Fall 2016/Winter 2017 11

A gallery of unique furnishings for your home!

Corner of Redwood and FranklinDowntown Fort Bragg

REDECORATE

REDESIGN

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707-961-0236 Wed–Sat 10:00am–4:30pm, Sun 12:00–4:30pm431 S. Main Street, Ukiah

(707) 467-2836 gracehudsonmuseum.org

discover the extraordinary

Aug. 20–Nov. 27, 2016

Instinct Extinct:The Great Pacific Flyway

This multi-disciplinary art installation explores the biology, beauty, and bounty of a major north-south flight path for migratory birds in America.

Dec. 10, 2016–Mar. 12, 2017

They Came to Washington in 1821:The First Ambassadors

Charles Bird King’s portraits of early American Indian tribal leaders and an examination of the lives of chiefs who came to the capitol to negotiate with the federal government.

Tricolored Blackbird, part of the installation by Valerie Constantino, Glenda Drew, and Ann Savageau.

Kee-Shes-Wa, A Fox Chief, circa 1825, Charles Bird King

Lithograph.

By Susan Kelley

A rgentine tango is thriving on the Mendocino Coast within Tango Mendocino, a community of dancers passionate about social tango. Dances – or milongas,

as the ballrooms and clubs where people come together to dance the tango are called – can be found all over the world. On the Mendocino Coast milongas are held every week in Fort Bragg, Mendocino, and Caspar, and every other month in Point Arena.

Argentine tango is a musical genre and the social dance that accompanies it. It is very dif-ferent than exhibition ballroom tango and even exhibition Argentine tango, the choreographed dancing we are accustomed to seeing. Argentine tango music is much more varied than ballroom tango music. Not only is there a large volume of music, there is a breadth of stylistic differences between tango orchestras as well.

“It ranges from sad to tragic, romantic to just beautiful. It can be light, even flippant,” long-time milonguero, Larry Sawyer, explains.

River Wilder, another active member of Tango Mendocino, enjoys dancing to vocals. “It’s a whole other layer to dance to.”

Argentine tango originated at the end of the 19th century in the suburbs of Buenos Aires and Montevideo, Uruguay. It quickly grew in popularity and spread internationally. While the “golden age” of tango is considered to be 1935 to 1955, milonga aficionados have kept it alive and thriving. One can find a milonga in almost every city in the world.

Improvisation is at the core of social tango but spontaneous isn’t an apt description. There is structure in the way the music is presented, the etiquette of the dance and the evening, and the relationship between partners during the dance.

For some the structure is part of the appeal. Social tango is an accessible and safe means of interaction. “You can walk into a milonga anywhere in the world, dance with a complete stranger, and walk away without saying a word. It is a safe, controlled intimacy,” explains River Wilder.

It Begins with an Embrace:Social Tango on the Mendocino Coast

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River Wilder photo.

Fall 2016/Winter 2017 13

Each song is organized into a tanda, a group of three songs that relate to each other in some manner. There is a short musical bridge between the completion of one tanda and the beginning of the next, giving dancers time to change partners. An integral part of social tango is dancing with different partners throughout the evening. Much of the richness of the social experience comes from the variety of partners.

Larry talks about why he is so drawn to the dance. “Tango is intimate, sensual, playful. It’s like going on a journey with my partner to the music. It is a heart opening experience. You take in all these other people and then one of them becomes the most important person in the world to you for the next ten minutes.”

During the first bars of the tanda the mood and the tempo of the music are established. The “leader” looks about the room and lets his quizzical gaze rest on the part-ner he chooses for the next dance. No words are spoken. She responds to his raised eyebrow or slightly cocked head by returning his gaze, or looks away if she does not want to dance this set with him. If she does return his gaze, the two move together and into the embrace.

The embrace is important. The leader’s role is to guide his partner across the floor and through a series of steps that do not have a prescribed sequence. This requires a mutual attention to keeping the connection with one’s dance partner. As the dance unfolds, the leader makes choices of direction and dance steps, communicating each decision to his partner with his body through the embrace. The follower must trust her partner implicitly and respond to his improvisation as he guides her through the sensual dance.

Both roles have physical and mental challenges. The

ongoing pivoting in tango requires stamina and balance from both dancers.

This is the tango. “It takes two to tan-go” may be one of the most appropriately phrased clichés in the lexicon.

As a follower, River is most often execut-ing tango steps backwards and on her toes. Walking backwards has become so much a part of her range of movement that she is comfortable walking that way. So if you happen to see a slim young woman walk-ing backwards on the Coastal Trail, that’s River improving the balance and strength she needs to dance the Argentine tango.

How can a beginner become part of this engaged and caring community? Everybody is welcome to come to a milonga and watch to see if it might be some-thing they might like to try.

It does take some time to learn. “No place for a fragile ego,” Larry cautions. “There is no way to be good at social dancing without not being good at it for many weeks. But experienced dancers help less experienced dancers learn.”

River concurs, “I leave my ego in the car. I’ve only been dancing for a year and a half and I’m still learning. The mountain of knowledge is endless. Every time I walk into a milonga, I walk out of the room miles better than I was when I walked in.”

The informal group has a comprehensive website, tangomendocino.com, where you can find the schedule and location of the milongas and learn more about this coastal community.

Babar Yousuf photo.

River Wilder photo.

SeptemberMAIN GALLERY (September 1–18)

Paper Works

GALLERY TEN (September 1–18)

Mendocino Open Paint Out Featured Artists

ALL GALLERIES (September 19–30)

Mendocino Open Paint Out

OctoberMAIN & NICHOLS GALLERIESMembers’ Juried Photography Exhibit

GALLERY TENLarry R Wagner

NICHOLS GALLERYSilent Auction

NovemberMAIN GALLERYBlagojce Stojanovski

GALLERY TENBetsy Lombard

NICHOLS GALLERYMendocino Art Center Then and Now Fiber Arts Collective Exhibit

DecemberMAIN GALLERYMixed Media/Collage Exhibit

NICHOLS GALLERYMoss Rock

JanuaryALL GALLERIES

Members’ Juried Exhibit

FebruaryMAIN GALLERYMendocino Figure Drawing Collective

GALLERY TENDaniel Parker

MarchMAIN GALLERYJonathan Palmer

GALLERY TEN & NICHOLS GALLERYMarine Wildlife Exhibit

mendocino art center45200 Little Lake Street at Kasten Street, Mendocino

707 937-5818 • 800 653-3328

MendocinoArtCenter.org

mendocino art centerO N E X H I B I T

September through March · Open Daily, 10:00am–5:00pm

Second Saturday Artists’ Receptions Each month at 5:00pm

BLAGOJCE STOJANOVSKI

CAMILLE PRZEWODEK

Schedule subject to change.

ILJA TINFO, BEST IN SHOW

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Fall 2016/Winter 2017 15

Patsy Croft and Tom Herman: Jewelry Superstars Coming to MAC

“THE MATILIJA POPPY PROJECT”

Collaborative Brooch Will Benefit Mendocino Art Center

In January 2017, two of the leading lights in American metalsmithing, Patsy Croft and Tom Herman, will be teaching jewelry workshops at the Mendocino Art Center. At the close of the workshops, they will collaborate on a one-of-a-kind brooch which will be auctioned to benefit the Art Center. This remarkable event is being coordinated by Nancy Gardner, MAC Jewelry Coordinator/Studio Manager, and is made possible by the extreme generosity of the two instructors.

Tom Herman will be teaching Master Chasing and Carving, January 11–15. Tom is a master jeweler special-izing in work with custom cut precious stones and gold carvings, each piece with a unique design inspired by organic, natural forms and featuring geometric balance. Each piece he designs is created using classical metalwork-

ing techniques of chasing, carving, and saw pierc-ing. Tom says, “This kind of work looks com-plicated, but it’s been done for 3,000 years. And if I can do it, any-one can do it.”

Students in Tom Herman’s workshop will sculpt metal into ornamental patterns using Bas Relief techniques, focusing on developing chasing, engraving, and saw piercing skills.

Examples of Tom’s work can be found on his website, SevenFingers.com, a reference to the fact that he manages to be a supremely skilled metalsmith in spite of a child-hood farming accident that deprived him of three fingers.

Patsy Croft will teach Enameling for 3D Pliqué-a-Jour, January 11–15. Her cloisonné and pliqué-a-jour enamel jewelry is noted for its meticulous craftsmanship and exquisite color palette. Like Tom, Patsy combines classical traditions with original contemporary designs. She cre-ates one-of-a-kind enamel jewelry using the finest quality silver, gold, brilliant enamels, and gemstones. Her work

can be seen on her website, patsycroft.com. Patsy believes that “a piece of jewelry is a timeless

treasure, just as our finds are in nature. Driven from the passion of the masters, inspired by the beauty I see around me, I create jewels that are always unique. I enjoy working with people to discover what they are passionate about and incorpo-rate their beauty into a wearable work of art.”

Students in Patsy’s class will create “windows of light” simi-lar to miniature stained glass in a 3D jewelry format. This is achieved by floating transparent enamels into the openings of a saw pierced fine silver sheet and firing in a kiln. Patience and precision are needed to explore this beautiful and rare art form.

After the concurrent five-day workshops, Tom and Patsy will stay on for two weeks to work collaboratively on a co-designed, 18-karat gold brooch featuring a design of the Mendocino Art Center’s iconic Matilija poppy. During this time students will have the opportunity to work in the jewelry studio on their own projects with daily guidance from both instructors.

Nancy Gardner anticipates that the creation of the Matilija poppy brooch will be “a very difficult, very intense” process. Tom will primarily work on the con-struction, while Patsy will focus on enameling and pliqué-a-jour; although the two artists share many skills, much crossover is expected. Tuesday evening, January 10, will be a presentation about the Matilija Poppy Project, and Tom and Patsy will share their respective portfolios.

For more information visit MendocinoArtCenter.org/masters.html or contact Nancy Gardner at jewelry@mendocinoartcenter.org or 707 972-4178.

Tom Herman, Bracelet, 18K yellow gold, horn, and diamonds, carved with California Live Oak and dragonflies, 1" wide.

Patsy Croft, Picture Plant, 3D Pliqué a Jour, 22K and 18K gold, vitreous enamels with pistachio Tahitian pearl, 3.25"x1.25".

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THE ZACHA LEGACY SOCIETYHonoring the exceptional support of those who are Mendocino Art Center advocates.

LIFETIME MEMBERSBill & Jennie ZachaDick & Janet BilasJoyce BrownMarion & Chuck BushJohn CornacchiaTerry Lyon & James CookRhoda & Richard MeskerDonald E. Paglia, MDH. Lindsay ShieldsJoan & Jeff StanfordCharles Marchant Stevenson, Jr.

& Thomas BurnhamLarry & Marilyn WagnerLeona WaldenRay & Donna Worster

$50,000+Donald E. Paglia, MD

$35,000+Google

$20,000+John Cornacchia

$10,000+Allan Cone

$2,500+Liliana & Michael CunhaHarvest MarketCharles HeathJohn Hewitt ArtRick Keller & Sue Klarquist Toby & Carolyn LurieDale & Susan Louise MoyerJanis & John PorterH. Lindsay ShieldsCharles Williams &

Barbara Beynon

$1,000+David BattagliaMarion & Chuck BushAnette Gupner & Mike PlotkowskiDavid & Cathy JonesLeland KraemerDebra LennoxPavlos MayakisSpindrift GalleryHelen & David TroxelLarry & Marilyn WagnerLeona WaldenDonna Worster

$500+Dana DriverKeith FaulderFort Bragg ElectricJohn & Kathy HughesSusan JuntzSheila KlopperDr. K. KnoxPatricia (Deirdre) O’Reilly

Sharon PetersonWilliam N. & Cynthia Crocker ScottAnn SullivanJennifer Taylor

$250+Tracy Barrett & Claire LaChanceBob BurridgeLillian CartwrightStephen DedolaMike & Ruth Dell’AraDorothy Ann FinleyGE FoundationBob JettonRhoda & Richard MeskerAnn MoormanHarold O’ConnorPerkowski Screen PrintingRoad ScholarsGlenn Rude & Sunshine TaylorRon & Francine SelimLinda ShearinSnowcreek Studios –

A Chris Messer GalleryPhyllis ThelenYoshiko WadaJackie Wollenberg

THE MENDOCINO ART CENTER WISHES TO THANK…all of our generous donors and members who have provided support from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016. Memberships and donations at every level are appreciated and vital to the Mendocino Art Center. Members and donors who provide support at $250 and above receive annual recognition in Mendocino Arts magazine.

Fall 2016/Winter 2017 17

Just steps to the beach anda stroll to fine restaurants, galleries,

and the Mendocino Art Center.ocean views • decks • fireplaces

An enchanting refuge for rest and renewal . . .

On Main Street at EvergreenMendocino Village

800 780-7905 • 707 937-5150www.oceanfrontmagic.com

OCEANFRONT INN& COTTAGES