Museum Update!

Spring Art show coming down next week. Sad days at Ironstone. The walls always look so forlorn the weeks after Spring Show goes away. If you have not seen the show yet, time is running out!

Currently the 2010 Galleria schedule is in the planning stages and will be released upon complete confirmation of all artists. It looks like a great summer line up so stay tuned!

A new WWII exhibit will be opening May 15th here in the Heritage Museum. Artifacts are coming in daily. There are spectacular personel affects as well as rare rifles and other wartime articles.  Rifles representing each of the involved countries are in pristine condition dispite their age, several quite rare collector specimens.

Included in one of the treasure boxes we discovered rare items given to Japanese soldiers by family members to ward off evil spirits and wish them good luck, fans & good luch belts signed by family members and friends.  There is a rare SS field flag as well as one small cap pin worn by one of the first SS radio troops to enter Paris, still on the original field cap. 

Doing the research on these pieces as they come in has been quite a learning experience for all of us here in the Museum.  We hope you will enjoy the display as much as we are having putting it together.

We will keep you updated as we get closer and more items come in...

Found Again!

OK, we are back on line. Camera hiding in lost & found taking a break!

Great week with the final dates set for the 2010 Ironstone Vineyards Concert Schedule! It is one exciting summer!  Keep an eye for entertainers links to the right.  For all interested in our Volunteer program, Volunteer pre-season meeting scheduled for Friday eve. 5:30 PM April 30th.  If you are interested in the Ironstone Volunteer Program, this meeting is a must do.  Get the scoop. Its a lot of work, but, a great team of Volunteers to work with.

The 2010 Concours d'Elegance, held September 25th. is opening the event to artists for 2010.  If you are a painter interested in painting on site during this spectacular classic car show, contact Chris Gomez at cgomez@ironstonevineyards.com. The exposure is tremendous and the autos even more so. Great opportunity to paint those exotics rarely seen out and about.  If you would like more info on the event check out their fun website.   http://www.ironstonefoundation.org/

If you haven't seen the Benitoite display, better hurry!  It will be leaving us towards the end of April. Owner Brett Keller will be entering this exhibit at the National Gem & Mineral Show in Las Vegas later this summer.

Incoming!  May 15th is our deadline to have up and running our summer special exhibit, WWII. The focus of the exhibit is still pending the final details of what will be coming in.  To date, I have notification that we will have helmets from each of the participating countries, a rare SS Waffen field flag & cap with a rare Paris pin.  There will be around 4 - 6 original rifles from various armies along with a SS dress dagger. And so much more!  I hope to obtain photos of some of the pieces prior to the exhibit. So, stay tuned in case I get early access.

The Ironstone Main Galleria will see various one person exhibits this summer. As soon as all artists are finalized, the schedule will be posted here.  In the meantime, ever changing bios of the 2010 Spring Art Show artists will be located at the lower part of this blog. Keep checking for updates.

Say Good Night!  "Good Night!"

Lost without my camera!

Can't believe how a lost in action camera can totally throw one off kelter!  Twitter has suffered and our poor blog came to a horrifying standstill! How can a digital camera cause speechlessness?  And this is someone who owned the "first camera" within the last 10 years. Mind you, the past was recorded with pen and sketchbooks, but, those don't upload as quickly or efficiently.  But, thanks to the saving grace of Carolyn! We are back on board, back in line and ready to go.

Did you notice the Mark Twain Quotes on the bottom of the blog? You should. Here is one man that should be listened to. 2010 marks Mark Twains 175th birth anniversary AND his 100th death anniversary.  A year to listen and celebrate one of our great American writters and humorists.  The Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee has taken up our great fellow as the Theme for this years Fair, Mark Twain's Wit & Wisdom, for he excelled at both!  We actually have the book, "Mark Twain: his words, wit and wisdom" here in the Museum for sale. I took it home to browse through. There are over 1,800 quotes. He is funny, full of satire and you can probably find one of his quotes that will totally insult you. 

If you haven't been out to the winery lately, you had better hurry if you want to see the brilliant colors of spring!  If Mother Nature keeps it warm too long, the incredable barrels of tulips will rise, explode their colors and fall to the ground, soon!  Check out http://ironstonegardens.blogspot.com/ for the full scoop and photos of what is out there! These are just a few taken WITH THE CAMERA THANK YOU CAROLYN! 

Also updating the Artists Bios below. Check them out. Very interesting and tallented people in this years Spring Obsession Art Show...

And for those of you not so garden enclined.... may I present Cowboy Bob's Flowers!

And the Winners Are!

Winners of the 13th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show!