Arts DEVO

Art by DEVO If I could take any creative class, it would be a sewing class that would teach me how to make my own clothes. Specifically, it would show me how to dissect the few T-shirts and that one pair of khakis that fit me perfectly, and then recreate enough carbon copies of them so that I could have my uniform in place for the next several decades. I wouldn’t be surprised if such a class existed. It seems like the more sunshine there is in Chico, the more classes and other outlets there are for the young and the young at heart to make stuff and perform on local stages. Below are a few of the opportunities for creating that have begun sprouting up:

• Where are the Spiders?! Dibs on “China Girl”! Calling all space cadets and glam queens and kings, Café Coda is hosting its annual cover night on May 12, and this year it’s The David Bowie Tribute Show. Contact dan@cafecoda.com to reserve your spot.

• Isn’t that Chico? If you’re making art that is inspired by Chico or one of the city’s inspiring iconic features, maybe you should consider contributing to the “art inspired by Chico” exhibition coming to the Chico Museum or this year’s edition of the popular Chico Icons group show at Avenue 9 Gallery. Visit www.chicomuseum.comfor info on the museum’s upcoming multi-media (art, poetry, video, music, textiles, etc.) exhibit. And, visit www.avenue9gallery.com to submit your local-icon works (this year’s theme: “Endangered Icons”) by June 30.

• This one time, at rock-band camp: What’s better than a summer rock camp? That’s right, two summer rock camps! In addition to the Chico School of Rock, another music school, Ascent Music Academy, has just opened. And, they are both having youth, summer-rock camps … the same week? July 23-July 27. It’s a battle of the rock camps! Visit www.chicoschoolofrock.com and www.theascentmusic.com and decide where you want to sign up.

• EarthGirl art school: Visit www.earthgirlart.com to sign up for Dorothy “EarthGirl” Vosse’s craft, sewing and knitting classes designed especially for kids.

• Get on the Artober calendar: Now is the time to sign up for the annual month-long Artoberfest celebration. The deadline is June 1 for getting your October event listed in the official guide and for getting your booth space reserved for the Chico Palio kick-off event. This year, the kick-off and Palio art-horse race will take place at One-Mile in Bidwell Park. Visit www.friendsoftheartsupstate.org for more information.

• Summer Art Academy note: The Janet Turner Print Museum’s annual youth art program will be dark this summer due to construction projects on campus. Check with the museum next spring for details on the return of the program in 2013.

Now open for funk! I have yet to set foot in the brand-new Pepper Grand Coulee’s Funky Trunk (or just Funky Trunk—on the corner of Mangrove and East First avenues), but it looks like one of the funnest places in town. Sharon Nilsson opened the “vintage, retro and quirky used clothing” shop three months ago, and has also hosted two rock shows in the colorful space, highlighting some of Chico’s most fun up-and-comers—including young punks Icko Sicko, young funks Threk and young funk-punks Frankie Doppler’s Nuclear Sunrise (feat. Nilsson’s son, Jonah, on guitar/vocals). The shop is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and Nilsson plans on hosting more shows every two or three weeks.