38th Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival

Sunday, September 12, 2021 - 10:00am to 6:00pm


Capitola Soquel Chamber of Commerce

California Squirrels Dancing On A Redwood Stump Under The Full Moon California Squirrels Dancing On A Redwood Stump Under The Full Moon

Artist: Wendy Ballen
Media: Graphite Pencil on Paper

The idea for 1000 Squirrels came to me in a flash, like a squirrel darting up a tree or leaping from one branch to another. Midway through giving an acupuncture treatment to an artist friend, I uncharacteristically blurted out “I’m going to make 1000 squirrels!” 
 
I’ve spent the last two decades meticulously twisting wire into intricate, anatomically-inspired sculptures—the perfect marriage of my studies in anatomy and my interest in Tai Chi and movement.
 
The Covid-19 pandemic hit me hard, like the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. I was teaching Tai Chi, and I felt the power of the earth rumbling up from below. Now I feel a huge shift coming from inside of me. Life feels tenuous and precious. At 65, I’m considered elderly, a person with pre-existing conditions, someone to be protected. I want to do something meaningful with the time I have left on this earth. 
 
There’s a principle in Tai Chi that revolves around practicing a long 108 move long form. The form is like a kinesthetic alphabet, and is taught one move at a time. It takes almost a year to learn the entire form, then it’s practiced over and over thousands of times, until you reach a certain depth. However, there is never an end to the learning process. 
 
1000 Squirrels is based on that principle. I want to explore my artistic abilities in a multitude of mediums using one subject: the common, adorable, mischievous squirrel. I drew the first 50 squirrels with graphite pencils. The pieces are playful, humorous, and some are dark, like the current times. This project is helping me stretch my abilities and open my vision. I’m looking forward to using other mediums, both 2D and 3D, as I progress through my form, one squirrel at a time. 

To see more of Wendy's work, please visit www.wendyballenart.com

 

Read More
Forty Magical Weeks Forty Magical Weeks

Artist: Laura Beach
Media: Woodcut Print: Gold Ink on Paper
Laura Beach is a local Santa Cruz printmaker and science teacher who creates artwork using both letterpress and woodcut techniques. She combines her love of science, the natural world, graphic design, luscious paper, small carving tools and irresistibly heavy machinery to create playful and vibrant works of art on paper. Experiences soaking in the natural world whether it be travelling, backpacking, hiking or playing in the ocean are the inspiration behind her work.
All imagery is hand drawn and either transferred to a block of wood, a piece of linoleum or made into a photopolymer plate for the letterpress machine. There are two main techniques that Laura uses in her art creation: the first being a reductive technique that involves carving on a single block of wood or linoleum. Each color layer after it is inked and hand pressed onto paper is eventually carved away – leaving little of the original block in the end. This process creates limited edition prints as there is no going back once the block has been carved away. 
The second printmaking technique involves using a 1950s letterpress machine. Original drawings are made into photopolymer plates (similar to big stickers) that are used to press the ink onto thick luscious 100% tree free cotton paper. 
Forty Magical Weeks is a 20" x 30" woodcut print inspired by the pregnancy and birth of Laura's first child Patrick, who was born September 2020. Each week shows the size of the developing baby as compared to fruits, veggies and their flowers. Patrick has brought much joy, love and happiness despite the difficulties of 2020. 
To view more of Laura’s artwork you can visit www.LauraBeach.net and on instagram @LauraBeach

 

Read More
Registration Information Program dates:

Program Dates: August 9 - May 24, 2023

*Program dates follow the SUESD calendar 

Click Here to view Calendar

How to Register
  • Registration is online only. 
  • In preparation for the registration process, you will need to have an online account. If you have previously registered online for any of our programs (Camp Capitola, Capitola Jr. Guards, classes) PLEASE DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT. If you are having problems logging in, please contact us.
  • If you've had a change in address, please contact us at 831-475-5935 or email us to change it for you. The system does not allow you to make that change yourself. Please feel free to contact us if you have any trouble accessing your account.

Once the program has begun, written notice at least two weeks in advance of the start of the next month will be required to prevent any roll-over charges from occurring when withdrawing from the Afterschool Rec Club.

 

Registration Payments

For our Afterschool Rec program, we offer payment plans. The payment plan is for August -May. At the time of registration you are required to pay $30, the initial payment for the month August will be due August 1st subsequent automatic payments will occur on the 15th of the month prior to the month of program. For example on August 15th you will be charged for the month of September, on September 15th you will be charged for the month of October. This will be done online. Sessions are by calendar month, and enrollment will continue with a payment plan in place.

Once the program has begun, written notice at least two weeks in advance of the start of the next month will be required to prevent any roll-over charges from occurring when withdrawing from the Afterschool Rec Club. 

 

Refund Policy

 

Click Here to view the Capitola Recreation refund policy

Read More