Altadena Above It All

Yes, this pic has been around, but thought it good to post here.

He robbed the Chase Bank on Lake Oct. 15. Let’s find him, shall we? 

He was last seen running south on Lake with a lot of cash.

He ran down the street…no car?

He is described as between 6 feet 2 inches and 6 feet 4 inches, approximately 200 pounds.

He used a note to demand cash and hinted that he had a weapon, although no weapon was seen.

If you know this man, please call the Altadena Sheriff’s Station at 626 798 1131 or you can email the info to aldcrimetip@lasd.org.

You can also visit the Altadena Sheriff’s website at http://www.lasd.org/stations/for1/altadena/index.html and then click on “Altadena Crime Tips” on the menu on the left side of the screen.

I’m a little behind on this, but here are some shots from the fabulous Art on Palm event in Wildwood Park on Oct. 10. MaryRose Smyth hosted with help from fellow artists. I need to caption a couple of them so you know who these incredible artists are. I will do so shortly. In the meantime, here are the pix!

Here’s the Star News story on BoHo Highbrow Weekend at the Mountain Park Mausoleum. Find your beret and start snappin’ those fingers. There’s even a Richard Feynman connection to this event for all the Caltech people reading this.

Saturday’s event will feature an exhibit of JirayrZorthian’s work illustrating Gus Albrecht’s “Music Matters” columns, and a rooftop cocktail party, with food and 1950s jazz by The Bohos from 4-7 p.m.

For the Boho-Highbrow Sunday Salon on Oct. 25, the exhibit will be open all day, with classical music by Diego Miralles and the Los Angeles Contemporary Ensemble and arts conversation from 4-6 p.m.

The mausoleum is at 2300 N. Marengo Ave.

Tickets are $50 for both events, or $20 for just the Sunday salon and exhibition. Visit www.altadenaheritage.org or email altadenaheritage@earthlink.net.

GALLERY AT THE END OF THE WORLD
Open Call Sat. Oct. 24th, noon-5pm
2475 N. Lake Ave., Altadena CA (Lake Ave exit off 210/134 Fwy)
626-794-8779
galleryattheendoftheworld@gmail.com

From gallery empresarior Ben:

The Gallery At The End Of The World is a slightly legendary gallery at the top of the hill in Altadena, CA (just north of Pasadena). Every season, we host a magnificent 4-day art opening and reception called the ArtBender Weekend.

In addition to our regular crew of artists, we like to have 30+ “guest artists” for each show. We’re pretty open minded about what kinds of artwork we accept, with an emphasis on having a diversity of styles and a healthy mix between “established” artists and up-and-comers. And it helps to have a good attitude– we like established artists who appreciate the vitality and enthusiasm of their younger counterparts, and younger or less-established artists who have the presence of mind to appreciate the mentorship of the more established artists.

ALL ARTISTS PAY A SMALL CO-OP FEE TO PARTICIPATE, with the amount based on how much space you need. All the co-op fees are used to help keep the gallery up and running as we are a non profit organization.

At the GATEotw, the gallery space itself is a living, breathing, and ever-evolving work of art. From the 50 year old trumpet vines that shade the Patio, to the vintage Shasta travel trailer that serves as the office, to the cleverly hand-built stage, bar, and kitchen, the space really must be seen to be appreciated.

And the 4-day (Thursday-Sunday) reception format is very unique, and has proven to be a great factor in driving art sales– unlike a regular opening, where the patrons glide through, eat some cheese or a cracker and sip the ubiquitous cheap white wine, at the ArtBender Weekend people tend to settle in and stay for a while. After the investment of driving all the way up to the End Of The World, people find the atmosphere so pleasant that they stick around– often for the entire weekend! And after spending so much time there, getting to know the artists, they tend to develop relationships and make purchases on that basis. We have a superb sales
record for a gallery of our size and nature.

The next ArtBender Weekend is the first full weekend of December ’09. The final OPEN CALL will be held Saturday, OIct. 24. PLEASE BRING SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK. If you can’t make it to the open calls for whatever reason but would still like to participate, please call or e-mail the gallery to make other arrangements.

INSIDE STORY OF MT. WILSON’S FIRE SURVIVAL
2:30 P.M. SUNDAY OCTOBER 25 AT THE ALTADENA PUBLIC LIBRARY

The great Station Fire raged through the San Gabriel Mountains for more than a month and came closer to destroying Mount Wilson Observatory
than any event in that facility’s 105-year history. The story of how this most historic of observatories was spared will no doubt become a
major chapter in the history of astronomy.

Observatory Superintendent and astrophotographer Dave Jurasevich was on the mountain through the ordeal, and on Sunday, October 25, Dave will show and tell us exactly what it was like to be there. The talk will be generously illustrated with Dave’s stunning on-the-scene photography
(including many shots never seen before), plus video footage of the fire shot by him from Mt. Wilson.

This is a free talk, sponsored by the Mount Wilson Observatory Association (MWOA). The lecture begins at 2:30 p.m. at the Altadena Public Library, 600 E. Mariposa, Altadena. Refreshments will be served before the program, starting at 2:00 p.m. Arrive early to be assured of good seating.

Art on Palm, Altadena

9:30 a.m.−5 p.m.

1419 E. Palm Ave.

One of the great things about a community with personality, namely Altadena, is the incredibly creative people who live here. Two such people, Catherine Cowles and Mary Jane Elgin, started what has become a regular event, Art on Palm.

Catherine says, “about five years ago Mary Jane and I were talking about selling our artwork. I mentioned that since she had a fabulous home on 1439 E. Palm Street—which she recently sold—she had the perfect setting to sell her work. She said she wasn’t interested in doing a solo show. My heart sank. But she said she would do one to include other artists if I helped her. Joy!

“We began with about 11 artists; friends from our clay class and a jeweler. The show was a hit. It had a nice vibe, fabulous location and supportive and interested community. Since then we’ve slowly added artists whose work we admire.”

The show took on a deeper cause after the war began in Iraq. “We decided to ask our fellow artists to contribute five percent of their sales to the West L.A. Fisher House Foundation.” (The West Los Angeles Fisher House provides housing for family members of veterans while they are undergoing long term care at the VA hospital.)

“When Mary Jane sold her large home, we were concerned about the future of our little venture. But she approached neighbors Maryrose Smyth and Mark Pickett and they graciously invited us to use their lovely canyon garden. The coming show is our 11th and we’ll have about 31 artists.”

Maryrose and her husband Mark Pickett are holding the show in their secluded enclave, called Wildwood Park, designed by Henry Green in 1920. I stumbled on this area a couple of years ago when out shooting photos of local gardens. I felt like I was in a national park with its rustic homes, outdoor fireplace, and trails. In fact, it was designed as a hunting lodge. Maryrose and her husband bought the house at 1419 E. Palm about six years ago, and didn’t stop there.

 “Mark and I had one house, and we bought the house next door when the owners moved. We never thought we’d get the chance.” Maryrose and Mark didn’t want to take the chance of someone moving in who didn’t have artistic sensibilities.

“We’re raising two boys here. It’s the perfect, wonderfully childhood dream environment. And we have lots of neighborhood children.”

She says most of the artists have known each other a long time, and have ties to Creative Arts Group in Sierra Madre. “I come from a tradition of realism, and now I’m more out on a limb, painting more personal interior landscapes.” No doubt her environment is having an influence on her work. “It’s quiet, green, lush. Feels like you’re not in an urban environment.”

The show features a wide array of artists in tents and at tables. “There will be works on paper in all media, photography, a whittler, two or three are potters, and jewelry. Last time we were in the field and it was hot, now everybody will be under the trees, and circle the properties.”

Refreshments provided by Jones Coffee Roasters of Pasadena.  

You can check our Maryrose’s work at www.studiosmyth.com

Other participating artists:

Stephani  Anderson 
Jane Asari

Erica Batchelder

Janet Chico

Catherine M. S. Cowles

Ellen Dinerman

Mary Jane Elgin

Bill Haske

Lynn Hendricks

Jim Heuston

Stephen  Johnstone

Beverly Jones

Susan Kromka

Elizabeth Manak

Betsy Miller

Dana Sue Miller

Katherine Nakazono

Detra Prete

Cathy Reichel-Clark

Di Yamamoto Skowron

Anne Sears

Susan Spinks

Kathleen Swaydan

Anna Vosburg

Lys Wilcox

Bruce Wilson

Kaylie James Wilson

Stephen Woodruff

Hitomi Yamamuro

Lucia Yang

Here’s an event not to miss! Music, art and cocktails in a mausoleum. Now that’s a party!