Upstate Creative Corps art projects in Sierra County
County arts agencies across California’s Upstate Region, led by Nevada County Arts Council, announce $3.38 million in grant awards to 27 partner agencies and 54 lead creative partners, with a total of 1,010 artists and culture bearers supporting initiatives serving California’s least represented peoples, and most vulnerable communities and environments. Nevada County Arts Council was the administering organization for the Upstate region. Sierra County Arts Council was the local administering organization that oversaw three projects that were awarded to serve our communities. This program was a jobs creation program that employed artists across the Northern California region. “The Headwaters Stained-Glass Window” project was created by the artist Marjorie Voorhees, of the Walker River Paiute out of Schurz, NV who was born in Loyalton and grew up here Sattley, on the west end of the Sierra Valley. Her project celebrates the landscape and wildlife of the Sierra Valley in an original stained-glass window installation at the Old School House in Loyalton, the new cultural center of Musica Sierra. Installation celebration event will be held Saturday May 25 from 3-5pm in Loyalton. Information for the event at www.musicasierra.org
“Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin: Protecting the Sierra one Place at a Time” is a project of the Sierra County Land Trust who partnered with 13 local artists and writers to create a book of writings, photography, history and art celebrating our beautiful Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin. Book Release and Art Exhibition to be held on Sun. June 9 at 1pm at the North Yuba River Hall in Downieville and continuing until June 16 from 1-3pm. Information at www.sierracountyartscouncil.org
“Climate Country Radio” a multi-county project by Northern Californian, country-folk troubadour Rita Hosking who has created set of short, fun “public service songs”. The theme is climate change, adaptation and mitigation. Keep an ear out to hear her music on your local radio stations including KVMR. Rita will also be performing with her husband Sean Feder at the North Yuba River Hall on Saturday, June 22 @ 4pm. Information at www.ritahosking.com and www.sierracountyartscouncil.org
The Arts Council was also pleased to present Corinne West’s original music project “Transformations in Song” performance at the North Yuba River Hall over Mother’s Day weekend. Corinne’s Upstate Creative Corps project was in partnership with Plumas Rural Services as a recovery response to the Dixie Fire and the impact of fire on rural Sierra mountain communities. Information www.corinnewest.com
The Arts Council would like to offer a big thank you to the many organizations and artists that contributed to Sierra County Upstate Creative Corps program. The Upstate Creative Corps program is funded by the California Arts Council. Sierra County Arts Council is State-Local Partner with the California Arts Council. Information on all the projects at www.sierracountyartscouncil.org and www.upstatecreativecorps.org
What: Corinne West Transformation in Song
When: Sat. May 11 @7pm
Where: The North Yuba River Hall, Downieville
What: Headwaters Stained Glass Windows by Marjorie Voorhees Official Unveiling
When: Sat. May 25 from 3-4
Where: The Old School House, Loyalton
What: Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin Art Exhibition and Book Release
When: Opening Reception Sun. June 9 @ 1pm and Continuing through Sun. June 16 from 12noon-3pm featuring 15 local Artists and Writers
Where: The North Yuba River Hall, 318 Commercial St. Downieville
Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin Art Exhibition: Enjoy art, photography and writings by Sierra County artists in celebration of the iconic Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin region. Works exhibited are created by artists featured in the "Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin" book created by the Sierra County Land Trust for the project "Preserving the Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin in a Changing Environment".
Katie O’Hara-Kelly works on the book in her home studio
Photo Image by Mary Davey for the book cover
The Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin region is one of the most compelling visual features of the Sierra Nevada. The craggy, snow-covered Buttes form a dramatic alpine backdrop to the Basin's high elevation lakes. The Sierra County Land Trust’s(SCLT) mission is to protect and preserve this incredible landscape as a legacy for future generations. Partnering with the Sierra County Arts Council and local artists, the SCLT is creating a book of writings, photography, history and art celebrating our beautiful Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin. The Upstate Creative Corps program, from the California Arts Council, is funding the book titled “The Sierra Buttes and Lakes Basin: Protecting the Sierra One Place at a Time”. The book will feature local artists, photographers, and writers including Katie O’Hara-Kelly, Darby Hayes, Mark Stevenson, Mary Davey, Paul Guffin, Hank Meals, Steve Carlton, John Wagner, B.J. Jordan, Sugie Barker, Marjorie Voorhees, and Margie Miller. North Yuba Naturalist, author, photographer and artist, Katie O’Hara-Kelly has done an incredible job laying out and editing the book which is planned to be released this spring. We are so grateful to have her experience and expertise to bring this book together. Laurie Obelholtzer of the SCLT has been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition with the hope that the book will help to fulfill the SCLT mission to preserve this incredible landscape. The book will be accompanied by an art show showcasing contributors and scheduled to open the evening of June 8, 2023 at the North Yuba River Hall in Downieville. Learn more about the Sierra County Land Trust: https://www.sierracountylandtrust.org/.
Sierra County Poetry Out Loud Champion announced!
North Yuba River Hall Classes
A Theatre Story is now up on Youtube
The World Premier of Riley Pearmund’s short film, A Theatre Story, was screened at The Yuba Theatre recently. The film was a wonderful reflection of our community and our beautiful theatre. Tim Jordan, Yuba Theatre Technician, has been pleased to mentor Riley Pearmund in the creation of his senior project, a short film about The Yuba Theatre. Riley has been helping and learning to provide technical support for plays and events at The Yuba Theatre for the past two years and we will miss him. We wish him well with all his future endeavors.
North Yuba River Hall
Downieville Dance Floor is installed!
We were pleased to raise more than $1,800 with the Gofundme campaign for the new Downieville Dance Floor. We expect to be having Kathy Fischer’s Downieville Dance Classes begin soon. We are also planning a bi-lingual family Music Together Class in partnership with Sierra First Five. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Thank you to the former Native Daughters of the Golden West who donated the building and also funding for our improvements. We think Bob’s Discount Carpet did a great job on the floor. We would also like to thank Grays Electric who upgraded our electrical including new light fixtures in the main hall and library. Thank you to Kim Hemstock who repaired the beautiful slate walkway and to Nigel Pearmund for fixing plumbing in the Downieville Library. We will be hosting dance, martial arts, and music classes and welcome everyone. Please contact the Arts Council if you are interested in having a cultural event or workshop at the North Yuba River Hall
The Sierra County Arts Council is pleased to announce that we have recently become the owners of the historic Native Daughter’s Hall at 318 Commercial Street in Downieville. We were excited to be host first event, the Mad Hatter Tea, this April with the help of former Native Daughter’s of the Golden West. We look forward to maintaining this beautiful building for local cultural events.
Pictured above: Earlene Folsom and Karen Galan pass the keys of the newly named North Yuba River Hall to Sierra County Board member Feather Ortiz and Executive Director B.J. Jordan.
Photo by Rudy Jackson
Arts Education
In collaboration with Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District and the Sierra Schools Foundation and Musica Sierra we are pleased to bring Art Education to Sierra County Schools.
Arts Education is always a priority for the Arts Council. This year we are supporting in-class instruction, field trips, assemblies and programs in Sierra County Schools. Our goal is to being arts education to every student in Sierra County.
Art & Music Sponsorship
Supporting civic and community organizations across Sierra County by sponsoring artists and musicians for events. Featured here is Oso Blue, recently sponsored at the Wine in the Woods event in support of the Sierra City Fire Auxillary.
We are expanding our program to support individual artists and musicians and their projects.
The Yuba Gallery features locally
made arts and crafts
We are open!
You may also call B.J Jordan at home at 530-862-1241 if you would like to arrange a time to meet and make a purchase.
208 Main St., Downieville, CA 95936
530-289-9822
The Mission of the Sierra County Arts Council is to bring together Community and Art
The Sierra County Arts Council is a member-supported 501 (c) (3) nonprofit public benefit corporation established in 1981 to promote, support and advocate for the arts throughout Sierra County, California. We are the designated partner in the State-Local Partnership program with the California Arts Council which provides major support for all that we do. A thriving arts community brings economic and cultural vitality to everyone.
