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Students engage in constructive critique of work during college classes at the Middletown Art Center in Middletown, California. Photo by Middletown Art Center staff.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – As part of Woodland Community College course offerings, Middletown Art Center proudly hosts affordable and accessible high-quality college-level art courses in its studio.

This 2020 spring semester ART 9A, Painting, is being offered.

The class will be instructed by Lisa Kaplan, an accomplished artist with more than 35 years of teaching experience.

Classes will take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 7:50 p.m., Jan. 14 through May 14. This is a 3.0 credit units course transferable to CSU/UC.

ART 9A will cover painting in a variety of media and explore still life, landscape and environments, the human form and abstraction.

There will be opportunities to meet and learn from several guest painters who will share their techniques.

In addition to studio work, participants will analyze and study the work of masters both historic and contemporary and engage in constructive critique and analysis of their own, and their classmates' work using the principles of art and design. The MAC gallery is also an excellent space to view and respond to art.

“I took Drawing and Composition (Art-4B), with Lisa Kaplan in the Fall and I will be taking this Painting class too,” said student Shashi Tusken. “Lisa is a very inspirational teacher and guide. The class not only improved my drawing skills, but it has helped me to see the world around me in a different way. I now feel compelled to draw everyday and I love the results of my drawing. I am enjoying art, my own, and others’, on a daily basis. Art is now flowing through me.”

Registration is primarily accomplished online at http://LCC.yccd.edu/admissions/apply-today. The course code is ART-9A-K7770.

MAC is hosting registration support this Friday, Jan. 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the MAC Studio. All are welcome.

There is also a Super Saturday Registration event on Jan. 11 at Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The campus is located at 15880 Dam Road Extension, Clearlake.

The cost is $138 per class per semester plus $10 health fee. For students taking just this class, please complete part one of the application and call 707-995-7908 to waive the transcript and orientation requirements. Financial aid applications are also available as part of the registration process.

“This is an opportunity to develop skills with color theory and painting in most media that are part the foundation for any career in the arts or applied arts, including web and graphic design, fashion design, film, architecture and so much more,” explained Kaplan.

For content questions contact MAC at 707-809-8118, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For registration support contact the College Registrar at 707-995-7908.

Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29 in the heart of Middletown. Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at MAC. Be a part of the growing arts scene in South Lake County by becoming a MAC member, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC.
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Good Measure. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The informal series of “Concerts with Conversation” at Upper Lake’s Tallman Hotel in the winter and spring of each year has become a favorite of Lake County music lovers over the years.

Five great Sunday afternoon concerts will headline the hotel’s 14th concert season beginning on Jan. 19.

“We really enjoy these concerts,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “It’s a relaxing Sunday afternoon with some of the finest musicians in the area.”

Leading off the series on Sunday, Jan. 19, will be Good Measure, a highly talented and entertaining group of Lake County musicians.

The quintet makes its own style of acoustic music which is influenced by folk, pop, rock & roll, jazz, Cajun, country and bluegrass.

Ingrid Larson, Doug Harris, Bill Bordisso, Sissa Harris and Richard Vassilaros blend three- and four-part harmonies accompanied by a wide variety of instruments. Good Measure has, and is, a lot of fun.

Kenny Washington. Courtesy photo.

Blues lovers won’t want to miss the Feb. 9 concert with the Blue Wing’s favorite blues guitarist, singer and songwriter “Mighty Mike” Schermer paired with blues harp master and bandleader Andy Santana.

Schermer was a fixture on the West Coast scene for 20 years when he moved to Austin, Texas, to tour with the legendary band headed by Marsha Ball.

Headliners in their own right, Schermer and Santana have enjoyed getting together in smaller acoustic venues to give audiences a feel for the true origins of the blues.

The series turns to jazz on March 15 when one of the country’s leading male jazz vocalists, Kenny Washington, makes his second appearance in the Tallman series.

Recently dubbed “the Superman of the Bay Area jazz scene” by the San Francisco Chronicle, Kenny Washington is a jazz virtuoso who thrills audiences with his soulful interpretations, seemingly limitless range, and rapid-fire scatting.

The incomparable jazz guitarist Jeff Massanari will be backing Kenny for the Tallman show. Massanari is one of the most in-demand guitarists in the Bay Area. He has performed with the San Francisco Symphony at Davies Hall and Stern Grove as well as on tour in China.

Terry Robb. Courtesy photo.

“If you haven’t heard Kenny Washington in concert before, get ready for a jaw-dropping experience. I just love playing with him,” Massanari said.

The series returns to the blues and American roots music on March 29 with Terry Robb, one of the leading acoustic interpreters of the genre on the West Coast.

Robb is a Canadian fingerstyle guitarist, composer, arranger and record producer with 15 solo CDs to his credit. He is a member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame and Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame. His original compositions draw on the Delta blues, ragtime, folk, country and jazz traditions.

The Ukiah area has become a magnet for some of the country’s finest popular jazz musicians.

The Tallman series concludes on April 26 with one of the finest groupings of such musicians – the Pierre Archain Concept featuring vocalist Paula Samonte. Included in the “Concept” is veteran keyboard artist Barney McClure and percussionist Gabe Yanez.

Bassist Pierre Archain grew up in the South of France but emigrated to New York City in 1979 to be closer to the center of the jazz scene. He’s been a fixture in the Bay Area for many years and has assembled an amazing jazz group since moving to Ukiah recently.

The petite Paula Samonte is an effervescent performer with decades of national and international experience plus local gigs including as a soloist with the Ukiah Symphony.

The Sunday concerts run from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Riffe’s Meeting House next to the Hotel. The venue seats only about 40, so people are encouraged to purchase tickets as far in advance as possible.

Tickets at $25 + tax are available online at www.Eventbrite.com. Coffee and cookies are served to guests and the Tallman is offering a 10-percent discount on hotel bookings that weekend for people purchasing concert tickets.

More information is available on the hotel website or by calling 707-275-2244, Extension 0.

Pierre Archain. Courtesy photo.
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‘UNCUT GEMS’ (Rated R)

Though not lacking for dramatic roles in his cinematic career, Adam Sandler is well-established as a comedic presence, often in the guise of the man-child goofball in characters like Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore.

“Uncut Gems” allows Sandler to shine in the serious role of Howard Ratner, owner of a jewelry store in New York’s fabled Diamond District. Addicted to gambling, Howard leads a messy, complicated life at work and on the home front.

His marriage to Dinah (Idina Menzel) is crumbling due to his infidelity and heavy gambling losses. He’s estranged from his own children. His assistant Julia (Julia Fox) is also his mistress who lives in his pied-a-terre in Manhattan.

While his personal life is in shambles, things are even worse for his cavalier attitude about high stakes betting on sporting events. In debt to bookies, Howard is constantly working a scam to hold at bay unsavory characters owed money.

In possession of a large rock from an Ethiopian mine that is embedded with sparkling opals, Howard claims it is worth millions and intends to sell the rock at an auction to reap a huge payday that would allow him to indulge his gambling obsession.

Vulgar and strident, Sandler’s Howard looks the part of a hustler with his goatee, designer glasses and leather jacket. He’s constantly yelling, often profanely, at thugs trying to collect the gambling debts and even his own staff and family.

His compulsive gambling is so reckless and desperate that he ends up deep in debt to his unforgiving brother-in-law (Eric Bogosian) who turns loose his violent thugs.

Howard’s business associate Demany (LaKeith Stanfield) is not immune to the verbal barbs, even after he brings in basketball superstar Kevin Garnett (playing himself) who takes a great interest in the opal-studded stone, believing it has some magical powers.

Garnett loans his Boston Celtics championship ring to Howard in exchange for the use of the stone as a lucky talisman for his next game. After upping his game play, Garnett decides he must own the stone and Howard is more than willing to sell it.

However, knowing that the stone must go for a price far beyond its appraised value, Howard gets deeper into trouble while employing unethical tactics to push the sale.

“Uncut Gems” is a brilliant showcase for Adam Sandler’s gritty performance as a hustler and gambler in need of impulse control so that his life would not be a complete train wreck.



‘6 UNDERGROUND’ ON NETFLIX

As the director of the action films “Bad Boys” and the “Transformer” series among so many others, Michael Bay’s bold approach is characterized by an aggressive visual style, high-octane action, extensive use of special effects and plenty of explosions.

Bay’s method is appreciated far more by movie-going audiences than critics. That’s likely to be true of his newest venture for the streaming on Netflix of the action film “6 Underground.”

Loud, goofy and outrageous are other means by which to describe the director’s bag of cinematic tricks, and all of these descriptions fit perfectly for an understanding of what’s in store for a “Mission: Impossible”-style adventure on steroids.

Operating from an abandoned airfield in the California desert, Ryan Reynolds is an eccentric billionaire who has assembled a group of mercenaries working off the grid to do the messy job of taking down corrupt foreign leaders that governments are unable or unwilling to handle.

Functioning without identities, Reynolds and his crew have all faked their own deaths to operate below the radar. Not one of them has a name, just a number. Reynolds is known as One, and his right-hand person is the sexy former CIA agent Two (Melanie Laurent).

The team is rounded out by tough guy Three (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), parkour risk-taker Four (Ben Hardy), putative medic Five (Adria Arjona), and daredevil driver Six (Dave Franco). After one member dies, former military sniper Seven (Corey Hawkins) joins the team.

The action starts in earnest during an extended frenetic car chase through the scenic streets of ancient Florence, Italy, during which shootouts and driving stunts are choreographed like a ballet of insanely desperate acts.

The primary mission is to take down the evil dictator of the fictional nation of Turgistan and replace him with his democracy-loving brother currently held prisoner in the gilded cage of a penthouse apartment in Hong Kong.

Given the setting is one of the “stan” countries, an overthrow of the totalitarian government will be greeted by the oppressed citizenry with the enthusiasm of a successful Arab Spring. If only that were true for some other Middle East nations.

With Ryan Reynolds on board channeling his “Deadpool” character, there is plenty of deadpan humor, snarky remarks and a remarkable amount of cynicism.

The plot is really immaterial because, after all, the Michael Bay signature style is to go over-the-top with the intent to entertain with a lot of pyrotechnics and dazzling stunts. “6 Underground,” regardless of its flaws, is headed in that direction.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana, won the 2019-2020 California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest with this painting of a ruffed grouse. This is the third time in a row that he has won the contest. Courtesy image.


A painting of a ruffed grouse has been chosen by a panel of judges as the winning entry in the 2019-2020 California Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contest.

The painting was created by Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Indiana.

Sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the annual contest determined the official design for this year's California Upland Game Bird Stamp.

Klinefelter also captured the top spots in the 2018-19 and 2017-18 Upland Game Bird Stamp Art Contests, as well as the 2009-10 California Duck Stamp Contest.

Artists submitted an original depiction of ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus). These medium-bodied forest dwellers are the only member of the genus Bonasa, and have a range extending across North America. In California, they inhabit riparian and conifer forests in the northwestern portion of the state.

Ruffed grouse have intricately barred or variegated plumage in shades of brown and gray, depending on environmental variables, with a conspicuous neck "ruff" and dark tail banding which they use to attract mates.

Their most notable courtship ritual, however, is their "drum display" – a low-frequency booming sound created by beating their wings against their bodies.

Contest entries were judged recently by a panel of experts selected for their knowledge in the fields of ornithology, conservation, art and printing. Designs were judged on originality, artistic composition, anatomical accuracy, and suitability for reproduction as a stamp and print.

The judges praised the composition and fine detail of the painting, specifically noting the accuracy of the feathers. They cited the excellent coloration with "good barring on the belly and speckle on the back" that blends nicely with the autumnal aspen forest in the background.

The panel also appreciated the in-flight depiction which allowed a full display of the grouse's intricate plumage, something Klinefelter found challenging yet rewarding.

"Ruffed grouse are agile fliers and I thought painting them in flight would make a good picture," he said. "The plumage blends well with the background – they have cryptic coloration."

He went on to say that while he has only seen ruffed grouse in captivity, he enjoyed imagining them in their native California habitat.

Broderick Crawford of Clayton, Georgia, placed second. Mark Thone of Shakopee, Minnesota, placed third. Buck Spencer of Junction City, Oregon, received honorable mention.

An upland game bird validation is required for hunting migratory and resident upland game birds in California.

The validation replaces the stamp through CDFW's Automated License Data System, but the stamp is still produced and available to hunters upon request.

Monies generated from upland game bird validation sales are dedicated solely to upland game bird-related conservation projects, hunting opportunities, and outreach and education.

CDFW annually sells about 170,000 upland game bird validations and distributes approximately 17,000 stamps.

Any individual who purchases an upland game bird validation may request their free collectable stamp by visiting www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/collector-stamps.

An order form is also available on the website for collectors who do not purchase a hunting license or upland game bird validation, or for hunters who wish to purchase additional collectible stamps.
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Ted Kooser. Photo credit: UNL Publications and Photography.

I'm a big fan of short, imagistic, haiku-like poems, and here's a fine one for the end of the year.

It's by Sarah Freligh of New York, from her book “Sad Math,” from Moon City Press.

December

On the fire escape, one
stupid petunia still blooms,
purple trumpet blowing
high notes at the sky long
after the rest of the band
has packed up
and gone home.


American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2015 by Sarah Freligh, "December," from Sad Math, (Moon City Press, 2015). Poem reprinted by permission of Sarah Freligh and the publisher. Introduction copyright @2019 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.
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The annual Professional Pianist Concert spotlights the North Coast’s finest pianists. Courtesy photo.

UKIAH, Calif. – On Jan. 10, 11 and 12, the 28th Professional Pianist Concert will hit the stage with three concerts featuring nine different pianists at the Mendocino College Center Theatre in Ukiah.

Performers letting the keys fly this year are Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Wendy deWitt, Barney McClure, Frankie J, Tom Ganoung, Elizabeth MacDougall, Ed Reinhart and Charlie Seltzer.

The musical styles range from classical to jazz, boogie-woogie to Cuban, Broadway to ragtime. Each performance will be different.

This utterly fun and stimulating series features the finest regional pianists on stage in a living room environment throughout the performance trading stories and melodies with two pianos on stage to accommodate impromptu collaborations.

The event is an annual sellout because of the diversity, quality in a multitude of styles of music and humor that takes place throughout the evening.

Elena Casanova. Courtesy photo.

A special sculpture art show benefitting fire victims featuring Spencer Brewer and Esther Siegel will also be on display at the Mendocino College Art Gallery throughout the weekend. It’s not to be missed.

The performance on Friday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. will feature Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Elizabeth MacDougall, Ed Reinhart, Barney McClure, Frankie J and Charlie Seltzer.

On Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. the performance features Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Wendy DeWitt, Tom Ganoung, Elizabeth MacDougall, Barney McClure and Ed Reinhart.

The performance at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, will include Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Wendy deWitt, Charlie Seltzer, Tom Ganoung, Frankie J and Elizabeth MacDougall.

No two concerts are the same, so if you love piano and piano music, enjoy more than one performance.

Spencer Brewer. Courtesy photo.

The concert benefits the Ukiah Community Concert Association, Mendocino College Recording Arts & Technology Program and the Allegro Scholarship Program.

Tickets are on sale at Mendocino Book Co. in Ukiah, Mazahar in Willits and online www.UkiahConcerts.org.

Tickets are $20 general admission and $30 "I Wanna See the Hands" limited seating. For more information call 707-463-2738.

There will be autographed CDs by the artists for sale in lobby.

Sponsors are Sparetime Supply, Ken Fowler Auto, Savings Bank of Mendocino, Flow Kana, Yokayo Ranch, Mendocino College Recording Arts, Willits Furniture Center, Waterman Plants, K-WINE/MAX, KOZT-The Coast and KZYX/Z. Wine & refreshments will be provided by Ukiah Community Concert Association.

The Center Theatre is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road in Ukiah.

Wendy deWitt. Courtesy photo.

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