Indian Canyon Storytelling and Indigenous Gathering

 

A couple of Saturdays ago, the Husband and I with the buddy Dave, spent a joyous afternoon at the 17th Annual Storytelling and Indigenous Gathering held in Indian Canyon, off of Cienega Road. Story tellers and artists of the Ohlone, Chumash, Cherokee, Aztec, and other indigenous communities came together that afternoon to tell traditional and new tales in words, music, and dance. Hosts for the event were Ann-Marie Sayers, the chairwoman of Indian Canyon, and artist and activist Kanyon Sayers-Roods. (By the way, did you know that Indian Canyon is the only recognized "Indian Country" along the central coast?)

One of the featured speakers was Eddie Madril, a member of the Pascua Yacqui tribe of Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico, whose last story was the hoop dance. These photos only give you an inkling of the beauty and wonder of his story. Here's a Youtube video with Madril in which he talks about and performs the hoop dance.

A Cut-out Fence

I love how these people over on Riverside Road think!

Fun in the Sun in Downtown Hollister

This Saturday, July 20, 2013, is the 27th annual Hollister Street Festival, which includes a car show and a swap meet. San Benito Street will be closed from Fourth to South Streets. The swap meet, which is new this year, will take place on Sixth Street. The hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is freeeeeeeee!  You can't beat that.

The festival is brought to us each year by the Hollister Downtown Association (HDA). We truly appreciate their hard work. For more details about the festival, check out the HDA link.

The image of the Hollister Street Festival and Car Show poster is courtesy of the Hollister Downtown Association.  Thank you, Sharlene and the whole HDA crew. 

New Biz: One of a Kind Arts

Don't you just love the fact that new shops and restaurants have opened, or about to open, in Hollister?

Just before the Fourth of July, the Husband and I came across One of a Kind Arts, a new boutique on Fifth Street, next to the Granada Theater. It was the end of the day, so all we could do was peep in the windows.

According to the One of a Kind Arts website, the store is "A year round Arts and Crafts Fair that features handmade, unique, vintage and one of a kind items." Local artisans can sell directly to the public through the shop. How cool is that?

Check it out for yourself. Here are the links to the One of a Kind Arts website and its Facebook page.

Buena fortuna, One of a Kind Arts!

"Freedom, Rebellion and Adventure"

Who  else agrees that the Hollister bike rally was fun and well-run?

Congratulations to Mark Cresswell of Worldwide Dynamics for doing a wonderful job organizing and managing the 2013 Hollister Rally.  Much appreciation also goes to our new Hollister Police Chief David Westrick for such a great job leading law enforcement for the event.  And, many thanks to the thousands of visitors over the last few days to our city. Hope you enjoyed your visit.

The motorcycle rally may be over for this year, but the biker-inspired exhibit, Freedom, Rebellion & Adventure, continues at the Blak Sage Gallery until July 20, 2013. The exhibit includes works by Rob Campbell, creator of the "Keeping Up with Jones" comic strip, photographs by Michele Esposito, and  sculptures by Paul Loughridge. Take the time to enjoy it, the next time you're in downtown historical Hollister.

Loughridge inspires me to try my hand at putting together odds and ends of metal things to create something spectacular. Something I've never done before. My favorite Loughridge sculpture is called "Evolution (bone/wrench)", which he created out of a vintage bicycle tank, meat grinder handle, flex gas line, propane carb, toilet seat hinges, and a turkey baster. Brilliant! My second favorite is the red truck in the photo above.

The Blak Sage Gallery  is located at 727 San Benito Street (east side of the street between 7th and South Streets). The gallery is open Wednesday and Thursday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Friday, 1 to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 12 to 5 p.m. For more info about the artists, check out San Benito County Arts Council Facebook page.