, private and evening classes are offered.

Weekly classes run year long and the popular summer camps are held annually. Visit the gallery to view Janet's latest icon of Chico landmarks and rotating guest artist's work. Janet was voted 1st place Best Local Artist for 2008 and 2009 in the Chico News & Review competition. Gallery hours are during class times and by appointment.

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.

The new Luminary 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. Chico is the theme of all the Pedestal Art Seats. A brochure featuring a walking map and detailed description of the benches and pedestal seats is available at the Chico Chamber of Commerce and at many of the art galleries.

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 Spellman-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; Actor Erroll Flynn and the 1938 filming of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" in Bidwell Park are recognized by mosaic artist Christen Derr; in recognition of the contribution of Chinese workers to Chico's history and dedicated to the memory of Andrea Spressards Christen Derr designed a mosaic tile bench; John Muir is remembered with a concrete and bronze bench by Michael Ginnattasio; Franz Cilensek (Santa Claus to generations of locals) is honored by a mosaic tile bench by Pat Koszies and Kay Wooldridge; Sir Joseph Hooker's bench is a concrete and bronze creation by Juan Cole and Jeff Lerche; and Susan B. Anthony is remembered by a concrete and metal bench created by Jean Summerville.

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.

Astronomer Carolyn Spellman-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).