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Downtown Campbell
Business Associations ArtWalk showcases local
artists and the beauty of artistic creation
By Jeanne C. Carbone, Editor

If youre in the mood for inspiration dont
miss Campbells downtown artistic community displaying their
creativity at the monthly ArtWalk.
Downtown Campbells Third Friday Artwalk
is gaining momentum and enthusiasm, said Artist Sonya Paz
who recently opened up a larger gallery in the downtown artistic
Mecca. Each time we have our ArtWalk the event is really terrific
and all of our hard work is certainly paying off.
Indeed, the ArtWalk is gaining momentum with more
and more Bay Area residents attending the tour-on-your-own
style enjoying the galleries as well as the visiting artists displaying
their paintings, jewelry, pottery and handcrafted items. On the
April 17 ArtWalk artist Brian Haney was working plein air [in the
open air] and painting a very lifelike frog in front of Audible
Arts. Across the street in front of Ayla Beth Hansen displays her
handmade jewelry with semi-precious stones and fossils. A teacher
by trade, she uses the extra money for supplies for her students.
And then theres Pacific Art Collective in front of Sonoma
Chicken Coop painting a cityscape mural.
The concept of having visiting artists was spearheaded
by Paz who along with Stone Griffin Gallerys Dana Smith organizes
the every third Friday ArtWalk event for the Downtown Campbell Business
Association [DCBA] members. The work displayed is as different as
the ten galleries that occupy space in downtown Campbell. Sonya
Paz Fine Art Gallery showcases bold, graphic original paintings
and prints as well as designed watches, pillows, pendants, wine
glasses and the like making art affordable to the masses.
Smiths gallery is an abundance of mostly
California landscapes and local artists and has built a solid
reputation after many years in the downtown area. Hes included
custom framing and life drawing sessions as well.
The Downtown Campbell Business Association
has a budget for the ArtWalk, said Smith. We started
in 2004 on Thursday but changed the event to Friday. The live music
really helps attendance but the weather is important.
The art experience at ArtWalk is stimulating but
equally entertaining and inspiring are the artists biographies
which they will gladly share.
Lorraine Lawson Fine Arts in The Courtyard cites
her maternal great-grandfather, renowned European artist Gustave
Flasschoen as her creative motivation. Growing up in Belgium, Lawson
studied the one painting the family had from him and dreamed of
becoming an artist. In 1961, they moved to Campbell where she graduated
from Del Mar High School. Ten years ago Lawson started painting
in earnest and four years ago she opened her own gallery. Her work
constantly evolves as she creates studies in texture adding newspapers,
sand, and shells. Lawson is equally comfortable creating traditional
landscape paintings.
Art has the power to make us see things from
a different perspective, said Lawson. I find my own
voice in my abstract art. My new found inspiration is exotic papers
and sheet music. I always knew I belonged in downtown Campbell.
My roots are here.
Lawson also displays the work of artist Jeanette
Stevenson who creates fantasy-like photographic montages from photo
transparencies.
Across the way in The Courtyard is Heartworks, Debbie
Marie Arambulas gallery.
I came to Campbell 10 years ago, said
Arambula. I was at Kensington Gallery. I always envisioned
having an ArtWalk.
Arambula sells her work at her own gallery called
Debbie Marie Gallery but many know it as Heartworks. In the back
of The Courtyard she has her studio where she creates cheerful abstract
hearts, landscapes and the like in stunning jewel tones. She travels
all over the country showcasing her work, selling internationally
and says I love what I do.
Music permeates the downtown area whether its
Blues Hammer in The Courtyard or flutist Sam Barth in front of Stone
Griffin at the April 17 ArtWalk.
The ArtWalk has definitely grown, said
DCBA President and Trailsloggers owner Neil Collins. And it
adds so much character to the downtown.
DCBA presents successful Bunnies
and Bonnets Parade
More good times happened in downtown Campbell as
the main street closed down and the much anticipated annual Bunnies
and Bonnets Parade was held on April 11.
I try to bring Lillyana every year,
said Joseph Farfen who watched as his 5-year-old daughter draw a
basket with chalk on Campbell Avenue. Its either our
second or third year. Its a lot of fun.
Lillyana agreed excitedly saying I saw the
Easter bunny!
But that is just the beginning of the midday event
where kids draw on the street paving the way for a full scale old
fashioned parade. While the young artists display their talents,
the east end of Campbell Avenue by the railroad tracks lines up
with marching bands, baton dancers, classic cars, city officials,
school groups, and more readying for the procession. Fostering much
attention were the Golden Gate Basset Hound Rescue from Novato who
brought 25 of the canines to participate in the procession.
The Bunnies and Bonnets Parade is in its 12th year
and is sponsored by the Downtown Campbell Business Association [DCBA].
It has become a must attend event ushering in spring.
Jeanne C. Carbone
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