Art on the Farm Weekly... Little Organic Farm

Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Art on the Farm group spent the day at Little Organic Farm, owned by David Little, on Tomales Rd. in Petaluma, between Tomales High School and the Coast Guard Station. David's primary crop is potatoes. He grows over 30 varieties. David also grows winter squash, strawberries, melons, onions, lettuces, corn and tomatoes. Text below and Photos by plein air artist, Donna Solin
Donna writes:
"The day started out beautiful. The sun was shining and it was quite warm. We had the opportunity to view grazing cattle, big and small sunflowers,
ripe tomatoes , bolting lettuce and wonderful strawberry rows.

I realized the weather was not going to last. I chose to paint one of the many building sites with some of the wonderful big trees sheltering them."

To visit Donna's website, and learn more about what she painted this week, please visit: http://www.donnasolin.com

Art on the Farm Weekly... Regenerative Design Institute

Sunday, August 3, 2008
Set way back beyond in the nether regions of West Marin, even beyond hidden Bolinas, is Regenerative Design Institute. What a fantastic place! I got lost and was a bit frantic, but once I parked and unlatched the wooden gate, I found a 17 acre site full of quiet and wonderful growing things. Overlooking the gorgeous field of vegetables are two cob-built (straw and clay) houses for workers, each with beautiful insets above the entry made from green glass wine bottles. Bees buzzed, taking in pollen from all the wild flowers and bringing it back to their hive sandwiched between two cookie sheets on an outdoor picnic table. The smell of honey was wonderful! While roaming the grounds, I fell in love with the beautiful purple blossoms of the artichokes. These plants were sprouting here and there, giving the gardens a sweet highlight of color.

I wound up by a little greenhouse where some luscious pink roses were drooping their pink blooms and the nasturtiums sprawled around a cow's skull. While I was painting, little red plums were falling around me like rain! A worker quietly gathered them as best she could in a bowl, saying they're falling faster than she can collect.

I loved the frumpiness of this place as well as the idea behind it all--
"(a) farm ... being transformed into a permaculture model of human beings living in harmony with the earth." Grey water use, classes involving kids and community, organic gardens featuring all kinds of vegetables and fruit--it was exciting to be there but also very relaxed and carefree, at least for the painter visiting for a day! It's a ways out there, but well worth the drive.
Post Photos and Article by Kate Peper
peperprojects:kate peper
textile and surface design
www.peperprojects.com

Art on the Farm Weekly... October Show

The 2008 Group Show took place on October 19th, 2008.
To view photos of the show, click here.

The above is our poster in progress for the October 19th show. The paintings on the poster, from top to bottom are by artists, Linda Larsen, Kanna Aoki, David Miller, Sherrill Miller, Babara Lawrence and Kay Carlson.

***SAVE THE DATE!***
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Art on the Farm Annual Show
Pt. Reyes Vineyard Inn and Winery
Food from Marin Organic family farms, wine and art available for purchase with 50% going back to the Marin Organic Interest-Free Loan Fund; a fund that is used by Marin Organic farmers and ranchers who are in direct, financial need. Point Reyes Vineyard is about 1 mile north of Point Reyes Station on Highway #1.


Postcards!
For information about postcards for this show, either picking some up if you are an artist, or receiving one if you are a patron or would like to attend the show, please click here.

Art on the Farm Weekly... Mt. Barnabe Farm

Sunday, July 27, 2008
Today, the Art on the Farm group ventured up Mt. Barnabe in Lagunitas, CA to Mt. Barnabe Farm, owned by Diane Matthew. Diane has been growing raspberries, blackberries and garlic at her farm perched on the East side of Mt. Barnabe for 16 years. Diane also raises Navajo Churro Sheep, and Dominique Chickens, for eggs. Mt. Barnabe Farm is a member of Marin Organic. Several artists participated in today's trip, although I was only there long enough to chat with Connie Smith Siegel, Barbara Lawrence, and Larry Bryson.
Connie is a native of this valley(San Geronimo Valley, in Woodacre), stayed the longest; well into the cold foggy afternoon, and was dressed in earthtones, blending in with the native, West Marin colors. Her image on her easel was large, and full of energetic pastel strokes, delineating the dry summer grasses and brush. Barbara Lawrence had her dog, Matisse, on site, and it was so funny, to be painting on the hillside and hearing a woman calling, "Matisse, Matisse, come..." Plein air pleasantries...

Art on the Farm Weekly... Cow Track Ranch

Sunday, June 8, 2008
Heaven on earth tonight, at Cow Track Ranch, in Nicasio, CA. It was just a stunning afternoon, with 360 views of rolling hills, valleys, rock outcroppings and grazing cows. The ranch itself has a redwood barn, now greyed with age and covered with yellow lichen, that was built in 1871, as well as colorful antique tractors and rusted farm equipment from times past. Much of this info was written up in a recent article by Jim at the West Marin Citizen. Thank you, Jim! Click image below to read the article...

Art on the Farm Weekly... Gospel Flat Farms

Sunday, May 25, 2008
Flag art located on Gospel Flat Farm, Bolinas, CA.

Artists had the joy of painting in afternoon light this Memorial Day weekend on this unusual farm in Bolinas, CA. One building had and entire whale skeleton on the roof; apparently all bones that had washed up on the shore in Bolinas that had been each collected over time and left on the roof to dry. A duck house, made of an old windsurfer, buoys and odd recycled goods, glided back and forth on a duck pond, with an island inhabited by rabbits in the center. Under the arched bridge to the island, 4 ducks paddled and swam in the green and blue hues.Bolinas Ridge in the distance, and artists painting for hours, quietly engrossed in their work. Lettuce and chard rows were plentiful, and a friendly girl name Anna Rose, who sat down to read a book in the lettuce rows, explained they have no problems with deer or rabbits eating the food. An old rickshaw style bike with a large, metal basket painting, "Eat Local" seemed like a throw back to another time, when life was this simple and peaceful. For more information on Gospel Flat Farm, please visit their new website.