Lake County News,California

Arts & Life

: Ely Stage Stop; Posted On Saturday, 27 October 2018 23:03; 27 October 2018

Ely Stage Stop hosts Nov. 4 Fiddlers’ Jam

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum welcomes the popular monthly Fiddlers’ Jam on Sunday, Nov. 4.

The talented musicians entertain from noon to 2 p.m. with their favorite folk songs.

The afternoon provides a happy time for all who attend.

The Ely Docents will, once again, be offering food and beverages during the day. Hot dogs and chili from the grill are the fare for a fall day. The pie ladies will return to their station at the antique cook wagon with fresh pies.

Executive Director Greg Dills will be on hand to demonstrate his Lake County antique 1926 Hercules/Economy saw cart. There is plenty of action when he gets the wood going through the saw.

A beautiful fall basket of goodies will once again be available at the raffle table. The funds from these raffles help with the ongoing projects at the Ely.

This month will be the last opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for the gorgeous handmade quilt. The drawing for the quilt will be held at the annual Thanksgiving dinner to be held on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Lakeport Senior Center.

Lake County’s Historical Society’s Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum is located at 9921 State Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) outside of Kelseyville, near the Clear Lake Riviera just north of Highway 29/Kit’s Corner.

Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Visit: www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org, and check out the Ely Stage Stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop.

For more information call 707-533-9990.

: Charise Reynolds; Posted On Thursday, 25 October 2018 04:21; 25 October 2018

Come be transported by the magic of Oklahoma!

**Laura McAndrews Sammel as Laurey, Tim Barnes as Curly and Gary Deas as Jud in Oklahoma! Photo by Charise Reynolds.**

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Right now, while you are reading this article, the entire cast and crew of Oklahoma! are trying to balance work, child care, making dinner, family life and all the other every day tasks with rehearsal for this show.

The show opens this Friday, Oct. 26, and runs through Nov. 11 at the Soper-Reese Theatre at 275 South Main St. in Lakeport.

Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 and $17 in advance, $27 and 22 at the door, and can be purchased online at http://www.soperreesetheatre.com, at the box office or by calling 707-263-0577.

Our cast is quite varied. We have nurses, teachers, a pig farmer, a District Attorney, County workers, retired Air Force, health care administrators, education specialists, volunteers, and retirees, but there is a common theme among them in that no one is getting paid. They basically take on this second job, rearrange their lives to fit the rehearsal schedule, get less sleep, call in favors to get their kids dropped off or picked up and even listen to their families lament about how much time the show is taking up. And, quite often they buy their own costumes, wigs, and props.

Why would anyone do this you ask? Well, for some it’s the fun of seeing if you can figure out what makes the character tick and then bringing them to life. For others it’s the challenge to see if you can hit those notes, remember your timing, and get your movements right without falling on your face.

Sometimes, it’s for the rush that you get right before you go out on stage. That moment when you are nervous because you want to do the best job possible and then the adrenaline kicks in and you just come to life like nowhere else.

Others like the fact that it’s slightly different every night and you never know what can and will happen. Some like the applause or the energy from the crowd when you are connected in a single moment.

And, still others just like the community of it all. Getting together a few times a week with people who share a common interest.

Let’s face it, not a lot of folks in everyday life get all the dorky theatre references we throw out. It’s nice to feel like people get where you are coming from.

And, so that’s what we do. We drive to work practicing our songs. We run our lines in our heads while we stand in line at the grocery store, and we try to remember if it’s kick, turn, step or kick, step, turn while waiting for our child’s soccer practice to be over. And, quite often we get a little less sleep because we are at rehearsal until 9 p.m. Some of us maybe even have to drive a ways to get home afterward.

But, we don’t complain, because when we come to the theatre on the night of the performance and hear the audience chatting while they are waiting for the show to start, that feeling in the pit of our stomachs kicks in. And, the adrenaline fires up. And, for the next 2 1/2 hours we are someone else, somewhere else; and, something magical takes over. And, the sacrifice, and the lack of sleep fade away.

Please come see the Lake County Theatre Co. and Mendocino College Lake Center’s co-production of Oklahoma! See if you can tell what gets each performer out there and experience a little of the magic with us. We promise you won’t be disappointed. There’s a reason why Oklahoma ends with an exclamation point!

**The cast of Oklahoma! Courtesy photo. Photo by Charise Reynolds.**

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 24 October 2018 03:38; 24 October 2018

‘Angels With Dirty Faces’ screens at Soper Reese Nov. 13

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 1938 drama, “Angels With Dirty Faces,” starring James Cagney, Pat O’Brien and Humphrey Bogart, screens at the Soper Reese Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 1 and 6 p.m.

Entry to the film is by donation.

A fine gangster movie classic with James Cagney at the top of his game as the bad guy who has redeeming qualities.

As ex-con Rocky Sullivan, Cagney’s movements are quick, his speech like machine gun fire. He is all attitude and style, and you can’t help being on his side.

Directed by Oscar-nominated Michael Curtiz.

The movie is sponsored by Kathy Jensen. Not rated. Run time is 1 hour and 37 minutes.

The Soper Reese Theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com .

: Middletown Art Center; Posted On Friday, 26 October 2018 04:33; 26 October 2018

Third fire anniversary show ‘A New Story’ closes Oct. 28

**“A New Story” is on display at the Middletown Art Center in Middletown, Calif., through Sunday, October 28, 2018. Courtesy photo.**

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County residents and visitors are encouraged to experience “A New Story,” the third fire anniversary show, at the Middletown Art Center.

The exhibit commemorates the 2015 and subsequent Lake County wildfires of the past four years and closes this Sunday, Oct. 28.

Gallery hours are Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; or by appointment.

Artwork in “A New Story” captures the arc of fire trauma and recovery, from emergency and after shock, to perseverance, rebuilding, living with fire, and ultimately moving forward. The work, in a variety of media by Lake County artists, is poignant, cathartic, and transformative.

Some of the works on view in the exhibit are also featured in the chapbook Resilience – a community reframes disaster through art.

The book is available for purchase at MAC and online and includes writings and prints by 21 local writers and 17 printmakers that participated in the Resilience project in 2017-18. It is a powerful memento of community wildfire recovery, and testament to healing power of art.

The Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29.

Be a part of the growing arts scene in South Lake County by becoming a MAC member, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC. Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at MAC.

: Middletown Art Center; Posted On Thursday, 25 October 2018 04:18; 25 October 2018

Middletown Art Center hosts drypoint etching class Oct. 27

**Dragon tile by Holly Green. Courtesy photo.**

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center’s Restore project features printmaking - drypoint etching with artist Nicholas Hay this Saturday, Oct. 27, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Adults and children ages 11 and up of all levels of art making experience, from newbies to professionals, are invited to attend this inspiring class for just $5.

“We’ll use a drypoint technique to draw into a plastic plate with a metal etching pen,” explained Hay. “Participants will be able to make changes and refinements to their image and run their plate through the press several times during class. The process of printmaking is quite magical, and anyone who likes to draw can create compelling images.”

Drypoint etching on copper plates will also be introduced in this class. Participants can purchase copper plates to draw on and print in class in the coming months. MAC encourages folks to come to several classes, to hone skills, learn new ones, and develop a body of work. Participants may also work on monotypes during this class.

Please register in advance for all Restore classes at http://www.middletownartcenter.org/restore, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-809-8118. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Work from printmaking classes will contribute to MAC’s second chapbook of writings and images, as well as Restore exhibitions. The first chapbook, “Resilience – a community reframes disaster through art,” is available for purchase at MAC or on the MAC Web site. You can preview the book at www.middletownartcenter.org/resilience-chapbook-excerpt.

The Restore project provides low-cost classes most weekends through May 2019. Fall and early winter classes provide opportunity to learn or refine skills in a variety of materials and techniques, including clay, woodworking, metalworking, concrete, drypoint etching, block printing, and more.

Late winter and spring classes will focus on personal and collaborative projects, studio time, mentoring and guidance to create work.

Learn more about Restore class scheduling at www.middletownartcenter.org.

On Sunday, Nov. 4, Restore features natural woodworking with Marcus Maria Jung. The class begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m., and includes a break for lunch. A writing and performance lab with Casey Carney will be offered on Saturday, Nov. 10. Please preregister at www.middletownartcenter.org/restore.

The Restore project was made possible thanks to support from the California Arts Council, a state agency, with additional support from local organizations, businesses, and individuals. Visit www.ca.arts.gov to learn more about the California Arts Council’s important work in communities and schools throughout California.

Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29.

Be a part of the growing arts scene in South Lake County by becoming a MAC member, by coming to Restore printmaking this Saturday, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at MAC.

: Jan Cook; Posted On Tuesday, 23 October 2018 02:48; 23 October 2018

Big Read holds art workshop Oct. 27

Diana Liebe and Richard Schmidt show two sample paintings that they will use in a free art class open to the public. Students will receive a “coloring-book” version of the picture that they will then color in their own styles. The themes explored in the painting come from Into the Beautiful North by Luis Albert Urrea, the NEA Big Read selection in Lake County, Calif. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Luis Alberto Urrea painted vivid word pictures of life along the border between the US and Mexico in his novel Into the Beautiful North, the NEA Big Read selection in Lake County.

Local artists Richard Schmidt and Diana Liebe have taken Urrea’s images and translated them into visual pictures that they will share in a free beginning art workshop at the Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main Street in Lakeport on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 3 to 5 p.m.

Students will use watercolors, colored pencils and water color pencils to color their own versions of a template painting that features themes from “Into the Beautiful North.” During the class Schmidt will read from Urrea’s writing to inspire the students to new heights of creativity.

“Into the Beautiful North” follows the adventures of 19-year-old Nayeli who works at a taco shop in her Mexican village and dreams about her father who journeyed to the United States when she was young.

Recently, it has dawned on her that he isn't the only man who has left town. In fact, there are almost no men in the village – they've all gone north.

While watching “The Magnificent Seven,” Nayeli decides to go north herself and recruit seven men – her own "Siete Magníficos” – to repopulate her hometown and protect it from the bandidos who plan on taking it over.

A national initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.

For more information on this event, please contact the library at 707-263-8817. You also can view a full calendar of events for the NEA Big Read in Lake County, which continues through October, at http://www.lakecountybigread.com.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.

Jan Cook is a library technician for the Lake County Library.