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.

Artistic Synergy
Art View Artistic SynergyBy Jim Christiansen February, only 28 days, Black History month, thoughts of love and Valentines, gift shopping, collaborative synergy, and artistic collaborative collisions. The second month of 2023 of workshops and classes, local artists at work, and of course, art for sale. Get your visits to the gallery and local venue gift […]

Holiday Shopping
Art View Holiday Shopping By Jim Christiansen Holiday shopping is in full swing this month. Art Walk comes up 10 days before Christmas on December 15, and I’ll be one of the Artists with a table at Mistlin Gallery with wine frogs, coffee cats, calendars for sale, along with other local CCAA member Artists. All […]

Autumn Colors
ArtView: Autumn ColorsBy Jim Christiansen October, the month of Autumn leaves, magic in the air, and even “Monster In Me”. Mid-month is my birthday, and I’ve often picked the “Monster in Me” theme participating in the “Art of Hope”-Art Restores Kids, Cricket’s Hope Fundraiser which will be held again in the Del Rio area on […]

Art View: Hot August Art
Art View: Hot August Art By Jim Christiansen Hot August Nights in the 209, a time of car shows, late summer cruising, kid’s art camps, heated Art Walk and pop-up Art and Crafter shows. Modesto lost a long-time supporter, and sometimes guerilla promoter of many of these fun community activities in Carman King. Otherwise known […]

ArtView- No Art Drought
By Jim Christiansen Into the heart of Summer, no drought in Art in Modesto. Summer classes and workshops going on at Mistlin Gallery, Carnegie Arts Center in Turlock, Dragonfly Art for Life. First Friday Market will open the month, July 1, an extended 4th of July weekend. Kristy Moore and the BlackHearts artists among the […]

ArtView: Hot Summer Nights
ArtView: Hot Summer NightsBy Jim Christiansen Time for the Hot summer nights. June 3 is the First Friday Market downtown on Tenth Street. More art vendors in this evolving event. Chartreuse Muse plans a demo outside the gallery. Graffiti USA Car Museum will have an Open House and BBQ Chicken dinner and open the gift […]

ArtView: April Showers Us With Art
ArtView: April Showers Us With ArtBy Jim Christiansen April showers us with art quilts at MJC East and Mistlin Gallery, a new show at Chartreuse Muse. Janet Hardie is at the Kruse-Lucas gallery on Tully Rd, across the street from the MJC Art Gallery, and another Third Thursday Art Walk in Mix. Do not be […]

ArtView: Love For The Arts
ArtView: Love For The ArtsJim Christiansen February, the month of Valentine’s and Love, and love for the arts. What I love about Modesto and 209 we do have a diversity in the fine arts, music scene, dance, theatre, poetry, photography and more. So let’s dig into the candy box and see what is up in […]

ArtView: New Beginnings
ArtView: New BeginningsBy Jim Christiansen New beginnings and Auld Lang Syne. 2022 is here, but first, wrap up old business from 2021. Iconic venue Barkin Dog Grill has hosted its last art on the walls with the announced closing in December. Hanibal Yadegar has been a stalwart supporter of the arts in downtown Modesto for […]

ArtView: Window Shopping
ArtView: Window ShoppingBy Jim Christiansen Window shopping and Holiday browsing for cards, gifts, jewelry, or something for your walls. December is always a month when the artists, crafters, artisans come out. Great time to peek in the windows, the smaller item displays, the card racks, at our local art block venues. I had to stop […]

ArtView: Fall Colors
Art View: Fall ColorsBy Jim Christiansen The leaves fell upon us and the first rain blessed us at the end of October. Perfect weather for the first Fall Stanislaus Artist Open Studio weekend. The event survived several postponements. Current decision for participating artists is to return to the April Spring event, again in the Fall […]

ArtView: Falling Leaves and Halloween
ArtView: Falling Leaves and Halloween By Jim Christiansen The season of Falling Leaves and Halloween. In the middle of October is Stanislaus Artist Open Studio, rescheduled 3 times since 2020 to October 16 and 17. Hard copy maps are available from the 40 or so participating artists and downtown galleries. Online, get the map pdf […]

ArtView: Honoring the Artists
Art View: Honoring the ArtistsBy Jim Christiansen Brad Hawn is the “Best of Show” winner of the Mistlin Gallery/ Central California Art Association Autumn Art Festival 2021. His watercolor painting “Home Stretch” is on display at the gallery, along with the other award winners, including his wife Nancy Hawn, first prize in Oil Painting division […]

ArtView: Modesto is Brighter with Art
ArtView: Modesto is Brighter with Art By Jim Christiansen Independence Day is here, and more galleries and venues re-opening in Modesto. Art Walk is rumored to get a restart and new shows on display with more visiting hours. You can see the venues gearing up with the new parking striping on J Street, and the […]

ArtView: Arts Alive
Art View: Arts Alive By Jim Christiansen Graffiti Summer has been rescheduled until August. You can do the traditional cruise tour of the many murals downtown and up McHenry fun until the new car shows and parades return. Kruse Lucas Gallery will be celebrating the return of the Graffiti Parade and Car Show with art […]