Rotarians present 41st annual show
By Shari Kaplan
As it has for the past 41 years, the Saratoga Rotary Art Show offers a full palette of things to do, see and buy for anyone with the slightest creative bent. This year, the annual celebration of arts, crafts, music, food and community support takes place on May 7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the campus of West Valley College, 14000 Fruitvale Ave. in Saratoga.
This year, 15 dozen artisans--culled from a pool of applicants nearly twice that size by an experienced four-member jury--will set up booths in a carefully balanced variety of mediums: 57 paintings and graphics, 16 ceramics, 23 paper and fiber arts, 25 jewelry, 22 crafts, 16 photography and 21 sculpture. This year's poster artist is JAX, a Rotary Art Show exhibitor for the past several years.
Three of this year's jurors, oil painter Carol Hutchinson, jewelry designer and art instructor Charles Escott and photographer and art consultant Lissa Jones, are veterans of judging the show. Joining them is Susan Hillhouse, curator of the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara. Jurying takes place on the West Valley campus approximately four months before each show, at which time artists bring their work samples in person or, if unable to attend, send slides showing their wares. To ensure fairness, no artists' names are associated with their works during the jurying process.
But the show isn't just about art. It also has live entertainment, such as musical groups, magic acts and children's entertainers, along with food, drinks and treats prepared by the Saratoga Rotarians. Among these is a traditional favorite called the Saratoga Pepperbelly, a signature sandwich club members invented more than a decade ago. It consists of a mild Italian sausage on a sourdough roll, covered with a piquant "secret sauce."
The first Saratoga Rotary Art Show presented only 20 artists and took place in the Saratoga Village. The purpose, however, has remained the same: to present high-quality contemporary art for viewing and purchase; to create an enjoyable community event; and to raise funds to support the many nonprofit local and county organizations the Saratoga Rotary Club supports.
Parking and admission are both free. For more information, call 408.867.1241, 408.725.2434 or visit www.saratogarotary.org on the Internet.
Entertainment Schedule:
Main Stage:
9:30-10:45 a.m. Caribbean-flavored music by the Harmonics Steel Drum Band;
11-11:45 a.m. Folk, country and American standards by Jim Stevens & Company;
noon-1:45 p.m. A cappella singing by the HouseJacks;
2-3:30 p.m. Swing music by Majestic Swing;
3:45-4:30 p.m. Bluegrass and country by local band Sidesaddle & Company.
Roving Entertainment:
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Rock Lerum, magician, juggler and clown;
1-2 p.m. Jim Stevens, children's singer and entertainer;
1-3 p.m. The Peninsulaires, a strolling barbershop quartet.
Kids Corner:
Spin art from Learning Express; Sentosphere art; fantasy dress up; Do-A-Dot art; with Zoob and K'nex building blocks; a Thomas Train table; magnetic fishing game; giant pickup sticks; stamp art; stamp tattooing; face-painting; bounce houses and an antique Saratoga fire truck to climb on.
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