Renegade Rip

Issue date: 10/25/06 Section: Features

Media Credit: Alexander Gay High school students work on their art pieces at Via Arte while onlookers pass by on Oct. 14 at the Marketplace.

The parking lot was covered in inspirational fine art that seemed to jump off the blacktop right into your face. Via Arte was held Oct. 14-15 at the Marketplace in southwest Bakersfield. Both professional and student artists came together to put on the event that is one of the largest fundraisers for the Bakersfield Museum of Art.
Over 200 artists participated in the event. Artists came from as far as San Luis Obispo to participate alongside local artists.
"I don't do it for the competition. I do it for the fun experience," said Heather Magness, a math major from Bakersfield College who has participated in Via Arte for four years. "It's about putting yourself out there and showing what you can do."
Magness did an original recreation of a photo taken of her and her little sister Kathleen, with their first carved Halloween pumpkins. Kathleen drove from UCSC just for the event.
To recreate such a thing takes time, according to Magness. The artist must first create a really good sketch and then measure and grid it to scale so that it's proportionate, Magness said.
"Some people can sit down and draw, and it's beautiful," said Magness, "The first year I did it, I didn't sketch, and it just didn't come out right."
There was art for everyone, such as the Battle Da Vinci, a reproduction of Super Heroes from DC Comics, Anime, and even original art scaled from 18 feet to 20 feet squares.
Due to rain on Oct. 13, the museum staff had to re-chalk the square outlines, which set artists back.
But even with the set back, the next couple of days were bright and sunny, and artists were able to create and complete their creations on the blacktop of the Marketplace by Sunday afternoon.

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