Fireworks!

If you love fireworks, you're going to love this Saturday at Ironstone!  The Annual Independence Day Celebration is a family fun day and night.  With bounce houses and jugglers for the kids, climbing rock for the more adventurist, live music on stage, color guard and an angel singing the National Anthem, this is a true celebration of America.  Although Ironstone opens regular time at 10:00 in the morning, gates close at 2:30 to reopen at 4:30 for the big celebration.   Adults $10 / 6 - 12yrs  $5 / 5yrs under FREE.


Live Music starts at 4:30 PM with Chains Required on stage, followed by Whiskey Dawn with Shane Dwight headlining and finishing the evening off.  After Dark be prepared to OHHH & AWHHHH as the most spectacular 30 minute fireworks show in the area lights up the sky! Then more dancing!


Bring along your lawn chairs, blankets & umbrellas (which must be taken down at dusk) for a great family day at Ironstone.  Remember there is no outside food or beverage allowed on property. But don't worry!  There are plenty of food vendors, service organizations & the Ironstone Deli to take care of the hunger.

No advance tickets, first come first serve! Come join us for a brilliant night of fireworks.

Getn' Ready!

Today is Bert Kronnick's first of 5 Free Appraisal Clinics for Vintage Fishing Tackle.  These are a few photos of Bert setting up his display for today. 

Also featured are some of Bert's outstanding antique reels and fishing gear that will be on display here at Ironstone Heritage Museum now through September 23rd. 

Bert's other clinics are scheduled for:


Saturday, July 21
Saturday, August 4
Friday, August 31
Saturday, September 22


Bert will be available to have a look at your items between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM any of the scheduled clinic days above.


If you don't have any old fishing gear for Bert to look at, just come by and meet him!  Bert is quite the story teller..  did you hear about the big fish he caught last month?

Elvin Bishop in Concert Saturday, June 30th

Photo by Alfred H. Golub/golubphoto.com used by permission 

We are excited to have Elvin Bishop here at Ironstone on Saturday, June 30th along with Hank Williams Jr. What a great line up for a fantastic evening.  

I have decided to leave the update on Bishop's tour through life up to the pros, so read on a little bit from his offical website...


"Elvin Bishop has been travelling the Blues road longer than most, and he’s got the stories to prove it – many of which are contained within the songs on this release,("Red Dog Speaks"). Stops along the way include his work as a founding member of the groundbreaking Paul Butterfield Blues Band in the early ‘60s, recordings with legends such as Clifton Chenier, John Lee Hooker, and The Allman Brothers, and Pop success with his own 1976 smash hit “Fooled Around and Fell In Love”. 

Photo by Alfred H. Golub/golubphoto.com used by permission 

Bishop’s long and varied career has included plenty of side trips along the way as well, from deep down gutbucket Blues played in smoky South Side Chicago taverns, to raucous roadhouse R&B, to good time Rock & Roll on concert stages and festivals around the world. And at every stage along the way, he’s instilled all of his music with passion, creativity, and a healthy helping of wisdom, wit, and good humor." 

Read more about this amazing musician at: http://www.elvinbishopmusic.com/about.html

Doyle Guitars - Meet & Greet

We are having a great time today with Cigar Box Guitar make, Mike Doyle here for a Meet & Greet Day at Ironstone.


Mike brought with him a mini amp to plug into a few of the electric cigar boxes to show us they really do sound great! Amazing what those old cigar boxes can do when put into the right hands!

We were also invaded by a great group of Clampers. Here for a grand tour of Ironstone with our #1 tour guide Conrad.  They discovered Mike and had to have a group shot taken!


You have a several hours left to stop by, say hello to Mike and hear how great a cigar box guitar can sound. Several of the guitars are available for purchase, starting around $475.


I love the little tin Elvis Uke that Mike has put together as a proto type.  He is testing this one out to see if there might be a following... we think YES!

Meet & Greet Guitar Maker, Mike Doyle

Meet & Greet Guitar Maker Mike Doyle

 this Saturday from 11 - 3 PM 

at Ironstone's Heritage Museum.

Classic one of a kind Cigar Box Guitars!

Mike Doyle Cigar Box Guitars on display June 9th!

Each Concert Season I have great fun in displaying new, unique or classic guitars from one of our outstanding American Guitar makers. This year is no exception! I am excited to be bringing in wonderful guitars that speak history, tradition and down home fun - Cigar Box Guitars hand made by one of our own local guitar makers, Mike Doyle.  Take a look at Mike's website, then come on by June 9th. from 12:00 - 3:00 to meet the master!


Doyle Cigar Box Guitars will be on display through Ironstone's 2012 Concert Season. Keep an eye on our Ironstone facebook page for additional dates Mike will be here to meet & greet.


http://doyleguitars.com/about/   

Signing out for now, The Heritage Museum

Art in Calaveras County

Sad to see the 15th Annual Spring Obsession Art Show come down this week. It has always been one of my favorite exhibits with some outstanding artists and art work.

But, don't fret!  This summer is jam packed with plenty of art of all mediums to keep our avid art fans busy up here in the Gold Country.

Just in for a visit today was Quyle Kilns. I was excited about the great schedule of events they have lined up for this summer!  Why not make this summer your clay experience year and learn how to work a wheel with clay or learn how to create a clay sculpture? Just a couple of classes lined up feature Jim Bass and Marlene Bradford. Or, just stop into their gallery up Hwy 4, just above Murphys to see the great works of art on display and for sale. You can find the link to their website below on our "favorite Links" section below.  Don't miss out on any of the fun!

Spring Obsession Art Show Open Division Award Winners

1st Place Winner  
"All Aflutter"  
31 x 24 Watercolor Collage $2000


by Artist Lynn Slade


My paintings are a combination of watercolor and handmade rice papers known as "Washi". I work with this combination to capture both the color and texture of my subjects and to recreate the mood that these subjects inspired in me.  I am drawn to bold, dramatic shapes and color and I love the color intensity that the layering of papers and paint provides.  Both the creation as well as the finished piece becomes a tactile experience as well as a visual one.  Looking closely at one of my paintings, you'll find multiple layers of color enhanced by the unique qualities of the washi itself: small pieces of newsprint; gold threads; bits of bark or leaves; various textures and patterns that draw you into the image.


I received my BFA in Design from the University of Southern California.  My graduate work in Graphic Design was done at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.  for over 20 years, I owned the Alyson Design Group, a graphic design company specializing in corporate advertising, magazine and marketing design as well as direct mail advertising.


Since beginning my painting career, my paintings have won numerous awards in both local and national shows and I have been published in Watercolor Artist Magazine, in the North Light book, Splash 12, Celebrating Artistic Vision, and in the upcoming Eyes On: Landscape from Blaze Hill Press.  I am currently represented by Gallery 10 in Sutter Creek, Ca.


Quarterly, I give 3-day workshops at my studio in Pioneer as well as carious artist associations.  The classes introduce the student to my painting techniques and include the review of design concepts teaching ways for the painter to direct the viewer's eye through a painting.  The classes are for both beginners and more advanced painters.


I am available for demonstrations, critique sessions, workshops and show judging.  I also accept commission work.

2nd Place Winner
"Last Light"
11 x 14  Pastel
SOLD


by Artist Geneva Davis


Over twenty five years ago Geneva's creative art journey began. Her work may be characterized as realism to impressionism, but as variety of subject matter a distinctive style has evolved which can vary depending on the subject matter and medium.


The variety of subjects has included animals, birds, rich and lively florals and gardens that evoke color and mood.  Others might consider the sentimental renderings of children to romantic figures the most moving to the imagination ... In any case, the journey continues and might include almost any subject, but be assured it will have warmth and emotion as a constant.  the ability to create art comes to her as an unexpected surprise and a gift from God.  Her paintings are in many private collections.

3rd Place Winner
"Green River Sunset"
36 x 51  Fiber
$5400


by Artist Patricia Gould


"With a BA in Fine Arts/Art History, and sewing since the age of eight, it's no surprise that I chose fiber art as my passion in life.  A True fabric addict, many different types of fabrics find their way into my artwork and I never met a color I didn't like.  Travel was a very important part of my upbringing and my family visited almost all the National Parks in the US and Canada before I was out of school which gave me a deep appreciation for our precious Mother Earth and her creatures.  Since 1993, I have been creating mixed media fiber landscapes, drawing inspiration from trips to China, East Africa, Russia, Antarctica, and extensive travel throughout North America and Europe.


I'm drawn to a few subjects in nature that I find perpetually intriguing and my voice is whispering a tribute to the incredible beauty in both the subtle and violent forces of nature, only touched by the hand of humans on rare occasions.  I'm obsessively drawn to trees, rocks, all forms of water and animals; I portray these subjects as if they were asking to me to reveal their messages to the world.  My fiber pieces are dramatic portraits of Earth and I hope to draw the viewers into these scenes to share the exhilaration I feel and to cherish the wonders of the place we call home."


Patricia's art quilts and wearable art creations have won both national and international awards and are in private collections worldwide.  In 2009, she was honored to exhibit her work at the Florence Biennale.  Patricia won a Niche Award in 2008 and was chosen as an Artist-in-Residence for a month in Hungary in 2005.  The State of New Mexico has purchased and installed eight of Patricia's landscapes as part of the Art in Public Places Program.