Colfax Art Walk is Friday, August 2

Summer is here and once again Colfax activities come to life. Especially the Colfax Art Walk for its 2013 season. This free event is appropriate for people of all ages and tastes, and is only one-third of a mile north on South Auburn Street from Interstate 80.

Just like last year, the Colfax Art Walks occur on the second Friday of each month, May – October from 3-8 pm in historic, downtown Colfax. Participating local businesses, located on Main & Depot Streets, will host an artist reception throughout the event… and each featured artist will show and discuss his or her work.

The next Colfax Art Walk is Friday, August 2, from 3-8 p.m.

Downtown Colfax’s newest merchant said yes to being on the Colfax Art Walk before he even had his doors open. Brooklyn’s West Deli, at 7 N. Main Street, Ste. 1, hosts the brilliantly enhanced photography of Rick Krach.

Krach is well known to the Auburn Art Walk crowd, having participated in numerous Art Walk exhibits. In addition, his work has been featured as part of California State Fair posters. The Deli will have pastries and beverages for sale.

The first business to confirm their participation in the 2013 season of the Colfax Art Walk was the Doggie Depot at 9 Depot Street, #1. This adorable pet grooming shop returns to the walk, opening with the stunning watercolor paintings of Foxey McCleary.

Anyone who spends much time in downtown Colfax certainly knows Foxey as the sweet, unassuming lady who volunteers for everything. What many don’t know is that she holds Masters of Fine Art and two teaching credentials from Sacramento State University. She has taught art locally for many years, mostly volunteering, and is a member of the Placer Artist League (PAL).

Two of her watercolors were accepted into the 30th Jubilee Open Juried Show in The Arts Building in Auburn. Doggie Depot owner, Pam Firpo, will no doubt be grooming a variety of gorgeous, friendly dogs during the reception.

Jim Lee, of SurfingBuddhaArt.com fame, will be showing his paintings at Café Luna’s. Jim, a resident of Colfax, was the first artist to hang up work after the current owners took over at the location of 5 Depot Street, but this season is his first appearance in the Colfax Art Walk. Jim studied art literally all over the world.

His mixed media paintings are a fusion of influences from east, west, ocean and mountain, abstract and realism. They are colorful and express movement. And, of course, Mario is sure to have some of his lovely tastees on hand to nibble while conversing with Jim.
We have two block print artists on for May.

The first, Peggy Just Peterson, resides in Granite Bay. Her showing takes place in Main Street Pizza, at 46 N. Main Street, in the lounge area. Inspired by objects found and scenes captured in nature, her block prints express the relationship between art and nature.

Our second block print artist for May will grace the walls of the Colfax Greek Bistro at 30 N. Main Street. Katherine Cook’s block prints show a highly complex layering of texture and color, giving her prints a richness unusual in block printing. Two of her prints were accepted recently into the 30th Jubilee Open Juried Show in Auburn. Cook resides in Auburn.

NEW PARTICIPANTS

Another new business that joined the Colfax Art Walk this season is an unusual one – Ammo Camo & Bait, corner of S. Main & Grass Valley Street. Floyd Green will exhibit his wonderful metal sculptures. The sculptures look like they belong on a wooden framed ranch entrance but are equally beautiful hanging inside a living room or den.

Although most of the local artists know Floyd, a Colfax resident, he’s never ventured to show his work as “art.” It took the prodding of other local artists to convince Floyd show up with a portfolio. There was no question about his talent.

We’re delighted that Ammo Camo decided to be a venue on the art walk for wonderful artists like Floyd Green.

Although not a new business in Colfax, The Hair Studio at 15 S. Main Street has been a fixture of Colfax for years. An art lover herself, the owner for several years has permitted crafters & jewelers to sell their work on consignment in her salon.

We are thrilled she’s jumping into the Art Walk. Her first artist is well-known Newcastle artist, Kathleen Ryan. Among Ryan’s favorite subjects are impressions of historical buildings, antique cars and landscapes.

She also does wonderful portrait paintings. She won a teaching minor in art at San Jose State University. Her studio is located in the converted, historic Newcastle fruit packing sheds.

Ryan also curates the Auburn Library Beecher Room Art Gallery as well as the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Art Gallery, both of which are located in Auburn, CA.

The first Colfax Art Walk finishes at the Creative Corner Arts & Crafts Co-op at 55 S. Main Street. Although this artist co-op exhibits the work of many artists throughout the year, Daunine Vining, one of the co-op resident artists, will have a special space reserved for her for this Art Walk. She plans to show her marionettes and pencil drawings.

Last year, her marionettes were a big hit along with her drawings. Vining volunteers much of her time to Colfax’s various art related projects, including the Sierra Vista Art Center where she teaches several classes.

COLFAX THEATER

Lastly, while not an official Colfax Art Walk venue, the newly restored Colfax Theater hopes to have its first movie showing following the Art Walk. Permits, approvals and restoration challenges always loom with these kinds of undertakings, but we hope that you’ll stop and take notice of what’s happening at this theater which holds a special spot in cinema history.

The theatre was one of only nine theaters throughout the nation in which Lucas Films installed the first surround sound systems for the premiere of Star Wars. Only nine – and one of them was in little Colfax, CA. How wonderful that this historic movie house is being restored.

We hope you will make time in your schedules to come to downtown Colfax for this enjoyable family-friendly event. It’s a wonderful way to create community, support local commerce and keep the arts alive.

For more information, click here.

You can also pick up a free map at any of the participating businesses in Colfax, marked prominently by red “Colfax Art Walk” signs.

PlacerArts is the Arts Council of Placer County, a non-profit, public benefit, and the designated state-local partner of the California Arts Council for the County of Placer. The Colfax Art Walk is coordinated, in conjunction with PlacerArts and the Sierra Vista Art Center, by the all-volunteer Colfax Art Walk Committee.

-Colfax Art Walk