“She’s one of the most instantly recognizable voices in music – the woman People Magazine called “Country’s Bonnie Raitt”. From the first time Lacy J Dalton caught the public’s ear, that soulful delivery, full of texture and grit, has been a mainstay of Country Music. When you sit to listen to a Lacy J Dalton album, you find yourself pulled in by the very power and heart of this vocalist, because she’s not merely performing a ten-song set, she’s bringing each and every tune to life. It’s as if they were all written especially for her.” Her local performance is scheduled for Sunday, December 15 at 4:30 pm at the Aromas Grange. The Grange is also cooking dinner that same evening. Tickets are available for $18 in advance or $20 at the door, from brownpapertickets.com or Marshall’s Market in Aromas or call 831-726-9906.
The Aromas Hills Artisans Annual Holiday Art Festival, reported by author, Joyce Oroz, is being held on Saturday, Nov. 16 and Sunday, Nov. 17 -10am to 4pm with a special preview for AHA members Saturday morning, 9:30.
This year the Holiday Art Festival will feature original art created by Aromas Hills Artisans, displayed under one roof at the Aromas Grange, corner of Rose and Blohm. It is the perfect opportunity to fill your gift list with handmade, hand carved, hand painted treasures.
The AHA Guild will be offering a wide variety of mediums; paintings, prints, photography, ceramics, stained glass, fused glass, jewelry, quilts, wooden products and much more.
This year there will be a special book signing table where half a dozen local authors will display their books. Meet the authors and buy books for yourself and your friends. Subjects range from fantasy to mystery to serious nonfiction to children’s books.
No matter what the weather, you can stroll through this wonderful selection of local artists’ work and then take time out to sit by the fire and talk to the artists themselves, have a cup of hot cider and learn how the art was created. Homemade cookies and other goodies will also be for sale.
The Aromas Hills Artisans numbers are growing. The non-profit group meets at the Aromas Grange the first Wednesday night of each month 7pm to 9pm. Folks who appreciate art are encouraged to join the group. Membership is only $25.00 per year.
See you at this year’s Holiday Art Festival. For more information, call Kay at 831-633-3348.
The Dragonfly Gallery “Artist of the Month” for November is Pat Hanson, writer, scholar, teacher, and radio personality. Joyce Oroz enjoys introducing new authors, especially when they are interesting, enthusiastic and knowledgeable like Pat Hanson of Aromas, California. If you would like to meet Pat in person or buy a signed copy of her book, “Invisible Grandparent”, she will be participating in the Aromas Hills Artisans annual Holiday Art Festival, November 16 & 17 at the Aromas Grange.
Pat decided to write a book because she was already teaching the subject of human sexuality in 1974 in New York City, when Erica Jong’s, Fear of Flying first came out. She realized that she had shared some similar experiences as those Ms. Jong wrote about. She then told herself that she could write a bestselling book like that.
Ms. Hanson has been writing since the fifth grade, and writing in academia for decades. She has also been a professional freelance writer, for “Crone: Women Coming of Age Magazine” (www.cronemagazine.com)
Ms. Hanson is inspired by other writers such as Henry Miller, Joseph Campbell … and many other classics that she’s too old to remember. She has taken and taught writing circles at CSU Monterey Bay’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and has studied with marvelous teachers: Luis Valdez, and Jack Grapes in LA and Ellen Bass in Santa Cruz. She moved to Aromas 6 months ago and thoroughly enjoys its environment, a warmer, lighter view and a creative community.
Ms. Hanson aspires to do stand-up comedy, which is an unfinished dream. When she gives herself permission to be still she does tai chi. She is also am a member of three Toastmasters Clubs. She also enjoys just hanging out with her husband and ‘significant equal’ of 20 years.”
One can find her new book, Invisible Grandparenting: Leave a legacy of Love Whether You Can Be There or Not at www.invisiblegrandparent.com or www.cronemagazine.com. To learn more about Ms. Hanson herself you can find her on FaceBook at PatHansonPhD and Patricia Hanson. She states that there are millions of invisible grandparents who, because of personality conflicts, custody issues, distance, or consequences of choices made long ago, have no way to pass values and memories to those who mean the most to them. Having been born of one woman’s quest to become part of the lives of two grandchildren she has been kept from visiting, Invisible Grandparenting provides a blueprint for “virtual grandparenting.” Using letter writing as a primary tool. This has become a handbook for communicating tangible and intangible gifts to one’s young ones, and discovering how to transcend invisibility, heal separation and transform negative energy to forgiveness.
A book signing and reception for Pat Hanson’s newly released book:
INVISIBLE GRANDPARENTING :Leave a Legacy of Love Whether You Can Be There or Not is Saturday, November 16th, 2013 at 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Refreshments, music & a book reading at 3:30 p.m. in the Vista Room of The Park Lane: An SRG Senior Living Community, 200 Glenwood Circle in Monterey.
Monterey Plein Air Painters Association is holding some paint-out opportunities in our Central Coast area. This association boasts accomplished artist members from San Benito, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Joaquin and Santa Cruz Counties. The next paint-out opportunity, featuring the sycamores in fall color, is happening on Saturday, November 9 and Monday, November 11 at Toro County Park at 501 Highway 68, Salinas, CA. There is a fee for entrance into the park. For more information regarding MBPAPA and its activities, please go to mbpapa.org.
San Benito County Arts Council will be holding two events this month. On November 1, 2013 they will be installing a Dia de los Muertos community altar. On Friday, November 15, they will be hosting a Holiday Arts & Crafts Boutique at Blak Sage Gallery, 727 San Benito Street, Hollister. Please find out more information about these events at sanbenitoarts.org.