Local artist Michelle Juliet Feldman is holding an art exhibit at the Los Olivos General Store from now through Nov. 10. Her exhibit includes unique landscapes that capture the hills, oaks, and light that are a special part of the Santa Ynez Valley, as well as abstract seascapes inspired by the Santa Barbara coast. The exhibit includes original oils on panel and rice paper. Most notably, there are exclusive prints of the Landscape Series printed on a special, archival rice paper, produced in her studio and only available through local exhibits.

Feldman received a BA degree in design from UCLA and studied printmaking at Tulane University. After successfully establishing her first stationery store, Honey Paper, in Los Olivos, she rebranded and opened a store in Solvang, The Giving Ink, a name that reflects her vision of art as a powerful medium to connect to the community. After the COVID pandemic, as a single mom, she said it became overwhelming for her to raise her twin children and run a business the way she wanted.  

Since the closing of her Solvang store, Feldman has blossomed from her love of paper and design to painting and printmaking, along with her passion to use art as a way to connect people and heal herself. 

“When I was a child I loved to draw and create art, and it was never supported,” said Feldman. “I never felt like I was good enough. And I struggled under that shadow most of my life.”

“I had a nest egg from the sale of my store in Solvang and began to create maps for weddings, wineries, and other commercial establishments. But I realized I was creating for clients, not for myself,” she said. “I felt the urge to pick up a paintbrush, and it felt good. Because I had so little faith in myself, I began to paint in secret, literally, in the darkness. I recognized that what I was doing made me feel good about myself and that it was something I should do more of. So, I began painting landscapes that were inspired by our local surroundings. It became like a kind of meditation which allowed me to look inward and connect with my inner self and my environment — a healing of sorts.”

It wasn’t just a solitary venture for Feldman, though.

“At the same time, I was fortunate enough to be invited into a small group of people to take art classes, which are given by a very well-known and accomplished classically trained artist and oil painter. I began taking her classes where she taught classic realism still life,” she explained. “She is teaching me the tools and skills I need to execute the kind of art I am interested in painting. All of this happened at the same time and both my art and I have blossomed since then, with my show at the Los Olivos General Store. The exhibit opened at the beginning of the year and has resonated with locals as well as visitors to the degree that it has surpassed sales of any artist previously in that space.”

Feldman said she built a little studio in her home, which allows her to be with her children, who turned 14 years old this month, and flexible to their needs. But she really misses her shop, the connection to her customers and the social aspect of owning a store.

“My store was a part of my passion for art, for things that are meaningful and beautiful and creative,” she said. “I miss the social interaction. But the shop required me to do things for other people, thus it was called The Giving Ink. But my art, I do for myself. It became a journey inward to connect me to my authentic self. I’m now living my life using all of my senses to create and live a full life. I wake up every day and think ‘This day is awesome,’ which is something I never did before.” 

Feldman has been hard at work on several series of paintings, which are showcased on her website. These include Seascape Series, a reflective journey that seeks calm and clarity; Landscape Series, a celebration of nature’s beauty presented through oil on panel and rice paper; a Classic Realism Still Life Series, an exploration of how we perceive and translate the world onto a two-dimensional surface; Etching Series, dry point engravings of inspirational quotes and images, hand-painted to infuse personal touch and heart into each piece all of which is available online.

“I am so grateful to live in this beautiful Valley where I am continually inspired by the landscapes and to the Los Olivos General Store for their support in featuring my work,” she said.
 
Looking to the future, Feldman says she envisions hosting local exhibits, expanding online sales, and facilitating intimate workshops in her home to strengthen community ties.

The Los Olivos General Store is at 2900 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.

For more information, email hello@thegivingink.com, on Instagram @thegivingink_mjuliet, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

Feature image: “Letters” is a print by Michelle Juliet Feldman.

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The 14th annual SLOPOKE Art of the West Exhibition and Sale was held Sept. 27-29 at Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang. This was the eighth year the event was held at Monty and Pat Roberts’ thoroughbred horse ranch. 

Tom and Debbie Loucks who now operate the California Horse Center on Flag Is Up Farms welcomed the 30 painters, sculptors, and a photographer who exhibited more than 300 works of art in their beautifully renovated event barn.

“It is a perfect venue for this first-class art show, a reception, or convention,” said Tom Burgher, president of Entreprise LLC, which produces the Annual SLOPOKE exhibit.

The SLOPOKE opened Friday evening, Sept. 27, to the foot-tapping original music of Chris Murphy and the Silver Mountain String Band from Los Angeles.

The 2024 SLOPOKE featured artist and awards judge who juried the award-winning art was nationally renowned wildlife artist Ezra Tucker, who started his fine art career in Solvang, where he and his wife Nancy raised their three children until 1999 when they relocated to Monument, Colorado.

Photos by Devyn Marseilles

The artists selected for awards include Lisa Skelly, who won Best of Show for her painting “Rock Steady”; Ariel Anton, who won Best Painting for her oil on canvas titled “Saving Some for Later”; and Pat Roberts, who received Best Sculpture for her narrative bronze “Javalina Havoc.” Each received the coveted silver SLOPOKE western belt buckle.

Three other artists received sponsored awards: Rick Hill received the Best Wildlife/Animal Art award, sponsored by Art of the West magazine for his colored pencil painting “Team Work”; Lee Rue received Best Figurative Art award, sponsored by Western Art Collector magazine for “A Place Called Home”; and Barbara Freund was the first recipient of a new award category of Best Depiction of the 21st Century West, sponsored by Southwest Art Magazine for her painting “21st Century Chuckwagon.” 

The People’s Choice Award sponsored by Western Art and Architecture magazine was awarded to Kelly Lewis at the close of the SLOPOKE on Sunday.

“The voting included patrons and artists and was surprisingly tight across all 30 artists,” said Burgher. “People were impressed with the quality and attractiveness of the art in this year’s SLOPOKE. Each of these artists receives a full-page advertisement in a future issue of these fine art journals.” 

Finally, in a gesture of gratitude for Tucker’s service as awards judge, Burgher presented him with a specially minted SLOPOKE belt buckle of a different design from those awarded to the artists.

Next year the 15th Anniversary SLOPOKE is scheduled for Sept. 26-28, 2025.

“Mark the date on your calendar now so you don’t miss this spectacular event next year,” said Burgher. “We already have 11 artists seeking acceptance for SLOPOKE 2025, so artists who want to exhibit should request an application now at slopokeartshow.com.”

Feature image: SLOPOKE 2024 artists and their assistants pose outside the California Horse Center event barn at Solvang’s Flag Is Up Farms on opening night.

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Ashley Jenkins continues to beat the drum for the work-in-progress Santa Ynez Valley Children’s Museum at the former Willemsen property on 202 Dairyland Road in Buellton.

The founder and board president hosted the latest fundraising event on Sept. 14, a Carnival event with several games for all ages, free tacos, and a silent auction for various prizes, as well as a separate option for a lot of homemade desserts.

During her speech, Jenkins brought up a shining example of what keeps her going in her effort to bring the museum to fruition.

“There is one kid here tonight, over at that table,” Jenkins said, pointing toward young Paul Ortiz, who stood out with his Santa Ynez youth football jersey and a matching orange cast healing a forearm injury. “He wroter me a letter recently, and it was the cutest thing in the world and he did it all with a broken arm.”

Jenkins then displayed the letter: “It says ‘Hey, thanks for what you’re doing. Thanks for making a cool place for me to play, and thanks for giving me a safe place, a fun place.”

She then invited Paul over to join her and display the letter amid audience applause.

“It is because the kids appreciate it,” she said, answering her own question of “Why keep doing it”?

The Carnival event drew quite a crowd, offering plenty of fun exhibits, and a few improvements over last June’s event, thanks to some donated funds.

“We were able to raise money to put a shade over our Dirt Zone, which is one of our most popular exhibits,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins also noted that Rachel Van Pelt raised funds for an “ant hill,” an artificial mound with a grass covering.

“We want to make a bigger one with a tunnel through it so kids can crawl through,” said Jenkins, who praised Van Pelt for the funding, and Coastal Landscape for providing the hill.

Other improvements noted by Jenkins included a gazebo given to the museum by the Solvang Senior Center, and a new sandbox that marks a permanent home for the “Dino Dug” exhibit thanks to 805 Concrete.

“I love that we can show everyone where the money’s going into,” Jenkins said.

Later on, more money was raised thanks to the event’s Dessert Auction, where attendees bid on various goodies like cakes, pies, cookies, and more.

And near the end of the event, they had “Chicken Crap Bingo.”

Volunteer Amy Yeung brought her chicken, Miss Gandolph, to participate in a game where people bought squares on a grid; then, Miss Gandolph was put into a pen with the numbers on a bigger sheet on the ground, and whatever number Miss Gandolph “did her business” on would be the winner.

It was a good idea in theory, but unfortunately Miss Gandolph didn’t seem to want to relieve herself. It’s still unclear whether Miss Gandolph ever determined a winner.

The Children’s Museum was an idea welcomed by many parents at the event.

Mike and Brooke Volpe, attended the fundraiser with their children, Zackary, 10, and Katelynne, 8. The family recently moved from Dublin, California, to Solvang, where Brooke was in the process of opening a fitness business.

“One of the moms in the Fit for Moms business I’m starting is a volunteer here and suggested I come to this,” she said. “It’s a great place for everyone, and it’s good for all ages.”

Mike Volpe was equally impressed.

“I like how they’re blending science and art and bringing both together in the same museum,” he said. “And since I’m a history geek, I hope there’s some history mixed in too. But anything that get kids into learning is great.”

Jenkins hopes that attitude spreads across the Santa Ynez Valley

“We’re building more than a playground, though,” she said while addressing the crowd. “We’re building a resource for the whole community.”

Jenkins mentioned three ways to for people to help: Spread the word, take your story back into your communities and tell them about it; Volunteer with the museum, whether you can spare a couple hours a year, or a couple hours a month; and third, giving monthly, giving today, giving into the future.

You can donate on the museum website syvchildrenmuseum.com using the Donation button or visit their Amazon Wishlist to see some of their current needs. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram @SYVchildrensmuseum.

Feature image: Santa Ynez Children’s Museum found and Board President Ashley Jenkins displays a letter she received from Paul Ortiz (left, in SY Pirates jersey) thanking her for her efforts, at the Children’s Museum Carnival fundraiser on Sept. 14.

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Author, artist, teacher, muralist, and carver, Bobbi Dooley Hunter has been writing children’s books for 40 years. She is the author of six books to date, with two additional books ready for publication. She both writes and illustrates her books.

Hunter was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up with two older brothers. When she was 8 years old, her parents relocated the family in two cars and U-Haul trailers from Oregon through California deserts to Scottsdale, Arizona, leaving snow behind and finding the hot sun.

She was born with the heart of an artist, and her parents knew and supported it. She attended the University of Arizona and pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.

“While in college, the director of the school told me that I would never make a living as an artist, and advised me to become a stenographer instead,” she said. “When I told my father what he had said, my father was furious and had a stern talk with the director, telling him in no uncertain terms, ‘My daughter needs to pursue what she loves most, and that’s art.’ I will always be grateful to my parents for fostering my creative gifts and for their support.”

Fate, she said, brought her to California with a passion to find work in the art field.

“I immediately found work in advertising agencies,” she said, “but after four years the pressure and the stress got to me, so I took a job as a bus driver, a job I thought would be much calmer. I became involved with Arts Outreach, and Connie Rohde asked me to teach mural design in her classroom.”

Hunter went on to teach art at Santa Ynez Elementary, Los Olivos Elementary, and Solvang Elementary schools for children in grades 1 through 8. She also became a sign painter/carver, a mascot artist for most of the local schools in the Valley, and a muralist, teaching students how to create huge, long murals on interior school walls. She’s painted water towers, oil derricks, equipment at Dunn School, and T-shirts for the Sedgewick Reserve’s Outdoor Classroom sessions, to name a few of her numerous projects.

“I love to paint, to create, and to teach art,” she said. “Kids keep me young. While on scaffolding, painting interior and exterior walls, I thought up stories to illustrate for children. My goal was to educate with fun stories and bright-colored art. The art part is easier for me than the writing part.”

Hunter says she finds inspiration in varied places. Her first book, titled “The Legend of the African Baobab Tree,” was inspired by a trip she and her husband took to Botswana, Africa.

“My husband, Ken, and I saved for a two-year trip, from 1975 to 1977, following the equator overland, visiting other continents on a $6-a-day budget, carrying only our backpacks. I told my husband that if I was any older, the trip would have killed me,” she said. “In Botswana, we sat in a baobab tree. The people told us legends about living around the lonely trees on the wide desert plains. I knew it would be a good story, and soon my book, ‘The Legend of the African Baobab Tree,’ was born.” 

“Baobab trees are most unusual,” she explained. “They grow separately, not in forests. They are located on the African plains; they are not very tall, but they are very, very broad. I was told that some of the trees are so big around that even 50 men holding hands could not surround the trunk. We climbed into one of them, which was three stories tall with ladders reaching up to access each level. After I saw the tree, I sat down and drew it, made notes, and when I got home, I drew the pictures and made it into story form.”

Hunter then went to the effort of getting it out into the public.

Bobbi Hunter says she loves to paint, to create and to teach. Hunter is not afraid of heights as she paints the Spartan mascot on the side of the Los Olivos Elementary School.  Hunter has painted the mascots for most of the schools in the Valley. Pictured is the Spartan mascot. Photos courtesy of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School

“After it was finished, I went to the Solvang Library and looked for children’s book publishers who would be interested in publishing my book,” she continued. “I found one who paid me $5,000. It was sold all over the world. ‘The Legend of the African Baobab Tree’ book is in the Smithsonian Institute. But I didn’t receive 1 cent from those sales. So, eventually, I sent a reversion letter to the publisher asking him to relinquish ownership of my book. He refused at first, but eventually, he succumbed. He said he had 1,000 copies in his possession and would burn them, but I asked for them back. I retrieved them and got in touch with the Teddy Bear Foundation in Johannesburg, South Africa, asking if they would be interested in them. The woman I spoke to said she would, so I sent them to the Foundation, and they were distributed to underprivileged children.”

Hunter’s next book is titled “Scarecrows in the Garden.”

“I love scarecrows, so I thought I’d do a book called ‘Scarecrows in the Garden, the Alphabet Book A-Z,’ with directions on how to build a scarecrow and the different crops that scarecrows protect,” she said. “It’s an A-to-Z book about fruits and veggies, so children can see how plants grow before they are picked and eaten. Look out for the little gophers on each page. I really want to educate children with some cute pictures and a good story.”

Hunter continued to describe how some of her other books came about. One, “Dinosaurs, Dreams, and Ice Cream,” is inspired by a story by Barbra Goodyear Minar. 

“I dedicated it to Barbra and her grandson, Christopher, who loved dinosaurs, and to my grandchildren and their wondrous imaginations,” she said. “Christopher loves dinosaurs, but they are big and scary. One night, the dinosaurs invited him into their world. Suddenly, he finds himself in a forest, solving a mysterious problem for them. Christopher bravely marches forward, looking for the dinosaurs’ stolen ice cream.”

“’Savannah’s Family Farm’ was inspired by the fact that family farms are hard to find anymore. Big Ag has taken over,” she explained. “The story is about a mom and dad, their two children, and their dog, who grow all kinds of warm and cool weather crops on their farm. The book teaches kids about where their food comes from and about farming techniques.”

Hunter’s work is admired by her audience.

“Bobbi is a fabulous, creative, local artist and writer who uses vibrant colors and great visual expressions in all her books,” said Maggie Le Pley, a friend of Hunter’s.

“I am excited to get my stories and art into the hands of children around the world,” said Hunter. “And one more lesson for those budding artists — you can make a living doing what you love, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.”

All of Hunter’s books are available locally at The Book Loft in Solvang, on Amazon.com, and at Bookshop.org. A portion of the book sales are donated to your local bookstores through Bookshop.org only.

For more information, email bdhunter525@gmail.com. 

NOTE: This is an abridged version of the story. The complete story can be found at santaynezvalleystar.com.

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SLOPOKE 2024, a fine art exhibition and sale that focuses on contemporary art of the west has chosen Ezra Tucker as the featured artist and awards jurist for the upcoming SLOPOKE show, which will be held on Sept. 27 through 29 at Monty and Pat Roberts’ Flag is Up Farms in Solvang.

Tucker has worked as a professional fine artist for over 30 years. In his biography, he states that as a young boy, he sat transfixed by images of wildlife and the animal kingdom on television, and he spent many hours at the library researching adventure stories from around the world. His interest in archaeology, history, science, and geography also grew, and in the 1960s, his family purchased the World Book encyclopedia, which further expanded his knowledge.

Tucker went on to study at the Memphis Academy of Arts in Tennessee, where he was encouraged to pursue his interest in wildlife subjects. After college, he worked for Hallmark Cards as a commercial artist, where he remained for five years. While there, he met his wife, Nancy Krause, also an artist. The couple was married in Kansas City in 1983 and moved to Sherman Oaks, California, shortly thereafter.

Soon after that, the couple began looking for a more rustic environment in which to be creative.

“We wanted to get away from the congestion of the Los Angeles area,” said Krause. “Friends recommended the calm country life up the coast nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley. We moved to Solvang in 1988 and lived on Old Mission Road for 10 years.”

Krause said that during that time, Tucker was doing major national advertising campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and poster illustrations for the movie industry, while she continued to produce illustrations for decorative art products for companies nationwide. “We were both awarded a contract to create U.S. postage stamps,” she said.

Tucker also began to pursue his dream of a fine art career and began painting and selling fine art pieces as commissions to local collectors. 

During the ’90s, the couple had three children — a daughter in 1993, followed by two boys in 1995 and 1999. “We missed the mountains, the solitude, and loved the four seasons, so we moved to Monument, Colorado, where we live today.”

Tucker’s dynamic illustrations have been commissioned by Outdoor Life, Field & Stream, Anheuser-Busch, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, MGM Grand Hotel, Seagram’s, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Lucasfilms, and many other publishers and corporations.

“Tucker is considered to be one of the very best wildlife artists in the United States and among the top ten in this genre,” said Tom B. Burgher, the CEO of SLOPOKE Events. “His work ranges from animal portraits reflecting their unique individualism to narrative paintings of the American West.”

Tucker is presently focusing on portraying the role played by African-American people in settling the West after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, which he says is a little-known element of American history and needs to be told.

“I very much admire Ezra Tucker’s paintings, which continue a tradition of classic American illustration and figurative art; and they are much more than what they might seem at first glance. In his luminous images of majestic animals in their natural settings, Tucker’s deftly captured depictions demonstrate that the artist possesses a zoologist’s eye for accuracy, while also imbuing his subjects with the dignity of formal portraiture, cultivating empathy and respect for the creatures with whom we share a world,” said Bill Anthes of Pitzer College (one of the Claremont Colleges), and author of “Native Moderns: American Indian Painting, 1940-1960,” and “Edgar Heap of Birds” (both published by Duke University Press) and co-editor of “Dakota Modern: The Art of Oscar Howe” (Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian).

“I find it necessary to preserve and respect all creatures that inhabit our planet because I believe that we are more connected than most humans acknowledge,” Tucker said. “I represent the beauty and majesty of the animal world … to help influence the preservation of our planet’s varied species.”

Krause specializes in design and handmade jewelry with a Western theme. Her work will also be presented at SLOPOKE 2024. 

Also, new to SLOPOKE this year are the works of legacy artist, Fred Oldfield (1918-2017). He was one of the“Granddaddies of Western Art.” The Fred Oldfield Western Heritage & Art Center was built on the Washington State Fairgrounds in Puyallup in his honor and memory. He will be represented by his daughter Joella Oldfield who authored and published a book on his life and art. Copies will be available for sale. This marks the first time SLOPOKE has exhibited the works of a legacy artist. Some of his work will be for exhibit only and some will be for sale. 

SLOPOKE is the leading fine art exhibition and sale on California’s Central Coast, drawing artists from across the country, to present paintings, sculptures, and photography. Entering its 14th year, and the eighth consecutive year at Flag is Up Farms, SLOPOKE is limited to 30 juried artists with an Opening Reception and Awards Presentation on Friday night from 5:30 to 7:30 in the evening and then open to the public at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All ticket holders receive a keepsake Art Book portraying the artists in the show. 

Tickets are $25 and available on Eventbrite or theslopoke.com. 

For more information, call (805) 570-8088, fax (805) 569-1235, visit the-slopoke.com, or Facebook/Instagram #slopokewesternartshow.

For more information on Tucker’s artwork, visit ezratucker.com, email EzraTucker155@aol.com, or call (719) 487-0648.

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By Mike Chaldu

michael@santaynezvalleystar.com

Growing up in the Bay Area, Brian Gore picked up an interest in poetry, crafting some works in his spare time. Then, at 17, he picked up a guitar and started getting interested in the fingerstyle mode of playing.

Of course, his two interests were easy to combine and now Gore, an accomplished professional musician who’s played all over the world, is billed at the “Guitar Poet.”

Gore, who founded International Guitar Night, a noted touring guitar troupe, will showcase his playing for a Santa Ynez Valley audience at Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang on Thursday, Sept. 19, when he takes the stage with Jim “Kimo” West, a Grammy-winning guitarist celebrated for his mastery of Hawaiian slack key guitar and his long-time collaboration with “Weird Al” Yankovic.

“I was writing poetry and I got into instrumental guitar when I was about 17 or so,” said Gore, who now makes his home in Portland, Oregon. “Then, I got a great tip from Alex DeGrassi, a well-known guitar player, who encouraged me to work on my melody and merge the poetry with the lines.”

Gore’s describes his music as “alternative folk” as is known for playing fingerstyle, which is the technique of playing the guitar by plucking the strings directly with the fingertips, fingernails, or picks attached to fingers, as opposed to the flat pick as many popular guitarists do.

Gore said he was able to master that with a lot of work, but then took on a new project with IGN.

“IGN was kind of a local thing in the Bay Area, but worked it into a tour and its went on from there,” he said. “It’s still going and it’s having its 25th anniversary tour in early 2025.”

In the meantime, Gore was able to release his first album, “Seek The Love You’re Yearning,” which can be found on his website guitarpoet.com, as well as for purchase on amazon.com, or Spotify, Apple Music, and other streaming services.

Playing with Gore at the Lost Chord show is Grammy winner Jim “Kimo” West, who is billed as a Hawaiian “slack key” guitarist. Aside from that West has quite a history, as he got his start with Frank Zappa and spent many years working with the one and only “Weird Al” Yankovic on his many hits.

“I’ve known Kimo for about nine or 10 years. He’s an incredibly versatile guitarist and has that Aloha spirit,” Gore said. “After his success with ‘Weird Al,’ he became enamored of Hawaii, got a second career with a bunch of downloads andwon a Grammy.”

Gore and West will be playing at Lost Chord Guitars, located at 1576 Copenhagen Drive in downtown Solvang. Showtime is 8 to 10 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at lostchordguitars.com

The establishment, described on its website as “part music venue, part art and photography gallery, and one part boutique guitar shop,” was opened in 2019 by Chris and Kim Pelonis, and has become a prolific site for guitar performances. In fact, after Gore and West’s show, there are six more shows scheduled through the end of September.See the venue’s website for the schedule.

To find our more about Brian Gore, go to guitarpoet.com. For more info about Jim “Kimo” West, go to jimkimowest.com.

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Author R. Lawson Gamble’s newest action thriller titled “Hairy Man,” the 12th book in the Zack Tolliver FBI, southwestern crime mystery series will once again have readers on the edge of their seats.

In this book, FBI agent Tolliver and his trusted friend and expert tracker, Eagle Feather, are tasked to find a young girl who was abducted from a campground by what witnesses describe as a human-like hairy being. A young Yokut man, who has also been tracking a series of mysterious murders in the area leads Tolliver on a fast-paced hunt to find the girl and the killer before another murder takes place. The question: Is it Bigfoot, or someone pretending to be the elusive creature, or is it the indigenous Yokut tribe’s ancient folklore creature known as the Hairy Man?

As one Amazon reviewer put it, “Those who live between the Porterville CA, Santa Maria, Sisquoc and Cuyama Valleys’ backcountries will especially appreciate this current adventure from R. Lawson Gamble.”

Gamble described his inspiration for this story.

“I had read about Painted Rock in Carrizo Plain National Monument and I had the theory that it may have had meaning related to the summer solstice,” he said. “So, I camped overnight near it at the solstice with my tent oriented similarly. At dawn, the sun rose directly before me, blinding me in the face, proving my hunch. It was a mystical experience. Painted Rock was the only site where several pre-contact tribes regularly mingled, including the Chumash, Yokut, and Salinan. This spoke to a certain unification of the tribes and beliefs.”

“There is another Painted Rock site on the Tule River Indian Reservation across the Central Valley,” Gamble explained.“They are Yokuts. Their site displays pictographs of a family of Bigfoot-like creatures. The age of the paintings is estimated at A.D. 500, long before contact. In other words, Bigfoot sightings were happening long before the White Man came along. The idea of the existence of such creatures has always fascinated me. I decided to create a story around this possibility.” 

The cover of the book is the actual pictograph from the Tule River Painted Rock. The microscope and DNA strand suggest the modern elements he brings to the story.

Hairy Man already has 174 ratings averaging 4.4 and eight excellent reviews on Amazon.

In addition to being an author, Gamble is a marathon runner and will once again participate in the Joshua Tree Half-Mile Marathon which takes place at night on Nov. 2. Two thousand five hundred people run it by only the light from the headlamps worn on their foreheads.

“It will be cold up there, I prefer to run in the heat, but it will be fun as always. At the end of the race, I usually come in first place because I am the only one in my age group to run the race,” said the 78-year-old author. 

“Writing stories is something I love to do. I write every morning, rain or shine, 365 days a year. My hope is that I take my readers on an exciting journey into places and circumstances they have never been before.”

Gamble has authored 18 books so far, including “The History of Los Alamos” as well as the “Johnny Alias” series, all of which can be purchased through Amazon and at local bookstores.

For more information, visit rlawsongamble.com or rlawsongamble/author page on Amazon.

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The new executive director of Solvang Theaterfest is Chantel Green, its former assistant director. She has been working for Solvang Theaterfest for the past three years and is well acquainted with the inner workings of the organization.

Born in Santa Barbara and raised in Lompoc, Green attended Cabrillo High School and became deeply involved in sports, playing soccer, was on varsity track and enjoyed choir and drama. She attended Santa Barbara City College for two years then moved on to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, where she graduated with a degree in restaurant resort management with a minor in business. 

“I had a great childhood,” said Green. “I grew up camping at local beaches every summer, and played a lot of sports. My parents were both teachers; my dad taught history at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School for 35 years, and my mom was a kindergarten teacher in Lompoc who mainly taught English as a second language (ESL) classes for low-income students. Sadly, she passed away last year. She was originally from Chile and immigrated to the United States to escape from the socialist/communist political party in power at the time. I am fortunate to still have many relatives in Chile and have been able to visit them throughout the course of my life.”

After college Green moved back home to Lompoc.

“After graduating, I worked for Terravant Restaurant, first as wine club manager and house manager for four years andthen went to the corporate offices in Buellton and worked as an executive assistant, transitioning into sales, marketing, and production management where I worked for 11 years,” said Green. “When Terravant was sold, the new owners from back east didn’t see eye to eye with those of us who had been running the business for years, so we parted ways. That’s when I started working at Theaterfest.”

Green cites work ethic as one of her strongest traits.

“I’ve always been a self-starter,” she said. “If something needs to get done, I’m the one who always says, ’I’ll do it.’ That’s the way I’ve always been. To quote the old adage, ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person,’ and I seem to have always been the busiest person. 

“When I was in school in Colorado I worked at the Fort Collins Marriott Hotel and was in charge of organizing and preparing for the banquets that were daily events. It was a very hectic environment, which required being on my toes and in charge of most of the details. If a cake needed cutting, I would cut the cake — whatever I saw that needed to be done, I was on top of it. It’s just part of my nature, I guess, and I love entertaining.” 

Green recalls as a youth attending many of the plays that PCPA staged at Theaterfest.

“My parents were always big supporters of the arts,” she said. “I remember dressing up and coming into Solvang to Theaterfest to watch so many plays. I can truly say that never once when entering Theaterfest did I ever think that one day I would be running it.”

However, Green emphasizes that running Theaterfest is a family affair. Her family is very involved in helping her to accomplish all that needs to be done. Her father is a Theaterfest sponsor and does everything from pouring drinks to grilling hot dogs. Her husband, Casey Birthisel, her partner of 18 years, and daughter Cali, 10, also volunteer their time and help her with whatever needs to be done. “They are always there for me,” she said.

After her recent promotion, Green is putting together a performers’ lineup for next year.

“I am excited to put together my own 2025 season productions for Theaterfest, which will include the Queen cover band sometime next year and I have a lot of other exciting ideas that I hope will come to life,” she said. “One is ‘Movie Night’ at Solvang Theaterfest where we will be showing some cult movie classics like ‘The Princess Bride,’ among others. This year we are also going to do a Theaterfestival where the street in front of the theater will be closed to accommodate street vendors, games, jugglers — a really big event we hope to do on an annual basis.”

Ashley Esdaile will be taking over Green’s former position as the new assistant director of Solvang Theaterfest. She has been with Theaterfest for a year working as a bookkeeper. Green said that Esdaile is very versatile and eager to help with all the events. She does a lot of the ticketing set-up and processing, and marketing.

“We work well together and as a team we hope to make this theater an ongoing success and to incorporate new energy into the mix,” she said.

“We are always looking for people to join our volunteer program with the added benefit of seeing some great shows,” said Green. “If you’re interested, just give us a call.”

For more information, visit solvangtheaterfest.org or call (805) 686-1789 or info@solvangtheaterfest.org. 

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Photographer Ryan Abbott is exhibiting his photographs for the second time at The Coffee House by Chomp in Solvang. 

Taking photographs has been a passion of his since childhood. He has the gift of seeing things that others just pass by and now he is able to share that gift with others.

“All my life, people have told me I have a good eye for detail. I have been taking photographs all my life of things and places I find beautiful,” said Abbott. “When I was diagnosed about two and a half years ago with autism, I linked up with Hidden Wings and I began creating videos for them and donating my time to Hidden Wings. My first video was titled ‘Lavender Harvest.’”

Last year Chomp invited Abbott to display his photography in their coffee shop and people started asking if they could purchase them. 

“That’s when I realized I could make money selling my photos. Right now, people are buying them off the wall. I like to take pictures of nature and animal life that live and thrive in the Valley,” Abbott explained. “We go to the Botanical Garden on hikes and I always bring my camera. Walking to the river is where I find my best inspiration.”

Hidden Wings is a path-breaking model of transforming the lives of those with autism and giving hope to those whom society would leave behind, as stated on their website.

“At Hidden Wings we help young people to develop life skills and Chomp gave us permission to hang our students’ work in their coffee shop,” said Sophia Barnett, a mentor with Hidden Wings.

Abbott has been a resident of Solvang for 25 years having come to the Valley from Omaha, Nebraska.

“Through a series of mishaps, I came to visit my parents who used to live in the Valley but they moved back to Nebraska and I stayed here,” said Abbott. “I got a job at Nielsens Market, now Valley Fresh, and have been working there ever since.”

Abbott has been a student/supporter at Hidden Wings for the past three years. He attends three days a week.

“I was encouraged by Jim Billington, the founder of Hidden Wings, and when I found out I was on the spectrum, it helped me make sense of my quirkiness,” said Abbott. “Hidden Wings has helped me branch out as a person and to overcome social challenges.”

“We go on a lot of outings, find jobs for our students, and a lot of our students are in college,” said Barnett. “We teach life skills, how to count money, hygiene, cooking, and how to live on their own if they have to. We go on horseback rides, teach sports, play basketball, and we also put on plays. Our students also sell local honey, make soap, arnica balm, bath salts, lip balms, and lavender bags all of which are sourced locally and are organic. Our students have to be 18 years or older to attend Hidden Wings.”

“Ryan is our star student. He helps us raise donations from people who shop at Valley Fresh, and from people who attend our plays. We then use that money to buy costumes or anything else we may need for our plays.” 

In addition to his photography, Abbott also enjoys his time on stage.

“I have been in six plays to date: ‘Macbeth,’ ‘The Grinch,’ ‘The Night Before Christmas,’ ‘The Polar Express,’ ‘Under the Big Top,’ and I will be playing Leonardo da Vinci at the Shakespearian Festival on June 1 at River View Park in Buellton along with the other students. Everyone says I should create an online store for my photos, and I will eventually, I just have to learn how first,” said Abbott, smiling.

For more information on Abbott, email stayintheword33@yahoo.com, visit his Instagram page @ryanabbott64, or visit Hidden Wings on Youtube, or on Instagram @solvanghiddenwings.

The Coffee House by Chomp is at 1693 Mission Drive, D103, Solvang.

Feature Image: Photographer Ryan Abbott is rarely seen without his camera. Some of his photos can be seen on the wall behind him. More of his photos can be seen at The Coffee House by Chomp in Solvang. Contributed Photo

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The Book Loft in Solvang will host a book signing on Sunday, May 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. with Robert Byrne, author and illustrator of “Like Mother Like Daughter, Starring Bobbie.”  

You’ll fall in love with Bobbie and the many other endearing characters in this children’s picture book. Bobbie is challenged by a special attribute that defines her personality, and propels her to spontaneously follow whatever may interest her at the moment — leading her on adventures encountering interesting people and places. You might say she is extraordinarily creative and somewhat impulsive in her actions.

In this story, “Like Mother Like Daughter,” family traits, just like family genes, are often passed down through generations. They can be viewed as negative or positive attributes, but Bobbie has a wonderful family who accepts and loves her for who she is, and appreciates how special she is.

Find out more at: RobertByrne.com/Bobbie

Byrne’s experience spans both traditional and digital illustration. He is known for fine art illustration, portraits, and being a graphic designer and a past art director, illustrator, and animator of over 12 popular children’s learning CD ROMS. Over the last 15 years he has been the featured artist for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce — Lifetime Achievement Awards. He is an award-winning artist of The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles.

“I love creating what was not there before and seeing children and adults enjoy themselves in a make-believe world,” Byrne says. “I grew up in such a world and still reference it daily.”

The Book Loft is located at 1680 Mission Drive in Solvang. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. It is also home to the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, which closes one hour before the bookstore. For more information, go to bookloftsolvang.com

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