February Frolics: Art! Writing Workshops! Burning Man FUNdraiser at Art City for ORBs! gauvin art show!

Solvang’s indoor troll by George Rose

Did you do dry January? While I didn’t quit drinking, it was WAY TOO DRY around here in Southern California leaving us far into 2025 and still in FIRE SEASON. Smoky, too. And a bit cramped! Now with a solid rain behind and another ahead, I’m ready for a WET February and to get out of the house! How about you? To whet your whistle, here’s a few events and activities that make for a fun February– starting with three events today Saturday, February 8!

My day will get going at the Garagiste Festival in Solvang –with a stop to check out the new indoor troll that’s taken up life there! Danish artist Thomas Dambo with a small build crew and volunteers installed the very first California “Troll” in the Tower Gallery at the California Nature Art Museum. 

As I’ve written before, a Garagiste once was a derogatory French term for someone who made small batches of wine in their garage– an amateur.

Today I know Garagistes who are beginners while others are at the top of their game — making wine for someone else, with a passion project on the side that they share at the Garagiste. Others Garagistes are primarily wine grape growers who spend most of their time tending their vines, but they have a side project with some of their grapes — or their neighbors– that they are excited to share. Saturday’s Grand Tasting features 30 winemakers pouring, plus a Silent Wine Auction so you can bid on wines to take home with you; read about these I won from Staysail. 

Dusty Nabor pours his wines at the Garagiste Festival in 2023 in Solvang Veteran’s Memorial Hall; he’s actually lives in a neighboring town!

Tickets are available here. Can’t make this one? Calendar these upcoming Garagiste Festivals: Northern Exposure in Sonoma on April 26^th; Urban Exposure in Los Angeles on June 21^st, and the original Garagiste Festival in Paso Robles on November 7^th and 8.

Celebrating Black History Month “Out of the Box” artworks by gauvin

gauvin art show flyer

Next up is a Black History art show featuring my friend gauvin at Bell Arts Factory on Ventura Avenue. gauvin and I had some crazy adventures (read here); he said I was Renee Zellweger aka Bridget Jones and he was Basquiat. We were neighbors too for awhile. Read more about him:

• gauvin — “Doors to Dimensions” show at Art City
• gauvin–remembering 
• gauvin–celebration of life 
• gauvin–couldn’t see the bored 

“I couldn’t see the bored” was my favorite of his, so you can imagine how pleased I was when he gave it to me as a thank you for believing in him… and for being his friend…and for all I had done for him. That’s Eartha Kitt in the right corner sitting in for gauvin’s mom. You can imagine my disappointment when he told me he wanted it back. I was afraid he’d try to sell it to get drugs. He finally told me he wanted to give to his mom. We made an arrangement for mutual friends to ship it to his mom. But that didn’t happen before he died. It hangs in my house where I see it often. It’s only been gone for a few days for this show but it feels like something critical is missing. 

One day, maybe soon, a local muralist will sketch his signature on my garage, and I’ll paint it in, then we will seek to get this unnamed alley named after gauvin. He may be gone but he will never be forgotten.

ORB’S FUNDRAISER PARTY Feb. 8 

ORBs are an out of this world monumental stained glass and steel art installation being built by artist David Oliver. Come dance and play and help bring this extraordinary piece to life!

Burning Man art installation “Orb” –fundraiser at Art City

Join Art City for an unforgettable fundraiser event supporting the creation of “ORB,” a monumental art installation by renowned artist David Oliver who has had two honorariums for large scale art at Burning Man.

This awe-inspiring piece, crafted from steel and glass, is set to become a landmark of creativity and innovation — but only with your help to make it happen.

All proceeds from this event will go directly toward funding the materials, construction, and installation of “ORB.” Together, we can turn this bold artistic vision into a reality and create a lasting symbol of community and imagination.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS include
•Live Music & DJ Set by Dept.
•Tarot Reading by A Good Witch
•Aerial Performances by Elevated Aerialists
•Live Art by Joe Adams
•Food & Vendors curated by JoeJo Entertainment

3:00 to 5:00p Aerial acrobats, Tarot readings, dj set
5:00 to 6:00p opening ceremony, short video, unveiling
6:00 to 7:00p house band
7:00 to 8:00p dj set
8:00 to 9:00p band
9:00 to 10:00p dj set

Admission: $10
Tickets available at the door.
Your ticket directly supports the creation of Orb’s 
Spread the word and invite your friends!
Event by Art City Studios, 175 Dubbers St., Ventura, CA

“I wish I could take one of your classes!”

Well, get ready to uncork your creativity! 

Starting Weds. Feb. 12  those wishes will come true with a new series I am presenting that uses a different book each month to inspire us in our writing, our discussions — and the wines too with each event featuring a different winery and a guided tasting.

NOTE: It has been decided to cancel the materials fee, and reduce the price to $25. No tastings, no handouts.  

This unique series combines literary expression with thoughtful discussions. Through guided tastings, workshops, and collaborative exercises, we will explore themes of culture, history, and creativity, all while savoring exquisite wines, all with a local to Ventura connection.

Whether you’re a wine connoisseur, an aspiring writer, or simply curious about the world of wine and words, this series promises to inspire new perspectives and deepen your appreciation for both wine and the written word.