Author Archive: Jim Christiansen
Jim Christiansen, award winning watercolor artist, cartoonist and member of many art groups moved to Modesto in 1977. Born in Riverside, California, and attended University of California, Riverside. Jim often shows around Modesto, does a poster or two, and has been host of the art walk events at State Theatre and Jax on H. Jim has been writing the art notes column several years for Modesto View.

ArtView: Love and Art
ArtViewBy Jim Christiansen Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, the Abbreviated month of February is upon us. A shortlist of open venues, and art events in the age of pandemic make this column a challenge to write. Not a lot of changes since last monthHope springs with the vaccine rollout. As one of the senior artists 65 […]

ArtView: New Year Subject to Change
ART VIEW: New Year Subject to ChangeBy Jim Christiansen Art in the Time of COVID. Nice to have the vaccine news hitting as I write the Art View column. There is still disruption in all our lives, as more reschedules, cancellations affect everyone. That includes the local artists. Many of us still creating, painting, adding […]

ArtView: Shades of Red and Purple
Art ViewBy Jim Christiansen Last month, we entered the Holiday season in the Red Zone. As I write the column, we are back to the purple, but there seems to be some changes that aren’t quite a full step backwards. There are some December art events still on the schedule. Galleries still on restricted hours, […]

ArtView: Red Letter Day
Art View By Jim Christiansen It’s a red-letter day, we’ve reached the red tier, there is hope for the holidays. Thanksgiving this month, but this year you will have to wait for ModShop 2021. Red tier status does mean more opening of museums and galleries, so you will find Mistlin Gallery open limited hours, mask […]

Art View: Ever-Evolving ARt
Art ViewJim Christiansen For October and November, the pandemic has knocked out two Annual favorite art events until 2021. Stanislaus Artist Open Studio scheduled for October 10 and 11, has been rescheduled to April of next year. ModShop posted that 2020 event has been cancelled, to resume in 2021. One art event that will take […]

Art Alternatives
Art View: Art AlternativesBy Jim Christiansen Well into Summer, and well into the pandemic age. Galleries and shows were recently open for a short time in July, with show openings, classes, that again are rescheduled, postponed or cancelled. Many of us have created masks or purchased them from artisan, crafter and artist friends. I have been […]

ArtView – Starting to Open Up
Art View By Jim Christiansen With the limited opening up of Modesto, it’s not quite a June swoon in the art scene, and not yet the summer blast of art openings, open galleries and festivals. Still, there is art news this month, encouraging for the summer months in the age of social distance. Artists around […]

ArtView – Art to Survival
Art View By Jim Christiansen We are aware that the recent virus emergency has wrought havoc on event schedules, with cancellations and postponement of Events. Third Thursday Art Walk was called off March 19, and that will continue through this month, and won’t know until next column if that will hold for May or June. […]

ArtView – Love Month
Art View By Jim Christiansen It is that love month, February. This year with an extended leap day along with Valentine’s Day. More time to express love for art and local artists. That love of art and artists and art events, main reason I write this column. After mourning losses last month with the year […]

ArtView – New Beginnings
Art View By Jim Christiansen January starts at that nexus of out with the old, and new beginnings. Auld Lang Syne to favorite all woman cooperative Tri-Chromatic Gallery, closing early 2020. This hot spot will be missed, but indelible impression on Modesto Art Scene, with it’s on the edge and mystical art presentations, performance art, […]

ArtView – Holiday Art and Ideas
Art View Holiday Art and Ideas By Jim Christiansen Think local in your Holiday shopping plans, and visit the Arts Blocks downtown. Helps support local venues and local artists on display with art for sale. Keep in mind that Art Walk this month is December 19th for last minute art shopping. Consider more leisurely visits […]

ArtView – New Places for Art
Art View By Jim Christiansen October was a great month for art in the community with the second round of Downtown International Mural competition. Take a walk down Art Alley and see the new work, up against the murals that appeared last year, and you get a whole new environment to enjoy in our downtown […]

ArtView – Dog Days of Summer
Art View –The Dog Days of Summer By Jim Christiansen It’s the Dog Days of Summer, even if billed as the Central California Art Association Autumn Art Festival, and artist Eva Hass making the best of it, with “Dog in Yellow Sweater” as the Best of Show Award at Mistlin Gallery. Chella won four awards […]

ArtView – August Autumn Art
Art View By Jim Christiansen August is near back to school shopping and end of summer time. Third Thursday Art Walk comes up middle of the month August 15, and a good time to take a saunter downtown to the various art walk venues, and make a deal with local artists on a piece of […]