Thursday, October 8, 2009

Celebrate the Arts this weekend in Libary Park



In keeping with yearly tradition for the October Arts Festival in Monrovia, the Monrovia Association of Fine Arts announces Rouzanna Berberian as the featured artist!
Rouzanna Berberian grew up in Armenia, a place rich in culture, art and architecture where she studied radio engineering. When her parents immigrated to the United States, she continued her studies at Pasadena City College and changed her major from Engineering to art as soon as she took her first drawing class at the encouragement of her husband. Her instructor, artist and educator Jim Morphesis inspired her by telling her just what she needed to hear at the time, "Don't ever believe anyone who tells you, that you can't be an artist". That statement stayed with her and she went on to win awards and scholarships. She received her undergraduate degree in Art Education and Studio Art from California State University and teaching credential from Point Loma Nazarene University. Mrs. Berberian currently teaches art at South Pasadena High School and is actively involved in the fundraising activities for Monrovia Association of Fine Arts. Her website is http://www.lalikarts.com

Monrovia Association of Fine Arts celebrates its 46th annual arts festival “Celebrate the Arts - Where Culture Unites” in Old Town Monrovia on Sat. & Sun., October 10th and 11th from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at Monrovia Library Park, 321 South Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, CA.

The October Fine Arts Festival in Monrovia is one of the longest running fine art festivals in Southern California. This year MAFA is expanding the event in collaboration with another art group – Nuvein Foundation for Literature and the Arts and will present live entertainment and additional art venues throughout Old Town on both days. The Nuvein Foundation has scheduled poetry readings as well as a self-publishing panel, a comic panel on storyboarding presented by Ralph Navarro and cartoonists presenting ‘live draws’, plus a drumming workshop presented by Vivek Babtiwale. In the Concrete Stage, Incendio will be performing on Saturday and the Lancer Jazz Band will perform on Sunday. Events featured by MAFA artists throughout the weekend will include local and regional fine artists displaying, selling and demonstrating their artwork such as painting, collage, ceramics, photography, jewelry, sculpture, etc. Hands-on art experiences for children, adults and family friendly activities will be available as well as Student Art Displays and a Silent Auction. The San Gabriel Valley Comic Book Festival will be a part of the festivities and live entertainment on multi-stage settings are scheduled throughout the day on both Saturday and Sunday. Food booths as well as representatives from local and non-profit organizations will also have booths to educate the public about their special programs. This event is FREE and OPEN to the public.

MAFA's art events not only promote local and regional artists, but also support arts education in public and private schools. In recent years, when budget cuts adversely affected schools, MAFA’s donations of more than $50,000 have supported art education in after-school and in-school programs. MAFA has also funded schoolteachers through mini-grants in Monrovia, Sierra Madre, Duarte and Arcadia. Other local organizations supported by MAFA are Foothill Unity Center, Boys and Girls club of Monrovia and YMCA.
The Monrovia Association of Fine Arts is an all-volunteer organization with goals to enhance the lives of those within the community through interaction with the arts and to increase the opportunities of the children through art education. The Monrovia Association of Fine Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more info, please call (626) 802-7873 or visit the website www.monroviafinearts.org

Ps...come see me in space 62 showing my art and yammering away, Frank

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Who is Henkels & McCoy?

They have been hired by SCE to survey our power lines and poles. They are checking each pole to make sure they can handle the weight load from new powerlines that will be installed. These new lines will be carrying 16,000 volts as opposed to the 6,000 volt line currently supplying the street.