Meet Kari Shipman – one of Sacramento’s hardest-working fashionistas. Shipman is the woman behind Juniper James, and you can also find her at artist incubator Flywheel at the Downtown plaza, which she co-owns. She’s proud to call herself a member of the creative working class, and is dedicated to seeing Sacramento’s artistic community grow. We almost lost her to Los Angeles. but fortunately for us (and unfortunately for L.A.) she made the decision to put down roots in Sacramento. Below she shares her thoughts on the necessity of Sunday brunch, enjoying the outdoors like a true urbanite, where the boys can find the best vintage duds, and how to sustain a creative class. Watch the city fly

Local artist Maren Conrad sold her collection, “Politically Vulnerable,” yesterday, June 11 – two days after it was removed from the walls of the Vanguard bar, due to a complaint made by a local lobbyist. The collection is comprised of 12 paintings of ten women, all of whom Conrad credits as possessing powerful voices that rose above those of the former governors with whom the women were involved. The complaint came from Donne Brownsey of the lobbyist firm Sacramento Advocates, Inc and was in response to a brief in the Capitol Morning report referencing Conrad's theme as, "lovers, mistresses and muses of California governors" – a description that Conrad feels did not capture her intended

Local artist Maren Conrad spent six weeks creating a collection of paintings titled “Politically Vulnerable” that depicts ten wives, girlfriends and lovers of California governors, both past and present – but you won’t see it hanging from the walls of the Vanguard bar when it opens downtown this weekend, as was originally planned. “Art is supposed to provoke conversation,” Conrad said in response to the bar owners pulling her collection after complaints. “That’s why we as artists create. It’s so unfeminist to say these powerful, courageous women don’t get to be put on that wall, and I’m not surprised that men are cowering away from this issue.”   The players On June 7 while Conrad was g

Some say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – in this case the apple is a paintbrush and the tree is the canvas. Third-generation painter Cameron Sky Villa is only seven-years-old and about to have his first full exhibition. There is something refreshing about interviewing kids – you can always count on them to say exactly what’s on their unrehearsed minds. Cameron is a young boy who likes to ride his bike, play with friends, play video games and paint. Cameron’s father and grandfather are both painters. When Cameron expressed some interest in painting, his father encouraged him to continue. Like any other young boy, Cameron wanted to mimic what he saw his father doing. Fast f

Guys and dolls dressed in Prohibition-era attire attended Sacramento Artists Council's Speakeasy Fundraiser at the Antiquite Maison Privee on Saturday, May 18. The fun-filled event included casino-style gambling for guests. Winnings could be used to purchase art donations scattered throughout the Antiquite Maison Privee's main entrance room. The Sacramento Artists Council continues to support local artists, musicians and others through fundraisers such as the annual masquerade. This year, the SAC celebrated the 3rd Annual Masquerade Gala/Speakeasy Fundraiser and raised several thousand dollars to keep music and art in local schools (the final tally is not yet complete). Spiffy dealer

SacTV.com has created a new section of art gallery videos made during Second Saturday Art Walk this year from March, April and May. This page brings together local painters and gallery owners who discuss the art they showcase on Second Saturday. This page presents a wide variety of local paintings and photography that span from portraits to posters to landscapes to surrealism. It also brings together eye-catching art that represents some of Sacramento's most talented artists. These art gallery videos can be found by going to SacTV.com and clicking the "art" icon. More Second Saturday videos will be added to this 2013 page as the year goes on.  Some of the art that has been featured during

“Star Trek: Into Darkness”     film review by Gary Chew Maintaining linkage with itself has to be one of the underlying secrets of success for the durable “Star Trek” franchise. The linkage with all the star trekking from its outset when Gene Roddenberry got the space fable launched in 1966 to the very motion picture that's just been released (“Star Trek: Into Darkness”) makes it clear its genesis was in broadcast television. The Trek characters continue, even if they are now younger and played by others who, in many instances, weren't yet born when the series began. At present, we remain in the prequel mode of this enduring future of which Jim Kirk and Mr. Spock --- as well as the rest

Families enjoyed a Mother's Day celebration at the 4th Annual Vida de Oro Folk Art Festival. The festival was held at the Good: Street Food + Design Market building located at 1409 Del Paso Blvd. Vida de Oro (which means “golden life”) was a free, family-friendly event held Saturday, May 11. This was the first year that the event was held at this venue. Artists, vendors and performers were on hand to help celebrate the event. The Good warehouse building has a high ceiling, and for most of the day it helped keep things somewhat cool, bringing relief from the hot weather. Delicious food and drinks were sold at the back of the building, providing a picnic-type setting. Vendors and ar

When I think of the Downtown Plaza I think of a sad abandoned place, a place that quite honestly I try and avoid; it feels heavy like a deep sigh and gray without color. When I discovered that’s where I was headed to interview an artist, I was skeptical yet intrigued. My curiosity peaked when I got to my destination, and enormous perfume and cologne advertisements were all that was there. Then the large glass doors mysteriously open, but the figure that appears is not “the great and powerful Oz”—it is Tre Borden. Although this is the first time we have met, he greets me with a warm hug that I am glad to accept. As he turns around to enter the space, I notice immediately that I am not in

The local arts community recently discovered that the public artwork 'Sojourner' on 13th and K Street had been vandalized. The sculpture was found pushed off its pedestal on January 6, 2013. The sculpture, a 7ft. Mexican limestone work of art by Master Artist Elizabeth Catlett Mora, was broken into several pieces. Unfortunately the artist cannot repair this treasured work. Catlett died last year on April 2, 2012. The breaking news originally appeared on the blog "Sacramento Pedestrian Art." At the time, there was very little additional information provided on the developing story. And, by the time this article is published The Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC) is expected to

Paul Valéry, the French writer, poet and philosopher, once said, “An artist never really finishes his work, he merely abandons it.” Those words exemplify the process that took place over a three-year period to create a mural at Rio Americano High School. On Tuesday night, April 30, the unveiling of the completed mural took place at Rio's band building. The high school's “Rio Music” project commenced in 2010 with the sponsorship and support of the Sacramento River Cats and the Rio Band Boosters. Artist Markos Egure was commissioned for the project, which proceeded in three different phases. Egure's other artistic work can be seen at various sites in the Sacramento area. Egure, and the

April's Second Saturday Art Walk drew the highest attendance of the year. More visitors and vendors enjoyed warmer weather as they visited the various art galleries and events in Midtown. Sacramento law enforcement made its presence known as they patrolled Midtown on foot, bicycle, horseback, patrol car and I even saw a helicopter flying in the 20th and J Street area, The added security made some people feel safer. “I like to see the police out here. I've heard about people getting robbed and assaulted the past few months around here and I do feel safer walking the streets,” said Grant Martin. Other people walking with Martin's agreed with his comments as they nodded. 20th Street betw

ZuhG is a band with deep roots in Sacramento. They have been described as unique, energetic, funky, lively and above all, fun to watch live. ZuhG is a band that moves audiences to their feet and inspires them to move to their beats and to dance. The talented musicians that make up ZuhG are not afraid to experiment with different types of music and do things differently. They have played most of Sacramento's venues and venture out to spread their brand of music as they constantly tour. Although reggae continues to be what most fans enjoy when they watch ZuhG play, the band continues to experiment with different music genres, including folk music. Their last CD was “Calm & Clear,” a folk

On Saturday, April 13, 2013, the Sacramento French Film Festival will bring Gainsbourg-mania to Sacramento for the fourth year in a row, with Serge! a party paying homage to one of France’s most provocative artists, Serge Gainsbourg. Featuring films, music, art and French cocktails, Serge! is one of the most fun and unique parties Sacramento has to offer! Serge Gainsbourg, a major figure in the 1960's, ‘70's, and ‘80's pop-culture, took the world by storm through a fog of Gitanes and alcohol, reinventing himself from Gainsbourg to “Gainsbarre”! Singer-songwriter, director, actor, photographer, provocateur, and iconoclast, Gainsbourg was the lover of sex-symbol Brigitte Bardot and fathered

Aspiring filmmakers -- professionals and weekenders – should come out to the next "Third Tuesday" workshop from the Capital Film Arts Alliance. It's on April 16 at The Art Institute at 7p.m. and will feature director Chris King and sound engineer Jimmy Bell. These guys know what they're doing with camera and sound, they've won awards and accolades galore, and are more than willing to share their "best tips" with others. This particular workshop is part of The Poe Project, a creative filmmaking, writing and literature project from the Capital Film Arts Alliance, the Sacramento Public Library, and a host of other arts groups and businesses. "The Collected Works of Edgar Allan Poe" has been

Beatnik Studios' Final Friday attracted a crowd of over 100 guests to its monthly event. Final Friday featured the artwork of David Mohr, Trent Liddicoat and James Angello. The three artists were present for a meet-and-greet. I had met one of the artists at an artist reception last year at Sol Collective. Liddicoat indicated that his work, along with that of the other two artists, will be exhibited for two months. “I was asked to exhibit because I'm friends with the other artists who are showing and they studied at Sac State with the curator (Kelley O'Connell) who is working here,” said Liddicoat. The self-taught artist shared that he did not attend art school, has been friends with

Expect an evening of art, music, food and family fun at Beatnik Studios during its Final Friday event. Final Fridays is a free monthly event that showcases local, regional and statewide talent and is open to an all-ages audience. Beatnik Studios is located on the corner of Broadway and 17th Street. Final Friday will feature the art of David Mohr, Trent Liddicoat and James Angello. An artist reception will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 29. Music will be provided by Rook Family, Orion Walsh, Autumn Sky and Musical Charis. I sat with Wesley Davis, photographer and co-owner, Beatnik Studios to talk about Final Fridays. Davis began by saying, “We actually have a new artist director. H

March's Second Saturday saw new art exhibits throughout Midtown and Downtown Sacramento. Next month Folsom will start their Second Saturday for 2013 and join Roseville's Third Saturday as alternative venues in Sacramento. On a warm evening 20th Street between J and K had some activity, mainly anchored by patrons at LowBrau. Kennedy Gallery made a move to the corner of L and 20th Streets some time in the last couple of months and that was my first stop of the evening Scheduled showings at the Kennedy Gallery Art Center included an "Abstractions Show" featuring the work of Michael Kennedy, Maleheh Bartolomeo and others. On the bottom floor the work of John Huerta was on exhibit. Huerta

It had been a few years since I last had been in Davis so I was surprised when I turned into town to see a giant three story sculpture of a man on first street. I was there to meet up with friends for brunch at Cafe Bernardo. I quickly parked my car and walked to the restaurant. As I walked down the streets of Davis I spotted different murals on the sides of restaurants and various sculptures. I would later learn that these works were part of a new art walk. My friends and I thought we would take advantage of the great weekend weather and explore the Davis Art walk. We obtained a map from the John Natsoulas Gallery where we learned from a friendly staff person that the art pieces had R

Sacramento fashion has grown at a rapid pace during the past few years. Boutiques, salons, fashion shows and local designers have exhibited their talent on the local and national fashion scenes. Creative interior and fashion designs created by Simone Vianna have resulted in unique collaborations. Models, designers, photographers and stylists enjoy collaborating with Vianna and look for her guidance when it comes to fashion. Originally from Baru, Brazil, the multilingual and multitalented Vianna has created a priceless reputation for herself as a leading creative designer, stylist and consultant in Sacramento. Besides being a talent coordinator for Sacramento Fashion Week, Vianna's tirel