THE GAZETTE.
January-February 2006 • Year 12, Number 1.
Arts Play A Vital Role In Old Town.
By PHIL LANTIS
Arts And Events Supervisor,
City Of Santa Clarita.
The last few months have seen several exciting events and projects that have made Old Town Newhall the place to be to experience our community's arts and culture.
October 2005 kicked off with the First Annual Santa Clarita Street Art Festival, an exciting new event that featured more than eighty street painters, from elementary school groups to nationally known professional artists. The event also featured great bands on two stages, fine arts and crafts vendors, a community carnival, animated movies at night, and more.
The Street Art Festival would not have been possible without the participation of the Old Town Newhall Association, the Downtown Mainstreet Association, Old Town Newhall businesses, and our wonderful sponsors, including The Signal, KHTS AM-1220, The Newhall Land and Farming Company, the Loose Goose Wine Festival, and several other square and banner sponsors.
In conjunction with the Street Art Festival was the Fourth Annual Newhall Art Walk. The Art Walk is an art project that matches local and regional artists with businesses along San Fernando Road. The artists create artworks made from items found at their assigned business, which are then displayed inside that business for the entire month.
This year's artworks included everything from tortilla portraits of customers in the Mercado Jalisco to a sign above Newhall Paint that could only be read when the sun shined on the sign in just the right way to reveal words displayed by shadows.
The Art Walk also featured a painted surfboard at Billy's Surf and Ski Shop, a window painting at Newhall Hardware, sculptures made from dough at El Trocadero restaurant, and many more creative pieces. The Arts and Events Office wants to thank all participating businesses in this project — those mentioned above, as well as Abe's Newhall Pawn Shop, Commando Army Supply, The Olde Town Star, Roger Dunn Golf Shop, Tresierras Supermarkets and Valencia Bicycle.
In November, the Santa Clarita Artists' Association held its Annual Art Classic, which featured more than fifty paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures created by association members. Mayor Laurene Weste assisted Artists' Association President Scott Bruckner in presenting awards in multiple categories. It was a memorable evening of beautiful art and tasty food and drink.
Another cultural event that brightened Old Town Newhall was the First Annual Santa Clarita Independent Film Festival. Held at the Canyon Theatre Guild and the Repertory East Playhouse on November 11, 12 and 13, the festival featured shorts, documentaries, feature films, animation and a series of film panels and workshops. The quality of films was impressive, particularly for a first-year event, with works from all over the country and several local filmmakers' work represented. This festival, along with the International Family Film Festival, as well as the numerous films and television shows that are shooting in our valley, are really putting Santa Clarita on the Hollywood map.
As Old Town Newhall transforms with the implementation of the recently adopted Specific Plan, the arts will continue to be a valuable part of the exciting changes that are coming in the future.
In the late 1990s, the city assisted the Canyon Theatre Guild and the Repertory East Playhouse, formerly known as the Santa Clarita Repertory Theatre, in building their theater spaces. This investment was made so the theaters could serve as a linchpin in redevelopment efforts. These investments have strongly paid off by contributing to the energy and excitement that is currently felt in the Newhall community.
The city of Santa Clarita's Arts and Events Office is proud to partner with the arts community to add to the cultural life of Newhall and the entire city, and to highlight the many talented local performing and visual artists by providing a place where the arts can flourish.
With the recent addition of public art displays, youth and professional exhibits and events, and cultural heritage programs and projects focusing on the Old Town Newhall area, the city of Santa Clarita is investing in a bright future for this historic region of our city. The city invites everyone to come to the Veterans Historical Plaza and take in the beautiful and moving tribute to our nation's veterans. In this serene park, one can feel the deep sense of history and be assured that the city is working to preserve these memories for future generations.
©2006, Old Town Newhall USA. All rights reserved.
