CONTINUITY AND FRESH DUG HOLES

Hello My Loves!

It is a hot and humid day in paradise.  Thunder clouds surround the sky, teasing us with the chance of rain....but, it's like a sneeze waiting to blast out, or a flea waiting to be scratched off....no dice...just hot and humid....time to dig another cooler hole for relief.

Everyone, you are all invited to:

Spanish Village's Open House

Saturday, September 19

From 11 AM to 7 PM

It is our annual event where artists demonstrate, children have opportunities to experience first hand the creation of art, yummy food aromas and live music drift through the air, a silent auction is held with artwork created by village artists,  and 37 working art studios welcome you into their studios.

We are FREE to the Public.
Family and Pet Friendly...fresh water for dogs, doggy biscuits in studio 26...and more!
Some Studios have goodies/refreshments waiting for you to enjoy.

BUGS

It is a festive day for everyone!


It is continuity in our village.
...sometimes continuity takes a turn.


A few days ago, Brandon my poodle buddy, Matilda the village coyote, Emily the village squirrel, Franklin the arachnophobic rat (Emily's current squeeze), and I, said our good byes to our friend, Zorro, who lept to Heaven. We found a shady spot to dig a fresh hole where, in his honor: Brandon and I deposited a piece of cheese and pepperoni pizza, Emily and Franklin gave a slice of fresh apple, and Matilda offered a cherished piece of fried chicken.

We will miss Zorro's visits with his Mom, Carrie.

"Our Friend ZORRO"

ROB ROY

And, life goes on....now the word is out that Emily the village squirrel is expecting....is Franklin the father? Will the offspring be called 'squir-rats?' 
Is that even at all possible???!!##??


...stay tuned.


I love you all!


See you at the Open House!


Licks and Wagging Tails,


Your Bella

Flowers, Love and Social Convention

Hello My Dears,
 

The tropical weather has subsided, and we are in paradise, again.

Over the weekend, Spanish Village Art Center celebrated the yearly 'Art in Bloom".
 

Artists paint their interpretations of the fresh floral arrangements in the courtyard, where visitors watch, enjoy, and talk to the artists.....Humans seem to be the only creatures on earth who imitate and express themselves through art.

Gifts from Mother Nature are plentiful.

Flowers give us colors, shapes, and fragrances.  Our eyes dilate with the pleasure of their beauty, and we savor their aromatic bouquet.

 

And, with further consideration, we see the lessons of aging....first the seed, then the young bud, then to its petals blossoming beauty, then the petals fall, and only the seeds remain to start the process over again. ..just like humans and dogs, if you think about it.

 

 

Mother Nature's plan of Life, and, ironically Death. 

It applies to all her living creatures, even human and dogs....if we are lucky.

Artists, throughout time, have tried to capture its entirety.
 

Over here, Brandon, my poodle buddy, Matilda, the canyon coyote, and I, lazily share a freshly dug hole, listening to Franklin, the village rat, and, Emily, the village squirrel, (who are a 'thing'), making bizarre conversations.  Apparently, Franklin, the rat, claims to have a great-great-great grandfather who was a quarter squirrel. Even more, Emily the village squirrel, claims her great-great-great-great grandmother was pure rat.  Brandon, Matilda and I, listen to the two jabber, look at each other, roll our eyes, and bust out laughing (Matilda howls).

 

 

Love is one thing, whereas, being  'in-love' surpasses everything.....paving new roads for social convention.  For me, I love my buddies and Spanish Village.  

 

You can visit Spanish Village and all its beauty, 7 days a week, from 11-4 PM weekdays, 11-5 PM weekends, free for all, pet and family friendly. We offer summer classes for kids and adults, and have usually live music.  Our artists love to create, sell, and discuss their artwork.     

We are ready to welcome you!
 

This year is Balboa Park's Centennial Celebration, too!

There is even more to see  throughout the park, because of the celebrations!
 

I think of all of you often, and hope to see you at the Village!

Love to all of you, 

 

Bella the Blogging Dog 

Woof!  Woof!

I love pizza and meatballs!

CATS, DOGS, ANACONDAS, ETC.

Hello My Dears!

Artist - Padget Mason

It is beautiful here in paradise, the sun is out, it's warm, and there is folly Downtown with the celebrations of Comic-Con.....and the ongoing celebration of Balboa Park's Centennial throughout the park.

We just closed the yearly, juried, Catnip Show, in Gallery 21....a salute to felines of all kinds.....Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, might feel slighted, but we look forward to December's yearly, juried, Dog Show....both shows donate some proceeds to benefit dog and cat foundations...It all balances itself out.  Honor, feed, love, play, and paint our likenesses.....we love it.....and, you will never find better friends than us.

Which, as I lay under this shady tree, makes me wonder why humans refer to us canines, of the 4-legged persuasion, in an offensive, unattractive, disrespectful (or worse), as 'dogs' when it comes to the perceived shortcomings of humans...(I heard someone refer to another someone as a 'dog' in an offensive way)....references to humans as  'dogs' as something that has no morals.  Morals are a human concept.  We, the real dogs of the world, have instinct....and, in many instances, more smarts and humanity than humans.....please don't use the work dog in offensive terms.

However, for us dogs, it is instinctual to not like cats....as cats don't like mice....etc.  

Here, in Spanish Village, we have cats, dogs, anacondas, giraffes, rodents, insects, etc.....a lot to like and try to like.  We all try to be copacetic, follow political correctness, and play nice....and then there are the artists.....they are like herding cats....(no offense to Erika, the rag doll, village cat, who is a buddy of mine)...she even agrees.

Here in Spanish Village, the creative pot is bubbling with diversified cultures, quirky personalities, and even bougeois values, and more,  that make great art.....who all enjoy the process of creating, talking about their creations, teaching their creations, and welcoming  you 7 days a week. 

It takes a good amount of heart and soul to make our community interesting and fun.

Come check us out!  We are open 7 days a week, 11-4pm weekdays, and 11-5 weekends....

and, we are free to enjoy, pet and family friendly....and always, happy to see you.

Come say 'hi' to me and my poodle buddy, Brandon....we like pats on the head, belly rubs, compliments, and really, really, appreciate pizza and meatballs.

In a couple weeks, we will celebrate 'Art N Bloom',  artwork with a flowery influence.  Stay tuned for more information!

                                                        

Love, Bow-Wow's, Woof-Woofs from, 

Bella the Blogging Dog at Spanish Village

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So Long 'Elements', 'Hey There' Earth Day, and the Sculptor's Guild

Art by Edward  Moores, Maryellene Deason, Kathi Vargo

 

Hellooo My Dears from Paradise,

Another day of blissful sunshine, warmth, and good stuff.  I am lying under the table at the Gallery 21, enjoying the village artists who are coming in to collect their art creations from the ELEMENTS SHOW, something special put on by the village for the park's centennial.  Too bad it is closing.  It is
the first of its kind, and quite a success.  However, I do enjoy the pats on my head, belly rubs and compliments as artist come to pick up their art.

   Art by Deanne Tiffany             Steve Maddy                Rebecca Lowell

 

 As we close down one celebration, we gear up for another.







Art by Carole Mathios, Lucy Wang, Linda Smith, Carol Foster, and Susan Mae Hull




This Sunday is Earth Day throughout Balboa Park....and annual celebration that brings thousands upon thousands of people.  Come see the booths set up in the park, displaying information about keeping Mother Earth well.  In our village, we will have demonstrations relating to art, too.

During this celebration, Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, like to greet tie-dye folks,  polo shirt folks, flip flop folks, dread lock folks,  and whatever the cat brings in....(no offense to Erika, the village cat). We truly love to see the diversity of folk that Earth Day will
include....and Brandon, Erika, Franklin (the arachnophobic rat,) and his big squeeze the squirrel girlfriend, will enjoy the food droppings of our guests.  Best of all, we enjoy meeting other 4-legged friends and doing the smell test.

Later on in the month, the Sculptor's Guild, in the village, will have its closing reception on April 25, from 5 PM to 9 PM.....music, tours, refreshments, sculptor's raffle, silent auction, and a rocking ambience will invite an enjoyable time to anyone.  The Sculptor's Guild is comprised of local artists. The event is free.

Art by Roxanna Maria

 

Did you come to the EASTER EGG HUNT?  I saw Franklin lying on his back, feet up, from eating too much dropped candies....his main squeeze was squirreling mouthfuls of candy booty and running up the tree to store away....Matilda, the canyon coyote and Erika, the village cat, have formed a strong bond protesting the relationship between Franklin, the rat, and his squirrel squeeze....agreeing and bonding on the aberration in social convention (overlooking the strangeness of a coyote and fat cat friendship).

Such is life at the village.

Come visit us at the village!  We have 37 working studios, friendly artists who love to talk about their art, demonstrations and artist's vendor booths set up in the patio....we are open 7 days a week from 11 AM to 4 PM....and visiting the village is free.  We are family and pet friendly.

Until Later My Loves,

Bella the blogging dog
Woof-Woof, kisses, too.

PETER RABBIT, CHICKEN AND EGGS

Springtime is always a special season, leading in the freshness and newness of Mother Nature.  Birds fly overhead, twigs in their beaks, eager to build nests...colorful blossoming buds, spreading their sweet fragrance, and a renewed optimism toward longer, sunny, days.

In Spanish Village Art Center, we celebrate with:

THE EASTER EGG EXTRAVAGANZA HUNT

Come to the:

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Sunday, April 5th

11 AM to 3 PM

rain or shine

FREE to children

 

Easter Bunny Helpers will hide eggs on the hour, from 11 to 3, in the patio.  Colorful, plastic,  eggs, filled with pre-wrapped candy, will be slightly hidden for children to find....remember to bring your Easter basket!  And, in honor of  ''Spanish'' Village, this Easter, the bunny has brought   ''cascarones'', colorfully dyed real egg shells, filled with confetti...crack them for good luck! 

 

Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, enjoy all the tummy rubs, pats on the head, compliments and

attention...   however, most of all, we enjoy seeing the return of the same children, only a little more grown up.....building happy, positive, family memories of Spanish Village, brought on by the fun activities, and the colorful, cozy, friendly environs, where introduction to all manners of art, demonstrations, and classes are offered by village artists.

 

 Over here, Franklin, the arachnophobic rat, and Emily, the village squirrel, have become quite an item.  Emily shares her raw peanuts with Franklin, he  reciprocates with bits of food scrounged from the village.  I hear Matilda, the canyon coyote, and Erika, the village cat, discussing the abysmal romance, calling it an act against social convention....however, I see they are happy together, and, after all, Matilda did run off and eat Franklin's first wife.

The weather has been quirky....one week it's as hot as the hottest day in the summer, and the next week, the weatherman is predicting rain....I suspect the plants are a bit confused.  On Saint Patrick's Day, Mother Nature waved her wand and created a severe solar storm (geomagnetic storm) that whipped through Earth's magnetic sphere, leaving in its wake a beautiful Saint Patrick's green across the sky, spanning from the Artic to parts of Oregon and Illinois.

 

Mother Nature, the greatest artist of all time.

I look forward to seeing you at the Egg Hunt!  There's talk the Easter Bunny will come...

(I so love the Easter Bunny, he tastes like chicken.)

 

Until later, my loves, 

Bella the Blogging Dog

Woof-woof!  Kisses, too!

HEARTS AND BARKS

BRANDON -my Poodle Buddy

FRANKLIN the  Arachnophobia Rat

HELLLOOOO My Dears!

Franklin, the arachnophobia rat has taken on a couple new wives... and, Brandon, my poodle buddy, is being more than attentive to me.

 

 

 

 

 

The weather and the season spell VALENTINE'S DAY!

 

Time for Love in all its s wonder!

Love comes in different ways.....

EMILY - one of Franklin Wives

I love pizza and meatballs, and cookies, and treats I find on the floor. Franklin likes wives. .....so does Brandon, in a manner of speaking.

 

For you lovers of art, COME TO ART ABANDONMENT DAY ON VALENTINES DAY THROUGHOUT THE PARK ART FREE FOR THE TAKING ...THAT'S ON SATURDAY.

PLUS! BARK AT THE PARK ON SUNDAY, AT THE ORGAN PAVILION A DOG AND DOG LOVER'S FUN DAY.


Come enjoy our day of love!

You know I love you! Bella

WHAT IS LOVE....ODDLY ABANDONMENT.

Hello My Dears, 

In a little over a week, VALENTINE'S DAY, is going to show it's flowers, candies, cards of love, and many  reflections of love.

 

AND, the birth of a new art concept from Spanish Village Art Center....

 

Welcome to the:

First Annual Art Abandonment Day, on Valentine's Day!

Saturday, February 14th....throughout the day in all parts of Balboa Park.

Abandoned art from Spanish Village artists will be placed in obvious 

places throughout the park, free to anyone who wants it and will appreciate it.

 

 You've heard of FREE LOVE? Well, this is FREE ART!

 

Bring your 4-legged buddies with you to enjoy the beauty of the park, and perhaps, find 

a wonderful piece of abandoned artwork from Spanish Village artist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND, remember to come visit us at Spanish Village Art Center, between the Natural History Museum

and the San Diego Zoo!  

 

We are celebrating 80 years of existence!  And 100 years of existence for the whole of Balboa Park!

 

Come visit our 40th Annual Small Image Show, and our History of Spanish Village for the last 80 years!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's all free...open to the public....family and pet friendly.

ART ROCKS! AND SO DOES LOVE!

Keep the faith, my loves!

 

Love Bella 

Woof! Woof!

Bring me a cookie.

TWO LEGS, 4 LEGS

TWO LEGS, 4 LEGS

Ohhh! I just loved to watch the 1930's vintage social dancers last weekend at the History of Spanish Village kickoff....celebrating 80 years of artistic existence for San Diego County residents!

Dancers dressed in vintage costumes boogied to songs and music of that glorious era when 'Gone With The Wind' and 'Wizard of Oz' were created.  I watched the dancers interact with dance steps specific to different forms of dance! 

Oh! How it would feel to be a 2-legged and dance!













Brandon, my poodle buddy, and I, wag our tails, spin around, and tap our paws for doggy dancing.


We sat next to the cookies and tea, closely watching and hoping for dropped pieces of cookies to eat!

Laurie, Sue and Janet, volunteer artists at the village, spent most of last year researching the beginnings of our village.
Come enjoy what they have to share!

In the photo, Elizabeth, to the far right, is wearing her grandmother's sister's vintage hat!  OOO-LA-LA!



Roots and History are important.

Lai, in studio 26, said there was a Chinese Exclusion Act, during the birth of Spanish Village.
Sylvia, in studio 13, a Native American, said her people were still on reservations.
Jihmye, an African-American, said at that time, Blacks were separated from Whites.

And now, on our 80th birthday, Spanish Village has spread its roots and branches of history to be inclusive to all....providing you are a San Diego County Resident.

It is a colorful and diversified tree.

Trees are good.  They give us shade and something to dig under.

And remember, my dears......

THE SMALL IMAGE SHOW!
Reception: January 31, 2015
From: 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Lots of finger foods, live music, fun, and awards!
Come see juried art that is equal to or less than 10''x10''.
Talk to the regional artists and see their art shine!
The History of Spanish Village room is adjoining to the show
and will be open for your enjoyment, too!

And, just a small, itty bitty request.....Franklin, the arachnophobic rat, Brandon and I, would greatly appreciate dropped pieces of yummy this and thats for us to eat.


I love you, my dears!

Bella the Blogging Dog....woof! woof!

COLD SMALL OLD

COLD AND COLD

Happy New Year's to all my 4-legged and 2-legged friends!  AHHH CHOO! (excuse me)  been quite cold...we had snow in parts of San Diego County...and, unfortunately, lots of flu and cold buggers eager to latch on to our bodies....lots of 2-leggeds not covering their mouths when they sneeze and cough....do they realize us 4-leggeds can catch colds/flus from 2-leggeds?  Probably not.

SMALL AND SMALLER

..and here I am resting in Mary's studio #16A....letting her take good care of me....watching her create art pieces from single grains of sand...I watch her layer the colorful sand with glue, until it becomes something wonderful...2 dimensional, as well as, 3-dimensional artwork....from a single grain of sand, something incredible develops.  Her studio is surrounded by shelves of different colors of sands, many shades, some fine and some coarse....she really has thrown herself into this beautiful, ancient, art. I so love to watch her create.

 

And, then, there's the '40th SMALL IMAGE SHOW' , opening  Jan 31st 11 AM to 4 PM, followed by a reception 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM in GALLERY 21.  As usual, there will be lots of finger foods, awards, and artists ready to discuss their artwork.  All juried art is no bigger than 10''x10'', and is 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional....each year, hundreds of artist compete to show their small art. The SMALL IMAGE SHOW is always a hoot to see!..and Brandon, my poodle buddy, Franklin the village rat, and Erika the village cat, all hope you make it a point to drop food on the floor so we get finger foods, too....someone said they saw Matilda the coyote carry off Margaret the rat, who is Franklin's mate...I'm not so sure I'll be mentioning her again...poor Margaret.

OLD AND OLDER

As the village celebrates 40 years of the SMALL IMAGE SHOW, the PARK (including Spanish Village) is kicking off the celebration of BALBOA PARK'S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS... Created in 1915, Balboa Park has been a spectacular jewel for San Diego. There will be special celebrations throughout the year for you to come see us shine!

Spanish Village, thanks to Laurie, Jan and Sue, has set up 'HISTORY OF THE ARTS' in GALLERY 21....it is a compilation of the history of Spanish Village, running from Jan 17th to Dec 31st.  For the first weekend, there will be guided tours of the Village, and afterwards, self guided tours....

So, my darlings, it is a New Year with New Beginnings!

I love you all!

Bella the blogging dog....woof! woof!  aaahhhh chooo! (excuse me)

TIME TO SHINE! HOLIDAY GREETINGS, EVERYONE!

Holiday Greetings, Everyone!

Just a reminder to all my 2-legged and 4-legged friends to come celebrate and enjoy Christmas on the Prado, now, renamed to December Nights...

DECEMBER NIGHTS: DECEMBER 5TH AND 6TH
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 11 AM TO 11PM
THROUGHOUT BALBOA PARK
Please make it a point to visit SPANISH VILLAGE ART CENTER!

We will have booth set up throughout the courtyard, with arts and crafts, to enjoy and/or purchase.  The fresh aroma of freshly made popcorn, hot apple cider, and cinnamon will water your mouths.....little twinkling white lights will be threaded through the branches of trees, Christmas music will bring back holiday memories....Christmas lit doggies, and families strolling the village, will add to the ambience of a storytime Christmas. 

We will have 37 working, art studios, all gussied up for you to enjoy.  All arts and crafts are handmade, original work.....

Come do Christmas shopping from our studios!

And, keep an eye out for Brandon, my poodle buddy, and me.....I will be wearing the bright, red, Christmas bow, and Brandon will be wearing a bright, green, Christmas bow.....(pizza and meatballs would be much appreciated)...WOOF!

 

 

Much Love,
Bella  aka: Sir Oliver

the blogging dog from Spanish Village
XXXOOO