September 22, 2005

Mark your calendar for this Sunday!

29th Annual Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival promises fun for everyone

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Almaden Lake Park will come alive this Sunday, Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. as the community celebrates one of the most anticipated annual events—the 29th Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival.

The 26th Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival Almaden Valley Women’s Club Chairs include: Back Row: Karla Wilkinson (Glasses co-chair), RuthAnn Armstrong (Parking and Electricity chair), Karen Zimmerman (Volunteers chair), Jennifer Teixeira (Children’s Area chair), Cheryl Ryan (Food chair), Ellen Hudson Snyder (Corporate Sponsors co-chair), Shar Quinn (Publicity chair), Lauren Wilson (Equipment chair). Front Row: Robin Beresford (Artists chair), Betty Newkirk (Hospitality chair), Patti Rottjakob (Scheduling chair), Jeannine Henry (Glasses Co-chair), Michelle Correa (Festival co-chair), Cindy Griffeth (Festival co-chair), Maureen Harrington (Brochure chair), Carina Armann (Beverages co-chair), Charlene Chavez (administrative assistant), and Kimberlie Joyner (Webmaster and Beverages co-chair). Not Pictured: Patti Gahagan (Entertainment chair), Debbie Bishop (Corporate Sponsors co-chair), Jennifer Coelho (treasurer), and Kim Pertner (Silent Auction chair). Photo courtesy of the Almaden Valley Women’s Club.

Presented by the Almaden Valley Women’s Club, the festival benefits community schools and charities, in addition to providing a family-oriented and fun-filled day.

The festival features juried arts and crafts, premium wine and beer from local wineries and breweries, live entertainment and a children’s area, all in an idyllic setting.

“The lake is absolutely fantastic and a great place for an art festival because it combines nature, water, grass, open air and the art itself,” says festival artist Nahda Baala. Festival Chair Cindy Griffeth agrees. “Almaden Lake Park is a pretty location,” says Griffeth, “especially for sitting and listening to music.”

Featuring an entertainment lineup with dance and cheer teams from Pop Warner and Bret Harte, Leland High School’s Spirit, Choir and Spring Quartet, and live bands like Latin Funk Express, Red Di, Sage and the local David Osborn Band, this year’s entertainment is sure to thrill.

To feed your mind, body and soul, wander through the artists’ booths and marvel over handmade works ranging from fine art and ceramics to jewelry and witches’ hats. Tantalize your taste buds with Chinese chicken salad, taco salads and steak sandwiches, and refresh yourself with a root beer float, fruit smoothie or delectable wines or ice-cold premium beer from local wineries and breweries.

Besides cruising the exhibits and relaxing over a delicious meal in the serene setting of Almaden Lake Park, be sure to visit the Children’s Area full of fun games, rides and entertainment. An impressive art exhibit will also be on display featuring works by local children and in the afternoon, a magician and ‘Happy Birds’ will perform their tricks on the Children’s Stage. New this year, three kid-friendly food booths including smoothies and hot dogs will be located nearby.

In addition to being the second year at Almaden Lake Park, this is Griffeth’s second year chairing the festival, and this year she has incorporated a few changes that she believes will make it even better than before.

Due to the size-constraints of the park, compared with its previous location next to the library, the Women’s Club had to limit the number of artists appearing in the festival last year—but this year they found a way to add some more. To add to people’s enjoyment of entertainment, a large shade structure has been set up by the main stage, in addition to the one by the stage in the Children’s Area. A silent auction (located by Food Row) will offer everything from expensive jewelry to wine baskets, weekend get-aways and an original painting by Michael Olivieri. Plus, parking this year promises to be much easier. Shuttles will be provided from the Santa Clara Water District and VTA parking lots and parking will also be available in both Almaden Lake Park lots. “There’s plenty of parking,” assures Griffeth, “and an additional bike check area will also be available in the Children’s Area.”

The proceeds from the festival go toward college scholarships for local high school seniors as well as community schools and charitable organizations. “We give to youth counseling, Loaves and Fishes, Martha’s Kitchen and Career Closet, among others,” says Griffeth.

Contributions from this year’s festival will also aid the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Katrina relief fund and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In addition to donation jars, which will be available at all four ticket booths, several artists are donating their entire proceeds towards these charities.

Watercolor painter Nahda Baala, who has participated in the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival for 14 years, is one such artist. After Balaa waged her fight against breast cancer last year and she has dedicated her life’s work to educating others about it.

“I decided I was alive because of breast cancer research,” said Balaa, “and I can use my art to help people.”

Baala’s rich watercolor paintings, inspired by locations like Paris, Provence, Italy, Spain, Greece and Turkey, reflect her love of traveling. Within her booth, she creates an entire mood complete with music and detailed descriptions of the location upon which each painting is based. “I want people to enjoy the art,” said Baala, “and feel like they’ve traveled with me.”

Mimi Fujii, known for incorporating the ‘breath of life’ into her fine art, will be donating 100 percent of her festival sales to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund. She and her art school staff are creating paintings of flowers to sell at the festival, which hold their prayers for peace and comfort for the disaster victims. “We all wanted to do something together and the prayers are so important,” says Fujii. “If our art can comfort others and move them, we will be happy.” For Fujii, participating in the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival and sharing her work with the entire community is a dream come true and she is using the opportunity philanthropically, but pricing may be a problem. “Each artwork is an individual prayer,” says Fujii, “and priceless.”

The Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival could not take place without the hard work and dedication of the Almaden Valley Women’s Club and the financial assistance of its sponsors. This year’s Platinum Sponsors include: Action 36/Cable 6, Alain Pinel Realtors, Almaden Times Weekly, Apex Promotions, Almaden Valley Athletic Club, Bloomsters, Bob Lewis Automotive Family, California Properties/GMAC Real Estate, PW Markets, KRTV radio, PennySaver, Skip’s Tire and Auto Center, and the City of San Jose.

Gold Sponsors include: A&B Energy Systems Windows and Doors, Braces for Pretty Faces, Dr. Stephen C. Yao, Case Handyman Services, Coldwell Banker/San Jose Almaden, Councilmember Nancy Pyle, Curves, Green Valley Disposal, Oak Tree Chiropractic, Dr. Ron Bellistri, Preston Wynne, San Jose Air Conditioning, UnWined, Ventura Barnett Properties and the Wellness Center Chiropractic.
 
Silver Sponsors include: American Chocolate Fountain Fantasies, Filice Insurance, Master Edmond’s Academy of Martial Arts, Pacific Bicycle, RPM Productions and Susie’s Design Consulting.

Bronze Sponsors include: Almaden Chevron, Almaden Roasting Company, Almaden Valley Nursery, Almaden Web, Boulder Ridge, Harrington Insurance Agency, the LaVelle Family, Lions Club Almaden, Mojo Burger, Optimum Results/Fit Vibe, 

Planet Kids, Shapell Industries, Stephen Rottjakob, Suzy’s Gifts and Toll House Hotel.

The festival offers a wide variety of artwork, an ability to socialize with neighbors (without cleaning your house!) and an opportunity to sample premium wine and beer while listening to live bands play, all while enjoying the serenity of Almaden Lake Park.

“The festival brings the community together,” says Griffeth, “It’s a great day for both children and adults to enjoy.”

For additional information about the Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival and the Almaden Valley Women’s Club, please see: www.almadenartwinefestival.com.