February 21: MECAC Writers' Workshop

On Saturday, February 21, MECAC hosted our first Writers' Workshop at the Pine Valley Bible Conference Center. Twenty-three writers from our local area and "down the hill" attended a remarkable workshop with Dean Nelson, the founder of the Journalism department at Point Loma Nazarene University. Dean is the author/co-author of thirteen books and a longtime freelance writer for the New York Times. The all-day event was an incredible opportunity for writers to hone their craft and learn more about what makes writing truly work.

We thank Dean for coming all the way from Poway to lead this workshop and MECAC Director Judith Dupree for talking him into making the long trek and working with us. You may read about the workshop in more detail at the MECAC Writers' Workshop blog: MECAC Writers' Workshop with Dean Nelson.

February 13: The Art of Stained Glass

Mountain Empire residents from as far away as Lake Morena who braved the wintry weather on Friday night were well-rewarded with an intriguing glimpse into the Art of Stained Glass as presented by Pine Valley resident Keith Barrett, who has made between 60 and 70 windows. Keith also is experienced in glass sandblasting, photography, woodworking, enameling, copper tooling, leatherwork, and other hand arts.

Keith, who started creating stained glass windows in high school, introduced the audience to a Power Point presentation of his recent four-foot by five-foot Tiffany-inspired stained glass window of 1,532 pieces installed last September in the home of Dr. Don and Mrs. Marcia Adema's Descanso home, the unveiling of which was a wonderful MECAC event. Explaining his design influences from Tiffany's work and from photographs he snapped himself of our Mountain Empire area, Keith demonstrated the tools used in cutting and shaping glass pieces as well as the copper foil technique of soldering the pieces together. He also answered audience questions regarding the method with which he doubled pieces of glass to create both color and texture that allowed him, in his own words, "to paint with glass."

After the formal presentation ended, the audience gathered around the front table where Keith demonstrated the different colors and textures available in glass on a small light table while answering questions regarding where he purchases his glass locally. He also displayed the hand tools and cutting blades used in constructing stained glass windows as well as allowing attendees to thumb through his book of stained glass windows he has created over the years.

Keith also exhibited the current window he is working on, a whimsical carousel horse with a swirled and "bubbled" background that creates the illusion of movement. This window, begun eighteen years ago and stored while Keith had no dedicated space to work on his glass art, is now being completed with the copper foil technique and with the help of several power tools such as a band saw, jig saw, and wet belt sander that were not available when he started the window.

The artistic evening was complete with cookies, cider, and coffee as the audience chatted among themselves and the guest artist, exchanging business cards and networking. Our Guest Artist Evenings are a great deal of fun besides being informative as we discover the hidden and not-so-hidden talents of our Mountain Empire friends and neighbors. If you missed this gathering, keep checking this site and the calendar on the sidebar (plus the Valley Views and flyers in front of the post office and around town) so you won't miss our next artistic offering to the Mountain Empire community.

The Art of Stained Glass

The Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council presents ...

Keith Barrett, Master Craftsman

Demonstrating

The Art of Stained Glass

Friday, February 13, 2009, 7:00 PM

Pine Valley Community Clubhouse

Refreshments and Social Hour for artists, crafters and all who enjoy and

support the arts

Keith will present a PowerPoint overview of his work in designing and creating this stained glass window for the home of Dr. Don and Marcia Adema of Descanso. Keith will also display other stained glass projects and will offer basic information and encouragement to those who are interested in working in this art genre.

For further information, leave a comment here or call MECAC Secretary

Dianne Holly at 473-8760

For Our Photographers:

Amateur and professional photographers:
CALL FOR ENTRIES
Best of Nature Photography Show International Juried Photography Competition at the San Diego Natural History Museum

Last day to enter is March 15, 2009
Show dates: June 27 to September 13, 2009
Opening reception: Saturday, June 27, 11 AM–1 PM
Grand Prize:$1000
First Place: $500
Second Place: $250
Third Place: $150
Six Honorable Mentions: $100 each
People's Choice Award: $100

More information

The Ordover Gallery at the San Diego Natural History Museum is inviting amateur as well as professional photographers to submit nature photography for the jurying process. Landscape, wildlife, and nature-based abstract/impressionistic images will be considered.

Calling All Writers!

We have a real treat for all Mountain Empire writers and those interested in learning more about the craft of writing. Dean Nelson, Director of the Journalism Program at Point Loma Nazarene University, will make the trek up the hill to lead us through a special writing workshop. You can read more about Dean and his work by clicking right here.

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009
Time: 9:00 AM to approximately 5:00 PM
Place: Pine Valley Bible Conference Center
Cost: $40, including lunch (A limited number of scholarships are available if cost is prohibitive)

Both Judith Dupree and Susanne Barrett of MECAC have known Dean for years and promise that he will lead a wonderful workshop, helping us to learn a great deal about the art of storytelling and the craft of writing. And his dry wit makes Dean a great deal of fun to listen to as well. If you have even a smidge of an interest in writing, this workshop is for YOU! And don't feel as though you must be a "writer" in order to come; beginning writers are welcome, even encouraged, to attend.

So please make reservations with Susanne by calling her at 473-0085 or e-mailing at booklovingbunch@aol.com. Space is limited, so make reservations soon!

A Wondrous "Journey"

Aaaah, Christmas – the wonderful, magical time of year when we experience the season with the wonder of a child. Such was the delightful surprise that over 160 residents of Pine Valley and environs experienced as the Mountain Empire Creative Art Council's Pine Valley Players presented their first holiday production, A Journey Through Christmas, at Worthington Hall on the grounds of the Pine Valley Bible Conference Center on Saturday evening, December 13.

A Journey Through Christmas was written and directed by Pine Valley resident Dianne Holly (who also designed the extraordinary costumes!), ably assisted by Guatay resident Mary Aragon. Narrated by Christine Siders, the play chronicled Christmas celebrations starting with the Nativity, and proceeding through a Mexican Candlelight procession, a Victorian Christmas, a 1930's Depression-era family scene, and finished with a Soldiers' Christmas, represented by soldiers and their families from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II, and the present-day conflict. Each tableau was beautifully portrayed by approximately 25 local actors ranging in age from children of seven years to some venerable and bearded Wise Men and a jolly Santa Claus.

Between and during the tableaux, the dozen singers of the all-female choir, directed by Teri Carpentier-Antti (who also provided the piano accompaniment), provided beautifully-sung Christmas selections. At the close of the play, the audience joined the choir in singing some beloved carols.

Before the production, the Free Teen Guitar Class of Alpine Anglican Church, directed by Fr. Keith Acker, provided guitar music for those who were finding their seats and perusing the Art Ornament Auction. Many thanks to all of the local artists who donated the beautiful ornaments and to Marshall and Mary Chapman who organized the auction, and especially to Mark Aragon and Debby Alexander for lighting and sound direction, along with kudos to many individuals and groups too numerous to list here.

Great appreciation and rounds of applause also go the Pine Valley Bible Conference Center for providing rehearsal space (along with the PVIC) as well as a beautiful (and warm!) production venue and to all who attended the play for their support of arts in the backcountry. Our wonderful and supportive advertisers also deserve our most grateful thanks for making this production possible: Father Keith Acker and Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity (home of the Free Teen Guitar Class), Stephanie Wells and The Southern California Center for Youth, Nature, and the Arts (MECAC's umbrella organization), The Mountain Empire Men's Club (for their cooperation in sequencing events), Pine Valley Community Church, Dry Clean USA of Alpine, Perkin's Market in Descanso, Glenn D. Mitchell Realtors of Pine Valley, Curves of Pine Valley, Mountain Market in Pine Valley, Albertsons in Alpine, Nail Spa Plus in Alpine, and Rex Grizzle, D.D.S. in Pine Valley. Thanks for your support of the arts!

A magical evening was enjoyed by all who experienced this first of what we hope will be many theatre productions of MECAC's Pine Valley Players in the Mountain Empire area.

A Journey Through Christmas

The Pine Valley Players, the theatre branch of the Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council, invites all backcountry residents to our First Annual Christmas Production, A Journey Through Christmas, written and directed by Pine Valley resident Dianne Holly, with musical direction by Pine Valley resident Teri Carpentier-Antti.

A Journey Through Christmas will be performed at Worthington Hall on the ground of the Pine Valley Bible Conference Center at 8668 Pine Creek Road on Saturday, December 13. Curtain is at 7:30PM sharp. Donations will be gratefully accepted in lieu of a set ticket price. Refreshments will be served during Intermission.

The Free Teen Guitar Class from Alpine, under the tutelage of Father Keith Acker of Alpine Anglican Church of the Blessed Trinity, will provide music before the performance.

A Silent Art Auction will also take place during Intermission and after the performance, with proceeds funding the Pine Valley Players and the Mountain Empire Creative Art Council's children's art programs.

Both adults and children from the Mountain Empire region will be performing in this production, so don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to increase Mountain Empire's Christmas Spirit! Families are encouraged to attend with their children.

For further information, please contact Dianne Holly at 473-8760 or leave a comment here on the MECAC blog.