Stellar paints the town with tri-county art show

(Updated: Friday, April 04, 2008, 5:52 PM)

It's all about art

Yosemite Western Artists' annual Tri-County Art Show opens, 11 a.m. Saturday, April 26 at Gallery Row's Stellar Gallery in Oakhurst. The show is not limited to artists from just the three counties of Madera, Mariposa or Fresno, but instead open to all California artists, including painters, photographers, sculptors or weavers. Judges will make awards in each category: oil, watercolor, pastel, fiber, sculpture, mixed media, digital art and photography, both black and white and color, and best of show.

Artists receiving awards will be recognized at an artist's reception at an Oakhurst Area Chamber Mixer that will be located at the gallery from 4 to 8 p.m. on opening day.

Come and meet the artists and view some terrific original art work. This is the largest and best show in central California, in my opinion.

The show will be open for one week only, with many works at great prices. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Saturday, May 3.

North community gallery re-opening

The Community Art Gallery of North Fork is pleased to announce it will re-open on April 10 with a very special event with food and beverages courtesy of the North Fork Women's Club. This will be hosted with the Oakhurst Area Chamber and will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Their will be lots of new art work from the 14 local artists: including Sharon Bortugno, Joan Brumley, David Caris, Amber Castillo, Ida and George Covert, Margaret Grahlman and Jean Hancock.

The gallery will join the Sierra Art Hop that takes place the second Saturday of every month.

Visit the galleries Web site at www.communityartgallery.com. The North Fork Community Art Gallery is located on the old sawmill site three quarters of a mile east of downtown North Fork. Call (559) 877-2487 for more information.

Mountain community ballroom dance

The monthly ballroom dance at the Oakhurst Community Center will be April 27. Ed Bailey and the Vision Academy of the Arts sponsor the monthly ballroom dance party the fourth Sunday of each month, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Oakhurst Community Center on Road 425B in Oakhurst. Cost is $10 per person and includes a 30-minute dance lesson. The dance floor will open after the lesson until the end of the dance. For more information, call Lori at (559) 658-8541 or e-mail Ed Bailey at edbailey@sti.net.

Big band dance club

There is a monthly ballroom dance in Bootjack at the Bootjack Stoppers Hall called the Big Band Dance Club. It meets the third Saturday of each month (April 19). Winter hours 3 to 6 p.m., starting with dance instruction at 2 p.m. All ages are welcome. Cost is $5 for the class and $5 for the dance. You can also join the club for great savings. For more information about the Big Band Dance Club, call Nancy at (209) 966-5552 or John and Trisha at (559) 685-3412.

Meet master carver Wardwell

The Stavast Studio Gallery in Gallery Row, Oakhurst will host a two-day special reception for master carver Jeffrey Wardwell on Saturday and Sunday April 12-13 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Al Joyal can be reached by e-mailing aljoyal@sti.net.