Celebrate gift of art at First Friday

Nov. 29—In this season of giving, the Arts Council of Kern has something special for its First Friday ArtWalk.

For this week's gathering of local artists and vendors, the arts organization waived the fee for them to take part.

Set up on the sidewalks along 19th and Eye streets with art and handmade goods for sale, more than two dozen creators are slated to take part, according to Judith Cassis, the ArtWalk coordinator.

Vendors include Ryan Couch (stickers and art commissions), Ana Camacho (3D-printed items, holiday toys, Nintendo accessories), Brenna Elliott (decorative gnomes, fairy dolls, and cement mushrooms), Sandra Akers (digital photos on canvas, tote bags, flowers, animals and religious symbols), Maria De La Rosa (handcrafted bath and body products), Jennifer Romero (stickers and art prints), Kiki Delgado Smith (handmade baby, toddler and kids bows), Raymond Rodriguez (custom tufted rugs), Lydia Reyes (beading, polymer clay accessories, pins, drawings, buttons), Selina Wilson (crystals, handmade herb potions, handmade earrings and bracelets, and miniature paintings), Traci Holmes (handmade crystal jewelry), Heather Scott (crochet, paintings and embroidery), Iris Via Lobos Jauregui (handmade jewelry, berets, trinkets and accessories), Anissa Robidoux (headpieces and accessories), Jodi Bowen (paint pouring, canvas, vases and coasters), Irene Bentrott (embroidery, totes and crafts).

Others scheduled to take part are Lori Myers, Brenda G, Elaine Villa Real, Donna Sam, Sandi Jantz, Eli Gonzales, Ina Gooding, Melissa Gonzales, Amber Rodriguez and Porscha Denny.

Adopting a winter carnival theme, vendors will decorate their booths and host carnival games for visitors to play. Participants will earn a ticket that can be turned in at ArtWalk Central for a chance at door prizes.

The ArtWalk will run from 5 to 9 p.m. Visit kernarts.org/artwalk for more information.

Art lovers will have plenty to take in at the nearby Bakersfield Art Association Art Center.

On display for December is the work of students from art instructor Julie Fleming's class.

Fleming described the artists as "a fun and talented group to work with" for their Monday class. With each painter specializing in very different styles and mediums, the instructor said it is a challenge to meet their needs.

"I love their willingness to explore and expand their talents," she said in the BAA newsletter.

"As a teacher, I try to find the right words to say to my students to help them see the work as I see it. Learning about color and how it works can open up so many doors for an artist. Painting is about taking a risk and enjoying the ride!

Julie Fleming has painted for 60 years. She said that she took a few classes along the way but most of what she knows came from practical application. She taught art to elementary students for 20 years and that helped her to analyze and break down a piece of art in order to recreate it.

Artists who will be featured include Roline Loung Witt, Toni Lott, Stacy Wingate, Laura Mizrahi and Chrissy Rogers.

A reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at the center, 1607 19th St. Refreshments will be served.

There will also be a virtual show on the Bakersfield Art Association's website (bakersfieldartassociation.org), Facebook (facebook.com/BAAartists) and Instagram (@bakersfieldartassociation) pages.

Dagny's Coffee Co., one of the BAA's satellite art locations, will also have a new show on display.

Charlotte White will display oil pastel, oil and watercolor paintings at the coffeehouse.

Currently teaching classes at the BAA Art Center, White is an award-winning art educator with 20 years of experience with the Kern High School District and 10 years with Valley Oaks Charter School. She has also taught at the Levin Institute at Bakersfield College.

White captures landscapes and architecture in a variety of media, both in the studio as well as on location. An avid traveler, she has also painted while visiting Venezuela, Mexico, France, Italy, Kosovo and Ireland.

A reception will be held for White at 6 p.m. at Dagny's, 1600 20th St.

The Bakersfield Museum of Art continues its fall exhibitions featuring the work of five Asian American artists.

Japanese American painter Bryan Ida's work is featured in "Bryan Ida: Life of Change, A Retrospective." (Ida will also hold an artist talk on Dec. 9 at 6 p.m.)

Other artists with collections on display are Korean painter Jun Yang ("Jun Yang: Blooming Journeys"), Taiwanese mixed-media artist Kacy Jung and Vietnamese American sculptor Kieu Tran ("Kacy Jung & Kieu Tran: Personal Archaeology"), and Japanese American artist Chiura Obata ("Chiura Obata: Select Works").

The museum offers free admission on First Friday with extended hours 10 a.m to 8 p.m. at 1930 R St. Visit bmoa.org for more information.

Stefani Dias can be reached at 661-395-7488. Follow her on Twitter at @realstefanidias.