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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, July 29, 2010
Eye Street
Index Kinky Friedman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 The Wiggles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Arts Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Brian Hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Lowrider Nationals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Los Lonely Boys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30-31
Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
BRIAN J. CANTWELL / SEATTLE TIMES
The Bakersfield Museum of Art is celebrating all things Western on Saturday at Go West Day.
Whoop it up for the West BY CAMILLE GAVIN Contributing columnist gavinarts@aol.com
A
nyone who thinks art galleries are strictly for well-heeled snobs is in for a few surprises Saturday at Go West Day. The western-themed event at the Bakersfield Museum of Art has everything from ropin’ and ridin’ to telling tall tales, with sack races, a square dance and a whole lot of country music thrown in for everyone’s pleasure. Oh, and you might walk away with a new guitar, or a trip for the family — just two prizes of the many that will be given away. The price of admission? Just $1. Beth Pandol, marketing director, said the community-oriented program is something she and David Gordon, assistant museum director, have wanted to do for some time. The current Best of the West art exhibit presented the ideal opportunity.
GO WEST DAY ACTIVITIES Food: Pappy’s Down South Barbecue will sell tri-tip, chicken and hot links. Other vendors will sell potato salad, coleslaw, chili beans, beverages, ice cream and cookies. Music: Brian Lonbeck, Don Kidwell, Pat Bannister, Johnny Barnett, Annie Kidwell and T. Rockwell will perform, courtesy
Coming in Eye Street Saturday: The Kern County Museum has put together a list of Western-themed books for every age group to get folks into the Go West spirit. Sunday: Several Kern County families are included in a new book on California ranches. Find out more as we kick off a series on these proud clans and their contributions to our county and culture.
“One of our missions is to provide activities that relate to the art but goes beyond the art,” she said. “Things that people can come to and have a good time.” Pandol describes it as a “fun family day” and sees it as a way to
of Trout’s. Also roaming around with his guitar will be Scott Frederick of the Kern County Library. Dancing: Whirlaways Square Dance Club with perform, with caller Wes Clements. Theater: The Empty Space players will do a reading of a cowboy comedy.
attract people who have never visited the museum. “We hope that people who come to (the event) will see what we’re doing here,” she said. “Hopefully they’ll like it enough to come back.” All of the activities and displays — and there are more than you can shake a stick at — will take place either on the museum’s gated grounds at 19th and R streets, or inside the structure, which consists of four separate galleries, a couple of workrooms and a spacious banquet hall. Ranching and farming were the twin cornerstones of this area’s economy even before the boundaries of Kern County were officially established in 1866.
Some of those ranches are still in existence today, owned and operated by fifth and sixth generations of the families that staked the original claims. Go West Day puts the spotlight on that rich history with fine art, artifacts and activities. Local rancher John Hustead will be on horseback, mingling among the visitors. Cowboys Luke Chanley, Matt Johnston and Les Paul, who work on Sylvia Cattani’s ranch, will demonstrate roping techniques, and re-enacters dressed like cowboys will roam the shaded gardens, which stretch around the west and
south sides of the museum. Whirlaways Square Dance Club with perform inside the museum with caller Wes Clements. Eddie Pogue will be on hand to talk about his extensive collection of boots, spurs and saddles in the Dezember Gallery, which is just off the foyer. Outdoor activities include $2 pony rides for children age 8 or younger. Sack and stick horse races are for kids under age 12. Children can put their personal brand on a paper www.realdealbrazil.com
Family fun for $1 a head? Mosey to the museum
Go West Day When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Where: Bakersfield Art
Museum, 1930 R St. Admission: $1 Information: 323-7219