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4B – Daily News – Thursday, January 27, 2011 Pastimes Nearly 90, artist to exhibit locally An art exhibit at The Big Picture on Feb. 3 is just one of several hon- ors for Phylis Wathen’s 90th birth- day, which she will celebrate Oct. 28. For her 85th she went for a hot air balloon ride and enlisted the companionship of several close friends. Now she is considering a glider ride. “I am thrilled that Phylis is hav- ing a show at The Big Picture,” said shop owner Dianne Rabalais. “I have been following her work now for several years and she has quick- ly become one of my favorite artists. She is so diverse in her work and is always searching for new ways to expand her artistic knowl- edge. She is the zippiest 89-year- old I know.” Wathen’s show begins with a reception open to the public from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is an opportunity not only to view the works, but Rabalais will demon- strate mat cutting and framing for those interested. Refreshments will be served. A fourth grade teacher inspired Phylis’ artistic abilities. The class made hand-painted, glass slides of birds that were shown on a screen. Wathen’s birds always stood out and were the impetus for a life-long interest in exploring artistic expres- sion. Born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Wathen’s family soon relocated to Southern California. There she grew up and became a teacher. For 34 years she taught specialty cloth- ing construction for the Los Ange- les Adult School system. Her class- es encompassed clothing design, pattern drafting and sewing skills. She received the Calco Award as outstanding teacher and became president of the Los Angeles Teacher’s Adult Education Associa- tion. After retirement she moved to the Red Bluff area. She also lived for a time in Scottsdale, Ariz, where she enjoyed traveling and toured the country in a 26-foot fifth-wheel. She moved back to Richfield and joined the Red Bluff Art Associa- tion in 1992 and is now a life-time member. She held the office of association president, serving for two years. She is hospitality hostess for RBAA, taking care of kitchen needs, baking beautifully decorated cakes for monthly birthday celebra- tions and sending greeting cards. Courtesy photo A self-portrait that captures Phylis Wathen’s vivacious smile and adventurous spirit. “Phylis takes time out of her busy schedule to make sure we are well cared for during our weekly painting sessions, said President Connie Maxey. “Those cakes really make us feel special.” Wathen takes advantage of every opportunity to study and advance her skills as an artist. Among noted instructors, she counts Adel Earn- shaw, Joe Garcia, Frances Miller, Robert and Sharon Long, Jan Kunz, Dick Philips, Sandi Palmer and Joy Wilson. She is skilled at oil paint- ing, watercolor, color pencil, sculp- ture, crochet, knitting, quilting, counted cross stitch and embroi- dery. In addition to numerous rib- bons, twice her works have won Best of Show at the Tehama District Fair earning the right to be dis- played at the State Fair in Sacra- mento. Wathen’s sculptures have been The North State Symphony continues its support of youth programs in the arts community with the 2011 Young Artist Auditions on Feb. 13. This event, free and open to the public, begins at noon in the Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall at CSU, Chico. Talented young musicians from across the north state participate for the chance to win cash awards and per- form on stage with the North State Symphony next sea- son. For more information call 898-5984. shown at the Tehama County Museum. She visited a sheep shearer so she could do an accurate depiction in a diorama. She did another of branding calves. Life- sized sculptures include men saw- ing logs and a manikin wearing a cowhide coat. The Big Picture exhibit will dis- play a representative selection of Wathen’s many and varied works on paper, canvas, cloth and sculp- ture. The show will be in place until April 5. The Big Picture is at 857 Washington St. in Red Bluff and its hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday The Red Bluff Art Association celebrates 55 years of bringing art opportunities, education and enrichment to the North Valley. For information call 527-4810 or write RBAA, P.O. Box 944, Red Bluff, CA 96080. Arts & entertainment Harlem Gospel Choir Black History Month will be celebrated during the month of February at California State University, Chico. It is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role they have played in American history. There will be movies, discussions, a “rent party,” a per- formance by a drum and dance ensemble from Haiti and a performance by the Harlem Gospel Choir. The world- famous choir will perform in Laxson Auditorium on Feb. 24. Maya Angelou, poet, author, historian and educator, will speak in Laxson Auditorium on March 22, in honor of Black History Month. Celebrations for Black History Month will start with a kick-off dinner on Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Selvester’s Cafe on the CSU, Chico campus. On Thursday, Feb. 3, a Harlem Renaissance “rent party” will be held on the Harlen Adams stage as a fundraiser for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship and the Multicul- tural and Gender Studies Student Activist-Scholar Award. Rent parties were a way for people living in Harlem in the 1920s and 1930s to pay their rent. Hosts would cook food, hire musicians and use any proceeds to pay their rent. During the month of February, the AS Bookstore will offer 20 percent off books related to Black culture. A complete schedule for Black History Month is below: • Kick-Off Dinner, 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 2, Selvester’s Café by the Creek • Rent Party, 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, Harlen Adams stage, suggested donation $5. • “Do the Right Thing,” Movie and Discussion, 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, Cross-Cultural Leadership Center (CCLC) Meriam Library 172 • Bonga and the Vodou Drums of Haiti, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, Laxson Auditorium Tickets available at University Box Office, 530-898-6333. • Alvin Ayler, Documentary, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, Ayers 106 •“Diary of a Tired Black Man,” Movie and Discussion, 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, CCLC Meriam Library 172 •“The History and Myths of the Bloods and the Crips”, Movie and Discussion, 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 15, CCLC Meriam Library 172 • Challenging Black Inferiority, Discussion, 3- 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, CCLC Meriam Library 172 • Black State of the Union Address, Panel Discussion, 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, BMU Auditorium • School Daze, Movie and Discussion, 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, CCLC Meriam Library 172 • Black History Month Spoken Word, 6-9 p.m., Wednes- day, Feb. 23, BMU 210 • Ugly Cosby Sweater Party, 7-10 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, Selvester’s Café by the Creek • Harlem Gospel Choir, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. Laxson Auditorium Tickets available at Universi- ty Box Office • Black History Educational Display, Ongoing through- out February, Kendall Hall, 1st Floor • Maya Angelou, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 22, Laxson Auditorium, Tickets available at University Box Office For more information call the Office of Diversity at 898- 4764. The sponsors of Black History Month at CSU, Chico include the Office of Diversity; Black Faculty and Staff Association; Black Leaders on Campus; the Cross-Cultural Leadership Center; the University Film Series; Multicultur- al and Gender Studies; and Men of Honor. Symphony auditions Composer and guitarist Gyan Riley The 7th annual New Music Symposium will take place Feb. 17 and 18 and will include performances and master classes that cele- brate the art of music com- position. Honoring the late Alfred Loeffler, composer and music professor at Chico State, this year’s sympo- sium features a perfor- mance by composer and guitarist Gyan Riley, as well as works and performances by the university’s music students. Works by student com- posers will be featured dur- ing the first concert, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in the Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public with a reception to follow. Headlining the event at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 18, in the Rowland-Taylor Recital Hall, will be Riley. Riley has performed throughout Europe and across the U.S., both as a soloist and in ensemble with various artists such as Zakir Hussain, Michael Manring, Dawn Upshaw, the San Francisco Symphony, the Falla Guitar Trio, the World Guitar Ensemble and his father, the composer/pianist/vocalist Terry Riley. His debut solo CD of his own composi- tions, Food for the Bearded, was released in 2002 on New Albion Records to rave reviews. As a teacher, Riley has served on the fac- ulties of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, California State University Sacramento, California State University East Bay, and Humboldt State Uni- versity. "Gyan Riley is a special type of musician," said Department of Music facul- ty member David Dvorin, artistic director of the event. "He is both a talented com- poser and performer, whose work bears influences from the classical tradition, as well as jazz, rock, and world music. His music appeals to audiences of all types and generations." For more information, call David Dvorin at 898- 4848. Admission for CSU, Chico students is free for all events. Advance tickets, at $15 adults, $13 senior citizens and $6 children/non-Chico State students, are available at the University Box Office, 898-6333. Add $2 for tickets purchased at the door.