Fine Arts

Sex! Rock ‘n’ roll! Let’s start out this first installment of the CN&R’s Fine Arts column laying it all out in the open: Most of us do not take advantage of the “fine” arts Chico offers. There are definitely core patrons of the many downtown galleries, poetry readings, community theater productions and their university counterparts, but other than the occasional opening, the rest of us are more likely to hit a rock show or a movie. And that’s OK, but one of the points of focus for this column will be to get that “rest of us” to add a little more culture to our calendars.

The new girl, eh? Canadian transplant and occasional CN&R contributor Carla Resnick (pictured) has just been hired as the new director of the 1078 Gallery, and the sometimes-smart-alecky and always-energetic Resnick is excited at the prospect: “My plan is to make it happening again at 1078.”

Before moving to Chico with her boyfriend, Resnick put in time at the Smash Gallery of Modern Art in Vancouver, B.C., and later was a gallery assistant at the Mendocino College Art Gallery in Ukiah. Working in conjunction with the gallery’s seven-member board, Resnick plans on mixing things up, adding live local music to the schedule and reaching out beyond the arts community. First up: Color, a members group show, runs Sept. 15-Oct. 1, with an opening reception Friday, Sept. 16, 7-9 p.m.

But what about Rocktober? The Chico Art Commission has gotten together with local arts group Friends of the Arts to rename the month of October. The first annual “Artoberfest,” according to a recent press release, will “[consolidate] the marketing of arts and culture related events happening in October. … The idea is to build upon Chico’s designation as the #10 Best Art Town in America.”

The annual November Open Studios Tour has agreed to pull its event back a month to coincide with what pretty much amounts to circling every arts event during October. There are quite a few big touring acts on the flier—Gillian Welch, Keb’ Mo’, Arlo Guthrie, Flogging Molly, Yo Yo Contest—with every local play, art show and community event included inside the program.

Make plans now:

The Foreigner at the Chico Cabaret (www.chicocabaret.com), Thurs.-Sat., 7:30 p.m. through Oct. 1—theater honcho Phil Ruttenburg directs, and both he and wife Sue Ruttenburg make rare appearances on stage in this award-winning off-Broadway farce.

Chico Poetry Slam at Moxie’s, Wed., Sept. 21—featured poet, from S.F. (via Minnesota), Thadra Sheridan (www.wordgroove.com/chicoslam.html).

Voice: Amalgamations at Crux Arts (www.cruxarts.com), Sept. 24-Oct. 5—Voice youth-arts magazine (www.voicemagazine.net) presents a multi-media group show of artists ages 11-19. Opening reception (feat. three live bands): Sat., Sept. 24, 7:30 p.m.

Next week in the CN&R’s new outdoors column, Out There: Trails of Bidwell Park.