Artifacts

AG ART…The National Steinbeck Center opened its first juried exhibition last Friday evening with a reception and awards ceremony for Images of California Agriculture. Oakland Museum senior art curator Karen Tsujimoto pored over more than 530 slides to select the 42 paintings, drawings and photographs exhibited in the show, a cross-section of artists’ views of the land and labor of the Salinas Valley. Top honors and a $2,000 grand prize were awarded to Carmel Valley painter Robin Sawyer for “Hand to Mouth,” a large oil of a stooping fieldworker. “I’ve been painting farm workers since 1998,” Sawyer said while accepting her award. “They deserve front and center; I honor them in my work.” Second prize of $1,000 went to Santa Cruz photographer Jane Doyle for “Homage to John Phahl,” a colorized photo of trees, and Watsonville’s Heidi Gottfried took third for “Yellow Bandana.” Awards of distinction were handed to San Francisco painter Cindy Roe and Carmel Valley artist Jim Kasson. Most of the art in the show is for sale. As of last Friday, just one piece had already been purchased: “Salinas Valley Fields” by Rick Deragon, art instructor at Palma High School and Weekly freelancer. Congratulations, Rick!

POET IN RESIDENCE…The city of Pacific Grove is accepting applications for its second official poet-in-residence, the position that will be vacated by Weekly freelance writer Ryan Masters in July (after two years of sterling service, we might add). You must be a working poet whose household income falls below 80 percent of the county median—that ain’t hard for most poets, I reckon. The chosen bard will receive greatly reduced rent on the Whitney Latham-Lechich historic cottage, donated to the city by the late poetess to support community poetry. Applications may be picked up at PG City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., or the PG Library at 555 Central Ave. Deadline is April 30. For more info contact Julie Uretsky at 648-3190.

SCREENWRITING CONTEST DEADLINE…Get those prize-winning screenplays in fast to “Hollywood Connections 2004,” the Monterey County Film Commission’s annual screenwriting competition—entries must be postmarked by April 1. The contest is designed to give promising screenwriters access to professional critique and possible selling opportunities in LaLa land—top winners will have their scripts read by working producers, directors and literary agents. For details call 646-0910 or visit www.filmmonterey.org.

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