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A film about soul crooner Bill Withers, Grammy award-winner and best-selling recording artist — Grandma's Hands, Just the Two of Us, Ain't No Sunshine, Lean on Me and many others — will be shown in Harlen Adams Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 10 begin- ning at 7:30 p.m. Still Bill is an award- winning, intimate docu- mentary of "one of the nicest people in the music business," according to Keith Seppanen, Chico State Department of Music chairman and long- time friend of Withers. The showing, a fundraiser for the Depart- ment of Music, will fea- ture a talk by Seppanen and a raffle of an auto- graphed framed poster and several autographed CDs and t-shirts. "My talk will be about what it was like working with Bill, and being with his family," Seppanen said. Seppanen first met Withers when he was a recording engineer at Yamaha nearly 30 years ago and Withers was an already established record- ing artist. "Bill was a delight to work with on first meet- ing," noted Seppanen. "He puts you at ease with no airs." The two soon became good friends — so good that Seppanen asked With- ers and his wife Marcia to be the godparents of his son Charles. "We have remained very close over the years," he said. Seppanen described Withers as "a person who is true to his character and his values, something that will be very evident in the movie." The film, which will be available as an 84-minute DVD in a couple of months, grew from what was supposed to be a 10- minute interview with B- Side Players Productions. Still Bill offers a unique and rare look inside the world of Withers. Advance tickets for the screening, $12 adult and $10 students and children, are available at the Univer- sity Box Office, 898-6333. For disability-related accommodations, please call 898-4325. 8A – Daily News – Thursday, January 28, 2010 ALL SEATS $5 Published through a co-sponsorship agreement with the N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2010 A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH MOVIE @ 7 pm AT THE STATE THEATRE, 333 OAK STREET Pastimes Arts & entertainment Deadmen to rock Riverside tonight Elliot Randall and his band The Deadmen are set to give a free perfor- mance at the Riverside Bar and Grill at 7 tonight in preparation for the release of the band's new album, "Caffeine & Gasoline." The CD features a col- lection of songs that blend three-part har- monies into a mix of out- law country, rock and blues. The album was record- ed and produced at Mis- sion Bells Studio in San Francisco and features Randall's core band, The Deadmen, including Kyle Caprista (drums, vocals), James Deprato (guitars, banjo, mandolin), Danilo Lopez (bass, vocals), and a special guest appear- ance by Jackie Greene on keyboard. "Caffeine & Gasoline was an easy album to make and, at the same time, the album I've always wanted to make," Randall said in a press release. Nearly everything on the CD was recorded live, straight to tape, with the full band. "I wanted this album to show that it's OK to rock a little bit," he said. "And having a kick ass band helps, too." Randall spent much of his childhood in the south and was raised with a deep respect for country music, but cites a diverse group of influences, including a cowboy c o u n t r y - s o n g w r i t e r father, a collegiate, liter- ary mother and his heroes like Lyle Lovett, Bob Seger and Delbert McClinton. Randall and the band have opened this year for Junior Brown, The Steve Miller Band, Wynonna, Timothy B. Schmit (Eagles, Poco) and oth- ers. More information is available at http://www.elliotrandall.c om. Courtesy photo Elliot Randall and The Deadmen Should all of your art be for sale? What if you want to paint just for yourself? To enjoy the process of art and forget the business of sell- ing. That is perfectly accept- able. I have several pieces of work that are NFS (Not For Sale). And they will never be. Why not? Well some- times I paint a pic- ture and out come personal feelings and I want to explore the work for a while. Other times I put so much effort into the work and I don't get the ask- ing price that I feel I should get for it. Sometimes I real- ly like what I cre- ated and make prints, cards, whatever I think might sell but keep the original for myself. I also have copies of the original to work from while selling the originals. I keep these copies in a dark container to protect the colors from the damage of sunlight. Art can be used as a form of therapy or healing. Art is used with children who have been through tragedy, helping them to heal. It can be a form of expression when we can't find the words, a safe way to get the negative feelings out with- out hurting people or things. Even plain old scribbling is used as an art project to loosen up the imagination. Does scribbling classify as an art form? If you are two years old your parents will take that scribble and put it on the refrigerator to show company. But is it worth selling? Probably not. When should scribbling stop? About the age of 10, children are trying to make their art look life- like and need to transition with shapes and forms, shading and perspective. They are trying to progress and if not pleased with their work they might it tear up right before your eyes. They might give up art alto- gether. Hopefully they have a knowledgeable art teacher in school that can assist them. The quality of art is declining with in today's world evident by the push button society we live in. If it's not instant gratifica- tion then, "it's too hard". When paints and col- ored pens came out with scents and glitter I won- dered if art would be totally lost to the younger genera- tion. Sparkled scribbles would prevail and no one would feel the urge to make houses or animals again. An adult may paint pic- tures of what they think the chaotic world should be like while trying to keep their personal life together. Some people paint to endure lone- liness or isolation. Anyone who can make a personal statement of how they see their life or world without the influence of commer- cialism, and following the stereotype of what is expected should be congrat- ulated. Whatever the reason to pick up paint, pencils, or crayons; let the personal expression that comes forth bring us contentment and don't worry about "is it good enough to sell". Let's just enjoy the process and how it makes us feel. Dana Eker is a watercolorist living in Red Bluff. She is a member of the Red Bluff Art Gallery, with artwork displayed around town. E-mail Dana at danaeker@hotmail.com. You may view her work at http://www.cafepress.com/ pondperfect. Dana Eker Beginner's Easel Shasta College to present operas REDDING — Shasta College's Divi- sion of Arts, Communications and Social Sciences announces the upcoming perfor- mances of the opera program in the Shasta College Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, through Saturday, Feb. 6, with a matinee at 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, at 3:15 p.m. Works include Puccini's comedy Gianni Schicchi, and scenes from Rigoletto by Verdi and I Pagliacci by Leoncavallo. Tickets will only be available at the door for $10 general admission and $7 seniors and students. For more information, call 242-7730. Soul legend Bill Withers subject of film in Chico