Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Artbeat

Since I promised to try to educate people about the arts,' I thought I'd start today. (What was I thinking?) Okay...here's a thought. Ancient civilization drew on walls as a way to tell stories and perhaps to write down their history for the generations to follow. Warriors sat around campfires and bragged about bravery in battle  precursors to the modern-day storyteller and writer. Musicians did the same thing, their songs (often stories) surviving time to become the precursor to our modern-day music and bluegrass? Our forbearers made pottery to use for everyday life, wove fabricsoften exquisite, melted and hammered silver, bronze and gold into goblets, masks and sword and dagger hilts. A guy named Shakespeare decided that the common man needed entertainment and wrote a few plays that have managed not only to survive, but remain popular after several hundred years. Native Americans carved totems and masks and worked porcupine quills into intricate designs to decorate their garments. Do you think that when any of these people were doing these things, which were part of their everyday lives, they imagined they were creating art?

Column: Many thanks to everyone who submitted a name for the column, but in the end, we decided to go with a name one of the board members came up with: ARTBEAT.

Congratulations to the Rose Garden Club, winner of the fifty-dollar prize in our first annual table topper competition. All the tables were stunning. The Arts League would like to thank all the businesses, individuals and clubs for participating. We hope for an even bigger competition and turnout next year.

Crafters wanted: If you are involved in making any kind of craft, we'd love you to set up a booth at our first craft bazaar, which will be held Saturday, November 20, from 9:00 to 5:00. A ten-by-ten booth is $20. Contact Heidi Richards at 401 Sherwood, Prescott, for details, or give her a call at 887-0140 or 887-8214.

Oral History of Prescott/Nevada County: Don't forget to write down your stories about the area and send them to me, or, if you prefer to just tell' your stories, borrow a cassette recorder and just talk your way through them. I know there are some great memories out there that generations to come would enjoy hearing.

March workshop: The manager of Waldenbooks in Texarkana is interested in doing an autographing in connection with our March workshop. Call me at 887-6214 or write to me at 324 E. Main, Prescott, with questions, comments or art-related info.