Featured Artist: Alvaro "Ugi" Morales

“Ugi” is a well known artist in northern Baja. His signature paintings of outsized flowers, particularly roses, are executed with bold strokes and strong colors on canvases large and small. His distinctive style is one that appeals to a wide audience with his work to be found in numerous homes up and down the Pacific coast. "Ugi" "Universal God Incorporated" signifies the fact that God partners with each of us in everything we do. The Ugi Gallery, at km 30 in Rosarito, features works in a variety of styles by a number of talented local artists, including his wife, Janet Young.
http://www.myspace.com/ugiart       ugi221@gmail.com      Phone: 661-850-1120

Featured Artists: Scott O. Kennedy & Marie-Pierre

This Week's Featured Artists: Scott O. Kennedy & Marie-Pierre

Scott O. Kennedy - Marine Artist
World wide acclaimed marine artist, Scott Kennedy works out of his studio in Punta Banda where he has now turned his attention to the colors and rhythm of Baja. His paintings on location always seek to capture the essence of the scene he is painting. He also plans on gathering more of Mexico’s nature’s soul and culture and delivering it the way he knows best... on canvas. Scott is also working on a book featuring his works on Newport Beach, CA. For more information about Scott, please visit his website at www.scottkennedy.com. You can also befriend him on Facebook under ScottKennedyart

Marie-Pierre: Marpivision
Marie-Pierre creates fanciful designs in sewing creations using color and textures of different fabrics (mostly recycle cloth). Her ideas are free form abstract -cutting edge functional urban gypsy wear. Each individual work is an original creation. The ebullience of Marie-Pierre’s personality shows itself in all her handiworks. She was born in Paris but raised in Nigeria. Her extensive exposure to different ethnic background has unquestionably given her an open palette for the texture and design which she now uses. These impressions make what Marpivisions represents today. Roll brim hats, purses, bomber hats, and now unfolding a complete new line of clothing. Images of her creations can be seen on Facebook when befriending SKartisanes.

This Week's Featured Band: Sean Carney band with Phil Berkowitz

"2007 International Blues Challenge winner and Albert King Award winner as Most Promising Guitar Player" What an honor to have this great band in our "Fiesta". Sean teams up with the legendary Phil Berkowitz the "Master of the Blues Harmonica". Hold on to your seats, this promises to be a show to remember.

Band Website:

http://web.mac.com/seanhcarney/iWeb/Sean%20Carney%20Band/Home.html

This Weeks Featured Artist: Jose Hernandez

Huichol Art
String & Wax Paintings, Hand Beaded Jewwlery, &Textiles

Huichol Shaman, Jose Hernandez Sanchez brings the art made in his village of Tepic, Nayarit on a 36 hour bus ride to San Felipe. The Huichol culture and their art remain unique in Mexico. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, these indigenous tribes relocated to inaccessible areas of the states of Nayarit and Jalisco, which straddle the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. This allowed the Huichol people to continue their ancient ways in isolation. Peyote is a sacred plant, used in ceremonies, which allows the Huichol Shaman to talk to the spirits to ask for rain, good health and a good harvest of the sacred corn. Jose Lemus is available to further educate visitors on the ways of the Huichols and the meaning of their art.
Phone: 686-577-6186 Email: huicholarte@gmail.com

This Week's Featured Band: Ruta 69

“Ensenada’s Best Musicians”. An All-Star cast, promises to be a great show.These guys reflect the popularity of Rock & Blues in Mexico. "West Coast Style", West Coast Baja that is!

The Blues in San Felipe

By Carla White
STAFF WRITER BAJA TIMES

The 2010 International Blues & Arts Festival is coming up on Saturday, March 27, in San Felipe. Sponsored by Mexico Living, Tecate and the San Felipe Lions Club, the event will be held at the baseball stadium, and, if last year’s concert was any indication, this open-air fiesta will be the hottest ticket in Baja.

READ THE ARTICLE

Note: This article was based on information and the experience of the author during the 2009 Blues & Arts Fiesta. The Lions Club of San Felipe is no longer hosting the Flying Samaritan's medical trips, however the Lions Club still support the Flying Samaritans by their use of the Lion's Club slit eye lamp, bedding and distributing of eye glasses donated to the Lions club. 

Visit the Blues & Arts website for more information.

This Week's Featured Artist

Valentina Valentina was born and raised in Chelyanbinsk, Russia. She was studied at the Chelyabinsk Art College (1975-1978) and at the Art-Graphic faculty of the Nizhniy Tagil Pedagogical University (1978-1983). As an artist she works in different creative and production groups. She has produced work ranging from paintings to interior design. Her preference is oil and pastel. Her favorite genres: portrait, still-life and landscape. She works in style of Russian realistic school. Her works are located in private collections in Mexico, Russia, America, Germany, Israel and other countries. Many custom homes in Baja are proud to display her art. Website: www.valentina-ragsdale.com

This Week's Featured Band: Michele Lundeen

"The Queen of Steam" herself! Michele has been nominated for “Best Blues” 2009 by the "San Diego Music Awards", her 7th nomination for Best Blues. This will be her 4th appearance at our "Fiesta". Needless to say, she is a real crowd pleaser. High energy with a great voice. A blues treasure for sure!

Band Website:

http://www.michelelundeen.com/

San Felipe Blues & Arts Fiesta History

The Lions Club of San Felipe has been the promoter of this event for the past three years. Their goal has been to make the Fiesta a first class occasion for our communities’ pleasure and also to attract tourists to our town.

It was the desire of the Club to raise significant amounts of money for local charities, especially The Sonshine Hacienda. At present this project is nearing completion and will soon be home to children who need shelter because of family circumstances.

Because of the success of the Blues and Arts Fiesta in the past, the Lions Club of San Felipe has chosen to be further committed to make this an annual event and to showcase music and art talent in a beautiful venue by the sea. With a steadfast advertising campaign, the Lions Club of San Felipe anticipates robust crowds every year forward.

Historically the Fiesta has been host to world famous Blues bands and quality artists that provide entertainment at a reasonable price. Artists have successful sold their works and participants have enjoyed a taste of the local culinary fare.

The Lions Club of San Felipe has been very successful at providing a safe and comfortable atmosphere for the Fiesta. The outdoor stadium is the place where one can relax in their chairs and listen to Blues Music long into the night. Most guests spend the entire day. For convenience, there are a number of portable, clean bathrooms and hardly any waiting time to get to them.

The Fiesta is a colossal financial undertaking and could not be possible without sponsorship from individuals and businesses and the many volunteers that help; before, during and after the event.

The Lions Club of San Felipe has donated thousands of dollars to charities from the revenue that the Fiesta generates.

This Week's Featured Artists

Pai-Pai Potters - Daria Mariscal

The Indigenous peoples of California have been pit firing clay pottery ollas in the Southern California and northern Mexico area for THOUSANDS of years using the pit-fire method. Daria Mariscal, makes traditional pit fired pottery. She quarries her own clay. Darria also weaves baskets with juncus, palm and pinon pine needles,and teaches pottery making classes. She has taught on the Viejas Indian Reservation and Barona Indian Reservation in San Diego County. Daria lives in the PaiPai community of Santa Catarina, Baja California, Mexico. www.soleilsoul@gmail.com

Peoples Gallery

Opened since 1992, the People's Gallery offers an assortment of hand-crafted items by local Mexican and American artists. Unique paintings, jewelery, stone and wood sculptures, wood carvings, funiture, wall hangings, cards and crafts are available. B-Dazzled by Debbie jewlery will be featured. The gallery is also home to the ever popular and widely read San Felipe Newsletter. The People's Gallery 381-5 Mar de Cortez south near the Net.
Email: sfnewsster@gmail.com

Sonshine Hacienda – San Felipe’s Children Center

The Sonshine Hacienda is well on its way to completion with the efforts and donations of 2009 Blues and Art Fiesta, many businesses, organizations, churches and individuals - thank you. Under the direction of Gary and Karen Lewis, this dream for our community and its children will soon be a reality. This facility will provide a safe, positive, nurturing environment for children at risk because of neglect, abuse, abandonment or who have been orphaned. For more information on volunteering and assisting in the efforts of making this Sonshine Hacienda a safe haven for children, please stop by our booth during the Fiesta.
More info www.sonshinehacienda.org or 011-52-686-577-0795
Email: missionaries2@yahoo.com