Big, Bold, Beautiful BAI

Posted on January 21, 2013 by geoffrey

Jan 19, 2013 introduced a whole new chapter in Borrego Art. The Borrego Art Institute reopened in their new location on Christmas Circle. You can see part of the story of the building’s purchase and renovation here. The theme for the show was Big, Bold, Beautiful: three adjectives that apply not just to the art but to the building and especially the opening night turnout.A LOT of people came. This isn’t even when it was most crowded.Leslie Duncan presents a new painting. An eagle, carved by Paul Jorgensen, perched between two paintings. opening_hummingbird And in keeping with the bird theme, here’s mine. Kind of hard to see the scale in this picture but believe me that it is big and bold and, perhaps after a few fine glasses of wine, beautiful.

If you weren’t there to see it, I must state definitively that this was a very exciting night. The BAI Board along with a host of donors, artisans and builders have worked tirelessly to bring about an incredible transformation in the heart of Borrego and it was a thrill to see the community come out and join in celebration. Congratulations to the BAI and here’s to many more openings!

Water Aerobics and Stargazing

Posted on January 19, 2013 by geoffrey

Strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, cardiovascular work-out in a fun and supportive environment. In addition to those rewards that are openly discussed, The Borrego Sketchbook is aware that every participant is secretly the star of their very own Esther Williams Spectacular.

It’s an old show, but it’s never the same. When you’ve grown tired of your nightly indoor HD programming head outdoors and tune in to the oldest and greatest show there is. Nowhere is the picture clearer than here.

Borrego Landscape Painters article

Posted on January 19, 2013 by geoffrey

Last Fall I was among the artists profiled in The Sand Paper, the newspaper for the Anza Borrego Desert Natural History Association. (I’m going to call it ABDNHA, like everyone does and save myself some typing next time.) The article is now online here, on the author’s website CaliforniaDesertArt.com which is an excellent resource for, well, California desert art.

I must say it was a great honor to be profiled alongside the other fine desert artists, especially two fellow Borregans: Barbara Nickerson and Carol Lindemulder.

One correction to the piece: I have a BFA in Animation/Illustration, not an MFA.

And the part where the reader is teased about an “unexpected direction” and a “study of Borrego life and residents,” well, that would be referring to this very website.

Field Surgery and Stuck In A Rut

Posted on January 19, 2013 by geoffrey

They’re called Jumping Cholla and just because nobody has ever actually seen them physically leap into the air and embed themselves into your leg doesn’t mean thats not what happens, for they are clever things and simply wait until nobody is looking. As a result, most visitors to Borrego, from time to time, have had to perform the field surgery illustrated above.

The days begin to get shorter, the weather gets cooler and rams and ewes begin to mingle. During the height of the mating season, rams abandon caution and seem to have no fear of humans. Hikers seeking outdoor fun in these months might just find themselves stuck in a rut.

Badlands or: The Borrego Sketchbook Begins

Posted on January 19, 2013 by geoffrey

We live in a maze. It seems we never know where we are while we’re traveling. It’s only when we stop at a peak that we can see where we have been and where we want to go. But to get there, we must reenter the maze.

Welcome to the Borrego Sketchbook.