Pajaro Valley Magazine | Jan. 17, 2020

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE OF THE PAJARO VALLEY

A supplement to The Pajaronian

JANUARY 17, 2020

Under hood THE

Tips from the pros to keep your car on the road P5

THE MIXING BOWL P6 | LOCAL AUTO CARE P7 | ART TO GO P9

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JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

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T

he extent of my knowledge about vehicles is very limited, and my interest in TONY NUÑEZ the subject, in general, is even smaller.

Sure, the high-priced muscle and sports cars are nice to look at, and watching some of the best racers in the world spin them around a fast track is fun. But I wouldn’t define myself as a car enthusiast in the slightest—it’s not a hobby that I will pick up any time soon.

That means this week’s front cover story is right up my alley.

All I need—and want—to know about my car is how to keep it running until a respectable millage and age.

The basics of car care are helpful for folks like me and getting free advice from a trusted professional like David Toriumi, who has been in the business in Watsonville for years, is a gamechanger.

Of course, you can look up car advice on the internet but there’s always a chance that help is misleading or not coming from the original source. That’s not the case with Toriumi’s advice.

I knew some of the basics— change your oil, keep your tires filled, check your lights—but I never knew what my oil is supposed to look like. That made for some awkward interactions with people during an oil change.

“Alright, sir, nice and new for you,” a worker would say while showing me my car’s dipstick following an oil change. And all I could timidly say was, “Great, it looks great,” not knowing what the heck was going on.

A little bit of knowledge goes a long way. In this case, these tidbits could mean saving a few hundred bucks.

MAGAZINE

21 Brennan St, Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076 Phone: 831.761.7301

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Cover Story

6

The Mixing Bowl

7

Business

8

Try This

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Art

12 Photo Gallery 14 Film CEO & Executive Editor Dan Pulcrano Publisher Jeanie Johnson Managing Editor Tony Nuñez Contributing Writers Todd Guild Johanna Miller Tony Nuñez Sarah Ringler Tarmo Hannula Advertising Account Executives Tina Chavez Lupita Ortiz Jazmine Ancira Design Director Kara Brown Production Johanna Miller Cover Photography Tarmo Hannula

Published by WatsNews, LLC, Watsonville, CA. Entire contents © 2019. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in any form prohibited without publisher’s written permission.

TO PLACE AN AD Email:

tchavez@pajaronian.com Phone:

831.761.7301

The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture Presents

A Roaring 20s Gala Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Saturday, February 1, 2020 5:00pm - 10:30pm

Lifetime Achievement: Harold “Hal” Hyde Man of the Year: Bob Culbertson Woman of the Year: Barbie Gomez Business of the Year: K&D Landscaping Organization of the Year: SC Fairgrounds Foundation Event of the Year: Corralitos Lumberjack Breakfast JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Live Music and Dancing with The Ramblers following Awards!

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4 JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

COLOR SWITCH Gary George, owner of Gary’s Rods and Restorations, 546

Walker St., checks on a recent custom paint job.

KEEPING IT

ROLLING LOCAL EXPERTS GIVE ADVICE ON CAR MAINTENANCE AND CARE TODD GUILD PHOTOGRAPHS BY TARMO HANNULA

T

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

he U.S. is a country built on the backbone of its roadway system – a vast network of lanes, roads and freeways that connect us to home workplace, and untold adventures.

But all of that travel largely depends on vehicles, which in turn rely on their humans to maintain them.

While many mechanical intricacies are beyond the reach of the average driver, there are a handful of basics everyone should know to prolong the life of their vehicles.

David Toriumi, who owns Toriumi Auto Repair, said that this can be boiled down to three basic but essential bits of knowledge.

The most important among these is keeping clean oil in the engine.

Many vehicles come with dipsticks with which drivers can check the oil. With the engine off, draw the stick from the engine ➝ 10

5

THE MIXING BOWL

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Photo by Tarmo Hannula

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Sujie’s Chinese pancakes T

SARAH RINGLER

he first day of the Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, arrives on January 25. Following are fourteen days of festivities concluding with the Lantern Festival. Each day honors a different food, starting with dumplings and concluding with sweet glutinous rice ball soup. These holidays are not just celebrated in China but in many other places that have or had a connection to China, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, although each region has its own twists and traditions.

Each year has a real or mythical animal that it represents; this year is the Year of the Rat. I just returned from two weeks in China, where New Year’s decorations were starting to go on sale, and guess who appeared as a rat on some of the paper posters and stickers? Mickey Mouse.

This recipe is from a friend from Dalian, China, whose son and his wife live in Mountain View. Sujie came to the house and taught us how to make these pancakes. They are made with a common filling that can be also used in dumplings, steam buns or eggrolls. To make the filling

stick together, a ball is made with your hands and the mixture is thrown against a bowl a few times. It keeps the meat mixture from falling apart and could be used with any meatball recipe.

The pancakes are made by rolling out the dough into a circle, covering three quarters of it with the meat mixture, then folding the circle into quarters leaving you with a triangular slice. Finally, the open end is sealed and the slice is fried on both sides. It is comfort food and perfect for this time of year. ➝ 07

RECIPE

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SUJIE’S CHINESE PANCAKES Dough 2 cups flour ¾ cup warm water ½ teaspoons salt Filling 1 pound ground beef or pork ¾ cup minced yellow onion ¾ cup minced green onions ¾ cup finely grated carrots 1 tablespoon minced ginger 3 tablespoons mirin or cooking wine 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper

Local care, local pride

By TARMO HANNULA

T

FOCUSED WORK Arturo

Garata runs a smog check at Tony's Auto Service on Freedom Boulevard as part of the company's routine work load.

Tony’s does not offer body and alignment work, but can recommend trusted local ➝ 11 JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

ony’s Auto Service, nestled in a crunch of busy shops and the ebb and flow of Freedom Boulevard traffic, has been a staple auto repair spot in Watsonville for the past 26 years.

If it’s new wiper blades, a smog check or full-blown valve job your vehicle needs, foreign or domestic, big or small, new or old — these folks have a space on the rack for you.

“For us, it’s word of mouth,” said head mechanic Arturo Garata, whose brother Tony opened the business at 1929 Freedom Blvd.

“Good work speaks for itself: It’s what we’re about. I’ve lived here all my life and our hard work is what we give back to our community.”

Garata said his team of six welcomes the biggest and smallest jobs and specializes in friendly service.

“We’re like a family here,” Garata said. “We go to barbecues together and laugh together and share each other’s stories. This place just isn’t about getting a paycheck.”

Tony’s service includes mechanical, air conditioning, electrical, brakes, lamps, tuneups, maintenance, head gaskets, valve work, exhaust and transmission work. Garata said

photo by Tarmo Hannula

To make the dough, combine flour and salt and whisk to blend in a medium bowl. Warm the water. It should be very warm but not too hot to touch, about 110 degrees. Add water to flour mixture until you have a soft dough that doesn’t stick to the board when kneaded. Cover in plastic wrap until ready to use.

To make the filling, you can mince the yellow onion, the green onion and ginger all together. Then combine all the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl with a broad bottom.

Form the mixture roughly into a ball then throw the ball hard against the bottom on the bowl. Do this four or five times. Set aside.

Divide the dough into balls that are smaller than a tennis ball but larger than a golf ball.

Roll dough into a thin 10-inch diameter circle. Make a straight cut halfway into the middle of the circle (the radius). Below the cut and around, add filling to ¾ of the circle, leaving ¼ unfilled. Take the unfilled quarter and fold down over the adjoining quarter of the circle.

Then fold up over the next quarter and finally over the final quarter.

You will have a pie slice that is one quarter of the original circle. Seal the open edge with water, fold and crimp to make a thin crust.

Heat a frying pan or griddle with high heat cooking oil over medium heat. When oil is hot, add the pancake and cook for about 4 minutes on each side until golden and meat is done. Serve with soy sauce and rice wine or Chinese black vinegar.

BUSINESS

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TRY THIS

THE BUZZ Scoville Units Tandy Beal and Company presents Scoville Units!—a celebration of Jon Scoville’s musical compositions and art featuring musicians and dancers. Named after the scale of spiciness for peppers, Scoville Units! features Scoville’s beguiling compositions. For information visit tandybeal.com. Location: Cabrillo College Crocker Theater, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Date & time: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, 2 p.m.

For tickets visit cabrillovapa. com.

Alisa Fineman and Kimball Hurd A concert featuring Aromas musicians Alisa Fineman and Kimball Hurd will be held at the Aromas Community Grange on Saturday as part of its 2020 Concert Series. The folk/rock concert will help benefit the 107 year old grange. Snacks and drinks, including premium beers and wine will be sold.

Date and time: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Cost: $25 for general admission and $35 for Gold Circle Reserved. Purchase online at brownpapertickets. com or at Marshalls Market in Aromas.

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Street Festival & Car Show

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The Hollister Downtown Association invites locals and visitors to its annual Street Festival & Car Show.

This family-friendly event will feature two stages with live entertainment, vendors, food concessions, raffles, a Kids Zone and more than 250 vehicles on display. Free watermelon will be handed out, and local downtown restaurants and merchants will be holding sales and specials. Date & time: Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost: Free admission and parking.

Game Night The Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., will be hosting a Game Night, featuring Loteria and a special raffle on Jan. 23. Bring your favorite board game or play some of the library’s many games. Date: Jan. 23, 6-7:30 p.m. Cost: Free. For information visit cityofwatsonville.org.

A weekly column that celebrates local businesses — especially eateries, watering holes, coffee shops and the like.

FOOD & DRINK

FOOD

Auburn Alehouse Brewery & Restaurant

Alderwood Santa Cruz

On a recent road trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains my family and I stopped for a couJOHANNA ple of hours in Auburn, a small MILLER city about 30 miles east of Sacramento.

We have always enjoyed walking around the city’s Old Town area, visiting its many eclectic gift shops and historic sites.

For a hearty dinner and good drinks we like to go to Auburn Alehouse Brewery and Restaurant.

The building which the Auburn Alehouse resides in, dubbed the American Block Building, is one of the most historically significant structures in the city and in all of Placer County. It was first built in 1855 as a hotel and remained the hub of social activity in the town for decades.

Today it is once again a bustling center—on weekend and holiday nights there is often a long waitlist to be seated (though bar seats are usually available). Award-winning ales, pilsners and more are served up by knowledgable and friendly staff. I had the Gold Country Pilsner and also tried a taste of the Old Town Brown. For dinner I went “all-out” and ordered their homemade macaroni and cheese plate with a hefty serving of pulled pork on top. It was an overwhelming amount of food—I ended up with enough for lunch the next day—but the combination of the cheesy pasta and sweet pulled pork was delicious.

Whether you are traveling toward Lake Tahoe for a getaway or visiting family in the greater Sacramento area, I recommend hopping off and trying the Auburn Alehouse, 289 Washington St. For information visit auburnalehouse.com.

Alderwood Santa Cruz is a relatively new and flashy restaurant/ bar in downtown Santa Cruz. My TARMO wife Sarah and I went there last HANNULA week and walked in without reservations and were lucky enough to squeeze in at the bar.

Lively and noisy, the place had a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We tried their braided pretzel appetizer with beer cheese and a few mustards, which was different and good. Sarah had their tempura Dungeness crab for dinner and it teemed with flavor and freshness. While my carbonara angel hair pasta was a little meek in flavor, the overall grade was an “A” for this spot. They specialized in fancy cocktails. Make reservations (5883238) is the advice we got. Alderwood Santa Cruz is at 155 Walnut Ave.

FUN First Friday: Live Music I’ve trumpeted my excitement about the monthly First Friday event in downtown Santa Cruz in this column before, but I feel a reminder is worth it. On Jan. 3 I wandered around downtown and Abbott Square where the musical trio Papiba and Friends were stirring up a large crowd with their mix of rock, soul, funk, reggae and samba.

The free tunes, with plenty of space to stretch out and dance, are just part of the excitement bustling at the Museum of Art and History and the surrounding wealth of shops, cafes, ice cream vendors, tap rooms, wine bars and such during First Friday.

ART

photo by Tarmo Hannula

SETTING UP Artist and Pajaro Valley Arts board member Mary Comfort helps install the gallery’s latest exhibit, "Take Aways/Art To Go!” The show will run

Jan. 22-March 8.

Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual fundraising exhibit opens Jan. 22

L

ast year, Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual “Take Aways: Art To Go!” fundraising exhibit earned a record-breaking $43,000.

The organization hopes to once again top itself in 2020.

“This is our one big fundraiser

piece of art, you wait until the end of the show to bring it home with you. But with this show you take it right then, at point of sale.”

More than 70 artists from Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley are featured in this year’s exhibit, which is now in its seventh year.

Work ranges from painting and photography to multimedia and sculpture.

Despite the low prices, the gallery and the artists are still given full commission on the art sold. This has made it a very popular exhibit, Miroyan said. ➝ 14

artwork by Claire Lerner

By JOHANNA MILLER

of the year,” said Chris Miroyan, who is co-curating this year’s exhibit with fellow artist Jane Gregorius. “Some shows actually cost us more money than what we earn. [‘Take Aways’] makes those exhibits possible.”

“Take Aways: Art To Go!” raises money by selling more art at a lower price. Pieces must be offered for under $300, and as art is sold, more art takes its place.

This is unique for an art exhibit, Miroyan said.

“It’s almost like a retail space,” she said. “Typically when you buy a

“Filoli #10,” an acrylic on panel by artist Claire Lerner, will be on display and up for sale on Jan. 22.

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Taking art to go

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SAT

photo by Tarmo Hannula

EXTRA CARE A Clay Kit,

featured at O'Reilly Auto Parts, is a good starting off product to prepare a car for the optimum wax job.

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

CARS

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5

and look at the color. Translucent and caramel shades are good, while darker colors – especially black – means it is time to get the oil changed.

Next, keeping tires adequately inflated is also important, Toriumi said.

According to Car and Driver, every driver should know how to use a gauge to check their tire pressure, how much to inflate them and how to put air in them.

When tires are too low, they make more contact with the road, thus increasing heat and wear and tear. Too much heat can cause tread separation. Too much air can cause less contact with the road, reducing traction.

Finally, drivers should check to make sure their lights are working.

This includes headlights, turn signals, brake lights and those illuminating the license plate.

Perhaps most importantly, owners should take their cars in for a service every 4,000 miles, he said.

That’s when a mechanic can do an oil change and check the aforementioned areas, in addition to such areas as belts and hoses, as well as brake and power steering fluids.

“That’s why getting it serviced regularly is the best,” he said. “Be

1/18

SUN

1/19

APTOS ST. BBQ 8059 Aptos St, Aptos

Pete Madsen Free 6-8p

Scott Miller Free 6-8p

BLUE LAGOON 923 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

The Counter Minds, Kyle The Box: Gothic/ Industrial Free 9p Bradshaw $5 9p

BRITANNIA ARMS 110 Monterey Ave, Capitola

Karaoke 9-12:30a

CAPITOLA WINE BAR 115 San Jose Ave, Capitola

Myhalo K Free 7-10p

John Michael Free 2-5p

THE CATALYST 1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

Electric Feels & Indie Rock $10/$15 9:30p

Ohgeesy $25/$30 9p

THE CATALYST ATRIUM 1011 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

Mating Ritual w/ Sego & Luke Sweeney $12/$15 9p

CILANTROS 1934 Main St, Watsonville

MON

1/20

TUES

1/21

1/22

Little Jonny Lawton Free 6-8p

Mojo Mix Free 6-8p

Jimmy Dewrance Free 6-8p

Funk Night w/ Ed G 9p

The Sturgeons $5 9p

Stony Sugarskull (Berlin), Chancellor Dean & more $5 9p

=

KPIG Happy Hour 5:30-7:30p

CORRALITOS CULTURAL CENTER 127 Hames Rd., Corralitos

WED

THU

1/23

Carie & the Soulshakers Free 6-8p Comedy Night w/ Chree/Retro Dance Party Free 9p

Supernaut w/ Time Panther $6 9p

CROW’S NEST 2218 E. Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz

Blue Ocean Rockers $7 9:30p

THE FISH HOUSE 972 Main St, Watsonville

Steven Valasquez & Latin Jazz 8p

KUUMBWA JAZZ 320-2 Cedar St, Santa Cruz

Pawn Shop Soul CD Release $12/$15 8p

Live Comedy $7 9p

‘Established shops are going to be looking out for their customers.’

—David Toriumi good about maintaining it.”

Toriumi also suggests getting a second opinion when receiving an estimate for a repair.

“Established shops are going to be looking out for their customers,” he said.

Car and Driver magazine also recommends that everyone know how to change a tire, and how to jump-start a car.

Drivers should also keep an emergency road kit in their vehicles. To see a list of suggested items,

1/24

Magpies Blues Band Free 6-8p Freak Show 9p

Alex Lucero & Friends 8p

Karaoke 9-12:30a

Rich the Trivia Guy 6:30-8p

Dave D’Oh 7-10p

The Infamous Stringdusters w/ the Easy Leaves $21/$26 8p ...And You Will Known Us By the Trail of Dead $15/$19 9p

Alborosie & the Shengen Clan w/ Arise Roots $26/$30 9p

Hippo Happy Hour 5:30-7:30p

Acoustic Open Jam 3-5p

THE CREPE PLACE 1134 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

FRI

Open Mic 7-10p Funk Night! w/ Space Heater $6 9p

See night w/ Oh Lonesome Ana & more $8 9p

AfroWaWa $5 7:30p

Hot Club Pacific $3 7:30p

Racial Reconciliation and the Future of Race in America $10 7p

visit edmu.in/2Rg7Vd8.

Those who want to keep their rides healthy on the outside as well as the inside should have them professionally detailed at least once a year, says Gary George, whose company Gary’s

Wild Iris w/ Brothers Strong & Mission Blues $5 9p Marin County Breakdown $5 8p

Block Party $6 9p

Biréli Lagrène Gipsy Project Trio $36.75/$42 7p

Rods & Restorations restores custom vehicles.

“Paint needs maintenance like everything else,” he said.

Anyone who wants to take this extra step should protect their exterior by giving their vehicles ➝ 11

LOCAL

SAT

MICHAEL’S ON MAIN 2591 Main St, Soquel

1/18

SUN

1/19

MON

1/20

The Louisiana Picnic & Grateful Sunday Dance $12/$15 2p Cruz Free 5:30p Patrol & more $10 8p

MOTIV 1209 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz MOE’S ALLEY 1535 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz

Boostive $10/$15 8p

Lydia Pense & Cold Blood $20/$25 3p

PARADISE BEACH 215 Esplanade, Capitola

Skypark 2-5p

Johnny Neri 2-5p

TUES

1/21

WED

1/22

1/23

FRI

1/24

Cripple Creek Open Mic Acoustic Jam Free/$5 7:30p

The Swirly Girls $10 7:30p

Jesse Daneil & Nick Foster $10/$12 7:30p

Green Dog Band Free 5p Apple City Slough Band $10 8:30p

The Takeover 9:30p

The Get Down 9:30p

Libation Lab w/ West Knutson 9:30p

Brandon Beach 9:30p

Homeland Revival $10/$15 8p

Coffee Zombie Collective $10/$15 8p

Erin Avila 6-9p

RIO THEATRE 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz

THU

John Michael 6-9p

Sweet Honey in the Rock $42-$63 7:30p

THE SAND BAR 211 Esplanade, Capitola

Locomotive Breath 9p

SANDERLINGS 1 Seascape Resort, Aptos

Scotty Wright 8-11p

Dennis Dove Open Jam 7:30p

Alex Lucero & friends 7:30p

Original Music Showcase 7p

Dub SoulJah 9p Frequent Flyers 8-11p

SEVERINO’S BAR & GRILL 7500 Old Dominion Court, Aptos SHADOWBROOK 1750 Wharf Road, Capitola

Claudio Melega 7-10p

UGLY MUG 4640 Soquel Ave, Soquel

CARS

Joe Ferrara 6:30-9:30p

Open Mic w/ Steven David 5:30p

VINOCRUZ 4901 Soquel Drive, Soquel ZELDA’S 203 Esplanade, Capitola

Ken Constable 6:30-9:30p

Myhaylo K 5p

a clay bar treatment, which removes the pollutants and other contaminants. For information, visit washos.com/blog/clay-bar/.

After that, a wax job with a paste

businesses in that field.

“We do all kinds of smog checks, even the big heavy-duty vehicles,” Garata said. “We are the only star rated smog service in Watsonville and we even do diesel.”

He added that many auto service companies won’t do smog checks for vehicles older than 1999 because it means further investment in other analyzer equipment.

“We do smog on a lot of old cars; we’re equipped and certified for any vehicle,” Garata said. “If that check light comes on, bring your car in.”

He added: “One thing I really like about this is seeing so many return customers. I’ve met little kids that came here with their families and now they drive their own cars in here to get work done.”

For information on Tony’s Auto Service call 728-3032.

DJ Aliotti and DJ Huey 9:30p

Joint Chiefs 9:30p

10

Bobby Markowitz 6p

7

wax takes the protection to the next level, he said.

Finally, owners should keep a damp rag on hand to wipe off bird feces, which can erode paint, George said.

paint job at Gary's Rods and Restorations.

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

photo by Tarmo Hannula

A TOUCH OF STYLE This 370 Z underwent a full restoration and a custom

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PHOTO GALLERY

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

Have a recent photo you’d like to share? Send it to us for consideration by emailing it to tnunez@pajaronian.com or mailing it to 21 Brennan St., Suite 14, Watsonville, CA 95076. Please include a brief description of the photo as well as the name of the photographer.

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SUNSET WALKERS At day's end people enjoy a stroll along the Main Beach in Santa Cruz. photo by Tarmo Hannula

photo by Sally Vaughn Photography by Elyse Destout

LUNAR PHASE The first full moon of the year, known as "The Wolf

Moon," is captured on the night of Jan. 11, 2020.

NIGHT WATCH A great horned owl sits abve a Pioneer Road home in Corraltios.

a street vendor on Main Street in Watsonville.

SHAPES Shadows are cast on a junkyard auto panel in Watsonville. photo by Roger Vail

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

photo by Tarmo Hannua

RED WHITE AND BLUE A bucket of flowers is part of the array offered by

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FILM

The Oscars don’t care about your feelings

By TONY NUÑEZ

O

ver the last few years there has been so much talk about how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences can make the Oscars, also known as the Academy Awards, relevant again.

The annual show, which is scheduled for its 92nd running next month, has slowly but surely lost the prestige and viewership of years past. Last year was a good year for the Oscars, as viewership rose (from 26.5 million to 29.5 million, according to Variety), but that has not been the case in the years leading up to 2019’s hostless show. It’s unfair to say the decline in viewership is the Oscars’ fault alone. More folks are pulling the plug on cable and there are many other things—or

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“The artists are thrilled because they typically sell a lot of work,” she said. “And with some of these prices, people can even do some gift shopping. It really is a win-win.”

PV Arts member Jean Bebe, who is part of the organization’s education committee, has been involved with the exhibit since its inception. This year, she and her husband Mike Bebe will be displaying and selling their collaborative artwork.

“What I love is that the quality of the work is spectacular, but it’s also so affordable,” Bebe said. “Also… you can see a new show every time you come in since the work is always being replaced. It’s great.”

Since “Take Aways” is an invitational and not an “open call” show, PV Arts is always on the lookout for new artists to feature. They search during Open Studios, but that does not always yield diverse results.

receive a nomination for her role as escaped slave turned human rights activist, Harriet Tubman—an archetype that, for some reason, the Oscars love to reward. “The Farewell,” an Asian American female-led movie universally loved by critics, did not receive a single nomination.

Director Greta Gerwig was not nominated for best director—a male-dominanted category— for her work on “Little Women,” a film that earned six other nominations. Bong Joonho’s “Parasite” received six nominations but none came in the acting categories. And pop culture hits “Uncut Gems,” “Hustlers,” “Booksmart” and “Midsommar” were all snubbed despite receiving great acclaim from critics and audiences.

This is in no way a shot at the people who earned nominations.

It’s a reminder to those that love

films and care about the Oscars that it is not the award show you want it to be. Will it be in a few years when the current voting body moves on? Who knows? The show has hit this roadblock before, and has been pummeled by the public for it.

That has not changed it in the slightest. “Moonlight’s” win in 2016 was seen as a shift in time, a true change of a voting body’s preference and expectation. It wasn’t. And if “Green Book’s” victory last year wasn’t enough proof, then Joker’s 11 nominations this year should be. The voters don’t care about the show’s relevance. They like what they like.

And you’re stuck with it.

Managing Editor Tony Nuñez can be contacted at tnunez@ pajaronian.com

“If we don’t already know you, it can be hard to find your work,” Bebe said. “We need to find a new way to get people involved.”

Miroyan had a similar sentiment.

“We know there are lots of amazing young artists in Watsonville,” she said. “We want them to get involved with the gallery, and carry this organization forward.”

“Take Aways: Art to Go!” opens Jan. 22. An opening reception will be held on Jan. 26 from 2-4 p.m.

The exhibit will run through March 8 with a special closing reception and raffle.

“So many galleries just can’t make it,” Miroyan said. “Being a nonprofit is the only reason we do.

We are about 80 percent sweat, made from volunteers working really hard.”

Pajaro Valley Arts is at 37 Sudden St., Watsonville. For information visit pvarts.org.

photo by Tarmo Hannua

JANUARY 17- 23, 2020 | PAJARO VALLEY MAGAZINE

ART

content, as this generation of entertainers like to say—that are competing and pulling at people for their attention. But all the think pieces about the Oscars’ relevance that have been written and peddled since the nominations were released earlier this week are misguided. The Academy is not worried about the Oscars’ relevance because it doesn’t care about your think piece—good, great or bad—on the lack of women, minorities and pop culture nominees that get snubbed every year.

Sure, people that manage the Academy will say they do, but the voters—the mysterious folks that ultimately decided where the state of film and, in turn, culture is today—don’t. Don’t believe me? Look at the nominees for this year’s awards. Cynthia Erivo, the star of “Harriet,” was the lone black actor to

CREATIVE CASE "Seeds of Thought" is an assemblage piece by Jori Post that

will be on display at Pajaro Valley Arts starting Jan. 22.