Art View Fall into Art
By Jim Christiansen
Back to School and headed to Oktoberfest. Carnegie Arts Center takes down the Annual Showcase to present “Facing the Giant: 3 Decades of Dissent,” works by Shepard Fairey. Opens September 16 to December 20. In the Lobby gallery, Carnegie features “Yosemite Renaissance 40” from October 18. Carnegie offers classes and is a location to pick up a Fall Stanislaus Artist Open Studio map.
A new addition to downtown Turlock is Donna Waymon Maurer’s Pink Duck Art Gallery, 141 N. Center Street. Directly across from Gallery Finesse, this is a fun visit, with a gallery of Donna’s art, and local artists from Merced and Stanislaus Counties in a very inviting space. www.pinkduckartgallery.com Pink Duck is one of the Turlock studios on the Stanislaus Artist Open Studio weekend, along with studios of Rhett Owings and Macedo Mini Acres. Free Stanislaus Artist Open Studio maps will be available early this month, with the event on October 4 and 5.
As we get back to Modesto, I got a call from Brian Gleser of iconic business Harmony Tie Dyes to announce the Harmony Tie Dyes Farewell Tour. 12 more dye days left in 2025, and a slew of festival events, Farmers Market spots for the remainder of the year, Harmony is winding down its 50 years of operating in Modesto into 2026. 512 14th Street. Best to call ahead for hours 209-918-7472,
Art Walk is September 18. State Theatre is partnering with Dragonfly Art for Life that night, with a Paint and Sip at 5 PM, followed by the film “Hola, Frida”. The State and Dragonfly partner again on Sunday, September 21, with an all-ages Paint along, and another showing of “Hola Frida.” For a write-up on “Hola, Frida,” see www.thestate.org. The State Theatre is another Open Studio free map pick-up location.
Jonathan Troxler Art featured at the Kruse Lucas Imports gallery on Tully Road, September, October, and November. Across the Street is the Modesto Junior College Art Gallery, back for the Fall Semester
Over at the Stanislaus Arts Council/ Visit Modesto offices, the Stan Arts “Reimagined, the Art of Reclamation” has 11 pieces on the wall. While business hours are 9 to 5 Monday to Friday, you may have to press the button to get in, as indicated on the door. The show is up until October 3. Leading into the September Art Walk, Stan Arts and Modesto Children’s Museum are partnering with commissioned chalk artists for an event of sidewalk chalk art.
Looking ahead, Stanislaus Artist Open Studio weekend is October 4 and 5. FREE all ages, with art for sale, demonstrations, and a chance to visit local artist in their studios and workspaces. 39 Artists in studio stops in Turlock, Modesto, and Escalon. Additional map pick-up locations: Queen Bean, home of Modesto Artists Movement, Carnegie, Visit Modesto, and Dragonfly Art for Life.
October is a busy month, as October 16 is the 12th annual Cricket’s Hope “Art of Hope” fundraiser art auction and sale. 67 artists participating this year, using Art Restores Art by children in the program as inspiration. Tickets $150. www.crickets-hope.org
October 18, Liz Perez has organized the Central Artists Fine Arts Show at the Clarke Ferrea Winery from Noon to 5 PM in Escalon, 20679 Hwy 120. Show features Stanislaus County Fine artists, with sponsor backing from Modesto Artists Movement. Over 40 artists are involved, and more details will be available next month.
