Join us!
First Friday Art Walk May 2, 2025
5-8 p.m.
The Gallery is also open Sundays after service
from 11:45-12:15 and by appointment
The Artnook Art Show
First Friday Art Walks in May & June
The Artnook is a professional studio in downtown Visalia, established in 2020. It serves as both the workshop of artist Stevi Daniels and a classroom for her many talented students, ages 7 through adult. Students choose their own genre, style, content, and materials as Stevi guides them through the elements and principles of art, conceptual creativity, art history connections, and more.
This vibrant exhibition marks the third annual showcase of work created by Artnook students. Each participant has submitted a favorite piece from the past year. Their work reflects the Artnook’s mission: to train students to create thoughtful and high-quality expressions of their personal ideas and experiences.
Come take part in the interactive art adventures--
- Painting on the big cardboard dragon
- Weaving on the giant loom
- Adding to the coloring scroll
‘Trust the Process’
Multiple art collections by John Bukshtine
On display March & April
Autistic artist shows new skills
"I may not be able to speak, but I still think and feel just like the rest of you…being different doesn't mean being incapable. It just means that society needs to find the best way to allow skills like mine to flourish."
These are the words of John Bukshtine. John is a 24-year-old nonverbal autistic. He can’t talk or always control his body movements. His iPad speaks for him. And with assistance to coordinate his movements, he paints.
John was 18 months old when he got very sick, leaving him impaired. He was diagnosed as severally mentally disabled, but his mother, Inbal Hagai, knew better. She’s his staunchest advocate. When John got to kindergarten in a special day class in Tulare, his teacher tried something new with him.
Theresa Higdon Uphoff had gone to a training where she learned that children like John can’t sense where their body is in space. Physical touch gives them that sense.
She started having him type by gently holding his elbow.
That was the beginning. John was very bright, He also had a photographic memory. His mom learned how to assist him to type through an iPad. Now they could actually communicate for the first time!
When he got older, John started to paint with the help of Jessica Smith. Three years ago he held his first art show at the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery. His attempts then were mostly brush strokes and abstracts.
Now, three years later, he will show his astonishing refinement in style.
Inbal and Jessica began finding photos similar to his painting style that he could use for reference. The racoon at right is one result.
“That racoon was a lot of different critters before he got this,” she said. “John spends a lot more time on his paintings now. He’s learned ways to create lines. He couldn’t do that before. He’s even done one painting where I didn’t have to support his arm.”
Through his iPad, John said, “I love painting with Jess. I wish I could do it every day.”
Asked which is his favorite painting, he said, “I love all of them, but my favorite is Luna.”
The picture of Luna, his big shaggy dog, is on display.
Valley Photography Club
Come meet local photographers and learn about their photography escapades and techniques.
The group usually meets monthly for sharing and educational topics and also gathers at other times around the local area to practice their skills. These photographic outings might be at a wildlife refuge, a national or local park, downtown or in a studio. If you are interested in learning more about this group, go to: www.facebook.com/groups/ValleyPhotography/
All skill levels are welcome.
Photographers in the show are
Danny Bee Roger Gong John Greening Tamara Harvell
Ken Hebert Ron Holman Ron Ludekens Beckie Ballew Nava
Bradley Spuhler Susi Youngs
Plus...Meet author Tim Spars
He will talk about his mystery series, including his latest book, “The Day Grew Dark,” named the number one best seller on Amazon in 3 different categories.
And see his series of AA, GA, NA and OA books designed to guide and inspire those on the path to recovery.
Rocks and Roots
by James Stark
November & December 2024
In the beginning days of Covid, I—like most people—was locked down for several months. In November of 2020 I read that Sequoia Riverland Trust had opened Homer Ranch Preserve to visitors. I saw it as an opportunity to get outdoors with nature in clean air. Since it was November I figured the Sycamore trees would be leafless at this time and would be showing off their white limbs spreading into the sky.
I grabbed my camera and headed to Homer Ranch planning to shoot photographs of the trees. When I got there the trees were still full of leaves, but they had turned a golden brown. At first I was disappointed because the conditions were different than I had anticipated. I began hiking around looking for some trees to shoot, but nothing inspired me.
Because of the drought Dry Creek was dry, so I started walking along the creek bed where I noticed the root systems of the Sycamores and the way the roots, rocks and soil interacted in interesting patterns. I spent the rest of the day shooting photos of these and came back several times and created a portfolio of images of Homer Ranch/Dry Creek Reserve.
Pioneering urban artist/photographer James Stark has worked in photography, filmmaking and painting for over 50 years, having produced portfolios that range from the streets of New York City to San Francisco punk clubs and back streets of San Francisco to landscapes of California’s Great Central Valley.
PLUS the Tulare-Kings Writers will be here to sell and read from their books. Great Christmas gift ideas.
Annual Members
& Friends Show
September-October 2024
Our Member and Friends show is always a surprise. We never know what kind of interesting paintings, photography and unique art will be submitted.
Come and see the art and talk to the artists about how they create their art and why it is important to them.
Linger awhile and enjoy snacks and fellowship.
Paintings by Mary Mize-Jones
July & August 2024
I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil. The first thing I remember drawing well was a horse, and unicorns. I drew with graphite pencils throughout grade school. In Jr. High school I started art classes. I learned colored pencils, art graphite pencil pencils, drawing portraits, and I learned the world is full of thousands of colors. I started drawing every color I could see.
High school art classes were so much more amazing. I learned chalk pastels, which I loved, and oil pastels, which I did just for the assignment. I loved doing pen and ink; I excelled in ink dots. I enjoyed embossing, and I used watercolors on them to give them a hint of color and turned them in as a painting. Everything I saw in the world I saw as art.
Then painting: I tried oils, but they dried way too slow for me. I have always drawn very fast. Then watercolors. I wasn’t great with detailing, but I did a lot of mixed media with it. Then I did acrylics, which dried fast, the colors were bright and I was able detail in my painting., I was in love.
I have always loved to paint big, and I mixed using a brush with an airbrush. I created nursery rooms, cartoon rooms, and doing graphic design as well. My computer died, and I was kind of happy about it because I was able to concentrate on painting. I did banners, signs, large canvas painting.
But life happened and now I live in a wheelchair. My paintings are still big, usually 18” x 24” or 16” x 20”. As you see, I love painting God’s creations. Usually animals, insects and I like taking something small and making it big. Maybe it’s a small person complex. That’s me!!
Arien Reed
Unerasure Project
he/they
I am a mixed media artist whose paintings, drawings and murals arise from my experiences as a transgender person who was born female, and to the need for marginalized communities to be understood, valued, and respected.
The current international lack of diverse representation in visual arts has, in part, led many people to believe that gender diversity is new, or even non-existent. To help address this, I use watercolor, India inks, acrylic, spray paint, charcoal and oil to authentically represent actual transgender people, both living and deceased, historical or modern, famous or anonymous, to raise awareness and to humanize my community in the eyes of those outside it.
This exhibition features paintings and drawings from my Unerasure Project—a series of paintings and drawings featuring historic figures from U.S. trans history. And yes, U.S. trans history includes Two-Spirit indigenous history.
“Erasure” is a term referring to the pervasive erasing of queer people from a nation’s history by never mentioning an important historical figure or their accomplishments when teaching history.
arienreed.com
‘Herrera Works’
By David & Noe Herrera
Showing March & April 2024
“As a family we have been involved in the arts in many ways. My daughter Noe and I have shared this experience since she was very little.
I have been teaching and making art in Visalia for a long time, and Noe has always been taking in the art process with me. We have done painting, drawing, ceramics, and on occasion she has helped me deliver lessons. Noe has developed her own skills and continues to learn.
We are showing a variety of our art works; some are exploration processes and some are of our own art interests.
We are happy to share in this new art experience for us as a family.”
--David Herrera
The Day Grew Dark, A Novel
by Tim Spars aka Dale Preston
“The Day Grew Dark” is based on my true life story. John Hardwick is a fictional representation of me. Other characters in the book are fictional characters based on real people.
As a young man, John Hardwick, is mostly left to face life on his own. With no one to turn to for guidance or support, the weight of responsibility weighs heavy on his shoulders, leaving him with few options and an uncertain future.
John begins his life of crime by committing minor offenses, but soon progresses to more serious ones. He gradually escalates to stronger drinks and drugs, leading to blackouts and loss of control. Despite resistance, he eventually seeks help, joins AA, and gains his life back. Through dedication to the twelve-step program, he finds solace and support, eventually living a simpler life. By helping others with similar struggles and embracing the program’s principles, he maintains sobriety and strives for spiritual growth.
VIBRANT FLORALS
Showing January & February in the Brandon-Mitchell Gallery
Betty Berk is a well-known local artist celebrated for her colorful paintings. “Vibrant Florals” is all about bright colors found in flowers—showing the amazing saturation a color can achieve, which naturally brings appreciation and joy of nature.
Come meet local author Lea Maryanow
and hear excerpts from her thoughtful book, 'Stripes'
Lea Maryanow’s children’s book “Stripes” teaches children using animals from the African savannah that not all problems are black-and-white.
The book follows the protagonist, Zebra, as he questions other characters, such as Lion, Owl and Giraffe, whether his stripes are white or black. Zebra is unsatisfied with the animals’ different answers, but in the end, he learns to accept their unique points of view.
“I feel like the world needs people that accept diversity; that accept different perspectives; that embrace it,” Maryanow said. One of the most helpful answers Zebra receives in the story is from Lion, who is trying to hunt him when he sees Zebra.
“Lion isn’t even concerned at all about the colors of Zebra’s stripes because of his instinct to hunt and to see Zebra as prey. … So he was the one who gives away the answer, but at first, we don’t know that’s the answer,” Maryanow said.
Because of the unlikeliness of the source, Lion, Zebra didn’t listen to his answer at first, but after reflecting on it, Zebra is OK being both black and white. Maryanow said it’s important to be open-minded to all types of answers.
Lea is a teacher at St. Paul's School in Visalia
From the Visalia Times-Delta
Three Rivers artist/author will show her art and read from her books
Shirley Keller came to art late in life. Explorations by the long-time Three Rivers resident into the creative process have included photography, ceramic masks, clay mono prints, collages (Ink Quilts) and dot painting to repurpose thrown away objects into art. Shirley published a memoir, “But What About The Children?” with illustrations she calls Ink Quilts and also a fiction novella, “The Donkey Song.” A new nonfiction work is entitled “About Connections” and is a work in progress. The results of Shirley’s explorations are shared in this show.
Trans community shows their talent
We're delighted to host The Source in July and August for a show by their trans and non-binary artists. It includes fun as well as deeply personal art. Here's a sample by Arien Reed.
This black & white charcoal drawing features my unconventional self-portrait. Despite the scoliosis twisting my spine and hunching my back, I wanted to beautify my disabled body and the moment many trans AFAB folx know very well. Chest binders need to be tight to properly flatten or masculinize our chests, and this makes them difficult to get in/out of, especially if your skin is still damp from a shower or swim.
Binders are difficult to conceal under light-colored, thin, or sleeveless shirts, and they can’t get wet. But despite the challenges of the binding experience, I cherished my binder. It was precious to me. I couldn’t leave home without it. Binding is not comfortable, but for many FTM and NB folx, it is crucial and liberating.
The moment I put on a good binder (made by GC2B) I fell in love with myself for the first time. It was an incredible moment and a necessary one. In the disorienting chaos of gender dysphoria, my binder illuminated the path that led me to self-realization, self-confidence and self-love. I am now good to myself. I cherish my body. I wish more people could experience the perspective I enjoy today.
Eclectic art by
- Joyce Blackwell
- Kacey Fansett
- Brett Harvey
- Deborah Hoffman
- Shirley Keller
- Brent Mosley
- Mike Perez
- David Ramirez
- John Rosh
- Christine Sell Porter
- Christy Stapleton
Plus piano music by Bruce Huddleston, snacks and insights into their art by the artists.
WAG (Wednesday Art Group) art show
Our artists all had interesting careers--Ellen as one of the first female bartenders in the Bay Area, Mae as a barber in Carmel, Ernie as an RN and Donna as a Christian school secretary. Now in their 80s, they've been painting together for many years.
You'll see mostly watercolors, but also some pen and pastels. They have shown at Arts Visalia and the Tulare Pallet Show, but this is their first four-person show.
Who Am I? Art Show
“Who am I? starts with the simple question: Who am I? Where do I come from?" says artist Shay Sutton-Patrick.
"Who am I? is made up a whole bunch of the faces and beings that I have seen or gotten to know throughout my life that have helped me shape the woman I am today.
“In my world, brown faces were only meant to be certain ways, but in my mind brown faces and brown people have the right to be whomever and whatever they choose to be. You are made with a blank slate and from that blank slate you gain your confidence, you gain your well-being, you gain who you are.”
The celebration will begin with “Calling of the Winds,” a Native American tradition that lets the ancestors know people are awake to the understanding to be given. Then there will be drumming, which has been part of rituals in many cultures throughout human history.
Dance has always been an indispensable element of life in both African and Native American societies and their celebrations.
She will also talk about the “waist beads” she makes and discuss their meaning. The tradition of waist beads goes back thousands of years. Strung on fine fishing lines or ropes, they hold deep cultural significance in different African societies.
Come see our amazing art
November & December 2022
Brandon-Mitchell Gallery's Annual Members & Friends Show always brings in a wide variety of art--this year including paintings, detailed drawings, granite work, collage, haiku and photography.
Redwood’s Creative Rangers
October & November 2022
This Redwood High School show is unique. There’s not only art, but beautifully-crafted mirrors and wood shop creations.
Redwood Studio Art introduces young Redwood artists to Drawing, Painting, Animation, and Illustrations, allowing students to express themselves in a number of different mediums. The show gives a sprinkling of the incredible young artistic talent that resides at Redwood High School.
The Redwood wood craft show highlights a small sampling of the incredible pieces that students have created in both the Wood 1 and Wood 2 classes. Students choose their wood species to build these projects and either follow the given plan, tweak it to personalize it or develop a plan on their own. The craftsmanship on display will impress you.
Plus---
Be part of our Cranes for Peace outdoor art installation. It kicks off Saturday, Sept. 24 from 12-2. We'll be wrapping cranes to put in the trees and stenciling cranes on the sidewalk.
We'll continue wrapping cranes with yarn at the First Friday Art Walk.
Animalfabetologia II
(Animal-alphabet-ology)
By woodcut artist Francisco Alonso
Francisco Alonso creates works in traditional and non-traditional printmaking processes. The works are often socially engaging and invite the public to break traditional gallery etiquette. His works have been included in exhibitions in the U.S., Mexico, Germany, Taiwan, Greece, Poland and Macedonia. Alonso received an MFA in Print Media from The Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA in printmaking from California State University Sonoma. He lives in Visalia and teaches at California State University, Stanislaus and College of the Sequoias. He also runs The Oval Gallery.
Animalfabetologia II is a continuation of his first Animalfabetologia project. “Our place in history aligns itself with these words perpetuating old traditions. Animalfabetologia (Animal-alphabet-ology) is my attempt to draw animals in a new way but also in an old way bridging the time before colonialism and today.
