Page 3 - viewfromvalencia3601

Drive into squares of varying sizes that, as
the public watches, come alive with vibrant, Santa Clarita Valley residents will be grabbing their
large-scale chalk paintings. Paintings include partners, gathering their herd and heading west. .. or
reproductions of Renaissance Masters, "western" to be more exact as preparations go into high
modern works and original designs. gear for the 9th annual Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival,
Different from gallery art or even street set for March 20 - 24. While most performances of
painting done on canvas, Bella Via stays true music, dance and of course, Cowboy Poetry, take place
to the original tradition - pastels applied at Melody Ranch™ Motion Picture Studio, several other
directly to the ground. Awed by the size, venues will host a variety of activities including, trail rides,
color, depth and detail of the paintings, fashion show, cowboy casino and Railway Dinner Train.
spectators often lament the brevity of the The weekend includes the annual Walk of Western
asphalt gallery. The Madonnari themselves Stars Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Long Branch
best explain the nature of this majestic, yet Theater at Melody Ranch, Friday, March 22. Each year,
temporary medium. "Art, in all its forms, silver spur heroes of the past and present are inducted
elicits emotion, bringing people together, into the Walk with a Bronzed Saddle along the street in
fostering communication - communal or Old Town Newhall.
personal," an artist explained. "It is not about A complete listing of performances can be found at
how long it lasts, it is meant to create an the official website www.santa-clarita.com/cp. To order
impact, which in a single moment can stay tickets, call (661) 286-4021 or leave a message toll free
with the viewer forever. " at (800) 305-0755.

Bella Via's Featured and Guest Artists worked up to five days creating
incredible large scale paintings in chalk. Clockwise from upper left to
right: First time Feature Artist Melanie Stimmel/'s serenely beautiful
reproduction of Charity by Adolpe-William Bouguereau measured 18 ft.
in length, captivating spectators; Rod Tryon is almost lost in his exotic
peacock, one of his "extreme animal" paintings; Leesa Whitten and Zofia
Kostyrko Edwards's jewel-toned rendition of The Danaides by
Waterhouse; Jane Portaluppi recreates a lovely painting from Lord
Leighton; Tomoteru "Tomo" Saito traveled from Florence, Italy to paint
Song of the Angels, by Bouguereau.

The View From Valencia - Page 3