As soon as we were clicked through the entrance and escaped the bombardment of the knives, fudge, and dill pickles in the Pavilion, we were treated to the sound of the most glorious tenor singing his heart out. I’m a sucker for a good tenor. He was part of a group called The Don Giovannis. We were seranaded while we ate our plates of Ibletto’s green and red spaghetti.
The sound of the horses enticed us to place several bets which we lost, but last year we won, so there you go. One horse in the 8th jumped the gun and ran the wrong way all around the track. (Yes, I bet on him). As he crossed the finish line, the highly amused crowd burst into rousing applause and cheering! Sometimes you just don’t care if you lose as long as you are entertained.
There were several new attractions this year, notably Mechanical Bull Riding! Very amusing. Everyone looks cool while the bull is going slow, but invariably the bull wins the contest.
The DJ/bull-master was having a great time matching the music to the rider and giving riders a chance to demonstrate at least a few seconds of glory.
The flower show was brilliant! The flowers glowed with exuberance about their own color and design. The exhibits are a beautiful look at past fair themes, called “A Stroll Down Memory Lane”. Very nicely done.
One of the greatest feelings I get living in Sonoma County is the friendliness of the people. Everywhere we turned, people said hello and spoke to us as if we were long term friends. In the rest room (which was very clean , by the way) w0men who didn’t know each other were helping apply sunscreen to the backs of their fellow fair travelers. I love living here! It really is “the chosen place” to paraphrase our good friend Luther.
I love the Sonoma County Fair! We’re going back aagin to see the art, animals, and play a few more horses. See you there!
Sharp focused watercolor still life with Asian themes. This is a true pro! Many prints and matted work available. Her studio is immaculate. Former high school art teacher who practices what she taught. Many artists could take a clue from her presentation and style. Excellent shadow work!
Beautiful landscapes using unexpected vibrant colors and muted shades giving an almost surrealistic feel. Latest work features oil on board. Lots of seascapes with fog and smoke… interesting play with light. Makes me want to be there.
Happy colorful flowers abound in oil and acrylic! Provincial scenes, vineyards, creeping vines, baskets of bloom, sunflowers, and lavendar. Lots of prints and cards available. Friendly and uplifting subject matter.
Consummate artist – the one who deserves to be framed in an ornate gold frame and hung in an all-important prominence above the fireplace position. Museum quality work. It’s no wonder that he is also selling his less-than-stellar early work. He is collectable!
Jewelry made with precious metals and semi-precious stones crafted in an interesting and wearable fashion.
Beautiful turned wood bowls and other objects. What can only be termed an improvement on nature. Absolutely gorgeous!
Oil and watercolor landscapes, figures, and animals. I love the crone clown series and the whimsical animals. Captures a moment in time. Vibrancy and form mixed with folly. A nice combination!
Artists change and as they do their styles change. I loved her bold large figured women with sagging breasts and huge bulbous thighs. Now she is doing more introverted work in pastels with a more moderate controlled stroke. Where is she now I wonder? I have been looking for her all day….
Green is like walking art! Ever since I met him at Popeye’s in Sebastopol when he was sporting a swath of green hair and green cowboy boots to match, I have loved him! You might see one of his special cars driving around town. They look like something out of a cartoon. Or you may have seen one of his Cirque du Silly shows at First Night in Santa Rosa featuring sculpted form creatures come to life through the magic of puppetry. Or perhaps you’ve seen one of his giant statue/pedestals fashioned out of paper machie representing giant koi or some other undefinable object de arte. Green amuses me with his huge colorful canvases of pool playing samurai or his acrylic aquarium on display at one of his favorite sushi haunts. I know where he’s been because I know he’s been trading art for sushi!
