July 2014

mercedarthop.org l This Inspiration

Artist of the Quarter

7.19.2014

M AH LEONARDO A LVA R E Z

Inside : Mariposa Art Company | Five.Ten.Bistro | Six Hands Mouth | D.I.Y.

About Us Dear Reader and Art Enthusiasist, We at the Merced Art Hop would like to thank you for coming downtown to celebrate the local art scene. Each Art Hop, we push ourselves harder than the previous one, and it is all worth it to see so many people enjoying this event. We want the Art Hop to be as fun and inspiring as it can possibly be, and making that happen can be difficult at times. If you find yourself interested in ways to help the Art Hop grow, please contact us. We are "it is all worth seeking volunteers and donations every it to see so quarter so that the Hop can improve many people Art and remain free and enjoying this open to the public.

event"

Don't forget to attend the next Art Hop on October 18th & pick up the next issue of MAH Quarterly! We will be celebrating our 6 year anniversary, and it's going to be a blast - you don't want to miss it!

Kevin Hammon & Kimberly Zamora Art Hop Co-Founders

FIND US WEBSITE : www.MercedArtHop.org FACEBOOK : www.Facebook.com/DowntownMAH TWITTER : www.Twitter.com/MercedArtHop EMAIL : Kimberly@MercedArtHop.org ADVERTISING : 209-560-MAH1 MAILING ADDRESS : Post Office Box 3351 Merced, CA 95344

PUBLISHER Kevin Hammon EDITORIAL

John Miller

MARKETING Kevin Hammon DESIGN Kimberly Zamora Creative Director Chloe Peterson

Graphic Designer

PHOTOGRAPHY John Miller PRINT Brightdart Print & Design EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kimberly Zamora PRESIDENT/CEO Kevin Hammon BOARD MEMBERS Jared Covert Desiree Flores Herrera Kimberly Zamora Kevin Hammon

Notice of CopyrightŠ All materials contained within the Merced Art Hop Quarterly publication are protected by copyright unless otherwise stated, or in the case of any provided materials, the owner of that content retains the copyright. You may not alter, reproduce, distribute, publish, transmit or broadcast any material contained within the Merced Art Hop Quarterly publication without prior consent from the Merced Art Hop Board or othercopyright owner.

Merced Art Hop Quarterly takes care to ensure that all information is correct at the time of printing; however the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained within the publication or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or editorial staff.

ARTIST OF THE QUARTER Page 06

MARIPOSA ART COMPANY Page 10

SIXHANDSMOUTH Page 14

THE MAP

THE MAP Page 08

CONTENTS

Page 08

FIVE.TEN.BISTRO FIVE.TEN.BISTRO Page 12 Page 12

D.I.Y. PROJECT: MAKE A BOOK Page 15

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artist of the quarter

Q MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE When did you find yourself

Bay Area. We develop 360째 virtual first picking up a camera? tours that can viewed when people A Q: Whatmadeyouwanttostickwith search for a business online. We F

photography over the years? also photograph real estate and

A:

I found myself picking up the digital camera back when 5 to 6 megapixels was a big deal. I had played around with taking pictures before hand but didn't really get a chance to develop my eye until I was allowed all the trial and error a 256mb card could allow before I had to offload the content.

work on advertising campaigns for agencies and small business'.

At this time my business is rapidly growing so it's a very exciting time and allows for me to partake in my extracurricular fashion projects.

Are there any people or circumstancesthatyoufind Q: yourselfdrawinginspirationfrom?

Is there a particular style or I tend to draw inspiration typeofphotographyyoufind A:from everyday things, people, Q : yourself doing more often than and circumstances. I find beauty

L E O others?

A: ALVAREZ

I've always been drawn towards fashion and editorial photography. I'd say my style has a more classical approach to documentation. simplicity in lighting and using nothing but natural locations. But my true passion for creating an image starts with the organization of it. I'm very detail oriented so developing an overall theme for the shoot and then adding all the components such as outfit, location, hair, and make-up is all the fun to me.

This question has a double edge sword for me. Even though I enjoy photographing fashion I find the majority of my work consisting of commercial and architectural photography.

The stuff that pays the bills. I work as a contractor for Google as apart of their business view program and have expanded my business as far as the

through many aspects of the day but most of the time it's not even worth photographing because it's one of those things that can only be appreciated in the moment and one that a photograph wouldn't come close to doing justice.

E T b o p c g c e O p l b a e I i d

Q t

Whatdoyoufindyourself thinkingaboutwhenyouget A Q : behindacameratocreateyour b work?

A:

i t p t

Usually in the moments of getting behind the camera for a particular shoot, I just find myself envisioning the composition that I want to put together and troubleshooting whatever lighting that needs to undergo adjustment in order to create a perfect image.

Q y

Can you tell me a little bit about your featured photograph?

c s t d

Q:

A:

The featured photograph took place in downtown Sacramento in front of the Westminster Center. To this day I don't even know what the building is used for. It was part of a dual location shoot to help my cousin.

At the time she was studying to become a hairstylist and makeup artist so I collaborated with her to help build her portfolio. We recruited the model, her cousin, Lacey Douglas and played dress up.

A

Q

A

F w "

Whatprojectsareyoucurrently working on?

Q: E As of four years ago I started an l

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r d ?

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f t r

f a d n d g t

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A:

art and fashion show, now called FAME (Fashion and Art the Merced Experience).

This has i think it's to been my important your o n g o i n g make project, to reality and continue its take those growth as a ideas and put community them into play. e v e n t . There's no One that better method promotes l o c a l to get things done. business as well as enriches our culture with the arts.

I've been fortunate to have had an influx of supporters to continue its development.

Doyouhaveanyideasforfuture workrollingaroundinyourhead Q: that you'd like to get started?

A:

Right now all the major ideas in my head are out on the game board being developed. I think it's important to make your reality and take those ideas and put them into play. There's no better method to get things done.

Is there anything that you personallygetoutofcreating Q: your photographs?

A:

Besides the feeling of leaving my mark and creating happy customers, not much more. Its nice to see a business's professional image take a huge leap forward in quality due to my teams efforts.

canpeoplecheckout yourworkaftertheArtHop? Q:Where

A:

As of right now my commercial work can be seen on www.

FishBowl360.com and my personal work can be seen on Facebook at "Leonardo Alvarez's FishBowl."

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MARIPOSA ART COMPANY

Patricia Pratt and Ramon Valencia have both grew up within the arts communities for as long as they can remember, so when they took aim at a career in their lifelong passion of arts, it was an obvious choice for both. Pratt would begin her venture into the professional world of art along side of her father and grandfather as a third-generation sign painter, while Valencia would spend his time refining his talents in graphic design and as a muralist working to earn a living in Los Angeles. At this point in their lives, while they didn’t formally know one-another, they had already begun keeping an eye on each other’s work in the world of graffiti and street art. Eventually this mutual respect and appreciation of styles would grow into a partnership that would culminate with the opening of the Mariposa Art Company in downtown Merced.

A full service art and design studio, the two have a multitude of talents they have begun to offer the City of Merced. From in-house graphic design, sign creation, and t-shirt printing to 10

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original commissioned artwork, large scale murals and workshops, the two have brought their talents and expertise together to form a powerhouse. Pratt attributes this impressive variety of products and services to the similar backgrounds and past experiences that the two have been shaped by in their formative years, allowing them to work together in a cohesive fashion.

But in terms of what they plan to give to all Merced's business owners and residents, this is just the tip of the duo’s iceberg.

“When Ramon visited Merced, he noticed a disconnection between different parts of town and age groups and this is something I have noticed for a very long time as well” said Pratt.

“People feel forgotten here and there are large amounts of community members that are working together to change that.” Pratt went on to say that while their initial goal was just to paint together, their dreams have grown much larger than just that, and they now want to be part of the large community that

e o e t f r t r k

is working to eliminate the geographic and generational rifts in Merced. “We want everyone to have a place to come together, connect and feel comfortable no matter what your background is.

We’re all about bringing culture, pride, and inspiration to our community...We want to give back as much as possible and be able to provide beautiful work for the public to admire.”

As part of their goal to provide artwork for the public to admire, the Mariposa Art Company has taken to task "nuisance" walls, viewing them instead as projects that can be provide them opportunities for community beautification.

Currently the team has three completed sites under their belts located at El Porvenir on 13th St., the alleyway of 18th St. and K St., and at 1720 E 21st St. and is in search for new locations. “Art is important because it crosses all cultural and socioeconomic boundaries. Art gives people hope, it tells stories, and it records history” said Pratt when discussing the importance of public art projects such as their mural projects. “Art brings a sense of community and pride and when

people feel proud of where they are from, they work harder to continue to improve their surroundings and create a better future. They come out of their houses more often, they talk to their neighbors more, they walk the streets, and they become safer.” Pratt went on to say that the creative process gives people a stress and inhibition release as they engage in art, noting that it not only helps develop creative solutions, but also builds confidence and a selfconnection.

M e r c e d Mariposa Art Company is located at 1637 M St and will be opening their doors to the public for the first time during this summer’s Art Hop. Community members are encouraged to stop by and see Patricia Pratt and Ramon Valencia’s artistry in person during the event, or the following week Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or over the weekend by appointment. Those interested in additional information can call the Mariposa Art Company at (209) 354-6067 or log onto their website at MariposaArtCompany.com.

"We want to give back as much as possible and be able to provide beautiful work for the public to admire"

o all photos courtesy of ,

e n s d . e y o t t h t t

all photos courtesy of mariposa art company M A H

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five.ten.bistro

Landing a job as a dishwasher at the working age of 16 is a common step for many high school students first employed summers, and so when Robert Matsuo took that step, he stayed in-line with many of his peers in his age group. Not one to blend in, Matsuo would end up taking things a step further to standout from those around him, and then another, and another, until he found himself around the corner from a career in the culinary arts. Looking back Matsuo remembers the numerous twists and turns his path made before he would eventually scratch,” says Matsuo. By cutting their own stop in Merced. “Starting as a dishwasher and steaks, dry-ageing select steaks, making all of moving up the ranks, I have worked for big their sauces in-house, Matsuo says there really corporate chains as a manager since I was 18. isn’t anything that the five.ten.bistro can’t put Before we decided to open this place I was out on a plate. also working in the bay area as a multi unit Speaking about the important role that general manager” said Matsuo. After falling in art plays in our everyday life and it ability to love with the community, he then looked for energize a community, Matsuo pointed out that a way to highlight the different facets of the “one picture has a hundred different meanings Central Valley while making use of his culinary and what one person might see in an art piece expertise that he had honed in the Bay Area. is not the same thing I see or someone else Eventually he would solve this new problem by sees. It’s the same, I think, about the culinary opening the five.ten.bistro. so many different takes on one Nestled in downtown Merced inside of Bob field. There are can have a steak that is cooked so Hart Square, the five.ten.bistro got started dish, and you many different ways, or marinades, with a vision of fresh and/or sauces to compliment.” He food and a constantly then tied in what he saw as his role changing menu that in the community as a culinary artist, cycles its cuisine mindful of the similarities that exists with the changing between creating with anything seasons. By opening from a kiln and a pottery wheel to his new restaurant knives and a plate. “The culinary as a bistro, Matsuo arts are the same so the person who wasn’t tied down by cooking, painting, sculpting, or drawing is the any one type of food, and instead was able to is and he puts his or hers work out there simply cook. “Being a bistro we can change,” creator the public to perceive, and it will probably noted Matsuo, “we do not have to be stuck for a different take for each person. Arts are to a certain style of food; we get to be all of have great benefit to all community, not just on them.” Matsuo went on to say that with each athe but all around. I think it helps keep new menu customers can see all the different the cover mind sharp as there is art all around us if styles the five.ten.bistro likes to play with, with we take the time to embrace it.” the current dinner menu showing the Cajun If you’re to try a new restaurant or flair that their chef has begun to add into just out forlooking a bite to eat in Merced, five.ten. dishes. Looking to stand out from his peers bistro has something new to offer to everyone. once again, Matsuo has taken the restaurant Those who have already found their way into another step forward, creating a truly unique the bistro and have fallen in love with a dish dining experience by coupling changing cuisine need not worry about losing their favorite with a fixation on fresh food. though, as the menu will always include “What sets us apart from other restaurants taste core of 8-10 customer favorites throughout is that we make 95% of everything from athe year. Currently popular dishes include the Fish and Chips along with the 510 Penne as well as five.ten.bistro’s take on salmon, and steak. Hours of operation start on Monday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and again on Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. with the bar staying open until later during the night. For more information readers are encouraged to stop by or call them at (209) 381-0280, or follow the bistro on Facebook.

there is art all around us if we take the time to embrace it

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SIXHANDSMOUTH Ever wonder what you get when you fill the air with sounds from the Rock, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Reggae, Ska, and Funk genres before splashing it all with a dose of Blues influence?

So did we, and so we tracked down front man Loren Qualls and Drummer Adam Shane of the local act SixHandsMouth to talk to them about how exactly the fringe blues band came to be. What we found out was that for the four-piece band’s unique flavor of music to come together, it would first need to develop from inside of each member for decades before they would draw on those years of energy and emotion every time they hit the stage.

Both members can recall those first experiences with an instrument that lead

them to their current path in music vividly, with Qualls picking up music at the young age of 6 after witnessing his father’s work with a piano and saxophone. “I was amazed by that,” Qualls quipped. Shane first notes were played in the first grade after picking up his father’s ukulele around the same age as Quall. “I then began playing the bass in 4th grade and switched to the snare drum in 6th which eventually led to the drum set” noted Shane. For either member, it didn’t take much else for them to continue being drawn to music after that moment, and neither have looked back or given it a second guess. “I guess the thing that always kept me playing music is that music will never turn its back on you,” said Shane. “I also love the rush of playing

music w i l l never turn its b a c k on you

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[an awesome] show or even sometimes just a jam session; there are very few things that can compare to that.”

Joining Qualls and Shane to round out the band’s lineup is bass player Victor Patton and Paul Gibbins on guitar. As the four members continually work on their sound at jam sessions and hone their music, they come to draw inspiration from a wide variety of famous musicians and performers.

“Each song seems to have some blues roots in it that’s why we coined our style of music as fringe blues” said Shane. Qualls followed this comment by noting that he draws lyrical inspiration from “Bob Dylan, Prince, Naz, and Charlie Parker.” Tasked with keeping the rhythm at a steady flow from behind the drum set, Shane chipped in again saying that he draws his energy from the people around him, both his band mates and the fans at the show as well as his day-to-day joys and frustrations. “I think

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it all comes out in the music,” high.” he said.

Currently the band As the lead singer and SixHandsMouth is working chief lyricist for the band, on their next album, with Qualls tries to ensure that a possible music video in the SixHandsMouth see the the works to accompany rawness behind his lyrics and the next set of recordings. the band’s overall sound. SixHandsMouth is slated to Describing his lyrics as play their next show on Friday those with an “everyman or August, 1st at 26 Macready everywoman feel” that can Drive in Merced as part of communicate to everyone, a Hanger Bar-B-Que show.

Qualls finds he is always For more info on upcoming involved in a narrative of shows, or to check out some telling stories of love, loss and of the bands fringe blues redemption. These tales are music, log onto reverbnation. evident in their track “It Was com/sixhandsmouth .To It Was” in which Qualls sings follow the band and stay up about a fun night out on the to date with the members, town the results in meeting fans are encouraged to search someone inside a bar, and for their Facebook page. the desire to keep that feeling Those who would rather get forever, only to find out that a small taste of what Qualls, it will never go any further Shane, Patton, and Gibbins due to existing relationships. have to offer in a live setting In another striking song, “Ten can check out the bands live Feet High,” Shane points out performances as seen by the his interpretation of the lyrics fans by logging onto Youtube saying that, “I always thought where a plethora of videos of it being about a couple that can be watched one by one. help each other be better people and stand 10 feet all photos courtesy of sixhandsmouth

d g h n y . o y y f . g e s . o p , h . t , s g e e e s

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! From the time that Merced Art Hop co-founders Kevin Hammon and Kimberly Zamora first began tossing around the idea of an arts-based event in the downtown area, there have been only a small handful of constants that they have grown to count on each event, two of which are each other. Of the remaining constants however, there is one publication that has stepped up to continually provide news coverage of the event, as well as offering general support to the quarterly event. From the time that the Art Hop was first coming together six years ago with the initial business owners who graciously opened their doors on that first fateful Saturday, to the current event that now spans much of the length of Main Street and has spread to the surrounding areas, the Merced County Times has remained with us as a steadfast supporter, who's talented team of journalists and photographers have continued to follow and report on our mission to "change our community one painting at a time." We would like to thank the Merced County Times newspaper and congratulate them on reaching their 50th year of publishing one of the longest-standing newspapers in the Merced area, and wish them well on pursuing another 50 years of showing Merced residents "the Power of Positive Press." For those who have yet to become familiar with the exceptional local-only coverage of Merced news and events that the Merced County Times provides the community, you can stop by Binary Systems on the corner of M Street and Main Street and pick up a copy of their newspaper while you check out Artist of the Quarter Leo Alvarez's photography during the Art Hop. After the Art Hop, The Merced County Times newspaper can be found throughout the City of Merced inside of their green newspaper stands or by stopping by many of the local businesses throughout town.

Additionally you can log onto MercedCountyTimes.net, or receive your news in real-time by following them on Facebook or Twitter.

6 October 18th yr.

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