Fontana Arts
Join us as we celebrate Black History Month!
Creative fun for everyone! Be sure to visit each week and try out a weekly art activity inspired by and in celebration of African-Americans!
Week 1- Feb 1- Imagination Painting in the style of Horace Pippin
Week 2- Feb 8- Colorful Abstract Circles with Alma Woodsey Thomas
Week 3- Feb 16- Classics Re-Imagined with Kehinde Wiley
Week 4- Feb 22- Painted Stories with Jacob Lawrence
Visit every Wednesday as we highlight new artworks by our talented featured artists in celebration of Black History month! These captivating artworks are a must see!
Week 4 Spotlight Artist is Gary Lett
Biography
Gary Lett is a multi -media artist (clay, paint, drawing, wood, plaster, etc..) and has been an artist since he was very young, always passionate about drawing and wanting to learn and be challenged. His 6th grade teacher saw his passion and introduced him to painting fine art. When he was at Pepperdine University he also discovered his talent at ceramics in addition to excelling at drawing. Gary Lett’s artwork has been featured in galleries such as American Museum of Ceramic Art, his custom murals can be seen in San Antonio ,TX and Claremont, CA, and he has a public commemorative artwork commissioned by the City of Monrovia. Lett also has a long history of arts education for youth and will participating, as an industry professional, in San Bernardino’s STEMapalooza student conference. Lett is currently in the show Clayfornia at the California Botanical Gardens in, Claremont, where you can get a firsthand look at his ceramic handy-work.
To find out more about Gary Lett's journey click here.
Artist Quotes
“I’ve been told that no matter the art piece I make, it reveals that my hands were on it.” “ In all my art-making, I work to satisfy myself first. If it is a commission, I have my client’s vision at the forefront of my mind with the intent of matching their vision. But even in that, I first must satisfy my critical eye of observation for detail and accuracy.”
I believe in purpose, fate, and fortune! Each person’s destiny is filled with recourse. We must learn to accept the bitter with the sweet; the pit with each Cherry. I measure success not by lucky chance, but by the effort put forth, and that which materializes, is the fate of life. And fortune for me, at the end of the day, is measured by the joy in my heart.
Week 3 Spotlight Artist is Luther Fore
Artist Statement
My photographic art pieces are created from photographs I have taken, inspired by unique events involving people, nature and animals. Each art piece is unique and is beautifully created using brilliant colors which captivate the attention of all who admire.
Biography
Luther Fore began his journey as a photographer in high school. Until recently his photographic focus was on portrait photography, wedding photography, sports and entertainment events. Luther now enjoys great pleasure and relaxation in creating beautiful Photographic Art.
Week 2 Spotlight Artist is Thunderbachs (C.A. Bethel )
Week 1 Spotlight Artist is Kameko Madere.
Kameko creatures beautiful watercolor as well as oil portraits. Kameko's goal is for her art to reflect the complexity, resilience, and beauty of the human soul.
Kameko was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and now resides in the City of Fontana. She received her MFA in visual arts from Azusa Pacific University. Kameko has hosted workshops and participated in local solo and group exhibits including here in Fontana. Kameko also illustrated a recent children book Praline Lady by Kristie Myvett. She has her own website at kamekom.com.
Below is a sneak peek of a painting from her upcoming collection! For more of Kameko artwork please look at our virtual art gallery.
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Gary Lett Music Mural
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Map-Thunderbachs
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photo 5- thunderbachs
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Luther Fore-Night
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Gary Lett- Poditive roots
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Gary Lett-My fathers hands
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Luther Fore-Beach
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Gary Lett Imrov Sculpture
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Adjustments- Kameko Madere
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Luther Fore-Black and white
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Luther Fore-Birds view
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Kameko's New collection
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Grace-Kameko Madere
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Essence-Kameko Madere
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Gary Lett-Literacy series
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Photo 4 - Thunderbach
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photo 3-Thunderbachs
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Forest- Thunderbachs
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Luther Fore- landscape
Upcoming Interactive Art Events
- Friday, March 12 @ 5:15pm-6:45pm: Kid's Paint Night - Galaxy Splatter!
- Please click here for more information or to register for these upcoming events. *Paint nights are $7 per participant, materials provided. Make & Create is $5 per participant, materials provided.
Virtually Attend Imagination Studio Art Lesson, Register Now
Register now for a fun custom art activity lesson by registering for Imagination Studio! Choose a theme or a medium (acrylic paint, watercolor, chalk pastel, impasto or air dry clay) and we will create a fun and educational art activity.
These one-on-one or small group virtual lessons are open to all ages and run between 45 - 50 minutes, and will include art materials, live instruction via Google Meet, and fun and education art activities for registered participants.
Imagination Studio requires a paid pre-registration fee of $6 and date/time will be made by appointment. Art materials will be provided for the virtual event. Art material pickup information and virtual event login details will be distributed to registered participants prior to Friday’s event.
Art Immersive Experiences
- Art Appreciation Week Artist Interviews
- Kid's Art Corner
- Art Activities and Lessons
- Artist Exhibit Interviews
- Previous Fontana Art Program Highlights
Music to your ears! Listen to the delightful Stargazer Productions (Fontana Center Stage Theater) interview that features music, signing, and a theater management discussion. Please click here to view.
To watch or not to watch is not a question! Treat yourself and watch actress Christine Liao give candid performer discussion and perform a riverting Shakespeare monologue. Please click here to view.
Enjoy acrylic pour painting artist Meg Cushing as she shows a step by step demonstration on her painting process along with a charming artist interview. Please click here to view.
Kid's Art Corner!
Featured Art Projects:
Creative Time:
Daily lessons with Mo Williams on doodling
Metkids- The Metropolitan Museum of Art helps kids explore the world of art in many wonderful and detailed ways.
Makers Station- Free makers station challenges with hands-on creativity using household items and the site’s QR code instructions.
Nomster Chef- Illustrated recipes for your little chefs, ages 2-12 to cook with their grown-up.
Art Projects:
Artsology - Helps kids learn to appreciate the arts by providing them with the opportunity to play games, conduct investigations, and explore different forms of art.
Kids Think Design - Explores careers in fashion design, graphic design, interior design, book design, product design, film and theatre, architecture, animation, and environmental design.
FreeKidsCrafts - Lots of categories of idea, templates and print outs.
Art Activities, Lessons and Resources
Virtual Museum Tours - Visit museums around the world through their virtual tours.
San Diego Zoo - Check out their live animal cams and videos.
The Environmental Nature Center - Educational videos geared towards school-aged children.
Aquarium of the Pacific - A collection of webinars, live-cam footage and classes for all ages
Virtual Field Trips - Take a trip to a number of museums, zoos, aquariums and landmarks around the world. Here are a few favorites:
Kid-Friendly Art Projects:
Showcase Artist Interviews
Get to know all about our amazing featured artists and their artwork in these 10-15 minutes captivating one on one interviews.
Summer 2016 Artist Darren Inouye (Oil, Acrylics)
Spring 2017 Artist Angela Koenig ( Various medias, Encaustics)
Summer 2018 Artist Timothy Robert Smith (Acrylics, Mixed Media)
Fall 2018 Artist Harry James Moody(Oil)
Fall 2019 Artist Diana Carey (Acrylic)
Winter 2019 Artist Tom Elenbaas (Photographer)
Previous Fontana Arts Program Highlights
Past Gallery Shows
Meet the artist, hear about their story and see their artwork in these mesmerizing videos.
Debra Dobkins - Oil, Acrylic, Photo Collage Artist
Timothy Robert Smith - Mixed Media Artist
Virginia Vilchis - Mixed Media, Oil, Pastels, Acrylics
Tom Elenbaas- Photography and Digital Photography
Aeron Brown- Acrylic, Mixed Media
Jared Tumbarello - Aerosol Art
Margaret Stivers - Oil on Canvas
Edward Deng - Landscape Photographer
Programs
Artists in Action (pre-recorded videos)
Artists in Action videos featuring:
Music & Singing with Stargazer Productions (Fontana Center Stage Theater)
Painting with Artist Jerry Owens - Learn the behind the scenes process and tips of creating a painting.
Cooking with Chris Whitney-Morrison -Learn the way to cook the perfect scrambled egg by a culinary professional.
Piano with musician Michael Casillas- Treat your ears to Classical and Jazz music.
Painting with artist Kamelyta Noor- Watch painting in action as Kamelyta leads you through her creative process.
Acting with performers Christine Liao & Roman Phillips -Enjoy dramatic dialogue as two actors make a scene come to life.
Christine Liao played Waverly Jong in Sierra Madre Playhouse's production of 'Joy Luck Club' last fall. She is also known for her role as the clerk/waitress in the comedy sketch 'The ABC Who Can't Read Chinese' and as Kendy in Wong Fu Productions' 'Yappie.' She is very grateful for the opportunity to showcase her work in the Fontana Arts festival and to be reunited 'virtually' with her dear friend Roman for this intense scene.
Roman Phillips and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be in your festival. Most recently I performed in the 10 minute theater festival at The Frida
Kahlo Theater and can be seen in Torn from the headlines on Discovery ID.A special thanks to the amazing Christine Liao for sharing your talent with
me!
Graphic Design with Kat Gonzalez - Learn how to make an animated GIF of a yummy burger!
Bookbinding with Barbara Guerra-Torres- Enjoy learning as she leads you through a fun and easy guide into this beautiful craft.
Music and Art Meditation with Meg Cushing and relax as you listen to her soothing music and see her beautiful artwork.
Singing with Masters of Harmony and watch one of their award winning performances!
Featured Artist Spotlight
Artist biographies and art featuring
Artist Kamelyta Noor
Artwork (listed left to right) : There is No Steak Left in Town (Acrylic) , I Am Still Here (Acrylic), Patty Melt with Grilled Onion Looks Crazy Good (Acrylic)
An abstract fingerpainter, Kamelyta was born in Malaysia, but currently is living in the Inland Empire. Only recently did she discover her talent for finger painting while experimenting with leftover acrylic paint. Her art is whimsical, bold, unique, classy, quirky and definitely colorful.
"I am not a deep person, a poet or a philosopher. I just love playing with colors intuitively. Combining and contrasting them. My emotions, feelings and fervor dictate to my finger. I don’t think or ponder or meditate. I let go and the colors tell the stories of my heart. My hunger, my sadness, my anger; my desire, my love, my happiness; my pride, my regrets and my longing are all in my art. Every piece is a story told through colors. I become alive. I am happy!" www.kamelyta.com • 69greencamel@gmail.com
Artist Meg Cushing
Artwork (listed left to right) : Portal into a Better Future (Acrylic/Mixed Media), Acceptance (Acrylic/ Mixed Media)
Meg Cushing aka Maezy Stardust is a Mom, Teacher, Artist, Bard, Mystic, and Intuitive Coach. She is trained in multiple instruments, various forms of 2D/3D art, and teaches workshops for team building, special events and alternative therapy. Her goal is to inspire other to tap into their inner intuitive creative spirit to discover more joy and fulfillment in their lives. To see her latest work and see descriptions of her paintings check out scatteredstardust.art.blog
Artist Margaret Stivers
Artwork from Top left to Right : Cut the Faded Lights (Oil on Canvas), Cue the Faded Lights #2 (Oil on Canvas)
Stivers’s background is in architecture and aviation. She has a BA in design and Master of Architecture from Clemson University, Clemson S.C. She brings to the canvas a fusion of her life’s experiences.
The three paintings presented here are from a twelve-piece series called “Cue the Faded Lights.” This series developed from a visit to the Neon Boneyard, in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a lot surrounded by a chain link fence. As neon signs are taken down and replaced in Las Vegas, they find a home in this yard. There they wait to be preserved. In their faded state they still emit a glory from a by gone era.
For more information please visit her web page at www.Margaret Stivers.com
Artist Tya Ates
Artwork from Top left to Right : Quilt Friend (Acrylic on Canvas), Distributor (Acrylic, Modeling Clay, Wood, Distributor Cap) ,Triptych1 (Acrylic, Modeling Clay, Wood),
Tya Ates is a painter based in Northern California. She works primarily with acrylics and watercolors, but has recently been exploring making three-dimensional pieces by sculpting and painting clay. She is drawn towards surrealism and likes blurring the boundaries between people, animals, objects and places. Some of her favorite artists are Remedios Varo, Zsalto, and her dad. For more art see: https://society6.com/otterfox.
Artist Kameko Madere
Artwork from Top Left to Right ( Grace- Watercolor, Essence- Watercolor, Adjustments- Watercolor)
Kameko Madere is a native of the city of Los Angeles, born in the 1970”s with family roots from Louisiana. She paints the human figure using gender, culture, and spirituality to narrate stories, exude mood, and capture feeling in her work. Beyond the paints, Kameko supports global missions projects bettering the lives of women and children. Kameko has been invited to speak, host workshops and exhibit art in her local community. Today she resides in the city of Fontana, California with her husband and their three children.
Artist Jerry Owens
Artwork from Top Left to Right (Tree Line-Watercolor, Mountain Trail-Oil, Autumn Road Home- Oil)
Being creative with a brush has always fascinated me and I would say it doesn’t come naturally. Having to struggle to bring an image I have in my mind to fruition is the joy of painting. The idea that this image has never been done before gives one a real sense of accomplishment.
I’ve been fortunate to have spent much time during my lifetime amongst and around other artists and you always learn and appreciate others points of view and techniques.
Artist Sarah Berndt
Artwork from Top to Bottom: Meeting by the Mushroom, Dryad
Sarah was born in the Czech Republic and raised in California. She loves art, as well as writing and the creation of video games. She is currently attending the Laguna College of Art and Design for a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Game Art.
Artist Ernie Marjorian
Artwork from Top Left to Right: Duet (Oil on Canvas), Burger and Fries (Oil on Canvas) , Florence (Oil on Canvas).
Artist Sarah O’Conner
Artwork from Top to Bottom ( Lemon -Watercolor, prisma-color pencil, & gouache, Tomato-Watercolor, prisma-color pencil, & gouache)
Sarah O’Connor is an illustrator currently working in Southern Orange County. She was born and raised in a small town in New Hampshire. She has been living in Orange County for the past 10 years. She attended Laguna College of Art and Design and received a BFA in Illustration. Sarah has a love for watercolor, ink, prisma-colored pencil, and gouache. Her strengths and loves are culinary illustrations, landscapes, plien-air painting, portraiture and rendering.
Her main source of inspiration is nature, food, movies, “art of” books, graphic novels, family and friends. Throughout each of those little things she is able to draw inspiration and form ideas. Movies and graphic novels are a big part of her life and what gives her new ideas.
For more information about facilities, programs, events, exhibits, or classes, contact us at (909) 349-6979 or email Fontana Arts.