Ree McLaughlan Brown

Eloquence by Ree oil cold wax alcohol ink

Ree McLaughlan Brown - Sutter Creek Gallery is having an opening reception Saturday, February 4, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Multi-media artist Ree McLaughlan Brown is known for vivid art dominated by motion. She likes to paint with unexpected tools and on unusual surfaces, such as aluminum, granite and alabaster. Most days you can find her painting in her rural art studio producing the new work that will be exhibited in February at Sutter Creek Gallery. An opening reception for the show will be held on Saturday, February 4, from 2 to 5 p.m.

McLaughlan Brown paints expressive art in various media, including cold wax and oil, acrylic, and alcohol ink. Vivid colors predominate and textures abound in her abstract and non-objective works. In addition to the surfaces mentioned above, some pieces are rendered on wood panels and traditional canvases. She also offers limited edition prints and 5 x 5-inch windowsill art. The latter move to reveal an alternate image when tilted.

The artist retired after 38 years in state service, the last 14 years at the Cal Fire Academy in Ione. Her core mission is to make a difference through her art, often raising funds for local charitable events. Her artwork on a wine barrel during Winefest 2022 benefited the Amador County Arts Council. In addition to viewing her work at the gallery, it is also on display at local venues through the Art in Public Places program, sponsored by the Amador County Artists Association.

Ree McLaughlan Brown is one of twenty-two local artists exhibiting at the gallery. In addition to original paintings and photography, the gallery offers numerous affordable items including prints, cards, jewelry, pottery, fused glass and gourds. Framing and layaway services are also available. The gallery is open Thursday through Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, call 209-267-0228.

Kirk Neiberger | “The Inkist” original pen and ink drawings

by Writers Workshop

Kirk Neiberger work is featured at Sutter Creek Gallery
Open reception on Saturday, January 7, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Kirk Neiberger is a local artist exhibiting his work at the Sutter Creek Gallery. He channels his drawings and gives some artistic license purely for fun. Kirk Neiberger calls himself “The Inkist”. (The brand for his original pen and ink drawings). His realistic creations are characterized by an attention to detail that enables viewers to recognize and connect with the scenes. Some of his work is entirely black and white, while others are enhanced with bits of color.

Neiberger particularly loves to interpret local images and scenes, both historical and commonplace. Almost all his drawings are from photos, which he takes on his iPhone both at home and abroad during what he calls his "photo safaris."

Over time, his initial black-and-white drawings began to feature little highlights of color using either watercolor or colored Indian ink. He releases limited-edition, high-quality Giclee prints of his original drawings which he personally hand-titles and numbers. His prints come with a signed certificate of authenticity.

Michael Maloney | A photographer who finds inspiration from a love of nature

by Writers Workshop

Michael Maloney
A reception on Saturday, December 3, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Photographer Michael Maloney finds inspiration from a love of nature and art. His landscape and wildlife photos reflect an ability to stay in the moment and be open to all possibilities. At times his creations are traditionally matted and framed, while some are printed on aluminum surfaces. Maloney will be featured at Sutter Creek Gallery throughout the month of December with a reception in his honor on Saturday, December 3, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Maloney is self-taught in photography, beginning in the days of film and darkrooms. However, he now uses the latest digital cameras and photo processing. “I believe,” he says, “that printing itself is an art form and I take pride in the process. A photo is not fully complete until it is in print form, a concept that is almost lost in this digital age.” He spent nearly four decades in photojournalism, mostly with the San Francisco Chronicle, but is now retired and surrounded by nature in Amador County. With his images he hopes to encourage others to get out and explore the world with “a spirit of curiosity, astonishment and hope.”

You are invited to see nature through Michael Maloney’s eyes and to visit with him on December 3 while enjoying refreshments. He is one of 22 local artists exhibiting at the gallery located at 40 Main Street, Sutter Creek. On display are original paintings of all types, photographs, prints and cards, jewelry, pottery and gourds. Many items would make affordable gifts and these will be highlighted during the holiday season. Custom matting and framing services are also available. For additional information, call 209-267-0228.

Groveland | Your northern gateway to Yosemite National Park

by Writers Workshop

Groveland, California

This foothill community, located about 140 miles northwest of San Francisco, is on the western side of the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. The elevation is about 3,000 feet above the San Joaquin Valley fog below the winter heave snow above.

The sun shines there about 300 days a year. The summer nights are cool, winter snows are very light, and you can enjoy the snow's beauty without having to deal with it.

Pine Mountain Lake has a rural airport with an airpark around the parameter of the airport. For drivers, the roads are open year-round. Daytime temperatures average in the 60s in the winter and the 80s in the summer. It is a dry climate with very little rain during the winter months.

Within the town of Groveland, there is a gated community called Pine Mountain Lake and the Pine Mountain Lake Airport. The airport is managed and owned by the County of Tuolumne is a public-use airport. In addition to the airport, the Pine Mountain Lake gated community has a lake, golf course, tennis courts, and horse stables for its members.

When coming from the San Francisco area, Highway 120 is the most convenient road to Groveland and is just 23 miles west of the entrance to Yosemite National Park.

The original settlers, the Miwok Indian, found abundance in the fertile valley near where our town of Groveland now stands. They lived in Groveland for nearly 6,000 years.

In 1849, this all changed with the discovery of gold. Like many of the gold rush towns in California, it was the gold that promoted settlement of the area by those who were not Miwoks.

Originally named Garrote, the miners first came to this area after gold was discovered in 1848 by James Savage. The town was named Savage's Diggings. However, it was renamed back to Groveland in 1849.

The Iron Door Salon is the oldest operating salon in California. The story goes that the bar was open even day during prohibition. The Feds had to come from Fresno to close it down. When the Feds left town, it reopened. The Feds got tired of this and just left them alone. Groveland had the only continuously operating bar during the 1920 prohibition days.

Garden Club Jail - Goveland, CA

The Groveland Jail is a historic jail located in Groveland, California, USA. It was built in 1915 and served as the town's jail until 1964. The jail is a small, two-story building made of concrete and stone, with iron bars on the windows.

The jail was originally used to house local criminals and those passing through the town who needed to be detained. It was also used as a holding cell for prisoners who were awaiting transfer to larger jails in nearby cities.

Today, the Groveland Jail is a popular tourist attraction and a historic landmark. The jail is no longer used as a functioning jail and has been preserved as a museum.

Alpenglow Sports | 17th Winter Speaker Series

by Writers Workshop

Alpenglow Sports Announces the 17th Annual Winter Speaker Series Lineup

Snowboarding Icon Jeremy Jones Kicks Off the Series on December 8th.

On Thursday, December 8th, Alpenglow Sports welcomes snowboarding icon, environmental advocate, entrepreneur, and now author - Jeremy Jones - to Olympic Valley Events Center in Tahoe City to kick off the 17th Annual Winter Speaker Series.

With over 3,000 in-person and 35,000 online attendees annually, the 17-year-old Alpenglow Winter Speaker Series has become one of the premier North American forums for adventure storytelling and community gathering. Five times per winter, a premier outdoor athlete presents an inspirational tale of adventure, creating a forum for motivation and inspiration.

“The Winter Speaker Series has always been a platform that illustrates the importance and raw power of adventure storytelling. However, the real magic is the combination of adventure storytelling and the collective community fundraising of the series. Now that each show raises over $75,000 and over 17 years the series at large has raised over $1,000,000 for local nonprofits, we’re excited to see where we can take things, all while being inspired by these world class athletes,” says Brendan Madigan, owner of Alpenglow Sports and founder of the series.

The series will continue on January 5th with professional skier, big mountain climber, and Winter Speaker Series veteran Adrian Ballinger. In his show Third Times a Charm - A Journey to Ski Makalu, Ballinger will entertain us with the story of his third attempt in the last decade at skiing Makalu, the fifth tallest mountain in the world. Makalu, famed for its steep and technical terrain, was one of only two 8,000-meter peaks that had not yet been skied before Ballinger’s attempts. After two failed attempts in 2012 and 2015, 2022 seemed like the ideal time for another try, this time without supplemental oxygen in the “new style” of 8,000-meter ski descents. However, conditions, changing ethics of Himalayan climbing, ski partners, and an unexpected pregnancy had different ideas.

In the third show on January 19th, alpinist Brette Harrington will present Versatility Fueled by Mountain Creativity. An accomplished 5.13+ trad climber, calculated soloist, expert ski mountaineer, big wall sender and graceful mixed climber, Harrington will discuss her evolution in the various disciplines of climbing and skiing from beginner to cutting-edge professional, while highlighting her theme of the importance of strengthening weakness and overcoming mental and physical challenges throughout. Her run of accomplishments - free climbing Yosemite's famous El Capitan, first descents in Baffin Island, and big wall climbing routes in northern Spain - is astounding even to the grizzled veteran, and truly began when she quit competing in slopestyle and moved to Squamish, British Columbia in order to chase her rock climbing dreams.

On February 9th, Anna Pfaff will present Life’s Newest Crux through which the alpinist, expedition climber, and trauma nurse will muse on the ways that her experiences and lessons learned during alpine adventures around the world have helped her overcome her newest crux in life — the loss of six toes due to frostbite after an expedition on the coveted Alaskan giant Mt. Huntington.

The series will wrap on March 2nd with renowned local guide, and series co-founder Dave Nettle, who will regale us with tales from his week-long hut-to-hut ski tour on the French Vanoise Haute Route. This hut trip, which lies mostly within the Vanoise National Park, traverses some of the most remote and dramatic high alpine glacial terrain in the Alps, despite the fact it borders one of the largest, interconnected ski resort complexes in Europe. In true Nettle fashion, he will educate and inspire, while also filling the room with the echo of laughter through stories and images of his adventures across five countries with a cast of entertaining and motivated friends. As Dave’s ski mountaineering journey and narrative unfolds, we will learn that having solid friends, being flexible and adjusting plans quickly, and having a tendency towards luck is the key to successful travel, friendships, and adventures.

About Alpenglow Sports:

Alpenglow Sports is an original California Mountain Shop that has been providing locals and visitors with inspiration, local knowledge, and the best equipment to enjoy the outdoors for over forty years. Based in Tahoe City, Alpenglow Sports takes pride in being community-minded and socially and environmentally responsible to ensure Lake Tahoe stays one of the best places to play, live, and visit in California.

Evergreen Lodge | A hidden gem near Yosemite National Park

by Writers Workshop

Evergreen Lodge

From its humble start in the early 1920s, the Evergreen has matured into what Frommer's calls "The classic Yosemite experience," where you can escape to your very own comfy cabin in the woods. Today you'll find 88 cabins scattered throughout 20 acres of towering pines, each with its own balcony to create a sense of privacy, yet within easy reach of the central plaza, tavern and recreation areas.

Wandering through the Evergreen you'll discover all sorts of surprise diversions for play or relaxation – hammocks, horseshoes, bocce, and zip lines, to name a few. Everything here is thoughtfully maintained to provide a sense of connection to nature, wilderness, and history, while still affording you the modern creature comforts and respecting the surrounding natural resources.

For more information call (209) 379-2606 or visit them on the web at www.evergreenlodge.com

The Evergreen’s staff includes a group of high-potential young adults from urban backgrounds who work as paid seasonal interns.

They leave the city and their normal lives behind and come to live and work in the mountains.

Not only do they learn a specific trade, they are also able to live in a supportive community and enjoy outdoor experiences that challenge, motivate and inspire them.

Our commitment to our youth program stems from two central beliefs:

Supportive employment can help young people build momentum in their lives and realize their fullest potential
The outdoors in general, and places like Yosemite in particular, should be accessible to everyone

Wine Fest 2022

by Writers Workshop

Wine Fest 2022

Amador Arts Council announces the 25th annual Wine Fest returns to Sutter Creek on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This dynamic event this event is an evening of local wines while raising funds for arts education in Amador County public schools. With food and wine available inside Sutter Creek’s beloved boutiques, Wine Fest offers a unique opportunity for guests to discover Amador County’s charm inside and out. In addition, Wine Fest 2022 includes a raffle featuring a seascape vacation at Grand Solmar Resort in Cabo San Lucas, an estimated $6,000 value.

“Wine Fest is the Amador Arts Council's biggest fundraiser of the year, and they are excited to welcome locals and tourists to enjoy an array of local wines while supporting local art classes,” says Meghan O’Keefe, Executive Director of Amador Arts Council. “About 85% of Wine Fest attendees are tourists who center a weekend in our community around Wine Fest, so this event isn’t just good for our schoolchildren, it is good for everyone.”

Set on Main Street in historic Sutter Creek, the cherished “Jewel of the Mother Lode,” you will have an opportunity to taste 30+ local wines and nibble on gourmet bites inside boutiques along Main Street. Local musicians and dancers add a special flare to the Wine Fest arts education fundraiser. PLUS, the annual favorite Mystery Wines give you a chance to buy premier local wines.

“Every dollar raised from this event goes directly to support arts education in our public schools,” says Alyssa Vargas, President of Amador Arts. “Wine Fest has always been a really special night, and we hope our 25th anniversary Wine Fest will set the stage for another 25 years of expanding arts education throughout our rural community.”

For more information, please contact Amador Arts Council at (209) 256-8166 or email [email protected].

Nevada City’s Victorian Christmas – 2022

by Writers Workshop

NEVADA CITY'S
A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS 2022

Sundays – Dec 4, 11, & 18 from 1:30 – 6 pm
Wednesdays – Dec 7 & 14 from 5 – 9 pm

Welcome the holiday season in Nevada City. It’s a magical setting of hilly streets with authentic gas lamps, wandering carolers dressed in Victorian attire, and visitors sharing holiday cheer and good tidings.

This annual, family tradition takes place on two Wednesday evenings and three Sunday afternoons in December. There are holiday activities for all ages including live entertainment, yuletide treats and libations, and Father Christmas!

The aroma of roasted chestnuts fills the air, with cries of street vendors hawking their wares and lamp-lit streets filled with Christmas treasures. It’s the one & only Victorian Christmas.

We look forward to welcoming the best of the holiday Season with you!

Mary Sue Palmquist | Sutter Creek Gallery

by Writers Workshop

Artist Mary Sue Palmqist - Sutter Creek Gallery presents Mary Sue Palmquist, the October featured artist at Sutter Creek Gallery, discovered a love of artistic expression in a high school art class with a daily lesson of portrait drawing. In college she majored in art, attending Ripon College and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design studying printmaking, graphic arts and typography, all before the advent of computers. In 1983, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art from Rockford College with an emphasis in watercolor.

Before Palmquist could follow her passion for art further, she took over managing the family business, an historic theater in Rockford, Illinois, used for performing arts performances, meanwhile taking evening classes in painting and calligraphy. After 18 years she went on to pursue the study of art therapy in a master’s program which led to teaching art in an after-school program until she moved to California in 2005.

She then took up her paint brushes and began studying watercolor under the tutelage of Sabina Turner, a local professional artist, as well as taking workshops and entering art shows and the local fair. Palmquist is primarily a watercolorist but enjoys melding various mediums to create texture and bring abstraction into her work. Lately, her favorite subjects are old buildings and old photographs. “There’s so much story in them,” she says, “that I love to imagine the essence of what was going on.”

Palmquist is a member of the Sutter Creek Gallery where you can visit with her during a reception in her honor on Saturday, October 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. She is one of twenty artists represented by the gallery located at 40 Main Street in the heart of Sutter Creek, open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On display are original paintings of all types, photographs, prints and cards, jewelry, pottery and gourds. Custom matting and framing services are also available. For additional information, call 209-267-0228

Sutter Creek Gallery’s September Artist

by Writers Workshop

SUTTER CREEK GALLERY
September 3, 2022, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Inspiration comes to watercolor artist Judy Day in any number of ways. As she puts it, “I see a combination of colors, shapes or textures and they reach out and grab me.” At times these “combinations” occur when she paints a landscape plein air. At other times when she travels around the world. Or a barn or flower near her home may provide the inspiration. During September, Judy Day will be featured at Sutter Creek Gallery with an opening reception on Saturday, September 3, from 2 to 5 p.m.

The artist loves learning new techniques and trying out various color combinations while painting daily, even if only for a few minutes. Day tackles a variety of subjects, including florals—sunflowers are a favorite subject—birds and other animals, vineyard scenes and other landscapes. She frequently paints water scenes, such as views along the Mokelumne River and at upcountry lakes. She employs hues both subtle and vibrant, varying them to suit the subject matter.

While Day has tried other media, and occasionally creates using graphite, watercolor is her passion. She likes “the way the pigments mix on the paper and flow from the tip of the brush. I can play for hours with paper, paint and water. Add some salt and a spray bottle and I’m set.” Her favorite materials are Arches 300 lb. cold pressed paper and Daniel Smith paints.

Judy Day is one of twenty artists represented by the Sutter Creek Gallery located at 40 Main Street in the heart of Sutter Creek. The business is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On display are original paintings of all types, photographs, prints and cards, jewelry, pottery and gourds. Custom matting and framing services are also available. For additional information, call 209-267-0228, email

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Ree McLaughlan Brown

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