I was surprised and honored to find a Jurors Award on my Valley Oak sculpture, ‘Nest of its Own’ at the Bedford Gallery exhibit. I’m grateful for the validation. The piece was sold but my Art Patron graciously offered to leave it with me until I paint it in watercolor. This is my way of keeping the sculpture because we know I can make a three hundred twenty-five year-old piece of wood look realistic in watercolor. Right? I hope so—you just never know.

This extra large Bug Hotel, made from the same Valley Oak (also juried into the Bedford exhibit), will be shown at the Piedmont Harvest Festival Sept 18, as will my completed Valley Oak gall painting. This free hometown outdoor festival has my all-time favorite farmers’ market, kids carnival, jazz fest, scarecrow auction, edibles contest, food trucks, plus the shoji screened Japanese Tea House shades our local art exhibit. Scouts always grill burgers and dogs. See you, hot dog in hand, on the Cake Walk . . . I think this is my year.

The 150th Anniversary of Golden Gate Park came and went in online isolation. We are finally celebrating the exhibit, ‘From Sand Dunes to Forest’ in person—two years late. The paintings and photography focuses on the early days of the park, when blowing sand dunes threatened to overtake the parkland. Did you know the canopy of trees, depicted in the exhibit, were planted to protect the “Outside Lands” from erosion and it has worked for 150 years? Without them there would be no park. Artists’ Reception Sept 24, 2-4 pm in the S.F. Botanical Gardens. Look for my Coast Redwood painting in the Helen Crocker Russell Library through January 23.

Stay cool. Drink water. Save water. Save power. Stay safe. Boost. Good grief! Like the blowing park sand our landscape evolves and we adjust, but the healing power of art is constant. Use that.

Yours,

Bonnie Bonner

a.k.a. Joanne Palamountain