Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Last day at the fair




So, we went to the fair Sunday, looking for our friend Tibbi, I guess we were a little late for his shift at The Beer Gardens.  We ended up making a new friend,  Sheila,  who was pouring beer. 
Sheila Johnson is a 55 year old bass player in a all girl band called "know bs",  she's a retired engineer from the aerospace industry starting a whole new life for herself. 
Although we were disappointed that we missed Tibbi, we were  happy to have made a new friend.
Sheila was awesome! We were there for her entire shift which I think was 4 hours, ran into so many friends and soon Sheila was on the other side of the bar hanging out with all of us. Beer tasting is our favorite thing to do at the fair, it is one of the best kept secrets. You get to sample 4 micro brews at a time and get to ask the friendly bartenders questions about beer. Our favorite beer turned out the be the "Ballast Point Big Eye IPA". Sheila told us there is a trend in California that brewers use tons of hops and are known as "Hop Heads".  I guess now I know why we like IPAs so much, were hop heads too. We had so much fun, but don't need to do that again for about another year!
Check out Sheila's band at www.myspace.com/knowbsrocks.
photos are from the booth at the fair, first photos; Juan, George and myself. Second photo; our friends Sally and Sonny, who we missed at the fair but made up for it later at Characters ;-P 

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Film Festival 2008 in Pomona’s Arts Colony

Thomas Plaza, Pomona Arts Colony
Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Dusk


Bring your own chair or blanket and enjoy an evening under the stars to see a collection of short films, artist videos and animation from around the world. Pomona’s “Last Saturday” Art Walk will be in full swing in the Arts Colony starting at 6PM, followed by the Short Film Festival in Thomas Plaza (2
nd and Thomas St.) starting at dusk.

Short film buffs may recognize "You Can Awesome" by Michael Mohan, Los Angeles or "Shuteye Hotel" by Bill Plympton, New York. World renown animator, Brent Green’s "Hadacol Christmas" will be in the line-up, as well as works by local
phenom
Franz Keller. Nineteen Films are on the schedule with one 15 minute intermission. The entire program of films being shown can be found at: www.scagallery.com or www.pomonaartscolony.com

 

This Film Fest is presented by R.T. Pece and sponsored in part by Downtown Pomona Owners Association, SCA Project Gallery, and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

R. T. (Bob) Pece is an associate of SCA Project Gallery and produces his own films and animation as well as organizing short film festivals throughout Arizona and California. Bob has a Master of Fine Arts, Studio, University of California, Irvine; Bachelor of Arts, Art, California State University, Los Angeles and Associate Arts, Architecture, Pasadena City College.

 

Additional information can be obtained from: SCA Project Gallery, Cheryl Bookout 909-620-5481 or director@scagallery.com


Monday, September 22, 2008

Treasure in the Colony




Yesterday was Sunday and that means that we head over to dba256 to get our Tibbi fix.
If you haven't met Tibbi, then you need to go over and introduce yourselves...he's the best.
He knows everything there is to know about beer, he loves beer.
We love beer too and we so appreciate having a place like this right around the corner from us.
dba256 Gallery wine bar is,  ofcourse known for it's wine, but they have several beers on tap and a huge selection of beers in the bottle. Every time we go into dba, Tibbi introduces us to something new,  always something great!
Last night He made us the most delicious Panini, it's called the Cuban, filled with ham, turkey, cheese, roasted peppers on rye focaccia. The sandwich is huge, we split it, it also comes with fresh strawberries, melon, pineapple and grapes....it was perfect and there are many others on the menu along with cheese platters. 
Sunday is going to be beer tasting day...this is coolest! 
dba256 Gallery wine bar is located at 256 s. Main St.  Pomona, 91766
909-623-7600
here's some photos of Tibbi and his creation...we both took a bite before the photo ;-P

-Susie

Friday, September 19, 2008

Best Steak Dish in Pomona


I am a fan of steak! And I have tried many restaurants here in Pomona. I have found one of the most delicious steak dishes ever, right here in good ol' Downtown Pomona. And the winner is, The sizzling Teppan Filet Mignon at Sakura Ichi. They bring it over in a bowl and pour it over and hot iron skillet at your table. Now I've had good Filet Mignon before, but this beats them with the sesuane flavor and tremendous portions (I had to take mine home and enjoy it for lunch today). We also enjoy our $9 pitcher of Kirin beer and to our luck, it was happy hour and got a second pitcher free.

We frequent this eatery quite often and have made friends with the owner, Leo. He was our first waiter and we have fell in love with him ever since. Leo always makes it a point to come over and chat and make us laugh. He reminds us that now they are having live entertainment on Friday and Saturday Nights. Thats just all to good to pass up.

Sakura Ichi is located in the Mission Promenade at 101 W. Mission Blvd.
-Juan

Monday, September 15, 2008

A day at the fair





















The Pomona's art colonists went to the fair yesterday, it's really good this year...
We had a blast! First we dropped by the Millard Sheets Gallery and visited our friend, David Sheets, the grandson of the famous artist Millard Sheets.
David is heading 
the Trojan Horse 
project.On team 2 are our good friends Dan and Dina Romero, Kryk Stiffler and Jim Dorian.They 
have a live web cam so you can see their progress daily. Then we went over to The Chuck Wagon and had the best BBQ lunch. 
After lunch we headed over to
the Beer Gardens to sample the Micro brews....this is a great value...$5 gets you 4 samples, our friend Curt Dale's "Dale brothers" beers are there on tap.
Next we went to the Wine tasting, this is $17 and well worth every penny.
With your purchase you get to sample 7 wines, plus a bonus glass, and food that goes with the wine. In our session we got to sample BBQ meats with Red Zinfandels. There was a panel discussion with two vineyard owners and Q&A....this was fun!
The gardens are so beautiful this year with an island theme.
Our very own Galeria Rustica  has booth at the fair this year....stop by and say hi to Anna.
There's so much to do and fun to be had we will have to go again to get it all in!
pictures follow:
Exhibit in the Millard Sheets Gallery.
My beautiful daughter Amber and her boyfriend Tony
who was making a funny face for the camera.
Dan Romero, David Sheets and Kryk Stiffler.
The dA's very own Jim Dorian with a big smile.
Dan And Dina hard at work.
The Home and Gardens area.
My good friend Glen Hori working at the wine tasting,
he is also a Chef.
The rides.
Bark park, which is new this year.
Our good friends Frank and Cathy Garcia.
and Big Bubba's
Fair runs through September 28th.
-Susie



September Artwalk



Saturdays artwalk in Pomona was so much fun!
lots of good shows, alot of
people were out enjoying  the art, music, our bars and great restaurants. I heard  so many positive things from the folks that came into our place. If you have never been to our artwalks, this is a taste of what you will see!
and you have another chance to see these shows...
they will be up until the end of the month and we will have another reception on the last Saturday Sept; 27th 6-10PM
in photos are:
The beautiful Terry Castillo, director of the dA gallery with the beloved Jeff Steinberg
amazing photographer Max Gerber, came out with his friend Camille.
A.S. Ashley eyeing the gummy worms.
Craig French showing at the Downtown Center.
Juan Thorp, and the famous Richard Ankrom guerrilla public service 
standing in front of Richard godfrey paintings.
Artist Robert Reynolds, standing in front of our window.
Chris Hernandez, Richard Godfrey, showing at Bunny Gunner and artist George Comer.
Artist Thomas Pathe, and artist Franz Keller.
Video istallation at SCA, good show and lots to see
Latino Art Museum, great show as usual.
Pho Vi...great Vietnamese food at reasonable prices
Kathy Jones at dba256.
Amazing show at the dA.
So much more, but we couldn't do it all since we had a show at our place.
-Susie













Sunday, September 7, 2008

POMONA'S ARTS COLONY KICKS OFF THE GALLERY SEASON WITH A BANG FROM L.A. AND BEYOND!





September is the month for the new gallery season with Pomona's Arts Colony pulling out all the stops for this season's debut. The Second Saturday Art Walk (Sept 13th, 6-10pm) will feature a L.A. migration, of sorts, into the Colony in two separate venues: The dA Center for the Arts brings "CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT ... Earth, Body, Rhythm, Form, Life," by L.A. curator Lilli Muller. She will be introducing her band of spatial artists from Los Angeles for this large scale sculptural and visual installation extravaganza. Artists include: Lilli Muller, Rick Robinson, Jonna Lee, Rick Mendoza, and Kathryne Layne Paxton.

The other Art Hombre from Way Out West is Richard Godfrey; This L.A. rattlesnake will bring his six-shooters to Bunny Gunner in "GODFREY4WAY-2008", a one man bar-room brawl of aesthetic delights. If that wasn't enough, to add to the wagon train, there will be a bus overflowing with Artists and patrons from L.A's "Arts Colony" to join in our Second Saturday festivities, courtesy of the dA.
Bunny Gunner, 266 W. Second St. www.bunnygunner.com

That's just the L.A contingent, there are many openings of merit this September in Pomona:

Craig French, "Paradigm Shift" at Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center, curated by George Cuttress, examines the evolution of Craig's work from the early years of vibrant colors and neon to the contemplative simplicity of his recent wall sculptures. French's use of aluminum, resin, glass, copper, stainless steel, and wood in his recent pieces of arching shapes and forms are bold and brilliant.
Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center, 300 W. Second St. www.class.csupomona.edu/downtowncenter

AMOCA is bringing a spectacular exhibition in "Robert Sperry, Bright Abyss", a retrospective exhibition showcasing over 90 ceramic works by multi-talented artist and innovative ceramist, Robert Sperry (1927-1998). For over 40 years Sperry, a figure of the post World War II American Studio Ceramics movement in the Pacific Northwest, was a professor at the University of Washington. In addition to being a great contributor to the advancement of ceramic art, Sperry is remembered for further developing an excellent ceramics department at the University and birthing a long line of ceramic instructors.
AMOCA (American Museum of Ceramic Art), 340 S. Garey Ave. www.ceramicmuseum.org

Ink'd Chronicles brings "Tattoos & Trash" to Pomona and features paintings by Dirk Vermin and numerous other artists from PussyKat Tattoo Parlour,  in Las Vegas.  In addition, his band, The Vermin will be playing at 10:00 PM. Additional bands will begin at 9:00PM.

The Ferguson Fine Arts gallery will be presenting a group show featuring Ocean Clark, whose pop icon portraits of Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles, including recent paintings of Barack Obama, has made him a national sensation. Clark will be making a personal appearance at Ferguson Fine Arts gallery during Second Saturday. Rounding out the bill will be artwork by Star Foreman, Joe Ded, Ron Brown, and pin-up art master, Ralph Burch.
Ferguson Fine Arts, 181 W. 2nd St. www.ffadgallery.com 

Nineteen artists demonstrate the art of persuasion in advertising at SCA Project Gallery's "Through the Looking Glass of Indirection" curated by The 'Nguyen. " 'Indirection' refers to the advertising techniques of planting inferences or using third party authorities to create demand for consumption, or to manipulate public opinion." How appropriate that this show is in one of 5 underground galleries along Thomas Street? ---we get to delve deep below the surface, and into the sub-conscious world of art and mind. 
SCA Project Gallery, 281 S. Thomas St. www.scagallery.com 

The exhibits listed here are just a fraction of opening events happening this Second Saturday. For more information, maps, and future show listings in Pomona's Arts Colony go to: www.pomonaartscolony.com and www.metropomona.com

-A.S. Ashley

Santa Ana artwalk


Last night a bunch of us colonist headed out to Santa Ana for the Animal Magnetism show. We had a great time, ran into a lot old friends, it was a good turnout and the art was good! 





here's the photos:
above top
Our good friend James and Juan at Memphis,
Amy Caterina's art...  one of my favorite artist.
below are;
A.S. Ashley in the mouse trap with Natalie, 
Jeff and Margie ( we all love these two ),
Our new friend Patricia, the bar at Memhis, this place is happening!  I remember when this cool place was just a hair salon.
standing by their art are our sweet friends Matt Driggs and Janet Owen Driggs with their son Theo who was pooped out from too much birthday party....he turned one. Laurie Hassold's monster...I love her work!
Juan Thorp standing by his piece.
Aspects of Mel's hole at Grand Central Art Center

-Susie












Thursday, September 4, 2008

Faculty art show at Cypress College






Last night three of us Pomona Arts Colonist went to a really cool faculty exhibit at Cypress College. Some of the artist at Cypress have shown their art right here at Bunny Gunner, we do some work for some of them as well ( yes they come all the way to Pomona from Los Angeles, Long Beach, Huntington Beach and other cities to have framing and vinyl done for their shows.
Many of them come to our artwalks monthly!
Here's some pictures of these friends of ours and their art.
James, why don't we have a picture of you?
Good times at Shakey's afterwards!

Ed, Denise and Lucca Giardina

Paul Paiement and Ed Giardina

Bear by Matt Driggs

Little Pharma-Physic Garden by Ed Giardina and James Rojsirivat (Finishing School)

paintings by Devon Tsuno 

This a good show, Cypress College has a strong art department.  Exhibit runs till September 26th.












Painting by  Paul Paiement
who has a show at Peter Blake in Laguna Beach

-Susie