San Luis Obispo Sculpture Tour from Cal Poly

A driving tour of five sculptures in San Luis Obispo

Here is a Google Map of the route I drove. Zoom in to see up close.

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Cal Poly Jazz Band and DJ Logic

This past Saturday I spent the evening in the Christopher Cohen Performing Arts Center on campus. Cal Poly’s Jazz Band performed with special guest DJ Logic.

The show started at 8 pm and ended just after 10 pm. First, Cal Poly’s Jazz Band Two (JB2) performed, then a combo featuring four members of Jazz Band One (JB1), and once intermission was over, a JB2 combo performed, then JB1 with DJ Logic. The performance was an integration of both jazz and hip-hop. 

DJ Logic accompanied JB1 by scratching during the songs chosen to create fillers as well as creating his own solos. His solos were composed of various scratch techniques.  

JB1 and DJ Logic had never practiced or collaborated on the performance, so the piece was entirely improvised. Because of this, the performance presented and encompassed the essence of jazz. 

The ticket price was $11 at the door for students.

Paul Rinzler, the conductor, believes that hip-hop integration with jazz could make jazz more contemporary and relate to the younger crowd, he said. 

My opinion on the performance, was a little different. I felt that the DJ scratching fell flat in terms of bringing the music to a more modern style. While I felt the use of fillers throughout all the pieces created more depth and interest in each song, the solos taken by DJ Logic weren’t as impressive. 

I am no expert of jazz, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t really enjoy the scratching solos. Now, I don’t really like jazz in general, but my main problem was with DJ Logic’s solos. I felt that the solos lacked depth and any type of differentiation between them.

I didn’t feel anything come through in the scratching. Jazz is extremely relevant and emotional, and the DJ scratching seemed to me like it was the same every time.

The one where I found the scratching to mesh entirely well with the jazz music, was during the song “Scary.” The song has a Halloween type feel and even featured Nicholas Garrison on the didgeridoo.

This will be the last time Cal Poly’s JB1 and JB2 will be playing together on campus until next school year.

Upcoming Events

By Hayley Richards

 I thought I would let all you guys know what is going on with the art community in San Luis Obispo in the next couple weeks. A lot of things are happening at the Performing Arts Center on the Cal Poly campus, but there are a few things going on off campus. If anything sounds interesting, feel free to ask me for more details.

• The Color of Money art exhibit will be going on until May 31st at the San Luis Obispo Art Center. The exhibit features over 60 artists and their work influenced by the economy and the idea of money.
• This Saturday at the Christopher Cohen Performing Arts Center on the Cal Poly campus, DJ Logic will be pairing up with Cal Poly’s Jazz Band for a performance. The show will include a mix of hip-hop and jazz styles as the music will be integrated on stage. The show starts at 8pm and are $12. I can guarantee it will be a cool night, and a lot different from what most people would expect. I will even be going, hoping to film it or at least snap some photos for this blog or for the jazz professor, Paul Rinzler. 
• Also in the PAC, on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd, in the Alex & Faye Spanos theatre, there will be a performance of Marisol. The show is described as “dark comedy and fantastical events, Obie-Award winning Jose Rivera (The Motorcycle Diaries) suggests the consequences of such critical issues as the credit crisis and environmental destruction within a rich story of humanity and compassion.”
• On Sunday the 23rd, the PAC is presenting The San Luis Jazz Show. This isn’t a musical production as much as it is a dance production. The dancers will perform to hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz style music. 
• May 25th, choirs from Morro Bay High School and Los Osos Middle School will perform songs from their spring festivals and tours. The event will be held in the Christopher Cohen Center in the PAC.
• June 4th, ‘The Anthem’ will come to Chumash Auditorium. It is the fourth annual poetry slam at Cal Poly and seeks to create difference and change for those that attend. The event will be from 7-10pm and is sure to be pretty exciting. 

I hope you saw something that sounded interesting. There will be more scheduled soon so keep your planners open! Enjoy.

10 Basic Drawing Tips

By Hayley Richards

I’ve compiled a list to help beginning artists (for those who want to draw in particular) boost their skills.

1. PRACTICE. The more you practice something, the better you get, which is exactly why practicing drawing makes you better and better.

2. Vary your pencil strokes. This will help you break free from your standard techniques. 

Image by Punk Rock Drawings on flickr

 

3. If you are drawing with pencil, use quality, dark pencils. The darker the pencil, the more depth comes from darker shades. It creates an image that is less restrictive.

4. Draw upside-down. This seems a little weird, but trust me, this has done wonders for me. If you want to recreate an image, turn in upside down, and begin drawing it upside down. It allows you to see the image as a series of lines and shapes, instead of the subject.

5. Draw basic shapes until you get them down extremely well. There is nothing worse than drawing a picture, and not being able to effectively draw an oval.

6. Do depth exercises. This will help you from distorting images with perception. Use a ruler if you need to, and draw a line across the center of a page with a dot anywhere on that line. Draw basic shapes around the page and make them three-dimensional by extending them into the distance by lining up point of the shape with the dot using the ruler.

7. Do value drawing. The most irritating thing I see when people are trying to do realistic pencil drawing, is outlines. These lines can ruin pictures. Instead, practice drawing things using no lines to outline, and instead use differing tones. This will make the images more realistic and a lot less elementary.

8. Draw all sorts of things. The greater difference in the subjects you draw, the broader your span of talent will become.

Mostly Brodie by Sean Camden

 

9. Take a stab at drawing someone you know really well. Each time I do this, my sketches come to life. It is one thing drawing a person you have never met before, but when you draw someone you have known for years, you can honestly see the difference in your work. The image will include characteristics others may have never noticed, and you will actually be able to pick up their natural mannerisms through the paper.

10. Draw when you’re angry, sad, happy, anxious, relaxed. Drawing when you’re in all sorts of moods will present you with surprising talents or styles you never expected you had. Even if the differences are subtle, you should be able to notice them. 

 For the moment, stick to things you know.

Steynberg Gallery

By Hayley Richards

The Steynberg Gallery off Monerterey Street in San Luis Obispo offers a unique cultural window into the world. The owner, Peter Steynberg, has owned the gallery for seven years.

The gallery not only features art, but it is also a coffee shop. The musical artists that play at Peter’s coffee shop come from all over the world. Some come from as far as India. Peter moved to San Luis Obispo 11 years ago after previously living in South Africa.

“There are a lot more musicians than there are venues,” Peter said. That helps him find musicians from all over to play at his gallery.

Currently on display in the Steynberg Gallery is a collection by Henry Rasmussen called Visual Voices. While Rasmussen isn’t a San Luis Obispo native, Peter personally picks which artists he displays in his gallery. “I’ve got to control the standard here,” he said. With so much artwork out there, Peter feels he must keep the quality in his gallery up to par.

The gallery didn’t start as a coffee shop. Peter felt that he couldn’t sustain his business as just a gallery, so he opened up a coffee shop inside the gallery. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be doing this,” he said.

As well as owning a gallery and coffee shop, Peter Steynberg is also an artist. He has a masters degree in fine art and examples of his work can be found online at the Steynberg Gallery website. A lot of influence has come from indigenous art in Africa, he said.

The crowd that the Steynberg Gallery mostly appeals to is 30 and up. Peter feels that there are so many options for Cal Poly students in the area, and that the older crowd should have their own place. After obtaining a wine and beer license, he has been trying to regulate students from coming in so as to keep the peace in the coffee shop and gallery sections.

The gallery is mostly known for contemporary and tribal art passing through. If you’re interested, it is located at 1531 Monterey Street in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Art Hot Spots in San Luis Obispo

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Jeff Claassen, Gallery Owner

By Hayley Richards

When I talked to Neal Breton, he mentioned that one of his favorite local artists was Jeff Claassen. Afterwards, I looked up Jeff online and found that he owns a store and Gallery right here in San Luis Obispo. Jeff, 32, is a San Luis Obispo native and currently owns a shop at 785 Marsh St. in downtown SLO.

Merch inside The Claassen Gallery

His artwork is on display throughout the store, on everything from t-shirts and wallets, to buttons and tiles. It’s not just a gallery and it’s not just a store. The Claassen Gallery is a hybrid of art and merchandise, making it that much better than any gallery or boutique around. “When I was 18 I got really into anti-labels; Why wear logos when I can wear my art,” Jeff said.

At that point, Jeff became really into the merchandise aspect. He has had a store since 2004, however this is the third space that he has moved to. Every couple of years, he outgrows the store, however this store will probably be his last because of its size, he said.

“I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember,” he said. Currently, Jeff paints and screenprints, among other things. His artwork is completely spontaneous, he says. He never sketches before starting and doesn’t even think about how its going to turn out. “I invite the element of chance,” Jeff said.

Paint for sale.

A lot of people feel like his work resembles graffiti art in some ways, his use of thick lines, organic drips and bright colors all indicate a street art style. His style was greatly influenced by skating too. The bold graphics often associated with skate designs rooted Jeff’s work, he says. He rarely blends colors.

Nearly all his work has some sort of face, which communicates his personality, he says. “A lot of the characters have contemplated or confused faces,” Jeff said, something that he feels is reflective of his partly introverted personality.

Some of his favorite artists include Aubrey Beardsley, Camille Rose Garcia, and Kendra Binney. He looks up to Sheppard Fairey specifically because of his insane work ethic, Jeff said.

Jeff feels that a lot of people believe that his artwork is geared towards young adults, but he believes that every age group can get something out of it. At one point, Jeff said, someone in their 60′s came by his store and told him ‘it was about time they saw something like this in San Luis.’

Even though all his work brings a little something for the audience, Jeff doesn’t have a favorite piece. “The next one is always my favorite,” he said. He truly loves the creation process and the construction of his work rather than the outcome, a sign that he is a passionate artist.

Channel Your Creativity

By Hayley Richards

If you’re an aspiring artist, or maybe if you just like to doodle or draw/paint for fun, sometimes being confined to your dorm or house isn’t exactly the best environment for some real creative downtime. Every artist needs to find their muse or at least a little inspiration. So where are the best places around San Luis Obispo to bust out a little art project? That’s what I am here to let you know!

Spooner’s Cove: If you drive all the way out towards Los Osos on Los Osos Valley Road (LOVR), you’ll wind up heading towards Montana de Oro. After a seven mile drive, you’ll reach the beautiful Spooner’s Cove. The sand is course, and there are secluded coves you can wander into, plus a few cliff-esque rocks to climb. This spot will let you channel the soothing feel of the ocean, plus the contrast between the borwnish-red rocks and the blue sky should make for some good inspiration.

Perfumo Canyon view, photo by mayhem on flickr

Perfumo Canyon: Not only is this a scenic drive up, but Perfumo Canyon offers serenity and a little quiet time. Turn onto Perfumo Canyon Drive from LOVR and drive or bike until you’re at the top of the hills. There are a bunch of places to pull off and look around. On clear days, you can see from Morro Bay to Avila. It might give you a new perspective on both your town, and your art.

Beach Cave: If you’re the type of person that needs no distractions when painting or drawing, and really just want it to be you and your art, Beach Cave is perfect. It’s a little tougher to find, but definitely worth it. If you take 101 S towards Avila, then take the Avila Beach exit. Turn left onto Cave Landing Road, and it will take you uphill and you’ll end up in a parking lot. Go down the trail on the left of the parking lot as if you were going to Pirates Cove, but turn right instead of taking the stairs down to Pirates. Beach Cave is literally a tunnel through the rock and one side of it gives you a cliff-side view of Avila. Talk about the essence of beauty.

Beach Cave in Avila, photo by brunkfordbraun on flickr

A local coffee house: Coffee shops are usually seen as places for novelists, but when you think about it, writing is art. So why wouldn’t a coffee shop be perfect for other forms of art? It would. You can sip coffee, and watch people go by. The aromas and the noises may help you come up with ideas or channel different sensations into your art. If you’re not up for a day at Starbuck’s or Peet’s Coffee and Tea, then hit up Steynberg Gallery, its an art gallery and coffee house.

Neal Breton

By Hayley Richards

I have already talked a little about the downtown art supply store, San Luis Art Supply, but this time I want to talk a little about Neal Breton, the owner. Neal, 35, lives here in SLO, and opened San Luis Art Supply to coax the local art scene out of its slumber, he said. This doesn’t even begin to tap into Neal, he surrounds himself with art. Neal not only owns San Luis Art Supply, but he is a painter alongside that.

His style, which he describes as close to being pop deconstructionism, can be previewed at the Tiger Lily Salon at 670 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo, where Neal has a small collection of paintings on display. “Most of my paintings that I did were about taking an image and basically reducing it to the most raw shapes you can possibly find.”

One of the most noticeable aspects of Neal’s work is his use of color. “I like the dichotomy,” he says, “I try to convey something sad, and I’ll use bright colors to try and throw you off.” Neal often creates depth on a two-dimensional plane by using layers of circles, drips, or other organic use of paint, he says.

As far as other artists go, Neal is inspired by local artists Jeff Claasen and Jason Hudson, and the not-so-local Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol, among others. Comic books left a profound mark on Neal. “I grew up reading comic books,” he said, “They only have so many panels and so much space to get their point across, its kind of cut to the chase. That’s what I liked about it.”

Neal has been painting for 15 years, and has sold more than 100 of his pieces, but he will be returning to his roots of drawing, he said.

As for his store, Neal is trying to provide a gateway to try new things with his art for those here in SLO. “I don’t find much soul in what galleries are selling nowadays,” Neal said, “They are selling trees and pictures of Morro rock. A photograph can take care of those things. I want to breathe life here. I want it to be moving. I dont want it to stay stagnant. I dont want it to become a ritual for those people.”

You can visit the store website at sanluisartsupply.com, or visit Neal’s own site at nealbreton.com.

Hidden Treasures

By Hayley Richards

One type of art that I haven’t really touched on is functional art. Functional art is not only artwork, but it is useful in everyday life. It isn’t like a painting or a sculpture, but more like, say, jewelry.

Robert Hammer, Local Jeweler.

I recently met Robert Hammer, an up-and-coming jewelry designer here in San Luis Obispo. He designs and makes irregular pearl necklaces and bracelets in all colors and sizes.

While Robert has made jewelry for years, he started crafting this line of pearl jewelry in September of 2009 for his three nieces, ages 2, 13, and 18. While visiting an old antique store in Cayucos, he stumbled upon old stick/Biwa pearls and was motivated to make something with them. “Initially it was absolutely inspiration,”

Since the project has taken off, Robert’s designs are under the name Beckoning Muse, and his website, beckoningmuse.com, says, “For several years, my muse has urged me to gather beautiful things and make something new and more beautiful.”

"Caribbean" by Robert Hammer

Robert works primarily with multi-colored stick/Biwa pearls and blister pearls. Both types of pearls are natural, Biwa pearls are oblong rectangular shapes, and blister are irregular but more compact than the Biwa pearls. His pearls come primarily from Thailand and China.

To help come up with designs, Robert attends art events around the county and he hopes to create a different collection for every season. Each collection would include jewelry inspired by the season. “For summer I could do ‘A Day at the Beach,’” Robert said. He would use colors extracted from the sky, the sand and the sea, he said.

"Midas Touch" by Robert Hammer

Beyond the beautiful colors and designs, the necklaces and bracelets are unique to their name. Robert names each of his pieces based on the design “Having a name adds a whole lot of character,” he said. Midas Touch is among his favorites. The necklace features pearls of all shapes and sizes that have gold undertones. Other necklaces he has created have names such as Burgundy and Zinfandel, Luck o’ the Irish, May Love Grow, and Four Elements. All of the necklaces capture the impression brought by the name.

Pricing is $45 for the stick/Biwa pearl bracelets, $60 for the stick/Biwa pearl necklaces. The blister pearl bracelets are $40, and the blister pearl necklaces are $50. Robert takes special requests for his jewelry, and is available by email at robert@beckoningmuse.com. Feel free to check out his designs both on the the web or in stores.

The Beckoning Muse jewelry is displayed at the following three locations:

1. Halcyon Store – (805) 489-2432
936 South Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

2. Jewell’s Trading Post - (805) 473-1541
1530 West Grand Avenue, Grover Beach, CA  93433

3. Pacific Futon Co. & House of Waterbeds – (805) 544-8470
1459 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, CA  93401