The Arts Diva

Tastemakers take note Chico’s Arts Commission has no fewer than four public art projects on the stove for which the commission is seeking interested community members and arts professionals to serve on selection panels. A few lucky people will get to review proposals and make recommendations, all in a bureaucratic setting. Time’s a wasting, though; applications are due to the city Aug. 1. City arts coordinator Mary Gardner can answer your questions at 896-7214.

Giddyup Imagine, if you will, six to 10 decorated pretend horses being pushed or pulled around the city of Chico’s parking lot. It’s Chico Palio, the 2006 Artoberfest (www.artoberfest.org) kick-off event. Chico Palio is a concept loosely based on Siena Palio, a 500-year-old tradition in Siena, Italy, which uses real horses and riders who race around the plaza after a huge feast and drink-a-thon in the streets. Siena’s events (two per year) draw a huge crowd of people who pretty much live it up. Debra Lucero of Friends of the Arts (awarded a $50,000 contract from the city of Chico to develop ideas and market Chico as an arts destination in the month of October) is the organizer of said event and is hoping to recreate the community spirit of the Italian event. Some in the arts community attended the Artoberfest meeting July 18 to hear the working Palio plans and to offer feedback and suggestions. Gregg Payne suggested the pretend horses should be made out of shopping carts and each be filled with a little guy with a whip who would be pushed around the course by a big, athletic guy. It’s true. What I got from the meeting is that the event is still in planning stage. If anyone out there has some brilliant suggestions for making this event a huge community draw, contact Lucero at deblucero@sbcglobal.net.

Smashing tiles I finally caught a glimpse of some photos of the big mosaic project that Chico’s own Robin Indar and Dylan Tellesen are creating at a private residence in Sacto. They have been working for months creating a tiled paradise in some rich person’s backyard. Wonderful mosaics grace a pool and a bench (photo) and will also enliven an outdoor fireplace and a bad-ass lizard that Tellesen is building. More pictures can be seen on the Web sites of both these artists: www.robinindar.com (click on View Robin’s Blog) and www.dtellesen.blogspot.com.

Passing the torch This is the last ride on this elevator for the Arts Diva. I leave you all in the capable hands of Jason Cassidy, who will be your Arts Devotee in this space every other week. I’d like to thank the academy and my biggest fan, Gary McHargue, whose teachings (CN&R letters, April 27, 2006) helped me find my inner diva and really let her shine.

Carla Resnick is a self-proclaimed arts diva, writer and musician whose day job is gallery director at 1078 Gallery.