University Art - Newsletter

The Community Artist

University Art Newsletter Vol. 3 Issue 10, October 2004

ART ORGANIZATIONS SPOTLIGHT

This month we head back to the South Bay, to one of San Jose's landmark establishments; The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. The museum opened in 1966 and is now home to over 4000 artifacts as well as a collection of replica's, models and educational dioramas. It is the only Egyptian museum in existence whose exterior architecture reflects the contents of the museum itself. The buildings are patterned after temples from ancient Karnak. The museum has a tremendous educational program in place and plays host to over 40,000 students every year. There are also docent led tours and talks given throughout the day for other visitors to the museum; a variety of lectures and workshops are also available to the public.

Combined with the planetarium and new friendship garden, the museum offers you the opportunity of stepping back in time to the ancient world of Egypt. For more information on upcoming lectures, events or workshops contact Patricia DiMare at (408) 947-3665 or try on-line at www.egyptianmuseum.org

COMING SOON

Triton Blues Bash
10/23/04
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
To be held at the Sculpture Gardens of the Triton Museum.
BBQ, Music and Silent Art Auction. No host beer, wine and soda.
$40.00

Ardenwood Harvest Festival
10/9-04 & 10/10/04
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
34600 Ardenwood Blvd.
Fremont CA
Call (510) 796-0663 for details.

Oktoberfest by the Bay
10/14/04 - 10/15/04
11:00 am - 11:00 pm
Fort Mason
Marina at Buchanan Blvd.
San Francisco
Call (415) 746-7522 for more info or www.oktoberfestbythebay.com

If you have exhibit info that you want to have posted please e-mail at snjbram@aol.com

TRIVIA AND STUFF JUST FOR FUN

October is here, the month of Halloween and the official kick-off to the holiday season! Halloween as we have discussed before dates back to an ancient fall festival known as Summer's End (Samhain in Gaelic). So how did the name change? Once Christianity started to sweep through Europe and the British Aisles, the church found it exceedingly difficult to get the general populace to give-up their harvest celebrations. So the church decided to incorporate the festival into their teachings. If the people were to celebrate, Pope Gregory decreed, they would celebrate the passing of the holy dead, and saved individuals not everyday spirits and pagan rituals. Samhain became All Hallows Eve, November first became All Saints Day, November second All Souls Day. Isn't it ironic, that modern day churches in an effort to distance themselves from the name Halloween and its pagan origins are instead calling it a Fall or Harvest festival again. This is actually closer to the pagan original name than the name Halloween, which as we have seen is of Christian origin!

ASK BRAMSCHANDOZ

Q: If a pen says it is permanent, doesn't that mean it is waterproof?

A: Sometimes. The word permanent on some pens does not mean waterproof, usually, it means that the ink will retain its brilliance over time, but is only water resistant. A good example of this kind of pen is a Sharpie Pen, they have good, long lasting color but will indeed run when moistened enough. This does not make it a good choice for watercolorists who want to use ink with a wash. Pens that are both permanent and waterproof are usually marked that that they are. A good example of this kind of pen is a Zig Millennium Marker. These pens have good long lasting color, but are also waterproof. This makes it a good choice for the watercolorist to use with a wash. In short check out the labeling on the pen, or the manufacturers labeling on the display case, and if it is not marked "waterproof" it probably isn't.

JEFF'S TIPS

Here is a tip for you watercolorists out there that comes from renowned watercolorist Tom Lynch. Sometimes when you are working on a piece you want to see what different washes might do to change the mood of the piece, but you don't want to commit the change to the paper right away. Tom uses a piece of wet-media acetate to paint on top of, which allows you to see the artwork underneath the acetate sheet. If you like the change, make the change on the painting; if not simply wipe off the acetate sheet and remove it

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