Friday, October 31, 2008

Underground No More

After the Tahoe: Lost & Found art auction (well, actually just before), it was decided that our art group, the Underground Artists, had reached some sort of inevitable conclusion. I'm not sure how or why, but it just felt right to all of us to continue on with our art in our separate ways.

As Kristen put it, it' s as if we've come "above ground".

I'm going to leave this blog in place for now... you can still connect with us through the links at the right.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Art Auction Success




The firemen came in their truck to help the auctioneer carry the art up for bidding...

How cool was that?!

I'm pretty much done and moving on from this, so I'll just say that it was a success and we were able to raise the money for the library. Here's a link to the Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture website, and a few pictures.....



Watch for some changes here to come...

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Art Auction This Friday Night

Tahoe: Lost & Found
Inspired by Fire: Reflections of a Community One Year After Angora


The live Art Auction and Angora Benefit is this Friday, September 19th, 6:00 pm at Valhalla's Grand Hall at the Tallac Historic Site in South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Preview and Reception: 6:00 pm
Auction starts at 7:00 pm

This live art auction with Nicholas Varzos is a community-based event to benefit the local library, which lost many books in homes that burned in the Angora Fire. The artwork features 21 artists from around the lake, who created work that reflects our theme: What did we lose in the fire, and what did we find?

From a hand-painted snowboard to photography; paintings to works in jewelry, mixed media "homes" and firefighter arthelmets... each artist responded with their own interpretation of the experience. Preview all of the art and the artists and learn more about the event at www.tahoelostandfound.com.

And it's free! ( With a suggested donation for the printed auction guide.) (Which looks great, by the way, thanks to Kristen Schwartz and Becky Bell!)

If you live in Tahoe, plan to attend...

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Art Auction Shaping Up

The Tahoe: Lost & Found live art auction is happening...
Mark your calendar for Friday, September 19, 2008 and stay tuned for details!

Or read about it now at the Tahoe: Lost & Found site.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ultrahazardous Art


About the most frightening job I can imagine would be that of a firefighter. For the Tahoe: Lost & Found show, I created two fire helmets to honor the firefighters who came from all over to help us out last summer during the Angora Fire.


"Warning: Firefighting is an Ultrahazardous Activity" features wording from part of the warning label that appears on the inside of the actual helmet; I for one, would never put it on after reading that!


"Reflected by Fire" features mirrored goggles and bits of news clippings from articles regarding the fire. You can read more here.


The Tahoe: Lost & Found live art auction is coming up soon. To see all the art to be auctioned off, click here.


More details as we get closer!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

We're a Trend!

Local writer and editor Kim Wyatt wrote a uniquely upbeat story in the latest Tahoe Quarterly magazine called "Top Tahoe Trends". The piece covers trends in a few different areas, and includes a great bit about Becky Bell's authentic and quintessential Tahoe website, Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture (www.tahoeculture.com).

Kim writes about creative community collaboration (I love that; maybe it's the alliteration?) and explains my idea for the Tahoe: Lost & Found project, giving our upcoming Tahoe: Lost & Found art auction a great plug. (Thanks, Kim!) We appreciate the fact that Tahoe Quarterly is a sponsor for the event as well.

Anyhoo; if you come across a copy, give it a look. Great photos of our local heroes too!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Barbara Wesson at Tallac

You know something is up if Barbara has her picture in the local paper!

Barbara Wesson is showing her functional and beautiful pottery at the Tallac Historic Site this week. Visit her at the Viking Gallery from 11 to 4 from August 17th to the 23rd. She'll be hosting a reception from noon to 4 on the last day.

Lately she's been focusing on some amazing succulent pots with cool textures so you won't want to miss it!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Art Party Tonight

Elevation 6310 is hosting a Tahoe: Lost & Found Art Party tonight!

Things get underway at 6 and we'll go to about 8:00 pm with art from the Underground Artists, information about the Tahoe: Lost & Found project, and additional art from other local artists.

Elevation 6310 is located at 195 Highway 50, #3, near Stateline. They've got great food and a fun atmosphere, so come on down and check it all out.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Inspiration from Stacey


A benefit was held at Ernie's Restaurant on Tuesday, for local artist Stacey Ballard, who is awaiting a liver transplant. Somehow, throughout her ordeal, she manages to create beautiful art, such as this piece. This hangs on my studio wall now.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Confirmed!

Set aside Monday, August 11th for the Elevations 6310 Art Party for Tahoe: Lost & Found!
We're starting early, at 6:00, with some art from the UA and a bit of an explanation about the project.

The Art Party will continue in it's usual course, so plan to stay and enjoy the food, the crowd, the music, and of course the art!

The restaurant is located on Hwy 50, near the base of Kingsbury Grade...
look for the light at Kahle Drive, and the building with the Burger King sign.
(Sorry. I may come up with better directions soon, but there's a hint....)

Friday, July 18, 2008

Art Party

Last Monday night I actually made it out of my house at the time I would normally prepare for bed... A local restaurant called Elevation 6310 does a Monday night "Art Party", and Becky Bell (of Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture fame) and I met up with Shelley Hocknell to go check it out.

The Art Party idea is a great one, and not something we've had much of, here in South Lake Tahoe: open to all, with a fun local vibe and music to go with it.

Scott, the enthusiastic manager, has agreed to put on an Art Party to support the Tahoe: Lost & Found cause. We're working on a date, but it will be sometime in August.

And if you go, try to stay for the Fire Dancers...
I couldn't quite make it!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Shelley Hocknell at Valhalla

She'll only be there for one more day, but if you can, catch artist Shelley Hocknell Zentner down at Valhalla on Saturday. She's the Artist-in-Residence this week, and Friend of the UA!

Next time, I'll be more on top of this kind of thing....

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Festival of Fine Arts

No, the Underground Artists won't be at Tahoe Arts Project's Festival of Fine Arts this weekend; Kristen and Barbara are too busy getting ready for the Sierra Club event on Sunday. And I'm busy with Tahoe: Lost & Found. But there will be some local Tahoe artists there, so if you're in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, July 12 or Sunday, July 13th, stop by the lawn in front of the Middle School, and support local Tahoe art!

Click on the Tahoe Arts Project link above for more information.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Next Up, Sierra Club

Berkeley Camp, Echo Summit...
should be a very cool place to be on Sunday, July 13!

Every year, the local chapter of the Sierra Club does a fundraiser/wine tasting, including area artisans into the deal. This year, Kristen and Barbara have been accepted to show their work, along with other Tahoe artists.

Click here to find out more, and purchase tickets to this fun event.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Bare Bones

Last night was the Lake Tahoe Writing Club's Bare Bones monthly open mic night, which they generously did as a fundraiser for Tahoe: Lost & Found (see previous post). It was held at Valhalla, in the Grand Hall, where the September 19th art auction will be held. They even did a raffle, with a Trader Joe's bag of goodies as one of the prizes... wish I'd won; I'm sure there was chocolate in there somewhere!

Thanks, April, Andrea, Kim, Frank, and the rest of the Lake Tahoe Writing Club!

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Tahoe: Lost & Found Kickoff Party




What good Underground Artist doesn't love a party? Well, really, none of us love parties terribly much, but there was good food, so we went. Actually, we were there because we were throwing this party, and because it's exciting, and because it's for a good cause.

Tahoe: Lost & Found is a lot of things. It's intended to mark the one year anniversary of the Angora Fire, and to reconnect our small community, in a way similar to what happened here while the fire burned. It culminates in an art show/art auction on September 19th at Valhalla's Grand Hall in South Lake Tahoe. (More on that soon.)
Pictured at top is a phoenix painting created by local teen Ethan Niven, whose home survived, even though those of his friends and neighbors burned.




Kristen Schwartz is pictured here with her "Lake Mother" illustration, a piece she finished on the day the Angora Fire went into 100% containment.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Underground Artists Anniversary!




The longer I stayed away from posting here, the harder it was getting to post a new entry! But last week (or thereabouts) was the one year Anniversary of our Underground Artists group, and to celebrate, I created personalized papier mache helmets for each of us. Complete with boingy things on top.

We're looking forward to a year filled with even more growth as artists, and some new events, too. Maybe even more regular blog posts; who knows?

Monday, January 7, 2008

Local Tahoe Artists Links

Greetings from under our layer of new snow! Maybe "layer" isn't a strong enough word; we've got about four feet. But that's the way we like it.

The Underground Artists are working to create a list of local Tahoe artists links (see sidebar). We'll be adding to the list as we go along. Please check out the other local talent!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

2008...

Happy 2008, everyone!

Well, we've been through the holiday gauntlet, and some imposed "down time" (deadly, for artists!) but today is our first UA meeting of the new year. I desperately need this meeting! I've been basically stuck in the house with my kids for the last week or so; a self-imposed exile due to Tahoe's famous holiday crowds. And I'm craving the company of my fellow UAers...

We'll be setting goals, I imagine, and scheming to come up with some cool happenings for the new year.... so check back sometime soon!