Arts DEVOté

Let it ooze
Arts DEVOté is not immune to Chico’s disease. Right now his histamines are atwitter as all of creation seems to be getting busy on his overworked mast cells simultaneously. It’s the same deal every May, the month when a saturation point is reached and the only recourse is to stop fighting and just let it flow. Chico’s art galleries are not immune, and they have responded to the creation invasion by giving in and allowing every artist in at once.

This week, breathe in 100-or-so artists as no fewer than seven (!) group shows open: Student Printmakers Exhibit (Janet Turner/Laxson Gallery and Ayres Hall cases); Re: Group (So. Illinois grads in Humanities Center Gallery); Contemporary Women II (all-women exhibit at Chico Art Center); Mono Print Group 2008 (from Chico State monoprint workshop, at James Snidle Fine Arts & Appraisals); Monoprint/Monotype (group exhibition at Avenue 9 Gallery); The 53rd Annual Student Exhibition (Chico State’s University Art Gallery); Janet Turner: Collector, Mentor, Teacher (works by Turner, by her students and from her collection, at Chico Museum).

In bloom
If there wasn’t enough already, spring is birthing a new crop of arts fun for our gloriously saturated region. A.D. is ashamed to admit he has yet to take in the newly sprouted Secret Gallery (next to the El Rey Theatre), but he is thankful to be able to live vicariously through the regular photo updates on the hip space’s events (and, for that matter, on all hip happenings in Chico) at CommonPath.org.

But there is something sprouting up right here at the CN&R compound that A.D. is especially excited about. Under the enticing banner of “Art of Possibility,” the CN&R is opening its own gallery space, called … The Space.

From the busy mind of one of the busiest arts dudes in Chico, CN&R designer/CRUX Artist Collective co-director Ty Gorton, came the idea of transforming the bike garage/office-furniture graveyard on the first floor of the CN&R building into a once-a-month art reception that will kick-off the Art 1st Saturday art walk. Genius! The fun begins Sat., May 3, 4-8 p.m. with American Peak, paintings by Matt Goulart, plus music by Pat Hull, Erin Lizardo, Michael Lee, Zach Zeller and John Paul Gutierrez … and food and drinks!

Wait, another new one, please. A.D. has to give a shout out to artist, teacher and FOAD (Friend of Arts DEVOté) Jennie Porter, who just opened the rad new Shooting Star Children’s Art Studio in historic downtown Marysville. With weekly after-school and evening classes in painting, drawing, cartooning, sculpture and art history—geared to both younger (ages 7-11) and older (12-17) kids—Porter has created a kick-ass resource for parents and students who crave intensive exposure to the arts. Huzzah! The grand opening is Sat., May 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. See it online at shootingstarartstudio.com.

Bi-weekly Devotions

• City of Chico arts meetings (in City Council Building): Public Art Policy (May 1 and 8, 5 p.m.); Art in Public Places (May 6, 3:30 p.m.); Art Outreach in Education (May 13, 3:30 p.m.); Arts Commission (May 14, 7 p.m.).

• City Plaza art dedication ceremony: Celebrate all the new art in the new plaza with the artists and Mayor Andy Holcombe Thurs., May 1, 5-6 p.m.

• Carcinogenic: Reception for Arts DEVOté’s predecessor, former Arts Diva Carla Resnick’s photography exhibition at Humanities Gallery Thurs., May 1, 5-7 p.m.

• Free Comic Book Day: The local home for the international giveaway is BaT Comics Sat., May 3, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

• Artoberfest program: Go to www.artoberfest.org to get your arts organization listed in the annual arts celebration’s program—deadline is June 20.

• Transcriptions: A New Music Concert: Electronic and multimedia works by Chico State composer David Derwin Thurs., May 8, 4:30 p.m, Wismer Theatre on the Chico State campus.