The New Face of Bako Part II

One thing you’ll notice, if you hang around the Arts District or Bako artists for any length of time, is that no one does this scene alone. Artists in this economy and in this environment have learned all too well that without support, without friends, without giving, you don’t get much of anywhere. BakoArtistConnect-ing is all about forming a network of artists and art lovers who want to create something really special in our little neck-of-the-woods. Actually, we may be looking towards creating a place we no longer refer to with phrases involving necks or woods. Anyway, a couple of days ago I shared some simple tips to getting “in” on the emerging Bako art scene. Today I take that notion a little deeper by offering some choices which will stretch you a bit more but which will aide your immersion into the new Bako culture.

SPEND. After all the time and effort you’ve spent creating your artwork you’ll be able to better appreciate the energy and talent of other artists you meet. Don’t forget to leave a little extra in your budget to support those peeps who are paving the way for all of us. In this new art culture, being a benefactor is extremely affordable. $5-10.00 is sometimes all it takes to encourage and/or feed an artist for another day!

PROMOTE. You don’t have to start a Bako arts & culture blog to be a promoter of the arts (although you could….). As you learn about events, share your new-found knowledge with your friends. At most events you’ll find a stack of flyers for upcoming concerts or exhibits. Grab a few and pass them out to someone you think would be interested. Grow the scene! Or….

VOLUNTEER. Good starting point: Bakersfield Museum of Art (BMOA). (www.BMOA.org) The museum needs volunteers for a variety of events and functions. Opportunities range from a few hours weekly, monthly or even yearly. Learn about art. Meet artists. Gain some art knowledge. Be an art hero! But….

STAY OPEN. Don’t be a snob. Bakersfield has a long way to go. Deal with it. Take the good with the bad, the exceptional with the puerile. There are gems in the rough that YOU can discover—about which later you can say, “I saw that/knew her/ate there/went to that—way back when,” and you can say it with all the smug satisfaction that only one who has travailed in the indie trenches of an underground culture can muster. What fun!

So now I want to hear from you. What are you doing to ensure our Bakersfield arts scene expands and thrives over the next few years? How can we work together? I’m looking forward to the day our scene is something we can all brag about. How about YOU?

The New Face of Bako Part I

The face of Bakersfield is changing. It really is. I hope you’re taking advantage of this transitional time in Bakoland to become part of that change—to become part of the new culture—in all its abstract, awkward, last-kid-picked, stumbling, groping-in-the-dark and awakening in Oz renewal. Parts of downtown are being revitalized as I write and as you read. New art galleries are taking shape. Progress is making strides. Diversity is coming to town. What are you doing to become part of the contemporary urban landscape? Or do you want to belong but don’t know how to join? Psst..here’s a little secret, “It’s easy.”

The following are a few options which you can do now to get “in” on the up-and-coming Bako art scene. (Tomorrow I’ll give you a few more to take you to the next level.)

SOCIALLY NETWORK.  Do you want to meet artists working in various media? Would you like to be the first to find out what events will be happening before the general public gets a whiff of the action? Social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and Bakersfield’s own Bakotopia.com are abuzz with artists who are constantly updating their “friends” with news about their art, their events and even their personal lives. This is a great arena to meet people who share common interests and who will inevitably be at the kinds of events you will want to attend. Speaking of….

ATTEND EVENTS. Now that you know about First Friday, that great new exhibit opening at Surface or Metro or Younger Galleries, the ribbon-cutting for the new restaurant opening in the Arts District, or that writing class your new Twitter friend, Nick Belardes, is teaching—GO! Take part, become a regular face about Bako. You’ll see there are a lot of us, and we’re always looking for new members to join the ranks of our very non-exclusive club. So….

JOIN. If you are an artist in Bakersfield (or want to be an artist in Bakersfield) you NEED to join BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists). This welcoming and accepting non-profit organization, which you can find on the web at www.BECA.ws, meets regularly to network, plan and attend art events in Bakersfield. With BECA, you get to choose when and how much to participate, so if you’re interested in actively creating the Bako scene, get to know the leaders of BECA—your input will be appreciated! Then….

CREATE. You write poetry. You draw cartoons. You create YouTube videos. You make your friends weep (in a good way) with your culinary skills. You knit your family Christmas gifts each year. You are an artist. Do not fear the “A” word. Embrace it. Create. Create. Create. And then share. Share. Share! Use that Bakotopia account to post a blog, or upload your photography. Now that you know that the Arts Council of Kern (www.kernarts.org) posts their call to artists regularly, get your best work together and try your hand at a juried art show. Or, submit work to BECA’s annual Burn the Witch all-women art collaborative. Don’t just be a spectator—Bako needs your creativity.

Simple, right? Meet me back here soon for a few more tips to take you further on your path to BakoArtistConnect-ing.

What the Aztecs and the Irish have in common:

If you're looking for something low-key, enjoyable and refreshing to wind you down from your Halloween candy high, you are in luck! Even more so because the events I'm about to describe are all FREE.

First up, head to Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 R Street, between 1:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., Sunday November 1st, for free admission to all exhibits. Currently on display: Eyestreet Gallery featuring local art and artists, The Colors of China--paintings, calligraphy and children's art, and a fantastic Dia de los Muertos exhibit which today takes center stage. In honor of the dead (which is whom Dia de los Muertos or the Day of the Dead honors), several local families will erect altars in the garden area in remembrance of loved ones who have departed this life. Beginning at 3:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. the public will be invited in to view these altars. There will also be food available for purchase (I'm hoping for a taste of authentic tamales) and not-to-be-missed art displays within the museum. After viewing the exhibit twice, I implore you to give yourself plenty of time to peruse the exhibits. There is so much to see and experience you will want to savor it slowly. Eyestreet Gallery, The Colors of China and Dia de los Muertos are open through November 22nd.

Also Sunday, if it's music you have a longing for, you may have your fill at a free concert at the First Congretional Church, 5 Real Road (corner of Real Road and Stockdale Highway), where local Celtic music favorites, Banshee in the Kitchen, perform their energetic blend of traditional and modern Irish music from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is a free treat and a preview of what to expect from this all-female band who will also be performing at next week's First Annual Bakersfield Celtic Music Festival (Noon-9:00 p.m., November 7, 2009 at CSUB Amphitheater--more details soon). These ladies are all very accomplished musicians and artists in their own right. Don't miss this chance to become a fan!

If after all that you still wish to celebrate a bit or a whole lot more, November 2, 2009, Dia de los Muertos continues at Golden State Mall, 3201 F Street, from 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The 17th Annual Dia de los Muertos Expo 2009 promises to be colorful, traditional, cultural and artistic. Performances, crafts, art, food, a parade, the dead, the living, music, celebration--all together in one event. What could be better? Right, it's FREE.

Coming soon!!

I'm speechless. I'm flabbergasted. How did it get to be Tuesday and I still haven't updated Bako on the many awesome events taking place this week?? All I can offer is that, at the fair on Sunday, the extreme heat partially baked my brain into a pile of sluggish mush and only today, with the cooler weather, have I snapped back to reality. So now, get ready, because Bakersfield is about to explode with events like Oktoberfest, Via Arte, Burn the Witch, Talladega Frights Haunted House, many new theater productions and of course, First Friday, FLICS, gallery exhibit openings, craft fairs and fall festivals. Details are on the way!!

This week in Bakersfield, CA—Do not miss these events!!

BAKO--I WANT TO SEE YOU OUT THERE!!

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: “Saving Grace”, a fundraiser to benefit Ricky’s Retreat, the Bakersfield’s AIDS Project Hospice House and Resource Center which has fallen into default. (Read the Bakersfield Express article by Jason Gutierrez here: “The Grassroots Effort to Save Ricky’s Retreat.”) This event will include live music from indie-rock artist Eric Himan, a silent auction featuring art from many local talent including Jill Thayer, Yvonne Cavanagh, Liz Sherwyn, Susan Reep, Barbara Reid and photography from Solorzano Photography’s Paul Pomeroy. The wonderfully ambient MetroGalleries, 1604 19th Street, will play host; Food, wine and dessert will be provided by Valentien, Spotlight Café, Imbibe and Frosting Ink. Tickets for this wonderful, worthwhile event are only $30.00. Even if you can’t attend, please consider making a bid in the auction. More info or to RSVP, call Jason Guitierrez, 661-496-9245.

Also starting Tuesday, if you can’t get enough theater in Bakersfield, the Kern Shakespeare Festival makes its fall return to Bakersfield College’s Indoor Theater. Alternating evenings, this year’s productions will be, “Midsummer Night’s Dream” (September 17, 19, 23, 25 & 27)  and “King Lear” (September 18, 20, 22, 24 & 26). Plays commence at 8:00 p.m. and tickets are $5.50 for adults and $3.50 for students. Keep in mind, no one under the age of six is allowed. Tickets may be purchased at the door or call the BC ticket office at 661-395-4326 for reservations.

On Thursday the 17th, plan to attend the opening of three fine exhibits at Bakersfield Museum of Art (BMOA), 1930 R St.: “Colors of China: Paintings, Calligraphy and Children’s Art”, “Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)” and “Eye Gallery” (featuring local artists). A 20-30 minute traditional Mexican blessing ceremony with dancing will take place on the grounds at 5:30 p.m., just prior to the official opening of the exhibits at 6:00 p.m. Appetizers and no-host bar will be available; $10.00 non-members, admission free to members of BMOA. Click on the link in the Go. See. Do. section for full descriptions of the exhibits and to find out what else the Museum is planning.

Are you an artist with no plans for Saturday? Well now you know where to go and what to do! BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists) presents ARTamentals, a day of art classes and mini-seminars at JP Jennings, 1700 Chester Avenue (corner of 17th and Chester). Classes are $5.00 each and proceeds benefit BECA. For full line-up of classes, go to BECA’s website (See Go. See. Do. on this page’s sidebar) and click on the calendar. There will be activities for kids as well as adults. Check it out & support your local art scene!

Also on Saturday, World Records presents the 5th Annual B-Town Blues Fest from 3:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at the CSUB Amphitheater. This is a benefit for Houchin Blood Bank and in fact, discounts apply for blood donors. (Call Houchin for more info: 1-877-364-5844.) Reserved tables are $40/seat; Lawn tickets $30/adult, $20/students, military & seniors; 17 and under free. Dinner tickets are $10.00. Performers include: Sonny Landreth, Janiva Magness, The Soul of John Black, A Piece of Joy and more. Sounds like a good time!

Finally, the 28th Annual Fun in the Sun Car Show, takes place on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Kern County Museum. Regular admission to the Museum will apply, $7.00-10.00. This show will feature over 150 pre-1959 cars. If you would like to register a car, contact Debbie Wilson at 661-587-6379 or Larry Coburn at 661-832-8340.

There’s a lot of other great stuff going on which I will be “tweeting” each day. Make sure you’re following me on Twitter to get the latest updates. www.Twitter.com/BACpage. And don’t forget, if you attend these events, you might see yourself in next week’s slideshow!!

What? Culture in Bakersfield?

Yes, it’s true. It has been found, in pockets, in this dusty, histamine-laced valley—even here in our own city: a burgeoning art scene, a bevy of things to do and people who care about our community! Need proof? Just check out Go. See. Do. to see some of the things happening in the next couple of weeks. There are benefits, art shows, concerts, fundraisers, theater performances—even a spoken word event!


This weekend, in addition to art, live music, food & wine samples and an atmosphere that will make you believe you’ve left Bakoland, the monthly Arts District treat, First Friday, will include two exhibit openings downtown. “Latination,” which opens at Metro Galleries, 1604 19th Street, will feature the artwork of local and other Hispanic artists; “One,” opening at Surface Gallery, 1703 20th Street (across from the Fox Theater), is the celebration of the one-year anniversary of the locally owned gallery. The accomplishment is definitely one worth celebrating in a town that does not make it easy to survive. Proving the point, recently closed underground gallery and indie art center, Basement Gallery (which thankfully looks like it has a new lease on life—more details to follow), will be sorely missed at Friday’s event but its spirit will live on as members of BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists) hold a fundraiser including carnival games and an art raffle at 19th and Eye Streets, just outside their former headquarters. BECA is a local group comprised of individuals who want to connect with other artists and art lovers to create, discuss and participate in building an art community in Bakersfield. To get involved join BECA at http://www.meetup.com/Bakersfield-Emerging-Contemporary-Artists.

Also keeping the spirit alive is Ginn Williams and her fellow poets who bring a spoken word event, “Two Hours Inside,” to Fishlips on Thursday, September 3rd. This event had to relocate to a new venue after the Basement closure and should not be missed by lovers of the letters, emerging poets or anyone who wants to support having more really cool art events in Bakersfield. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and poetry flows at 7:00 p.m. SHARP. Admission is $10.00.

Over in the northeast corner of the world, an often-overlooked venue, Jones Gallery at Bakersfield College, will play host to its own as staff art professors put on an exhibit of their works. The opening reception is on Thursday, September 3rd from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. and the show runs through October 1st. If you happen to be up on the bluffs taking in the sunset, stop by for a great opportunity to support the BC art program.

Lastly, don’t forget the new season of Flics at the Fox starts next Friday, September 11th. Also, the 37th Annual Greek Festival will be making our mouths water with Greek delicacies, as well as entertaining us with dancing and general merry-making. This always fun event runs next weekend, Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th. More details on these and other events next week.

That’s it for now. Stop by anytime to see what’s happening in this old town of ours and to check out event slideshows where you might just be part of the action.