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For What It's Worth...
Topics: The Basement, arts, skateboards, recycling, Outer Limits Skate Shop, downtown bakersfield
Posted by jenraven Wed Apr 15, 2009 22:05:51 PDT
Viewed 972 times
0 responses 5 comments Location: 1532 19th st., Bakersfield , CA 93301

For What It's Worth...
New show at The Basement poses many questions about the value of art - OPENING MAY 8!

By Jen Raven, Bakotopia.com contributor

What is a picture worth to you? 

For some, less is more; but for others, one thousand words may barely scratch the surface.

It’s an interesting concept to play with, and local author/poet Ginn Williams is eager to expand on the idea ... as she also expands her own artistic horizons.

“A picture worth one thousand words would convey everything I wanted to say, in exactly the way I wanted to say it,” said Williams. “Painting is such a different form of communication, compared to the written word; I’m trying to branch off into visual art, to learn to convey ideas and emotions without relying so much on words".

She is especially excited about the upcoming “One Thousand Words” group arts exhibit, coming to The Basement Gallery, 1532 19th St. - opening Friday, May 8, at 7 pm.

There will be live entertainment, and just $7 gets you in the door. Ginn intends to challenge herself (and delight the rest of us) with her new functional art series, “Couples Cups.” These over-sized ceramic mugs will come in pairs, and feature “disturbing messages on the outsides, but sweet messages on the insides,” concerning the ups and downs of romantic relationships. This show will be Williams’ personal visual arts debut.


Above: Ginn Williams

“When I write, it’s like I’m not present for the process. I don’t always understand what I put down at first,” Williams explained.  “But later I can go back to it and add a word here or there, and suddenly it makes sense. I don’t know if it will be that way with (visual artwork) for me.  Writing is something that moves through me ... but visual art is something that comes to me in my head, in dreams and I store them away in the corner of my mind until I’m ready to put them on canvas.”

Still adjusting to work with paints, Williams is confident that she will be displaying her first paintings by the end of summer, and at The Basement.
 
Local artist Sam Leumas is also eager to “convey multiple messages at once” with his creations. “That’s what a picture (worth one thousand words) can do ... depending on who’s looking at it; it can say all kinds of different things,” said Leumas.


Above: Artists Sam Leumas

His acrylic on canvas work, “Vox Trot” seems to scream with a dozen - or more - different messages. When asked what inspired this unique acrylic painting, Leumas said with a smile, “It was inspired by a girl.”

Leumas, a 21-year-old Bakersfield native, has been painting steadily for the last 13 years; and all that practice is about to pay off. Joey Witt of the Outer Limits skate shop has just commissioned a limited edition series of skateboards from this talented, emerging artist. Each hand-painted, one-of-a-kind design will be featured on a rescued board.


Above: Art by Sam Leumas

Witt, who has been the owner/operator of Outer Limits for 15 years now, says this project has an important dual-motivation behind it.

“I try as much as possible to promote the arts scene in Bakersfield,” said Witt. “In creating this project, we want to draw attention to the artwork on the boards; but at the same time, we want to raise awareness about recycling. So many kids buy a board, and then just throw it away later ... even though the board still has a lot of use left in it. It’s wasteful and it kills a lot of trees.”

 Taking positive action, Witt rescues these discarded boards for re-use. “It’s really great when artists can take these old boards and make something new with them. To recycle them really makes me happy,”  he said.

While other artists may be added, later, Witt says that “Right now, Sam is the main focus of this project.” He also adds, “Art is our future. It’s so important to have respect for our arts community, and I hope this project will encourage that.”

FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE CONTACT:
The Basement
Deon Bell, Gallery Director
1532 19th and Eye Streets, Downtown Bakersfield
661-859-1904
thebasement_1@yahoo.com
www.myspace.com/thebasement_bakersfield
 
Outer Limits Skate Shop
Joey Witt, Owner/Operator
2006 Chester Avenur, Downtown Bakersfield
661-322-5326
outerlimitsstore@hotmail.com

Also printed in Bakotopia magazine, issue 53, 4/30/09

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Comment From: matt

Fantastic work, Jen! I'll never forget Ginn's performance at the Bako 1-year bash at Chuy's. She stole the show with her fire! Comment From: jenraven

I am so excited for Ginn's upcoming event, "Two Hours Inside" ... I'm doing a happy dance!! It's going to be killer. Comment From: GinnWilliams9

Thank you Jen and Matt, you both rock! Comment From: acosper

Of course, a picture may be worth less than a thousand words. Case in point: it takes a thousand words from Jen Raven to get us off our asses to actually see said picture. Comment From: jenraven

*sigh* My work is never done! Lucky for all of you, I can talk endlessly ...