Arts DEVO

Art party! One of Arts DEVO’s favorite local events is back this spring. The two-day Art at the Matador festival is happening May 8-9 at the iconic Matador Motel on The Esplanade. Artists will set up individual galleries in the rooms. Local stop-motion animation creator Josh Funk will be there—in the “Scholarship Room.” There also will be artists and vendors in the hotel’s courtyard, and each day features a lineup of live performers, with evening shows each night by the Lumininjas fire-dancing troupe. Visit www.facebook.com/artatthematador for info and updates.

The scene needs volunteers With its recent increase in live-music events, the nonprofit 1078 Gallery has more volunteer-hours it needs to fill. If you dig the local music scene, and you want to be one of the badasses making it happen, send music committee member Christina Springer an email at info@1078gallery.org, and ask her to add you to the gallery’s volunteer list.

And, the Chico Breaks the Record crew is breaking down and they need your help. A tight core of clock watchers, soundpersons and observers has been wearing itself out keeping the Guinness World Record concert attempt moving. If you have the time to help out, especially in the super-early morning hours, go down to the Tackle Box Bar & Grill, sign up and be a part of the historic record-breaking attempt. www.chicobreakstherecord.com

Big songs needed Those busy beavers in Uncle Dad’s Art Collective have dreamed up an awesome project, and they’ve reserved an awesome venue in which it’ll be showcased. On July 12, at the Sierra Nevada Big Room, the collective will present Small Town, Big Sound: A Showcase of Chico Songwriters. The idea is that local songwriters will submit songs and then the Uncle Dad Orchestra will arrange and perform them (with or without the songwriter) on the big stage. Submit now at www.uncledadart.com

Buy art, fund education Local painter Norm Dillinger is once again endeavoring to help others through his art. Previously, Dillinger has donated proceeds from the sale of his distinctive pointillist paintings to Play Pumps International, a group dedicated to providing access to clean drinking water in developing countries. His latest effort is focused on a community self-help project in Pakistan called the Afghan Refugee Girls’ Schools. Dillinger is selling his paintings at a 10 percent wholesale discount with the goal of raising $2,700 to help the project with its mission of educating Afghani girls displaced by war. Call 343-1582 or email norman943@att.net to set up an appointment to see the paintings, or just drop by his Lumina house at 821 Orient St. (you can’t miss it—just look for the house, and yard, and cars covered in colorful dots) and knock on the door and ask for a tour.