Month: May 2014

Last year there were over 39 artists present at Smiley Park, and this year it looks like there will be over 70 local artists and over 59 not so local artists–some from as far away as Arizona and Idaho. The ultimate goal of the festival is to be able to raise funds for arts education in Redlands while promoting the arts in the community. The Redlands Arts Festival also boosts a juried art show in which the winning entry receives a $6,000 prize. In addition to the art, there will be art related booths, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, and activities for families. One thing that will be different this year is that each festival day will end with a concert from 3:00pm – 5:00pm. Saturday’s concert will be kicked off by The Tornadoes, a famous surf rock group from Redlands, and Sunday will close with a Broadway Block Party.

To Harry, outdoor art festivals are a fun opportunity for artists to exhibit their work. When I asked her why art was important, she didn’t hesitate to respond with, “Artists make statements that last. We have artwork from centuries and it has lasted, and still speaks to us. [Art] says something about a way of being.” Indeed this weekend at Smiley Park there are sure to be many statements made.

For more information about the Redlands Arts Festival please visit http://www.redlandsfestivalarts.com/

The Magic Beans out of Nederland, CO kicked off the Festival on Thursday night; the band was full of bluegrassy, playful vibes that had the first night crowd grooving and reveling in the possibilities of the weekend to come.

Friday was chock full of exciting concerts, including Liesl, the Joshua Tree based girl with her bass. Via genuine song lyrics illustrating her life experiences, at times your heart breaks and laughter tumbles out simultaneously. While gifts of cupcakes packaged in “love” boxes are distributed to the crowd, she sings that she gives us cupcakes to make us happy, which in turn makes her happy, so really she is selfishly doing it for herself.

Saturday was just as incredible, with one awesome performance after another. Elle King from New York, NY graced the stage with a smoky, smooth punk sound and sweet demeanor. Elle called attention to her newly purchased skirt and gave a shout out to its creator Shari Elf, a local artist with a booth at the Festival. Shari creates unique fashion and art out of recycled items – think the horrible pink blanket that you hide in the back of your linen closet turned into a fabulous mini-dress with “I LIKE MYSELF” plastered across the front. Elle moseyed through the crowd after her set, giving hugs and smiles; we shared a few laughs and I snagged a couple of shots with her.

As the heat of the day subsided and the sun continued its magnificent desert descent, Kraak & Smaak, out of the Netherlands, kept the party going into the night with their house dance mixes that had the crowd on their feet dancing up a sand storm; it was unavoidable, the beats were contagious. The evening wrapped up with The Selections, a live karaoke band that rocked the night sky and made stars out of everyone who took the stage.

Sunday kept right on rocking; between partner yoga, swinging my cares away on Piper Robison and Gabba Evaro’s “More Love Swings” installation, stuffing myself with Pie for the People and washing it down with Jahlia’s fresh lemonade with muddled lemon basil, my dusty dancing feet became exhausted, and I sadly headed back in the direction of reality.

As I removed the Joshua Tree Music Festival image from the banner on our Arts Connection homepage today, my heart sank a little. The gypsy ease and lighthearted bounce was fading from my step as I walked my dog, Danzig, along the grassy lined streets of Redlands. While he searched for lizards to chase and bugs to eat, he was oblivious of the Festival’s amazing events and the new friends that were made. There’s a leftover piece of Pie for the People chillin’ in the fridge, the hula hoop is on order, and there’s a song in my heart – who cares if only I can hear it?

A huge shout out to all who make the Joshua Tree Music Festivals possible! There were so many incredible offerings throughout the Festival, it was impossible to touch on all of them – so my advice is to experience it for yourself! Save the date and be a part of the fun at the 9th Annual Fall Joshua Tree Music Festival October 9-12, 2014.

Like Segura, SBGN is jam-packed with scholars whose specialized skills play key roles in keeping the unit on the road to progress and ultimate success.

Matt Greenleaf, 27, received his Bachelor’s in political science. His first attempt at exploring his passion for the intersections of legal policy and community empowerment came in the form of wanting to up-start a non-profit. Entangled in the tresses of his exploration of the local political scene, Greenleaf crossed paths with SBGN. “I just started going to meetings really,” notes Greenleaf. “I was concerned about San Bernardino, wanted to get involved and somehow, make an impact. You know, leave San Bernardino with it being better than when I came in.”

Luckily for us, Greenleaf and the entire SBGN team wield the gift of creative minds; ones that find value in the transformative, expressive and communal nature of art.

“Art inspires people and literally makes them think differently,” said Segura. “We’ve become so programmed to think standardly which does nothing for us.” “I love the way art can bring communities together,” said Jennica Billins, 28, head honcho and first chair coordinating May 31’s festivities. “Every time a mural is painted, people come out; they want to see it.”

Billins is the outwardly proud homeowner of San Bernardino’s UNITY house. Her residency inherits the name from a mural baring the word “UNITY” painted along one of her home’s outer walls. The 2013 work is the product of none other than members of her SBGN family.

While working with the group, Billins – an MFA recipient focused on public health – is happily putting her schooling to work. “I received my Masters in Public Health focusing on global public health. There are different forms of public health you can focus on, but global health is a lot about communal development and asks ‘how can we strengthen the community?’”

Whether it be through engaging it, enlightening it, stimulating it or just offering encouragement, the foundation for social change in San Bernardino has been accessed by simply asking the right question: How can we strengthen the community?

As May 31 creeps nearer and we prepare to watch May come to a conclusive close, remember the question and optimistically seek out examples of the answers hiding in the form of murals, disguised as humble community activism, and – but of course – camouflaged as a day at the park.

CommUnity Fest will take place May 31 between 10am and 6pm at Perris Hill Park in San Bernardino. All ages welcome and free for the whole family.