South Valley Magazine September 11-17

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF MORGAN HILL, GILROY & SAN MARTIN

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

Ready

A supplement to the Gilroy Dispatch & Morgan Hill Times

FOR

Fall Virtual art, theater and more on the way P2

WINE P5 | HOME OF THE WEEK P6 | REAL ESTATE P7

VIRTUALLY FALL A preview of upcoming arts and entertainment events, both online and in-person

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T

he typical events that make up fall have either been cancelled or will look different this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

But there is still plenty to do in the South Valley and San Benito County for fans of the arts.

Virtual paint parties have exploded in popularity over the past six months.

Theater has moved to the digital realm.

And many can view fine art without ever leaving their home.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the region’s virtual and in-person happenings this fall. Due to the fluid nature of the pandemic response, events may be cancelled with short notice. Verify before attending.

VIEW FROM HOME Sophie Lastra’s dinnerware and pottery are among the many works by local artists to be shown in the San Benito County Virtual Open Studios.

Submitted photo

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

BY ERIK CHALHOUB

Elizabeth Mandel

Virtual Open Studios

Gallery 1202, 7363 Monterey St. in Gilroy, presents its 2020 Artist Takeover by Whitney Pintello, "Essential: Art in Quarantine," through Sept. 18. Pintello, a Gilroy native, is exhibiting works produced solely during the shelter-in-place order during the Covid-19 pandemic. The works shown are largely from two bodies of art: vintage glass paintings and abstract paintings.

The exhibit can be viewed in person or online at gallery1202.com.

‘2 Across’ South Valley Civic Theatre and Limelight present an online performance of “2 Across” Oct. 9-11.

The production follows two strangers on board a San Francisco BART train at 4:30am. For 80 minutes, the two opposites are in an enclosed space, attacking each

‘Women (Un)Silenced’ Gallery 1202’s Fall 2020 program will be spearheaded by a group show, “Women (Un)Silenced: A Survey of Contemporary Black Artists.” The show will take place at 7363 Monterey St. in Gilroy, from Oct. 10 through Nov. 20. “Women (Un)Silenced” showcases six American artists who give voice to those who have been historically silenced.

The opening reception will take place on Oct. 24 from 4-8pm, and the closing reception will be Nov. 20 from 6-9pm. Masks and timed entry required. For information, visit gallery1202.com.

Quarantine Cooking The Neon Exchange presents weekly cooking shows with Chef Mark Segovia and a special guest.

For information, visit facebook. com/neonexchange.

Paint Party Nacho Moya, the owner of Moya Art Gallery and Studio in downtown Gilroy, has been hosting frequent live paint parties on his social media channels, showing viewers the step-by-step process on how to paint everything from water lilies, to unicorns and Star Wars characters. For information, visit facebook. com/moyaartgalleryandstudio

STAGE IS SET “Tru” was filmed at Limelight Theater and screened on YouTube.

Paint’n With Friends Tami Brown, owner of Paint'n With Friends Art Studio & Gallery at 7560 Monterey St., Suite 202 in Gilroy, hosts frequent paint parties.

Each party is limited to eight painters, and participants will be seated six feet apart. No painting experience is necessary. For information, visit paintnwithfriends.com.

Fall art classes The San Benito County Arts Council is now enrolling students in live, online Fall Session Art Classes. Participants will explore a variety of art

techniques, mediums and materials. Each month’s curriculum will focus on new techniques and projects with the aim of encouraging students’ creativity and imagination, technical skills and artistic literacy. Registration for each class is $30 per month. For information, visit sanbenitoarts.org.

Quarantined Cabaret Live Local singers perform live in a Facebook group. The group features Friday night cabarets and Saturday youth performances. For information, visit tinyurl.com/ybmf26v9.

SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM | SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

‘Art in Quarantine’

other’s values but also being swayed and intrigued by them. Directed by Jo Anna Evans, the performance stars Whitney Pintello and Charlie Gilmore. For information, visit svct.org/limelight_online.

Elizabeth Mandel

The San Benito County 2020 Virtual Open Studios Tour & Arts Marketplace will take place online from Sept. 12-26. This year, due to Covid19, the San Benito County Arts Council is working to create an online artist directory to showcase the work of more than 30 local artists and artisans with artworks in painting, photography, pottery and ceramics, stained-glass, jewelry and more. The Open Studios Happy Hour Celebration will take place Sept. 18 at 6pm. This is an opportunity to meet Open Studios artists on Zoom. For information, visit sanbenitoarts.org/open-studios.

Elizabeth Mandel

VIRTUAL THEATER Roz Farotte performs in South Valley Civic Theatre’s “Kalamazoo,” which aired on YouTube over one weekend. The theater group has more virtual performances planned soon.

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MUSIC

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Submitted photo

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

Bringing positive change

1 A.M. Cassidy Guerrero recently released her 17th musical project.

Gilroy musician, who recently released 17th project, hopes to inspire

By ERIK CHALHOUB

C

assidy Guerrero sees a desire among the young people in Gilroy to express themselves through music, yet the opportunities to do so in the city are minimal.

Guerrero, the artist known as 1 A.M., hopes to one day create a dedicated space in Gilroy, where young people from throughout the city will come and participate in a place where their talents are encouraged while learning new techniques to bolster their skills.

“There’s opportunity in Gilroy,” she said. “Not just for us as local artists, but for local youth. Youth love music, regardless of the genre. A lot of them like to explore and express themselves.”

The Gilroy native is looking to lead by example. During her time in high

school and college, Guerrero taught herself how to produce and engineer music while writing her own lyrics.

Now, seven years later, Guerrero has recently completed her 17th studio project, and with the Covid19 pandemic halting her live performances, she has been looking at ways to further evolve as an artist, such as creating her own clothing.

Describing her sound as hiphop and R&B, Guerrero said she is beginning to explore her singing in her work, adding that she is inspired by many different artists and genres of music.

Her latest release is “Window,” a seven-track album sponsored by the Santa Cruz Arts Council that chronicles her struggles of growing up in a home with a single mother.

Guerrero said she wanted to share

her story to show others in similar situations that they are not alone.

“A lot of people are struggling,” she said. “It has become more apparent now in 2020. I thought it was important to share with my fans and the rest of the world that we are all dealing with it.”

Born and raised in Gilroy, Guerrero said she “wasn’t the most popular kid in school,” and couldn’t spend much time with her single mother who was busy working to support the family.

So, Guerrero turned to music, which had always been a part of her life since performing in choir as an elementary school student. She said she began taking it more seriously during her junior year of high school when she joined a breakdancing group, started writing poetry and taught herself music production.

A 2013 graduate of Gilroy High School, Guerrero earned an associate’s degree in digital media from Gavilan College, and is currently pursuing another degree at Cabrillo College.

Izaiaz Barrera has been helping Guerrero expand her network and get her music out to more listeners. Barrera said networking with other artists at shows throughout the Central Coast has been critical in getting the word out that Gilroy is home to talented musicians such as Guerrero.

Guerrero said many local artists have helped her along the way, including Reckless, Young Javie, J. Khan and Jay King, among others.

“She’s continuing to work every day,” Barrera said. “We want to let the people of Gilroy know that there’s an artist that’s actively trying to bring positive change.”

Guerrero hopes to inspire other young women to pursue their passions and not be intimidated.

“I’m a minority, I’m a woman doing all this independently,” she said. “I encourage other young women whether they are interested in music or art, just pursue it.”

To listen to and purchase Guerrero’s music, visit iam1am.com.

WINE

Virtual

Open House

October 17, 11:00am – 12:00pm

RSVP to admissions@mountmadonnaschool.org to receive the Zoom link

Courtesy of Solis Winery

HARVEST SOON Sangiovese grapes begin to ripen at Solis Winery.

Smoke impact minimal on grape harvest, local winemakers report By LAURA NESS

I

t’s that time of year when white varieties begin to soften, turning from table grape green to a more translucent shade of greenish-gold. Generally, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris are first to be picked, followed by Pinot Noir.

Third-generation grape farmer, George Besson Jr., grows Pinot Noir at his home vineyard in Gilroy. His daughter, Denise Besson, said they began picking it at the end of the last week of August.

Asked if smoke from the SCU and CZU fires had caused problems for their vineyard holdings, Denise said, “Minimal to no smoke impact on the grapes. We were spared, given the winds and where we are located. For other vineyards, they have been horribly impacted.

We were down in Paso Robles on business and driving by the Santa Lucia Highlands was awful.

Couldn’t see vineyards or anything for that matter.”

As Vic Vanni of Solis Winery said, “Nothing seems predictable or normal these days, and I’m so over it. No fruit has been harvested, but it seems a bit earlier than the last couple of years. I imagine we will be harvesting in mid-September unless the weather really cools down. The heat had stressed the plants and shriveled some fruit, but we have been dumping a lot of water on the plants, so we should be OK.” Vanni doesn’t believe there was much smoke impact on Santa Clara Valley vineyards, thankfully.

408-847-2717 / MountMadonnaSchool.org

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SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 | SANBENITO.COM | SOUTHVALLEY.COM

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