SAVE GRANADA THEATER PAINTOUT
UPDATE March 20, 2010
Save the Granada - Upcoming Events
Monday March 22 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Fundraising Dinner & Art Show at Rosy's at the Beach!
Rosy's at the Beach
Paella | Salad | Red Wine
Come on down and join us for a special Fundraising Dinner and a great cause!
This is sure to be a classic as Rosy's will be serving up a menu everybody will be talking about. Rosy's at the Beach will be serving up an amazing seafood paella, accompanied with caesar salad and red wine.
Along with fantastic food and fantastic people will be fantastic music by David Schnittman. Yum!
The Art couldn’t be better 29 images of the Granada Theater painted by some of the most accomplished Open Air (Plein Aire) painters in Northern California – come vote for People’s Choice!
Click here http://www.savethegranada.com/events.html to pre-order tickets or Call Pamala Meador at 408 891 4931 and she will deliver them to you.
$25 for Adults, and a special Kids Menu for $8.
A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door.
See you there! Tell all your friends.
Pamala
UPDATE March 14, 2010
3/22 Save Granada Theater Dinner at Rosy’s at the Beach, Morgan Hill
Paintings from the Save Granada Theater paintouts will be displayed at Rosy’s from March 18 to 22. A supporters’ dinner will be at Rosy’s on March 22. They are combining the art show with an all you can eat Paella dinner there beginning at 6:30. The cost is $25 and it includes all you can eat Paella, salad and garlic bread plus red wine. You can get tickets at www.savethegranada.org through paypal or available at the door.
UPDATE March 6, 2010
3/22 Save Granada Theater Dinner at Rosy’s at the Beach, Morgan Hill
Paintings from the Save Granada Theater paintouts will be displayed at Rosy’s from March 17 to 22. A supporters’ dinner will be at Rosy’s on March 22. Details to follow.
UPDATE March 2, 2010
We are switching the mid-week paintout to Thursday March 4.
Well, I did not want to change Wednesday's paintout date; yet the weather gods are pointing to Thursday ... so Thursday it will be. For those who wanted to paint Wednesday, you can come and paint under the eves, or wait until next Wednesday when the weather may be better.
And for those who can come out and paint in the sunshine on Thursday ... enjoy a rest stop at Hot Java's and then lunch on the sidewalk at Rosy's at the Beach ... all within a block of the theater. A fun day!
Below is a link to more photos of Sunday's paintout from Pamela. Also, a new "Bits and Pieces" from Ed is on the POPs log ... check it out for good painting tips. Other news is below.
Hope to see you Thursday. Sue
Morgan Hill Forecast:
Wednesday
Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. South southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 60.
PAMELA'S PAINTOUT PHOTOS:
UPDATE February 25, 2010
We are switching the paintout to Sunday, Feb. 28. The weather is a sure thing on Sunday, while iffy on the originally scheduled Saturday. Yet come and paint on Saturday if you want ... others are sure to be there.
More detailed information is below.
UPDATE February 21, 2010
Hi Painters,
The people of Morgan Hill have been preparing for us when we come down to paint in effort to save their historic theater. So far the businesses have joined together to find a way to support us and show our paintings for the "Save the Granada Theater" cause ... as follows:
-
•WHAT:Morgan Hill Granada Theater Paintout, then paintings displayed at local businesses (optional) with an Art Stroll and dinner event on March 22 (optional)
-
•WHERE: Meet, greet and paint around the historic Granada Theater (17440 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037)
-
•WHO: All plein air artists in the greater surrounding areas
-
•WHY: The Morgan Hill community have asked plein air painters (us) to help raise attention to the historic Granada Theater so that the town's council will not destroy it in their redevelopment plans ... decision will be made at end of March meeting. This event will draw the attention of the press ... feel free to alert your press contacts about your participation in the event.
-
•WHEN: We will have two paintout days ... Sundya Feb. 28 and the Wednesday March 3. Rain cancels and the following week will be the back-up dates. (check website, http://www.pleinairlinks.com/Plein_Air_Links/SAVE_GRANADA_THEATER.html, for status; also email will be sent out day beforehand). The paintouts will be all day ... let's say officially from 10am to 3pm ... with informal critiques at 3pm in front of the theater. Of course you are invited to paint any day to help draw attention to the theater ... bring a small "Save the Granada Theater" for your easel?
-
•HOW: We just show up like a regular paintout. Email me if you want to carpool ... or have space in your car to take someone else with you. RSVP emails are welcome too. (When you arrive please go to the theater first to check in with Pamela for more info.)
-
•KEY DETAILS:
-
◦Hot Java (coffee place on the corner of 2nd and Monterey, 17400 Monterey Road, a few doors down from the theater) will make their bathroom available to painters and provide free bottled water.
-
◦
-
◦Second, if we leave our wet paintings framed and wired, Pamela (a local artist and coordinator of the effort) will store them in her office, then distribute them to local businesses (restaurants, coffee shops, shops) to display. Then on March 22 the town will have an Art Stroll to view the art and a dinner will be held at Rosy's at the Beach (17320 Monterey Street).
-
◦
-
◦Painters do not have to participate in the showing of their work ... they can just attend the paintout, if they want ... it all helps.
-
◦
-
◦Rain cancels. However, Pamela says that Morgan Hill gets little rain when storms go by from the north ... the valley breaks them up. Also, there are overhangs along the street that painters are welcome to use (as long as door entrances are not blocked).
-
◦
-
◦The paintouts will be all day ... let's say officially from 10am to 3pm ... with informal critiques at 3pm in front of the theater. For those coming from Benicia area, on Wednesday you will want to leave by 2pm or after 6pm to avoid the worst of the commute traffic.
-
So the good people of Morgan Hill are looking forward to having us in town to assist in their effort to save their beloved historic theater. Put on your white hat (halo and angel wings), gather your paints and come on down to join the fun! Go to the theater first to check in with Pamela for more info ... and get name tags so merchants can recognize us.
See you there! Sue
P.S., For more background information, go to: http://www.pleinairlinks.com/Plein_Air_Links/SAVE_GRANADA_THEATER.html
******************************************************************
Hi Painters,
This is special ... pay close attention. A call has be made for our help ... that is, for plein air painters ... you can make a difference in enriching a culture of a local community, by saving an historic theater for a future multi-purpose performing arts theater. Read the emails below. The first one is from me that is addressed to key plein air coordinating artists. The second is from the community requesting our help.
So what do we need to actually do? ... only what we know best how to do ... paint historic landscapes. They are asking that we travel to their town of Morgan Hill for a day to paint the historic theater's street scene ... in other words, a paintout.
In addition, we can show our plein air work of the theater in the community center, receive some press, and have a chance of selling a painting or two (15% to the cause). Representatives from the local community graciously offered to bring back unsold artwork to a central location in our area.
Immediate positive response has been received from the accomplished plein air group, The Outsiders, who have links to early California's Society of Six ... a number of them will participate ... Nikki Basch-Davis and Jerrold Turner, and more.
So how do we pick a date ... arbitrarily, of course ... that's how painters create. We choose Saturday, Feb 27 for our paintout date. If you want to come, please respond ... and we will help organize carpool arrangements for those who can do that. Rain cancels, so March 6 will be the back up date ... refer to Pleinairlinks.com's "schedule" page to confirm a rain cancellation. We will also have a mid-week paintout date on March 3 with a rain back up date of March 10. Of course you can go down any day to paint and spread the word.
So RSVP for carpool coordination ... or just show up if you can.
Thanks for your consideration.
Sue
This is what we do best ... save history ... one way or another.
I just finished talking to Pamala (see email and website below) ... to get more specifics on her call for artists to help save her Morgan Hill's historic theater. The city will make their decision at the end of March ... and are leaning toward demolishing the theater to bring in multi-use development that is becoming commonplace (and boring) throughout California. Yeah, Benicia says "tell me about it." ugh.
Her group "Save the Granada" is a serious group with a strong, thought out alternative plan ... to renovate the theater into a multi-purpose performing arts center (live theater, music events, off Hollywood movies). The last owner of 50 years was planning such an approach before she died of cancer.
Pamala hopes that if plein air artists come down and paint the street scenes of the theater ... saying that they are painting it before it is demolished ... that it will get the press, and town citizens and city council members attention. We discussed having a paintout on various days for the many regional plein air groups that she asked for help ... then exhibiting the work (for sale, 15% going to the cause) at a community center ... having Terri Ford (who already volunteered) judge the art and give ribbons ... and holding a gala reception.
I also think that if artists paint scenes of theaters saved in their communities (e.g., Orinda Theater), and write a small text plaque how much it means to those communities ... then paint The Granada in the same vein ... it will communicate the story more fully. The developers are cutting the town's roots from under them.
Pamala said that she is willing to return all the paintings to central areas of the paintout groups for pick-up, so they will not need to make the long drive back. She is also willing to make a general pickup of paintings finished later in studios to bring to the exhibit hall (but we should try to minimize this).
So it means that artists just need to carpool to spend a day doing what they love ... plein air paint, and then share it with others ... and maybe make a sale and win a ribbon.
Do you think that our painting groups can do this? What dates would work best? I am thinking Saturdays Feb. 20, 27, Mar 6, 13, and maybe mid-week also ... Weds Feb 17, 24, Mar 3, 10. ... but am wide open to suggestions. We can pick one or two of those dates ... and post them on our paintout schedule. Rain cancels. Pamala will arrange the press when we decide.
So what do you think? Can we put on our "white hats" and do this?
Sue
P.S., to be clear, there will not be an entry fee or monetary prizes. All artwork accepted.
Begin forwarded message:
From: Pamala Meador <pamala@duovu.com>
Date: January 24, 2010 1:20:50 PM PST
Subject: Save the Granada
Dear Events Coordinator:
I am the Chairman and Founder of the Save the Granada Theater organization here in Morgan Hill California. As a group we are looking to have an Art show of images of the Granada Theater and Terri Ford of San Jose has agreed to judge the entries. We are not yet sure about prizes or entry fees – but what I would like to suggest to your Plein Air Group is to take one day in either February or March to come to Morgan Hill as my guest and paint the Granada Theater. The decision to tear it down will be made the end of March and we are trying to get as much awareness out there that a wonderful old Art Moderne Theater is in peril – so I thought of an Art Show – saying to the artists in our area that we can make a difference in our communities.
Our website is www.savethegranada.com and we are on Facebook under Save the Granada. I have attached a piece that I recently did so that you can get an idea of our cityscape. From the piece you will see we need more accomplished artists if we are to make this a success.
I humbly plead with you to put us on your calendar. The City would like to take down the Theater and surrounding buildings for retail, office, apartments and parking lot. We as a community are trying to save it for a multi-purpose community arts venue.
Feel free to give me a call at 408 891 4931 – or reply to this email. Again, please find it in your heart to come to Morgan Hill and paint our theater before it goes away.
Pamala Meador
p.s. I know that you already have a schedule through March – but I was hoping we could be squeezed in somewhere. Thanks again for your consideration.
<IMG_1223.jpg>
The Granada's historical value
The City of Morgan Hill has deemed that the Granada Theater is not an historical building.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The Granada is a wonderful example of late Art Moderne Architecture. Also called Mid-Century Moderne (1930-1950) The Granada’s sleek, streamlined appearance is typical of this style.
It's easy to confuse Art Moderne with Art Deco, but they are two distinctly different styles. While both have stripped-down forms and geometric designs, the Art Moderne style will appear sleek and plain, while the slightly earlier Art Deco style can be quite showy. Art Moderne looks to the age of the machine and in simplifying the architectures, all lines are smooth and aerodynamic.
The sleek, rounded Art Moderne style originated in the Bauhausmovement, which began in Germany. Bauhaus architects wanted to use the principles of classical architecture in their purest form, designing simple, useful structures without ornamentation or excess. Building shapes were based on curves, triangles, and cones. Bauhaus ideas spread worldwide and led to the Moderne or International Style in the United States.
Art Moderne art, architecture, and fashion became popular just as Art Deco was losing appeal. Many products produced during the 1930s, from architecture to jewelry to kitchen appliances, expressed the new Art Moderne ideals.
This breaking away from the ornate Art Deco period is what defines the Art Moderne movement. In the heart of Silicon Valley the Granada Theater is a prime example of this architecture movement which expressed the essence of a new, technological age.
Art Moderne truly reflected the spirit of the early Twentieth Century. Expressing excitement over technological advancements, high speed transportation, and innovative new construction techniques, Art Modern design was highlighted at the 1933 World Fair Chicago. Art Moderne also proved to be a pragmatic style because these simple dwellings were so easy and economical to build.
Art Moderne was a response from designers to the needs of ordinary citizens living in the modern world of cars, airplanes and automats. Art Moderne designers looked towards a new age with excellent design for everyone. The artisan and his hand tools were set aside for the age of the machine with the idea that mass production and quality were not mutually exclusive. The new look can be summed up in one word - streamlined.
A basic rectangular building can be made "Classical" by the addition ofcolumns, a pediment, or an architrave. The same building can be made Moderne with the addition of curved bays, chrome siding, Vitrolite, glass block, or neon signage. Art Moderne is a style that is largely for the small-business person. These designs are generally found on restaurants, cinemas, drug stores, hardware stores and the residences of desperately tasteful people.
The Granada Theater is a monument to the middle of the 20th Century. When it was built The Granada embraced the style that defined what was happening in the world. Situated on Interstate 101, The Granada’s door step witnessed the speed at which the world was spinning.
Too often the achievements of our fathers are discounted until they are too late. It cannot be said that The Granada Theater has no historical significance. It was and can still be a testament to another era, a step back in time to the technological world and the foreshadowing of our electronic world.
Art Moderne Theaters are an endangered breed, out of the approximately 1400 Art Moderne theaters that were constructed only 32% are open and functioning in some capacity and only 4% are being renovated. 21% have been demolished and are gone forever and 44% are closed and their fate uncertain. If the Art Moderne Ariana Cinema in Kabul, Afghanistan can be renovated we surely can renovate the historical Granada Theater in Morgan Hill and make it the gathering place it was and should be again.
6.
Merge onto US-101 S
About 9 mins
go 10.3 mi
total 22.2 mi
7.
Take the E Dunne Ave exit toward Morgan Hill
go 0.3 mi
total 22.5 mi
8.
Turn right at E Dunne Ave
About 2 mins
go 0.9 mi
total 23.4 mi
9.
Turn right at Monterey Rd
Destination will be on the right
About 1 min
go 0.3 mi
total 23.7 mi
17440 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
6.
Merge onto US-101 S
About 9 mins
go 10.3 mi
total 22.2 mi
7.
Take the E Dunne Ave exit toward Morgan Hill
go 0.3 mi
total 22.5 mi
8.
Turn right at E Dunne Ave
About 2 mins
go 0.9 mi
total 23.4 mi
9.
Turn right at Monterey Rd
Destination will be on the right
About 1 min
go 0.3 mi
total 23.7 mi
17440 Monterey Rd, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
LATEST MESSAGE FROM PAMELA - FEB 2:
Sue: I think this is great - Thank you so much for this – The local coffee shop will provide free water and free bathrooms for the painters. One restaurant has already agreed to some special offering and I am looking for other of our merchants downtown to show their appreciation for your participation and am getting great response. By Monday of next week I promise to have all the details, addresses, best places to park etc. mapped out for you.
Thank you again. I am going to be painting also. Hopefully I can see some great work. I am so excited.
Pamala
408 891 4931
