PALMDALE – The city of Palmdale has announced its lineup of artisans who will provide live demonstrations and present their art at the second annual Kaleidoscope Music & Art Festival.
The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Palmdale Amphitheater, located at 2723 Rancho Vista Boulevard. Admission and parking are free.
“Kaleidoscope provides an opportunity for the professional level artist to display, sell and demonstrate their craft for the public in attendance,” stated Palmdale’s Recreation Supervisor Annie Pagliaro.
Kaleidoscope will feature local and regional artists, working in a variety of mediums. Several artists will demo on site and allow the public to take photos and ask questions.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to be able to have a close up and personal experience with the artists participating at Kaleidoscope,” Pagliaro said. “On the flip side, the artists will be able to receive direct feedback from patrons, allowing them to see how their art is received.”
“Many artists do not have the ability or opportunity to show their work year round,” added Pagliaro. “Kaleidoscope provides a location with the potential to host thousands at the venue to give artists the exposure they desire.
Kaleidoscope artisans
Among the artisans scheduled are:
Rich Gallego – Oil and landscape. Rich Gallego has been painting the landscape since 1996. His longtime love of nature’s wild places have taken him far afield from Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly to the beaches of Hawaii. Gallego teaches weekly plein air workshops in southern California, annual plein air painting workshops for Cloudcroft Art Workshops in Cloudcroft, New Mexico, and each year for the past eight, he has taught weeklong workshops for the Taos Art School in New Mexico. Info: www.richgallego.com/
Adrian Abrego – Painting/clothing and textiles. Abrego has been an artist for most of his life. Graffiti was the start of his career, and it steered him in the direction of mixed media painting which became his passion. He uses spray paint, acrylic paint, and watercolors in every piece of art and that is how each one is unique. Info: https://www.adrianabrego.com/.
Noelle Martin – Printmaking, mixed media, illustration, clothing and textiles, and jewelry. Martin is a FIDM fashion design alumna and former designer for several fashion houses throughout Los Angeles. Info: www.noellemartin.com/
John Zender – Fusion of street art, cultural art, abstract art and portrait painting. Zender will demo a large painting on wood or canvas onsite during the festival. He recently moved to the Antelope Valley from Los Angeles. Info: www.johnzender.com/
JoDee Luna – Acrylic and mixed media portraits. Luna is a portrait and mixed media artist, author, and educator who enjoys many forms of creative expression. She believes the creative process infuses with courage to try on new artistic identities, take inspired risks and explore imaginative ideas, so she seeks to share insights with others. Info: www.refrainfromtheidentical.com
Gina Wilson – Landscape vignette paintings. Sister of JoDee Luna, Wilson has been an educator for 16 years, and currently works as an instructional coach for the Lancaster School District. Her medium is acrylic on canvas. Info: www.ginamariewilson.wordpress.com/
Michael Medina – Bronze sculpture and painting. A sculptor, jeweler, and craftsman, Medina has designed and produced sculptures and gifts for corporations such as GM, Max Factor, Sperry Rand, Phillip Morris, AT&T, 20th Century Insurance CO., Mattel Toys and Fluor Corp. His pieces range from jewelry in precious metals to architectural sculptures, to life-size bronze portraits. Medina was commissioned to produce the 14k gold pins that were worn by President Reagan and Chairman Gorbachev at the 1987 Washington, D.C. Summit.The artist has also designed and created sculptures and movie props for such films as Ghostbusters, Dead Ringers, and countless T.V. commercials. Info: www.americanmetalartsstudios.com/
Kris Holladay – Oil painting, cards, mosaic stones. A high school art teacher, she will demo Joshua trees in oil while onsite during the festival. Email: kholladay@avhsd.org
Pepe Melan – Illustration, mix media, painting, prints, children’s books. Pepe has been a freelance artist since 1987. He describes his style as mix of grit, surrealism, and urban art. Over the years his talent has earned him credit on among other things, the cartoon P.J. Funny Bunny and as a graphic designer for the musical artist Prince. Pepe’s work continues to be enjoyed on everything from murals to CD covers. Info: www.pepemelan.com
Elizabeth Kennedy – Mixed media. Kennedy’s piece, California Gold is featured on the current cover of the Palmdale magazine. Kennedy is known for her vibrant paintings that feature bold colors and expressive creations. Info: www.Elizabethannekennedy.com.
Debra Schneider – Painting. Schneider teaches art at Legacy Commons for active seniors. Her husband Mike will also feature some of his artwork. Info: m-d-schneider@sbcglobal.net .
Teddi Bandt – Painting, graphite and scratchboard, ink & colored pencil. Info: teddibandt@gmail.com.
Frank Robert Dixon – Illustration, painting, mixed media. Recognized around the world for his finely detailed fantasy art, Dixon has personally taught thousands of students how to draw, paint, and create illustrations over the past 25 years at Antelope Valley College and Quartz Hill High School. In the early 1990’s Frank worked full-time as an illustrator/graphic designer for NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. Fantasy art. Info: www.frankrobertdixon.com.
Schuder Studios, featuring Nay and Julie Schuder – Watercolor paintings. Info: www.schuderstudios.com
“The best way to support local arts in your community is to attend an event like Kaleidoscope,” added Pagliaro. “Whether you purchased an item or two, chatted with an artist, listened to music or appreciated the skill and talent of others, you are showing that the arts in your community matter.”
[Information via news release from the city of Palmdale.]
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