One of the wonderful opportunities in our community is the chance to enjoy art at no cost. Exhibits are on display at the Gilroy Center for the Arts on Monterey at Seventh Street every Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and Saturday. This month’s feature is a quilt show by local fiber artists. Don’t miss this opportunity to view unique, meticulous and creative stitchery. If you’re looking for a reasonably priced one-of-a-kind handmade gift or something for your home, visit the Center’s Artisans’ Gift Gallery.
A walk through the Gilroy City Hall Gallery, 7351 Rosanna St., will satisfy your artistic cravings. On display during business hours until Feb. 29 are watercolors by Gilroy’s JoAnne Perez Robinson. Robinson, who now paints with acrylics, has put what is still left of her watercolors on display and most are available for purchase. Her favorite in the current exhibit is titled “Outside Looking In,” which won Best of Show in the 2009 Gilroy Art Show. Inspiration for the painting came from looking into neighborhood windows while driving through the Presidio.
Robinson’s paintings can also be seen at Fastframe, 17575 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill and on dailypaintworks.com, where her paintings are viewed world wide.
“As an artist, I also have to market my work,” Robinson said. “The paintworks site helps with the marketing, giving me more time to paint.”
Inspired by the beauty of her environment, Robinson is creating designs that will enhance two of the city’s traffic boxes. On Monterey Street, in front of the Center for the Arts, a box sponsored by Franco’s Market will depict fruits, vegetables and local farm landscapes. Another box on Santa Teresa Boulevard at Welburn, sponsored by the Gilroy Foundation, will feature the East Hills and Hecker Pass. As soon as weather permits, look for Robinson with palette in hand at one of these locations and give her a wave of appreciation.
Robinson is also the proud mother of Sam, who lives in Capitola, and Christopher High School sophomore, Kyle, a straight-A student. Kyle, a gifted artist in her own right is currently performing as Madame Dilly in South Valley Civic Theater’s “On the Town” and will portray Lucy in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” at Gilroy High School in March.
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Congratulations to Pintello Comedy Theater as they kick off their 10th anniversary season with Neil Simon’s “Rumors” tonight. Always upbeat and personable, Marion Pintello recently shared the following: “Our actual 10th anniversary, that is, 10 years after we started, will be Jan. 3, 2013. We often say that we started the business with the intention of doing a couple of shows, maybe three or four, to decide if it would work, if we could do it well. And here we are working on our 36th show, welcoming the 74th new actor to our stage, and still loving every minute.
“The families are involved in wonderful ways (thank goodness, as Rod and I continue to work full time at our respective hospitals). We’re delighted with our venue at the Gilroy Grange hall, many patrons have become our friends and we’re all still having fun. Every show is so different from any other, every set, every cast … new and winning!”
Another theater milestone, Limelight Actors Theater is celebrating its one-year anniversary on Feb. 17 with the opening of “Alone Together Again”. Owners Kevin Heath and Alan Obata launched the theater in January 2011, with the popular “bring your own” dinner theater of the ’80s. Since Jan. 21, 2011, Limelight has created a new venue to enjoy dinner, wine, friends, family and an entertaining show. Living up to their tag line “Theater … with a Twist”, they’ve created cabaret, comedy, drama and tackled “Greater Tuna”, a rarely produced show in the community theater realm, all with the help of very talented actors, directors and tech people.
“Alone Together Again” opens Feb. 17. Because the opening night celebration sold out in two days, a Feb. 18 celebration performance was added. Both nights include a complimentary glass of champagne with your ticket.
-QUILT SHOW, Feb. 4 – 22; Free, Open topublic
– RECEPTION: Feb. 4, 6 – 8 p.m.
Gilroy Center for the Arts, 7341 Monterey St.
Hours: Tuesdays and Wednesdays 2 – 6 p.m.; Saturdays 11am – 5 p.m.,Sundays 11 – 2 p.m.
www.gilroyartsalliance.org
– “ON THE TOWN”
Feb. 3, 4, 10, 11 at 8 p.m.; Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m.
Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, 17090 Monterey Road, MorganHill
(408) 842-SHOW
– “RUMORS”
Feb. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 at 8 p.m.; Sunday Matinee, Feb.19 at 2 p.m.
8191 Swanston Lane, Gilroy
(408) 337-1599
– AUDITIONS for “STEEL MAGNOLIAS”
Feb. 4 at 11 a.m., Feb. 5 at 1 p.m.
Prepare 3 min. monologue, bring resume/ head shot
Gilroy Center for the Arts, 7342 Monterey St., Gilroy
Reservations: (408) 472-3292
– “LEND ME A TENOR”
Feb. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, at 7 p.m.; Feb. 12, 19, 25 at 2p.m.
Paines Restaurant & Bar, 421 East St., Hollister
$30 in advance, $35 at door
(831) 245-7278
