Free Music at Ironstone! Friday nite

Utica Mine Archives

Just received word that Ironstone's Heritage Museum will be hosting a one day preview of an outstanding historic find, Saturday, August 30th.

Memorabilia from the famous Utica Mine of Calaveras County. Direct from Holabird & Assoc., will be available for viewing with representatives from Holabird here to answer any questions you may have.  Word is this collection may go up for auction later this year, so now is your chance to come out and see for yourself this great historic archive.  

Now a word from Holabird & Assoc...

Utica Mine Find

The word “archive” is often thrown around to describe items for sale. But this true archive contains thousands and thousands of billheads, assay receipts, advertising envelopes, letters, business cards, river shipping receipts, whiskey and cigar related ephemera, etc. It is the complete record of the Utica Mine and nearby mines and towns associated with the Utica Mine.

You will find names like Frank Mitchler, George Stickle, and Charles Lane, places like Knights Ferry and Sheepranch, assays done by the Utica Mill, assay receipts and bills for rolled silver from Selby, hundreds of records hauling ore and lumber to the Utica Mill, and many more.

Learn about the Angels Dam breaking, the use of Union Water Works ditches to fight fires, the two fatal Utica Mine accidents and the 22 deaths associated with it, which companies in Stockton, Sacramento, and San Francisco were frequented and what was purchased.

Small towns and places can be found throughout the archive: Soulsbyville, Robinson Ferry, Bear Valley Station, Ranch Flat, Monarch Ville, French Canon, Bunds Ranch, and Valley Springs. Find references to forgotten mines and leases named new Discovery, Essex, Juneau, Egan, Union Copper, Ilex, Oriole, New Brunswick, Dolling and many more. Spend hours in 1918 and 1919 as the West Point mines are mapped and described and the business of the mine is laid out. The owner is attempting to market the mine for sale.

Most of these documents are mining related! There are many stories ready to be uncovered and told from this archive! Too many to even begin exploring in this short describing.

Artist Kathleen Dunphy visits Ironstone!

Nationally acclaimed Plein Air Artist Kathleen Dunphy spent a beautiful morning at Ironstone last week working her magic in the vineyards. Below you see the beautiful outcome of that visit.

If you are not familiar with Kathleen or her work you are missing an amazing experience, both visually and emotionally.  Each time I look at one of her paintings, I am drawn into the landscape, the time zone and the aura of that space and time, not once but every time I look at that painting. A true time capsule of energy and light.   For more outstanding paintings visit her website   http://kathleendunphy.com/  

Celebrate with us! July 5th.

Update on Rocks, Rocks and more Rocks!

Update:
Small specimens selling for $5 each while the larger ones are $7 each. Great value! and they are going fast...

New shipment of 52 boxes of outstanding Rock specimens!

Just arrived at Ironstone Heritage Museum this afternoon. We are having so much fun opening each box to see the stunning assortment of quality specimens.

Everything from Copper, Amethyst, giodes, Crystals, Lepidolite, Wulfenite, Sulfur, Kyanite, Aragonite, Rose Quartz, Blue Calcite, Malachite , Okenite (this one is fuzzy and just too wierd to touch!), Dolomite, Actinolite, Sodalite, Amazonite ....

And we have only opened 5 of the 52 boxes!

Prices are only $5 & $7 each.

Snooze ya loose!  These are great for collectors of all ages. If we come across anything real unusual, we will post a photo!


And most important, these are all labeled!  The first batch we received of smaller and lesser quality rocks a couple of years ago were not labeled. We have been trying over the years to learn more about each specimen and figure out what they all are.  This time, NO PROBLEM!  We know what they are and where they come from.  All specimens include a descriptive tag.  

Start your collection now!

Franklin Classic Car Club

Visiting from throughout the United States, the Franklin Classic Car Club comes to Murphys and Ironstone Vineyards.  Over 60 Classic Car Buffs invade Calaveras County, one in particular having driven all the way from New York State!  And NOT in a trailer, but on the road.  

History of the Franklin Company and Club

The Motor Car and the Company

The Franklin motor car was invented by the engineer John Wilkinson and manufactured by the industrialist H. H. Franklin and marked under his name. The Franklin was one of the most innovative motor cars of its time, featuring an air-cooled engine, scientific light weight and flexible construction at a time when other luxury car manufacturers were making ponderous machines. Although it was a luxury car, its unique features made the Franklin a pleasant and easy car to operate, and consequently most Franklins were owner driven. The company always featured many body styles, both factory and custom-made, which were conducive to being owner driven. The Franklin's design allowed it to set many records in point-to-point races which revealed its superior nimble handling, durability, economy and speed over the rough roads of the day. Throughout its history Franklin was a luxury car and it was in this part of the automotive market that it competed with the other notable makes of the day. As such it fell victim to the Great Depression along with many of these same fine luxury car manufacturers.

  

These remarkable motor cars engendered such a loyal and faithful following that interest in these automobiles never died out. Many individuals continued to operate Franklins as their every day automobiles or preserved them right up to the emergence of the antique and classic hobby, decades after production ceased in 1934. The H. H. Franklin Manufacturing Company was a very large employer in Syracuse, New York area, its home base, and many people across the world had very fond associations with the company and its motor cars either as employees, dealers, service personnel or just loyal customers of that fine make. For others who were younger it may have been an unforgettable recollection of a Franklin in the family or one which was owned by a neighbor. They were very distinctive automobiles and were not easily forgotten.

Information from the Franklin Car Club
http://www.franklincar.org/about/history/company-and-club.html

Lady Antebellum was a sell out show and awesome!

Hope you got to see the show! It was awesome!  
We have been away buried in work and unable to join you here, but, we are back!  And will get updates on line again...

Post Clinic images ...

If you missed the Free Appraisal Clinic by Holabird & Associates
here are a few more items that came in...

This was an antique shadowbox that was animated. Excellent condition and very funny!

Several antique Guns & Rifles came in. This was the more rare

 Interesting figuring fetching around $300

Fake? or Museum Treasure?  Turned out to be a lovely print... not worth as much as the frame!

There were several outstanding collections of original art that came in. These were done by artist D. Schuler

 Yes, there was GOLD as well, some outstanding specimens too!

Prospector Mario brought in his bathroom waist basket and discovered it was a custom art piece from the early 1900's.

This might be a Miwuk paint brush?

Some things required a closer inspection...

 Is this genuine? The blade seems to be, but ...

 More outstanding art..

This was an outstanding collection from an authentic gold rush bad guy!

  Rugs and more rugs..

 Excellent antique rifle ..

Antique clothing well preserved

Great old metal & glass sign

Appraisal Clinic arrivals!

 Here are a few photos of some of the great stuff coming in for appraisals this morning! Already looking to be a fun day to watch & learn!

Free Appraisal Clinic!

Today and Sunday, Holabird & Associates are conducting a free appraisal clinic specializing in Early Americana, books, paintings, coins, gold, documents, letters, etc... bring it in for a free appraisal!

Stay tuned for photos of some of the awesome stuff coming in!!!

Concert Announcement!

Announcing Two Amazing Shows

 for 

Ironstone Amphitheatre!

Richter Entertainment Group Presents

Lady Antebellum

plus Special Guest

Friday, June 13th

presenting station KAT Country Radio

ZZ Top & Jeff Beck

Friday, August 15th

presenting station 104.1 The Hawk

Tickets on Sale Through Ticketmaster.

Tickets on Sale Friday April 11th

Stay Tuned for Ironstone Pre-Sale Information!

Sponsored by Black Oak Casino!

Richter Entertainment is coming back to Ironstone with a pair of stellar shows!!  First in June, we are proud to bring to Murphys, for the first time, Lady Antebellum. Since its 2006 inception, Lady A has risen quickly to become Country Music's most influential current group. Lady A won the Vocal Group of the Year honor from both the Country Music Association and from the Academy of Country Music three times in a row. Eight of the band's singles went gold, with four - "American Honey," "Need You Now," "Just A Kiss" and "I Run To You" - surpassing the platinum mark. "Need You Now" went on to sell over seven million downloads, according to the RIAA. Additionally, "Need You Now" claimed five of the trio's seven career Grammy wins in 2011, including the all-genre Record and Song of the Year.

All of that was achieved through a fragile balance of several key pieces, each of which helps define Lady Antebellum's sound: ingratiating melodies, the interplay between Kelley's soulful male resonance and Scott's scintillating female texture, the threesome's bittersweet harmonic blend, and production elements that invariably emphasize the stylistic inclusiveness of modern country.

That sound catapulted Lady A to an enviable level of popularity. The band picked up an audience beyond the typical Country core listener, it hit the road playing arenas and stadiums, and the group performed on all the major television shows, including Saturday Night Live, Oprah, the Grammys, The Voice, and most every other daytime and late night program on network television.

Art is a moving target. Those who do it most successfully find shades of emotion within themselves that change the texture of their work and how they feel about themselves. As a result, a real artist is ever-changing.

So it is for Lady Antebellum, whose album Golden was figuratively - and literally - borne on the move. The harmony-based trio - Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood - and its sizeable fan base bonded heavily during the band's Own The Night World Tour, its first arena run as a headlining act, in 2012. The shows themselves were inspirational. But so was the time offstage. Lady A made a point of experimenting and creating with its road band as the one-nighters and the miles of travel piled up. That behind-the-scenes interaction inspired much of the music on Golden, an instantly infectious project in which Lady A discovered new edges for its already-successful foundation.

Their new record,"Golden, depicts a kind of a special time for us in our career," Haywood says. "I personally feel so humbled that we can still be making records that people are excited to hear. We're in a really valuable, golden time."

Then, in August we honored to present long time music legends and mutual admirers, ZZ Top and Jeff Beck on tour together for the first time.  Last time ZZ Top played at ironstone it was near sell out and an amazing show!  To have Jeff Beck joining ZZ Top is a show of rare magnitude!

Formatted with musical synergy in mind, stops along the touring route will offer fans a full Jeff Beck set, followed by a full ZZ Top set, with a finale that joins the English fret master with the Texas rockers for a collaboration each night of the tour.

ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, speaking on behalf of band mates Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, noted that Beck has long been a source of musical inspiration from the time when Beck played in the Yardbirds, the seminal hard blues-based Britrock band. Gibbons commented, “Ever since experiencing ‘Jeff’s Boogie,’ the prospect of performance with Jeff Beck on the deck brings us into focus with the curator of crunch.”

Likewise, Beck has been an enduring fan of ZZ Top, from even before their ascendance in popularity in the 70s and 80s. He remarked, “Ever since Eliminator I thought it would be great to play with ZZ Top,” and went on to declare Billy Gibbons, “The Professor of Grunge.” 

This tour is not the first live collaboration between the two camps. Gibbons joined Jeff Beck and his band on stage at the 25^th anniversary celebration of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where they performed The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Foxy Lady” and ZZ Top’s hit “Rough Boy” together. The following year Jeff Beck joined ZZ Top in Lucca, Italy for an extended rendition of the band’s signature piece “La Grange.” This, however, marks the first time Jeff Beck and ZZ Top will have done any sort of extensive touring together. 

ZZ Top, formed in the Houston area of Texas in 1969, became a huge national touring act in the 70s and darlings of MTV in the 80s, going on to sell tens of millions of records. Their unique hybrid of dirty blues, hard rock, incorporating new sounds and technology, earned them induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 with Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones doing the honors. 

Jeff Beck, a native of London and two-time Rock And Roll Hall of Famer (with The Yardbirds in 1992, and on his own in 2009), helped set the template in the 60s for the solo-heavy, feedback-laden, rock guitar hero archetype. He formed the Jeff Beck Group by the end of that decade with then-unknown vocalist Rod Stewart, eventually going solo, with forays into fusion and beyond in the mid-70s. Beck, like ZZ Top, has continually incorporated new sounds and technologies into his work throughout his half-century long career.  Lately, Beck has been working on a new studio album, his first since the 2010 release of the critically acclaimed Emotion & Commotion, which earned him two Grammy Awards and the highest charting debut in his career.

60% off Strellman Jewelry

“Strellman“ Jewelry

CLOSE OUT

60% Off!

The Strellman Jewelry line has just sold. Due to this change of ownership, Ironstone has decided to discontinue the Strellman line of jewelry and are offering you a great opportunity to purchase these stunning pieces at a great price.

These pieces are being sold “AS IS” and not returnable. Limited to stock on hand, so come in quick!

Meet Artist Susie Hoffman, Spring Obsession Open Division accepted artist

Susie Hoffman,
Copperopolis
susie@townhallarts.com
www.townhallarts.com

Now exploring art after retiring from teaching English and history, Susie
considers herself a “professional art student”. She and her husband, Larry,
created the art center Town Hall Arts in Copperopolis where she has enjoyed
classes by many foothill artists over the last five years. From oil classes to
mosaics, she is always eager to learn something new.

Susie first started this art journey 11 years ago in watercolor. Happy to
retire early, she discovered a wonderful East Bay watercolor group that even
travelled to southern France to paint in the small towns of the Dordogne region.
Since opening the art store, she has branched out into oil, graphite, collage,
acrylics, and pastels. She also sells many of her photographs at Town Hall Arts.
She loves trying new media and tries to find something unique to teach at
the Copper Art Club, a group she started out of her home when she and Larry
moved to Copper eight years ago. The club now meets weekly at Town Hall
Arts.

Painting in oil is her challenge right now. “I love the freedom and color
that can be achieved in oil, but I also enjoy practicing drawing skills with
graphite portraits of my six grandchildren,” Susie said. She always takes several
photos and sketchbook along on trips to create what she calls “airplane art”—
small graphite portraits done “en route”.
Honors include awards at the Mother Lode Art Show (including a 1st
place, 2013), Delicato Show, Calaveras County Fair (including three Best of
Divisions and eleven 1st place awards in last three years), Valley Arts Show
(including a 1st, 2013), and Oakdale Transportation Show (1st).
Two of her watercolors were recently published in Sierra Wonders, a book
of visual and literary works honoring the Sierra Nevada. Her graphite portrait,
“I Hope You Dance”, appeared on the 2012 program cover of the Ironstone
Spring Obsession Show. “Copper Valley Patina”, a watercolor painting, was a
bell-ringer last year at the KVIE auction. Susie’s artwork is displayed at Galerie
Copper in Town Hall Arts, under the clock, in Copperopolis Town Square; Frog’s
Tooth Winery in Murphys; and Calaveras Arts Council in San Andreas. She is
currently program director for Mother Lode Art Association.

Meet Artist George Haskell, Spring Obsession OPEN Division accepted artist

GEORGE HASKELL

o-141 Half Dome in Spring  oil 11x14  $600

George Haskell's first artistic love has always been landscape painting, in particular Yosemite. He has always been captivated by the grandeur of Yosemite Valley season by season, scene by scene and moment by moment. It is never the same valley twice. Capturing and interpreting the moods of the valley has always been a challenge and deeply inspiring. Since retiring from a career teaching special education has focused on creating paintings that evoke a feeling of the time place and season for the observer.

O-142 Half Dome in Summer  oil 11x14  $600

George Haskell has enjoyed oil painting since he took a semi independent painting class in college during the seventies. He has worked for the past ten years sharpening his skills.  During much of this time the main influence on his approach to painting has been his longtime friend and teacher Judy Cain. Using color, often emphasized, evoking a feeling in the observer has been a primary consideration.

George lives just outside of Murphys on the top of Treasure Mountain with his wife Patricia, cats, horses, a parrot, a dog and his two corgis.

Meet Artist Marina Hanson, Spring Obsession Open Division accepted Artist

MARINA HANSON

mhansondesign@aol.com

408-857-5457

O-206  New Beginnings  acrylic  24x28 $800

Artist Biography

     Marina was born and raised in the Ukraine, and came to the United States with her family in 1992.

     Passion for creativity has always defined her and led her to earn a PHD in Architecture and, later, a Degree in Interior Design. She began painting as a way to escape and cope with personal trauma, and has been painting ever since. Today, it’s evident that the world of Art holds a permanent and significant position in her existence. Largely self-taught, she joined Los Gatos Art Association and studio/gallery in Campbell “Gallery of Dreams”.

O-210  Transformation  acrylic  40x30  $1600

     In her paintings, Marina lets her imagination run wild and makes an attempt to paint more then she sees. By capturing on canvas her deepest thoughts and feelings, she is not only able to express herself, but she allows others to connect with her.

     Most of Marina’s artwork is categorized as surrealism, sometimes abstract and landscaping, but the constant elements in her paintings are the vibrancy of the colors and vivid contrasts. She explores her natural abilities and enthusiasm for her commitment to create art within her innermost thoughts and emotions. Marina’s artistic affinity, creative instinct, and dynamic imagination have been refining with each day.

O-207  A String of Pearls  acrylic  30x40  $1600

Artist’s Statement

     “My art is an evolving process; I take and represent only elements which are the essence of the object or of the imaginary being. I’m fascinated by the explosive sensuality of the rich and luxurious chromatics, and rely on my desires for beauty, poetics, and seduction. To say I enjoy painting is an understatement. I’m obsessed with painting! Painting gives me unique moments of freedom and happiness.

                     Fully believing that one cannot know what the future holds, I welcome new opportunities, learn eagerly, and ultimately hope to touch people with my art.”

Meet Artist Robert Gorder, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Robert J Gorder

O-017  Lovebirds charcoal  9.5x8.5  $400

 Born and raised in central Wisconsin, Robert has been passionate about creating and drawing since he was very young.  His drawings range from simplistic India ink to detailed charcoal images.  The India ink drawings are a creative curvature study of light and shadows.   Robert’s approach to charcoal drawing is a negative approach where the paper is covered in black charcoal and the picture is drawn with a multitude of erasers.  Robert enjoyed and embraced every art class in high school because it gave him a creative outlet compared to the other curriculum. This is also when he found a passion in drafting, perspective drawing, and commercial art.  Moving forward in life he attended Madison College in his 20’s to pursue a degree in Commercial Art.  During this time he found the passion for figure drawing and charcoal.  His next 10 years were filled with few drawings but still felt a great passion for art.  Then in 2009 Robert was self inspired to draw a picture of his best friend in charcoal.   From that point on, Robert has been dusted in charcoal in his Baraboo, Wisconsin basement art studio working on drawings of normal items rarely given credit for their beauty.

O-018  Cross  charcoal 20x16  $700

 Artist’s Statement

My drawings range from simplistic India ink to detailed charcoal images.  The India ink drawings are a creative curvature study of light and shadows.   I approach charcoal drawings in a negative approach where the paper is covered in black charcoal and the picture is drawn with a multitude of erasers.  Since recently beginning my journey to pursue my passion of art, the focus has been varied and recently based on client demand.  Beginning with objects found in rural Wisconsin, my drawings have branched out to figurative, animals, private homes, businesses, historic landmarks and special edition vehicles.  My charcoal drawings have become locally known for the exact details on the smallest objects to the ability to embrace people’s expressions in my figurative art.

Meet Artist Barbara Gill, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Barbara Gill
Watercolor

O-183  Blue Rooster  wc  20x16   $150

About the Artist:
I graduated from University of California at Santa Barbara with a BA in painting and received my MA in painting from California State University Fresno.

O-181  Family Album  wc  16x20  $250

Gallery Representation:
Mistlin Gallery, Modesto, CA

Exhibitions and Awards
* Point Lobos: Jewel of the Central Coast Carmel Art Institute, Docent Award
* 59th Annual Spring Show, First Place
* Stanislaus Artist Open Studio, First Place Purchase Award
* California Fine Art Show, State Fair
* Yosemite Renaissance XXIV

Workshops:
I taught "Splash" Workshop for MBPAPA
(Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association)

Membership in Art Organization:
Signature Member, MBPAPA
Valley Sun Catchers Plein Air Painters
California Watercolor Association

www.gillwatercolors.com

Meet Artist Gregory Gallardo, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Gregory  Gallardo

Artist Statement

"I am an art school dropout" ... Upon receiving a scholarship to attend art school, I did  what any rational 17 year old would do; I left home, left school and traveled the worked as a musician. Music more than art encompassed my life for the following 10 years. Ironically, this journey influenced my visual arts in ways that no formal art education could have. One vital lesson I learned as a musician was that the space between the musical notes was just as important as the notes themselves. Visually this concept can be applied to the use of negative space by the strategic application of both color and texture to evoke a sense of motion, rhythm and tempo. In my most recent works my collage techniques emphasize this illusion. Sharp tears reveal white edges which add Rhythm. The magazine paper imagery is glued in patterns, moving the eye around the piece. Figure and background flow in balance. While on the surface this technique may appear academic, the underlying message mirrors my personal views on life and death; a seamless harmonious coexistence.

My journey for creating "art" is a selfish act. The process becomes all encompassing, with the outcome of a work of art often becoming inconsequential to the path that lead me to the final conclusion, i.e.
 "The point of the journey is not to arrive."  When working with collage, ideas unfold without any predetermined direction. Letting the magazine paper speak to me, a page is turned and textures, patterns and color are randomly discovered, altering the theme as each torn piece is glued into place. Building works in this manner becomes a spiritual experience; living in the moment and allowing chance to guide the eventual outcome. The organic imagery taken from the torn magazine paper which comprise my works speak of my link to nature. Found upon closer inspection a torn photograph of a purple sunset becomes the blush of a cheek, a birds nest and the needles of a cactus form hair. My hope is that this method of reinterpretation will give the v iewer cause to reconsider their ideas of our own origin.

40% of the proceeds on direct sales of Gregory's art goes to local charities.

www.gregorygallardo.com

Meet Artist Robert Feigen, Spring Obsession Open Division Accepted Artist

Robert Feigen

O-137  RatzNKatz Symbiosis 2013  acrylic  $1850

My name is Robert Feigen and I am the artist that has performed the attached painting. I am a graduate of California Polytechnic College in Pomona, California with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Behavioral Science and in Business Administration. I have studied for three years at the Sonora Arts Academy and have been an artist for fifteen years. I am now retired and have chosen to focus on my passion for painting and the arts.

My fifty pieced "RatzNKatz" series is a primitive, anthropomorphic, mystical, fantasy, humorous artistic presentation and is my own style of painting in oil and acrylics. The vivid colors and the action of the characters are an expression of myself for a world of happiness and harmony through strength and balance in the face of potential adversity. There is also some sauciness and arrogance thrown in at times. If the viewer stops, looks, laughs, and smiles then leaves only to come back again I will have been successful in my artistic intent.

The RatzNKatz characters in the paintings have human-like faces and qualities and the Ratz with the exaggerated bodies interact to symbolize both the struggles to coexist and to challenge each other with the underdog (Ratz) being in control of the dominant species (Katz).  The themes in each painting are unique and expressive within a particular genre. The "RatzNKatz Symbiosis 2013" is number forty seven (#47) in the Series and depicts the annual meeting between the Ratz and Katz Clans to peacefully coexist in a harmonious way. Of course there is a whole lot of cheating and mischief going on as well as the teasing amongst the characters and between the Ratz N Katz.

The original paintings and stories in the series are for sale. However, the rights to reproduction are not. Whe the paintings are actually reporduced in a limited edition series, the buyer/seller will be entitled to a percentage commission. Therefore, it is a win/win for everyone.

I want to thank you for your interest in my art.

robertfeigen@gmail.com