An October Sunday Birthday

An October Sunday Birthday
by Witch Nancy Vicknair
Witch Nancy has her hut in Central California and rides around on a jet propelled scooter. She considers a broom old-fashioned. Look into a mirror and you will find her on facebook or slumped over her computer reading her email nancydesk@yahoo.com. Send her a poisoned pen note-today.
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"No more Buggy Bob,"said the mom who had the whitest face she had ever seen.
"What?" Dustin's gramma said.
"Yup, Murphy's wouldn't let him give buggy rides anymore."
"Oh no, what happened to his horses?"
"Dunno," the pale mom growled.

Thus Harlan's party commenced. Full-on October Sunday weather. Baked oak tree smells everywhere. Evan was poking hot dogs on the grill while kids flew by like gnats. Black rimmed eyes, jagged scars, bloodies lips, and yes, ubiquitous zinc white. Kid zombies all happy to look scary for the afternoon.

The head Zombie, birthday boy Harlan, just turned six. Not an old soul that boy. Happy at all times, Harlan was surrounded by his little zombie posse. Down to to the river, up on slides, grabbing a quick drink, the zombies were having fun.

The park at Murphy's, California is perfect. And so is Murphy's. A tiny gold rush town in the lower Sierra foothills, Murphy's has one main street chock full of tiny shops and wine tasting rooms. No wonder Zombies-adults and kids-like to go there.

"Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you." All the zombies bellowed out the familiar tune. Smiles through frosting laden lips, smeared face makeup.

Soon the party ebbed to a natural finish pushed on by waning light in the park. Another day older for everyone. Gramma stumbled up toward her car wondering where Buggy Bob's horses were today. She hoped they had been put out to a warm October pasture.

First Weekend of Sargam Griffin's Open Artist Studio A Success!

 
Visitors To Sargam's Studio, Oct 2013

First Weekend of Artist Sargam Griffin’s Open Studio A Success: More than 200 visitors enjoyed a visit to Sargam’s Art Studio

Healdsburg, CA, October 18, 2013: This past weekend, in the lovely wine country of Sonoma County, more than 200 people visited the Dry Creek Studios of well-known artist Sargam Griffin. Spurred on by the annual ARTrails event, art aficionados, families, art collectors, couples, sightseers - with maps in hand - all descended on Griffin's art studio. 

             Sargam's Open Studio 

Sargam warmly greeted all her guests and made them feel comfortable in the often nether world of art-making. After offering refreshments, Sargam cheerfully explained her works in detail. Her
conversation fascinated all. On exhibit were her famous ArtDoors, many intricate abstract works plus two unfinished paintings which have been commissioned as part of the new Sutter Heath Medical Center in Santa Rosa. 

        Artist Sargam Griffin

Describing this first weekend of her Open Studio, Sargam said "I am always surprised about people's heartfelt comments. During the painting process I just connect, from a quite no thought
state. Having people respond so whole heatedly to the work simply moves me! This was my first open studio event but definitely not the last." 

             Art In The Artist's Studio

Please join Sargam Griffin this weekend October 19th and 20th, from 10am to 4pm, when you will be able to meet the artist, view her art, and enjoy the feeling of fall in the air of Sonoma!
The Arts Council of Sonoma County has invited the public to Sargam’s Dry Creek Studio as part of its ARTrails Open Studios 2013. All of the artist’s work is on display including the
commissioned Sutter paintings, 30 additional paintings and 5 large ArtDoors. Whether you prefer a private showing or would like to stop by during ARTrails, Sargam would look forward to your visit. Call for an appointment, but her studio is open this weekend.

More about ARTrails Open Studios 2013  

http://sonomaarts.com/artrails/ 

Location-
Sargam Griffin’s Dry Creek Studio
15586 Pozzan Road
Healdsburg, CA 95448
http://www.sargamgriffin.com/
Refreshments available
Abstract Paintings, ArtDoors, New Figurative Works and The Boat
Sutter Hospital: see the commissioned paintings in progress 

About the artist-
Sargam Griffin, artist, was born in Bückeburg, Germany.Sagram traveled extensively with her family which greatly influenced her early impressions of the world. Those memorable trips included
visits to the North Sea, Mount Kilimanjaro and the Great Pyramids of Giza. In 1977, she traveled alone to Africa, then spent time living in Italy, Switzerland and India. These experiences formed indelible images that are an integral part of her work, from variations in color, to the depth of the layers and patina used on the surfaces. 

In 1982 Griffin moved to San Francisco, California where she studied at the Day Studio. This led to twenty-five years of designing and painting custom finishes for large commercial projects and for private estates in California and Hawaii. A visit to Rome in 2006 shifted everything for the artist after which Sargam began creating large abstract paintings on canvas and museum quality panels that possess a quality of dynamic illumination. Her work has garnered national attention and has been added to many international private collections and is in demand by noted museums and collectors. Current representations include galleries in New York, San Francisco Bay Area and Berlin. Sargam paints in her studio set among vineyards in Northern California. Recently she hosted four Open Studios as part of ARTrails 2013 and had more than 200 visitors during two October weekends. 

In addition to working toward the completion of the commission for Sutter Medical Center, Griffin is preparing to exhibit new figurative works in San Francisco, as well as readying for a stay in South Africa where she will be creating a commissioned piece for a privately owned villa. 

For more information and the complete artist bio, statement and CV, visit the artist's website.
Interview and photo opportunities available.
www.SargamGriffin.com
Integration of Art & Architecture
707-799-6743

A Vermont Summer, Putney Work Camp and Pinky From Java

      A Java Temple Bird

Going away was not a big thing at our house. 

My family went away a lot, New York, London, Washington, tony Palm Beach, Vermont. But I had not experienced a single peregrination by myself, ever. 

Oh, at 12 years old,  I often took the train into Manhattan to buy clothes at Bergdof's and to have a butter-drenched lunch of escargots at La Cave aux Henri XlV (where every table is in the corner). But this summer was to be my big adventure with more than 60 nights away from my matriarchal nest in New Haven. 

I was being sent to Vermont, to a work camp from June 20 until August 20. 1961. Not a forced labor camp, but instead, a residential summer camp for teens who would spend a summer working on a farm and going on strenuous hikes over the White Mountains. And, parents paid for this. A lot. It was very expensive.

Putney Work Camp was very well known amongst New England parents and intelligensia. It was founded in 1935 and adhered to the belief that kids could thrive in Vermont for two months while working on the Putney School Dairy and Horse Farm, learning the arts, and being outdoors in the rugged mountains of New England. A prescription for teen summer angst and loneliness. All the campers were on fast tracks toward ivy league colleges and had to read at least 8 classics before the end of summer---and write book reviews. Anything to escape from sweaty tomes so summer camp beckoned.

Today, however, Putney Work Camp is no more and has been relegated to a beautiful hillside graveyard along with many philosophies born during the New Deal. Putney School though is alive and flourishing with its dairy farm and growing areas that support the school's student diet. They still offer summer arts programs-with an accent on the arts without wilderness trips or farming chores. Cost-around $8000 for 6 weeks without extras. Below is a daily schedule that is similar to the schedule we had at our work camp. 

8:00 Breakfast
8:30 Sing
9:00 Morning Workshops begin
10:15 Milk Lunch
11:45 Morning Workshops end
12:00 Lunch
1:15 Afternoon Workshops begin
2:30 Juice break
4:00 Afternoon Workshops end
4:15 Afternoon Activities
5:30 Optional Puddle Swim
6:00 Dinner
7:15 Evening Activities
9:00 Social Hour
10:00 In dorms
11:00 Lights out

                                                                                        

                    

“Wherever there are birds, there is hope.”

It took weeks to prepare for my summer at Putney. Literally stacks of camping gear and clothes had to be purchased and all labelled and ready to go by opening day. It then dawned on me-who was going to take care of Pinky? 

My beautiful Java Temple bird with his lovely pink beak was a little chirping angel. In a cage at my bedside at 239 Everit Street in New Haven, Pinky was always there. I had to clean his cage and give him food and water-a yucky task. I recall giving him showers in my own bathroom. He was beautiful-shiny grey, white, black with that pinky nose."Not to worry," my grandmother said, "I will take care of him for you."

My mother went away on one of her gallivants after I was dropped off at Putney. I loved Putney at once and literally changed from an awkward redhead 14 year old into a savvy, strong hiker, horse keeper and farmer. A pivotal summer, for all.

I came home in August on the train with my packback full of birch bark and silly, rhyming stories to tell. My grandmother said  she had taken great care of Pinky. I ran up the big staircase to my bedroom to give Pinky a little kiss but found him lying on the floor of his cage. He had no water in his water dish and little food. I had to tell my grandmother that Pinky was dead and gave him a nice backyard burial.

I do not know what happened to Pinky. My grandmother probably tried to watch over him, but she played golf and bridge at the New Haven Country Club a lot so she probably was not home very often. My mother was absent, my sister away at her camp. Our maid Siggie was probably cleaning the entire house readying it for the rugged winter ahead. Poor little Pinky. He was so pretty. 

Over the summer I had learned many things at Putney about loss and life, especially on the farm with animals born and then quickly dying, but my little Pinky's death saddened me. Tears sprinkled onto his smooth gray feathers.

Back home in New Haven, I resumed my pre-debutante life with days at my girl's school sans backpack and Pinky. My bedroom  and I were never the same again, though. Pinky had flown where I could not go. A one way trip back to Java by way of Putney, Vermont, I hope.

Rynerson O’Brien Architecture: Historically Appropriate Additions & Alterations to Period Structures

Alameda Architectural Preservation Society Presents

Rynerson O’Brien Architecture:

Historically Appropriate Additions and Alterations to Period Structures

Sunday, November 3, 2013 at 7:00 pm

Immanuel Lutheran Church: 1420 Lafayette Street, Alameda, CA 94501
(Parking available at the corner of Chestnut Street and Santa Clara Avenue.)
Free for AAPS members; $5 for non-members
http://www.alameda-preservation.org/

While designing façade restorations at San Francisco Victoriana in the late '70s, Stephen Rynerson conceived a plan to add a turret over the front entry on a Queen Anne cottage in Ashbury Heights, San Francisco, as well as for restoring character-defining ornament and shingles to a façade that had been completely stripped.

Project in Alameda

Already an impressive home on beautiful Franklin Park, 1417 San Antonio Avenue in Alameda has been returned to its Queen Anne beginnings. Design details and gingerbread elements lost in an early remodel have been replaced or added in the style of the builder, A. W. Pattiani. Rynerson O'Brien Architecture was recognized by the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society in 2013 for a historical interpretation of the home.

                                                       1417 San Antonio Avenue

For a consultation on your project contact: rynerson o’brien Architecture
1512 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor
Oakland, CA 94612-2804

510-452-9152
www.rynersonobrien.com 

http://www.rynersonobrien.com/