September 20, 2007

A Day at the Lake

Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival showcases art, wine, food and fun

By Jeanne Carbone Lewis
Staff Writer

Sunny California skies smiled down on the 31st Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival Sunday for a day showcasing artists, vintners, breweries, games, entertainment and food.

Almaden Lake is the scenic locale for the 31st annual Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival, which is anticipated as a must-attend event. Photos by Jeanne Carbone Lewis

“We’re really excited about the event this year,” said Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival chair Lauren Wilson. “We have 83 artists and 25 are new with us this year so we have quite a variety. Seghesio Family Vineyards donated the wine for the event and is pouring as well. So is Fortino Winery. It’s a very exciting day.”

Voted one of the best festivals in San Jose, the annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival is organized entirely by the Almaden Valley Women’s Club [AVWC].  The AVWC was organized in 1965 with the purpose of stimulating interest in the social, civic and cultural improvement of the Almaden community through funds raised at the festival. The event features local artists, restaurants, wineries, breweries all put together with the support of AVWC and volunteers. This year the event was held for the fourth time at the Almaden Lake Park. The previous venue was Parma Park.

“This is fun and a gorgeous day,” said artist Gillian Altieri of GALA Fine Art Studio, who displayed paintings of the New Almaden historic area, English cottages, seascapes and portraiture at this year’s festival for the first time. “I enjoy the people looking at my paintings and saying ‘I’ve been there.’ I make my own red paint out of the cinnabar from the hills where I live.”

Crazy hair and nails are a big hit for girls who want to be just like mom, especially for Megan Haley, left, and Samantha Oxford.

Almaden resident Michele Smeulders also showing for the first time at the event, showcased bright, joyful acrylic paintings as well as whimsical animal sculptures created with a fabric stiffener. “I like to make people happy” she said regarding her work.

Second-time event artists were the Almaden Senior Program Open Studio, which offered the work of seven acrylic, oil and watercolor painters. Member Judith Brynda had mixed feelings about selling a painting of lambs but in the end sold it to an interested buyer. Brynda even shopped for herself at the event, purchasing porcelain earrings from Jayne Thomas Designs.

“I like the quality of the vendors this year,” said Open Studio instructor Mary Sheehan. “As seniors, most of us have the time to paint on an almost daily basis and, as a former teacher, I have been delighted to see [student’s] talents blossom and techniques expand. We are grateful to the community for the support and are always pleased to see a painting purchased by someone who loves it, too.”

The Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival brings more than creations and drink at the aptly titled event for the community to enjoy. There are plenty of games and attractions, such as this climbing tower.

Other artists, like watercolorist Judy Welsh, have attended most of the Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festivals. Welsh only missed two years. She displays large detailed landscapes of mountains and seascapes and enjoys working plein air [in the open air].

While patrons enjoyed the art, they enjoyed sipping specialties from vintners Bargetto, David Bruce, Ventana, Picchetti, J. Lohr, Savannah-Chanelle, Byington, Cooper Garrond Estate, Cinnabar, Leal Estate, Seghesio Family and Fortino Wineries in the collectable 31st Almaden Art and Wine Festival glasses.

Breweries were represented by BJ’s Restaurant, Bottomley, El Toro Pub and Restaurant and Hudson Beverage Company for those who liked ale and beer on the late summer day.

But the Almaden Valley Art and Wine Festival brings more than creations and drink at the aptly titled event for the community to enjoy. There are plenty of games, inflatables, crazy hair and nails to keep kids occupied. And the food booths had everything from the Kiwanis Club of Almaden cooking burgers to Bret Harte Lacrosse selling Chinese chicken salad to Graystone Home and School Club offering fruit smoothies.

The entertainment supplied an ongoing extravaganza of fun. Cheers from Bret Harte, Leland and Pioneer schools started the stage events. There was something for everyone with the USA Martial Arts displaying their moves, the Cocktail Monkeys and Seven Reasons rocking out, hula moves by Ohana O Puanani-kauikawekiu and Jessica Johnson singing her heart out.

The Kiwanis Club of Almaden cooked burgers at the festival.

City officials, who also happen to reside in Almaden, enjoyed themselves as well with Chief of Police Rob Davis sipping a smoothie, District 10 Council-member Nancy Pyle visiting with residents and District Attorney Delores Carr and former City Councilmember Claude Fletcher sharing memories of the construction of Almaden Lake Park.

“The unsung heroes of this event are in red shirts—the Almaden Valley Women’s Club,” said Pyle. “They work so hard and they give back so much to the community.”

The AVWC’s red shirts were busy at the festival orchestrating an enjoyable day for vendors, sponsors and the public at the 31st annual Almaden Art and Wine Festival.