Greater Whittier Area Real Estate Blog

Hello everybody,

As promised last week in the first blog about the La Habra Heights Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts, here is the follow-up!

And what a great show it was! If you didn't get a chance to visit, you really missed out this time! This was my fourth year of participating in the show and I must say it was absolutely wonderful. The show was packed with visitors every day, even when it was pouring on Saturday. The official numbers aren't in yet, but to me it sure looked like there were a lot more visitors than the year before. Luckily the shuttle service was running all three days as the church parking lot was just simply overflowing.

At the 50th Anniversary of the Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts, 206 renowned artists participated and exhibited their work. From stunning jewelry, to breath-taking sculptures, to wonderful paintings, pottery, weaving, and so much more (please scroll down for additional photos).

The numberous volunteers did an amazing job turning the church grounds into a spectacular Fine Art Event. And as in the years before, their organization and planning was just simply outstanding - the food at the Starving Artist Cafe was delicious, the artist demonstrations were great, and the musical entertainment was superb - my personal favorite was the Hawaiian band (from La Habra High) playing Sunday afternoon: so much fun! Visitors were lining up chairs to watch the show they were putting on, the most popular song was probably Iz' version of "Over the rainbow". Everybody was singing along and having a great time!

I am sure I speak for all the artists as well as the visitors when I say "Thank you so very much for this wonderful Festival" to the La Habra Heights Congregational Church and all its volunteers. It was absolutely wonderful and I can't wait to see what you'll be able to put together next year.

If you would like to support your local La Habra Heights Congregational Church or to check the worship schedule, please feel free to visit their website at http://www.hillcrest-church.org/.

And now to some of the extrodinary artists (just a small selection, a big thanks to all the other artists!):

Donna Larson: Painting & Gourds
http://whittierartists.com/Category.aspx?categoryID=11

Hitomi Yamamuro
Hand-woven wearable art; Pasadena

Mary Ellen Mead
Bead Weaving; Whittier

Pat Brown (seated)
Pottery
http://www.whittierartists.com/Category.aspx?categoryID=10

Naomi (in blue, with her Mom)
Copper and Sterling Silver Jewelry
www.JewelryByNaomi.com

Marie Brock
Polymer Clay
http://www.whittierartists.com/marie_brock1.aspx

Mike Tyler
Pottery; Whittier

Karla Schmidt Commins

Dorothy
Jewelry; Palm Dessert

Zoe Ann
Wearable Art; Anaheim

Thanks,
Stephanie :-)
www.SereneFoundations.com
DRE 01390458

One of the most popular Art Shows in the area is coming up this week: The Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts! As every year for the past 50 years, many renowned and award-winning local as well as nationally acclaimed artists will be displaying their work in a professional Gallery Setting at the Hillcrest Congregational Church in La Habra Heights.

One of the aspects that make the Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts so attractive (it draws in about 10,000 visitors each year) is the wide variety of media on display: Watercolor & oil paintings, sculpture, fiber arts, handcrafted jewelry, ceramics, photography, glass, wood, pottery, batik and mixed media. Countless volunteers spend months preparing for the Art Show, transforming the place of worship into a Conglomerate of Personal Expression - from the breath-taking Sculpture exhibit in the Church lobby, to the Painting and Photography Gallery as well as the Fine Jewelry exhibits in the main hall, to the Boutique with its eclectic selection of jewelry, pottery, glass, and other exquisite items.

Another wonderful feature of the Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts are the Artist Demonstrations throughout the day in the patio area, the musical entertainment, the children's art workshops  on Saturday and Sunday, as well as the "Starving Artist Café".

This year's featured artist is world-famous, Los Angeles based, watercolor and oil painter Ernest Lacy (http://www.ernestlacyfineart.com/welcome.html). His exceptional work has been featured in hundreds of juried exhibitions and is represented in many public and private collections. His exhibit will be located in a separate room in the Main Hall where you will be have a chance to meet the artist in person and learn about his work.

Besides the work of acclaimed painter Ernest Lacy, 205 other artists will be displaying their work at the Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts. Here are some of the local artists to name just a few: Mary Ellen Mead (Bead Weaving), Carole Borries, Marie Brock (Polymer Clay, http://www.whittierartists.com/marie_brock1.aspx), Pat Brown (Pottery, http://www.whittierartists.com/Category.aspx?categoryID=10), Elaine Cain, George Carvin, Charles Elliott, Brad Faegre (Painting, http://www.faegrefineart.com/index.html), Wm. Fillmore, Domenico Foschi (Photography, http://www.dfoschisite.com/Domenico%20Foschi%20welcome.html), Jay Gould (Painting, http://whittierartists.com/Category.aspx?categoryID=13), Linda Hall, Susan Helms, Suzette Hodnett (http://whittierartists.com/suzette_hodnett1.aspx), Jeanette Kelly, Donna Larson (http://whittierartists.com/Category.aspx?categoryID=11), David Martin, Michey McIlrath, Yosh Nakamura, Charles Richards, Stephanie Rutenbeck (http://mysite.verizon.net/resun254/index.html),  JoAnn Sarachman, Meri Saunders, LeRoy Schmaltz (http://www.cosmicassociates.com/oceanicarts_bios_n_history.htm), Mike Tyler, Fred Van Suchtelen, Michael Silvertri, Janice Slattery, Mike Tamai, Robert Thome (http://www.robertthome.com/), Marty Wilson (http://whittierartists.com/Category.aspx?categoryID=9), Polly Wojnaroski, Doug Wolven, Bruce Wood, Pat Woodhull, Rose Mary Yetter, Doris Lynch, and many more!

The Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts is located at 2000 West Road, La Habra Heights, and will start Friday, February 26, running through Sunday, February 28. Opening Hours are: Friday, 10am - 5pm, Saturday 10am - 5pm, Sunday 11:30am - 5pm. Rain or Shine (mostly an indoor show)! Free Admission! There will also be a Shuttle Service on Friday, located at the AMF Friendly Hills Bowl (15545 E. Whittier Blvd, Whittier), and on Saturday & Sunday, located at Bright Medical Center (15725 E. Whittier Blvd, Whittier), to take you up to the Church premises.

Hope to see you there!!!!

Stay tuned for an update and additional photos next week!

Stephanie & Shirley
DRE # 01390458 & 01456658