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Bringing alternative art to Bakersfield
Topics: Sunstone Design, Designs, Bakersfield, Bakotopia, jewelry, 2008
Posted by Sunstone Mon May 12, 2008 14:48:14 PDT
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Bakotopia - Bringing local artists together!
Artisan discovers networking power via blogging at Bako - check it out!

By Barrie, Bakotopia.com contributor

The first couple of times I saw Bakotopia magazine I sort of dismissed it as something geared toward a younger crowd. Really, I am not sure what prompted me to give it a second look, but I am sure glad I did!

My name is Barrie and I am a local artist, and I have been in Bakersfield for about 20 years now. I worked out in the oilfields on and off for many years as a rig welder. For most of those years I was the only female rig welder in the county. I spent many years pissing off bosses by decorating pipelines and steam generators with hearts, flowers and happy faces.


'Barrie' at work..

My welding skills almost naturally progressed into silversmithing, and now I work primarily in silver, creating unique jewelry pieces that can be seen at www.sunstonedesigns.com.

I am finding Bakersfield to be a tough spot when it comes to art, especially what some may consider alternative mediums. I don’t quite fit in with traditionalists, but don’t fit in with those on the cutting edge either. It kind of left me feeling like I was floundering with nowhere to go ... and that was when I decided to take another look at Bakotopia and build a free blog at Bakotopia.com. Within minutes I had some friends - woo hoo! Go me, go Sunstone Designs! I did a search for other local artists, and tagged them as friends. Soon, I was getting e-mail and making contacts with other local artists!

Terri Sanders, from Glimpses of Life Photography (www.glimpsesoflifephotography.com) e-mailed me about my Web site. We exchanged a few e-mails, and she came to see me at my booth at the new Artisans Show at the Golden State Mall (for further details on this monthly event see my blog at Bakotopia.com).



Terri came to Bakersfield from Northern California, and has been here with her husband and daughter for a couple of years. She started out photographing babies, and made her way to custom portraiture, finding her true gift for capturing a moment in her subjects’ lives, thus Glimpses of Life Photography. Terri is now partnered with her daughter Stephany, a local make-up artist.

Terri and local model and fellow Bakotopian Candace had already worked on a shoot together, and had a wedding shoot scheduled for the same day. Here’s where the whole story comes together and gets really cool - Terri asked to use some of my jewelry on Candace in her photo shoot!



Candace is featured prominently in Terri’s work. Her classic looks make her highly versatile as a model as she is perfect for editorialized high fashion as well as the girl next door look.

If not for our blogs at Bakotopia.com the three of us would have never met. Now, rather than being strangers pounding the pavement alone for the sake of our art, we have come together, worked together, and have a support system and cheering squad all rolled into one - thanks to Bakotopia!

Story also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 28. 5-15-08

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Comment From: matt

Great story! I'm glad Bakotopia has helped in your venture. MsJosey loves the necklace she bought from you at the street fair! Comment From: jenraven

I hear you on the awesome networking power of Bakotopia! It's doing some amazing things for our Arts scene, here! Great story! :)