May 2011 Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery Monthly
A Celebration of Early California, Western, and American Art ...
Open Wednesdays through Sundays 10:00 - 5:00 (other times by appointment)
1785 Coast Highway 1, PO Box 325, Bodega Bay, CA 94923, 707-875-2911 (Map)
email: Art@BodegaBayHeritageGallery.com | www.BodegaBayHeritageGallery.com

Sonoma's historic Plaza, home to the Sonoma Mission
and Captain Salvador Vallejo's La Casa Grande, now the Swiss Hotel.
(Captain Salvador Vallejo was General Mariano Vallejo's youngest brother.)

One of our connections with Sonoma is a painting in our collection done by Napoleon Primo Vallejo, youngest of the four sons of General Mariano and Benicia Vallejo.

Napoleon was born when California was born, 1850 on Sonoma's Plaza in La Casa Grande. Napoleon grew up nearby at the family's home, Lachryma Montis, "Mountain Tears." There the family built a small cottage out back for their youngest son to follow his interests without getting underfoot in the main house. It was called Napoleon's Cottage, and it is still there today.

In the cottage, Napoleon pursued his interests in nature and painting. Later in life, he continued his boyhood loves of art and nature, but considered himself a writer and historian who strived to record his family's remarkable history in the best possible light as the transitional Bear Flag Republic evolved from being Mexico's Alta California to becoming America's Golden State.

Another of our connections with Sonoma Plaza is our painting by Walt Disney artist Joshua Meador. Meador really enjoyed Sonoma County, doing many scenes of the coast in Bodega Bay and nearby Duncans Mills and the town of Bodega. But he made the trek across the county to Sonoma Plaza in the late 1940's, and produced this painting entitled Captain Vallejo's Casa.

Captain Salvador Vallejo was General Mariano Vallejo's youngest brother and during the Bear Flag Revolt, was the head of the garrison at the Vallejo Mission. In 1846, both General and Captain were captured by John C. Fremont and were held prisoner at Sutter's Fort. After the war, the Vallejos proved their allegiance to the United States. Mariano Vallejo became one of the initial members of California's State Senate. During the Civil War, Salvador Vallejo was commissioned a Major in the Union Army, and saw service as far east as Arizona, but did not see combat.

Today, Captain Salvador Vallejo's La Casa Grande still stands. It now is home to the Swiss Hotel, a fine hotel and Italian restaurant, preserving a scenic and historic corner of Sonoma's glorious past. The building was constructed in 1836. If only those walls could talk.

Swiss Hotel Historic Landmark Plaque

Vallejo's Casa in Sonoma today, now The Swiss Hotel, a fine hotel and restaurant

Vallejo's Casa in Sonoma at 60 years of age, The Swiss Hotel c 1909

A third area of interest in Sonoma Plaza is the magnificent series of watercolor paintings of the California Missions done by the Norwegian-Californian artist, Chris Jorgensen (1859-1935). He came to San Francisco with his mother in 1874 where Chris attended the California School of Fine Arts. He married a fellow student, Angela Ghirardelli. Chris painted California landscapes and traveled the length of the El Camino Real where he created a series of watercolor paintings of all 21 California Missions. These paintings were exhibited at the Bohemian Club and in Washington, D.C. Chris's son Virgil donated the collection of watercolor paintings of the California Missions to be housed and exhibited at the Sonoma Mission.

These remarkable and historic paintings hang in what used to be the Mission dining room, and are kept in subdued light which helps preserve them, but the low light and glass over the paintings make photography difficult. So even though the town of Sonoma is located on the other side of Southern Sonoma County, it is a fascinating and scenic place for a visit. Make plans for a trip soon.

Early on in our art collecting and beginning our gallery, Linda and I have focussed on the paintings of Joshua Meador. At first, we just liked his paintings, but we also did research and got to know his widow Libby and their son Philip. We have been continually learning more of his fascinating career in animation and fine art painting.

One of the latest nuggets of information comes to us courtesy of a blog entitled Le Monochrome by a native of Columbus, Mississippi and BFA grad from Mississippi University for Women named Haley Gilmore. Josh also grew up in Columbus, Mississippi and attended art classes at MUW, and is considered to have been the school's first male student. Haley shares the tale she heard from Josh's son, Philip Meador, of how Josh made careful observations of the

reflective characteristics of light in soap bubbles patiently produced by Libby Meador, his wife and assistant, as Josh gazed on with his keen artist's eye. Joshua used these observations in creating the animated soap bubbles in Walt Disney's Cinderella.

The other nuggets of information comes to us from the film critic and journalist Bruce Eder. He authored a brief but an entertainingly enlightened biographical sketch of Joshua Meador now published on the widely read website AllMovie.com. This website is a popular a on-line reference for film buffs and fans.

Mr. Eder begins Josh's biography with Josh's hometown, that he is one of Columbus, Mississippi's favorite sons, an honor shared with playwright Tennessee Williams. He points out that Josh had an appointment to attend the Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, but chose to study art instead. He highlights Josh's animation achievements at Disney, and his ground breaking animation work in MGM's innovative science fiction special effects classic, Forbidden Planet. And we were most pleased to see that Mr. Eder mentioned Josh's interest in Bodega Bay as one of his frequent and favored painting locations.

Through his long career at Walt Disney studios, Josh's talented hand touched so much of America's film heritage. But as a landscape artist, he

offers a unique and marvelously complimentary view of California's dynamic and beautiful landscape. As a gallery, we are pleased to offer many of Joshua Meador's paintings, and as art lovers, we have truly enjoyed getting to know the wonder of his life and career, and his marvelous and generous family. Stop in soon and enjoy his paintings in person.

After several lean years, the fishing community of Bodega Bay has some things to cheer about. After the very best crab season in years, and the promise of the first commercial salmon season in four, things are looking up. Once again, enthusiastic optimism for the Bodega Bay's historic fishing industry is high, and this year's Bodega Bay Fish Fest and Blessing of the Fleet promises to be the center of celebration.

As in previous years, the Fish Fest will be the scene for some exciting events, including the traditional Sunday morning parade of boats and blessing of the fleet. This ceremony includes a flower wreath cast upon the waters honoring the fishermen lost at sea. more below

But for us in the arts, of special interest is the Fine Art Tent. Below are this year's participants, a sample of their work, a brief statement of their approach to their art, and links and contact information to learn more of their work.

The Bodega Marine Lab alongside Horseshoe Cove

Half a century ago, Alfred Hitchcock came to Bodega Bay and filmed his horror classic, The Birds. In homage to that heritage, the Bodega Bay Short Film Festival has adopted a Raven for its logo.

The purpose of the festival is to seek out young and innovative film makers giving them an affordable place to shine, but in a marvelously breathtaking locale.

The festival showcases independent filmmakers from around the world who won't have to compete with films featuring stars and huge budgets. It's a way for new talent to shine. Kirk Demorest, one of the co-founders of the Bodega Bay International Short Film Festival, says, “True independent film projects at festivals like Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto, have been all but usurped by the pet projects of movie stars and producers. These power festivals (once accessible to emerging directors with a real cinematic voice), generally thrive on the prestige and business brought by these stars and their trappings. We, on the other hand, are delighted to present the debut short from a sixteen-year-old filmmaker from Cleveland.”

Films are required to be 15 minutes in length or less, and must have been produced no later than January of 2008. Both expenses for film makers and prizes are modest, but the exposure for emerging talent is priceless as these young artists strive to establish their credentials.

To date, the jury panel will include Ed Begley, Jr., Jack McGee, Share Stallings and Ken Schretzmann. Ed Begley began his career on the hit TV series St. Elsewhere, and since appeared in a long list of films and television settings. Most recently, he's been at work behind the camera as a writer and director. Jack McGee appeared in The International with Clive Owen and Naomi Watts and the Father of Invention with Kevin Spacey. Share Stallings won an Emmy for the PBS Curious George TV Series. She was also the Producer of Curious George 2: Follow that Monkey. Ken Schretzmann is most recently known for editing the box office smash “Toy Story 3” from Disney/Pixar (winning an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature). His motion picture credits include “Cars,” “Monsters, Inc.,” “Men in Black,” and “Get Shorty.” His film career began at age 9 when he shot his family’s “documentary shorts” on 8mm. A Long Island native, he now calls the East Bay of San Francisco his home.