Thursday, July 1, 2010

"Pissarro in the Field"

The second of the two Spalt Guitars is named       "Pissarro in the Field". Breathtaking piece, in the words of Artist Paul Schmidt...
"Lucien Pissarro, son of Camile Pissarro - well known French impressionst painter often called the "father of impressionism" began as a painter but during the 1880's became enthusiastic about woodcuts and wood engravings. (Embedded in the redwood burl of this outstanding electric guitar) this five - color woodcut from 1897 (catalogued in Fern - #92) was entitled variously "In the Field" or "Gold Cloud". The poetry of this astounding print spoken through its language of colours and composition thrilled me immediately upon viewing it.  The gold was reminiscent of Tiffany, and the muted glow was consistent with so many of the other works of art l'd selected. Mango, koa, walnut, redwood burl, poplar, and Macassar ebony (bridge) comprise the woods selected to enliven this instrument, along with the silver, pearl, abalone, Catalin knobs and bone switch. The son-gold yellow orange pickups mirror the character of the lithograph, which weds golds, greens, blues, yellows and browns to form its disposition.  The pearl inlay shaped into gynkgo leaves-inspired-kites sweeps through the body and into the neck for a graceful and strident theme that compliments the stirring quietude of the art.  Bountiful, bold, gentle, and startling in its beauty."

Friday, June 18, 2010

Electrifying Electric Guitars!

"Mucha Summer" by Michael Spalt

Wow, all I can say about this incredable piece of art. I am not a guitar player, but you don't have to be to appreciate these beauties, two of which are here on display in Ironstone's Heritage Museum for an undisclosed period of time.

One of 13 from Michael's "The Nouveau Series Guitars", "Mucha Summer" focuses on the original Mucha "Summer" lithograph which is suspended over gold-leaf and festooned with pearl. This guitar features mother-of-pearl and abalone cat tails flowing through the figured Brazilian rosewood. A stylized dragonfly lights on the Indian rosewood pahntom soundhole with its translucent wings revealing the abalone cat-tail stem beneath.  The glass exhibits a moonlit soft rainbow of strong orange, purple, blue, green, pink, yellow, amber - all luminescent huse floating over the gold-leaf, inspired by the lithograph both in actual colour and mood of the peaceful-warmed summer moment. The earthiness of the Brazilian rosewood is reflected in the colour of the bridge pickup while the water motil is captured by the glass and the blue neck pickup.  The Catalin knobs and resin switch are set in myrtle burl neighboring the Macassar ebony bridge.

These are must see to believe masterpieces.. and the sound spectacular as well!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Ironstone wishes all a peaceful Memorial Weekend

We at Ironstone wish all of you a peaceful and reflective Memorial Weekend. Remember those who have given their lives and futures for us. As we celebrate this weekend, remember those still in the trenches. Send them your best wishes, your thanks and your goodwill as they struggle against odds some of us will never have to comprehend, thanks to their sacrifices.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Last days of May... Lots of new beginnings

Finally after much planning, Ironstone's Heritage Museum WWII exhibit is Open!  Titled, WWII A Small Window, this exhibit portrays small windows into WWII. Weapons used, treasures carried, what they wore and what they thought, just small windows into WWII. This exhibit will run through August.  Check out the slide show to the right.

Also opening this last week, Our Main Galleria presents the surrealist paintings of Melinda Englebrecht.  These very powerful and emotional paintings represent the beauty of the odd juxtapositions to every life and every happening.  Stop by if you have an opportunity. These paintings are very beautiful.

Passport weekend was a beautiful weekend with passport holders catching the Gold Fever, panning with Mario on the creek.  Need I say more!

We are now gearing up for our first concert June 6th. Volunteers will be contacted next week with assignments and all are ready to rock and roll! Are you? Check out the bands on their official websites just to the right of this column. I heard a few new ones myself!  What a Great Concert Season this year!  Hope to see you all here.  Phone is ringing and a bus pulled up.. Gotta go!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

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...

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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!"

Thursday, April 8, 2010

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!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010