One has to make a run for it

from Mountain Democrat, Friday, November 11, 2022

Like some colleagues

In the KNOW

Music master

Congratulations to Dominic Labuguen, a student at Ocean Grove Charter School in Placerville. Dominic, with the guidance of music teacher Therese Labuguen, won the National Association for Music Education Electronic Music Composition Competition, 9-12 grade category, for his composition “Spring.”

Nov. 11

Visit the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville, open to the public, 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays. See the many plants, trees, succulents, natives and more. Wander through the 16 individual gardens at your own pace or ask a docent for help. Garden may be closed for inclement weather; check the website before visiting: ucanr.edu/sites/ EDC_Master_Gardeners/ Demonstration_Garden. Cold Springs Church hosts the 23rd annual Craft Faire, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 & 12 at the church, 2600 Cold Springs Road, Placerville. Find gifts, home and holiday décor and much more created by 30 quality crafters. Admission is free.

A Veterans Day ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the El Dorado County Veterans Monument on Fair Lane in Placerville.

Andis Wines in Plymouth hosts an event for past and active military, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 & 12. To make a reservation visit andiswines.com.

Charles B. Mitchell

Vineyards, 8221 Stoney Creek Road in Fair Play, celebrates 29 years of Bottle Your Own on Veterans Day Nov. 11-13, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Fill, cork and label your own case of wine. Charles B. Mitchell Vineyards is offering zinfandel, cabernet franc and mourvedre. For more information call (530) 620-3467.

The American Legion

Post 119 is hosting a dinner & dance on Veterans Day for veterans and their families and friends at the hall, 4561 Greenstone Road in Placerville. The hall is paying for the veterans’ dinners. For more information call (530) 6263956.

Musician Ed Wilson will perform at The Vine in El Dorado Hills, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Oak Ridge High School Theatre Arts presents the rock musical “Rock

of Ages: Teen Edition”

Nov. 11 & 12 at the school theater, 1120 Harvard Way in El Dorado Hills. For tickets and more

n See Know, page B5

Mono Lake horses photographed by Terrie Gray

New Placerville gallery artists embrace nature

D. Lee Reyes Special to the Mountain Democrat

Gold Country Artists Gallery, an award-winning gallery in Placerville, presents artwork by its new artists, potter Melissa Bruno and photographer Terrie Gray.

Beauty of the world

Shimmering treasure

At the tender age of 9, Bruno learned to wheel throw from her grandfather and has created extraordinary pottery since. Her strong love for her media shines through in her work. As a teacher, painter and potter, she delights in sharing her knowledge with young people, just as her grandfather did with her. Her experience as an art historian, curatorial assistant, anthropologist and naturalist plays a huge role in her current pottery designs.

She loves exploring and experimenting with textures and often incorporates raw clay body into her work for an organic feel that provides a window into the origin of the piece (“mud of the earth”). For example, Bruno describes her “Nile Inundation” and “Field of Reeds” as subtle throwbacks to ancient Egypt. Some of her cups, bowls and goblets are elevated by the addition of decorative chains and jewels, swirl designs and fascinating textures. Bruno’s glazes range from earth tones to blues with hints of glowing violet. Some glazes imbue a subtle sparkle, a surprising bit of shimmering treasure born during firing in the kiln.

Bruno is the creator of the brand Existential Entropy which is

about existing in chaos: “From mud through fire, pottery is enhanced and refined through a metamorphosis just as we humans are during our lives,” she said. “There is only so much I can control before I give it up to the kiln gods. The rest is in flux.” As a teacher, Gray wanted her high school students to feel the same joy and excitement she felt about the world. Instead of posters with dissected frogs in glorious color, Gray posted prints of famous paintings, especially colorful impressionistic works. As a photographer, her desire became one of sharing the beauty of the natural world and helping her viewers to widen their appreciation and desire to protect wild animals and open spaces. With photography as a serious passion, she refined her craft through a series of local, online and field-based learning opportunities. After becoming certified as an underwater photographer, Gray upgraded her camera to a professional-quality Nikon, with some of her underwater and macro photos winning photographic contests. As Gray’s photography gained recognition, her photos were published and included in a book produced by the World Best Top Photographer Association. Of her photographic subjects, Gray said, “If it’s alive, I’ll take pictures of it!” She finds it wonderfully Goblet by Melissa Bruno compelling that herds of wild mustangs still exist and can be found within driving distance of her home. So far, her favorite places to view and photograph wild horses are near Mono Lake in California and by n See artists, page B9