|
$$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
Welcome to Culture ConnectionGrass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District's newsletter,
featuring the events, stories, and people of our community
|
Art in Public Spaces—
Three Free Events to Complement We Are Not Strangers Here
|
|
Albert Johnson and his Namesake, Johnson Canyon—A Presentation & Panel Discussion
Tuesday, March 11th | 5-7pm The Eric Rood Center | 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City
Facilitated by Teresa Baker, founder of In Solidarity Project and co-director of the Outdoor Diversity Alliance, this presentation and panel will discuss the historic renaming of Johnson Canyon in 2022 by the Truckee Donner Land Trust and the man it is named for, Albert Johnson. Read more… Susan D. Anderson Curatorial Talk–with Linda Jack of Nevada County Historical Society Thursday, March 20th | 7-9pm Sierra Presbyterian Church | 175 Ridge Rd, Nevada City
California African American Museum History Curator Susan D. Anderson will provide an overview of her research about California’s hidden African American past. She will speak about contributions by Black Californians to the state’s agricultural and mining heritage, and the civic atmosphere in California during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Read more… Byrds of a Feather, The story of Charlie Byrd, California’s first Black Sheriff from Weed, California–Film Screening with filmmaker Autie Carlisle Monday, March 24th | 5-7pm The Eric Rood Center | 950 Maidu Ave, Nevada City
A free event showing a 34-minute documentary about Charlie Byrd, California’s first Black Sheriff from Weed, California, and discussing ideas of belonging through personal storytelling with filmmaker, Autie Carlisle. Read more…
|
Cultivate. Connect. Innovate.Big things are happening for arts & culture in Nevada County! We’re developing an Arts & Culture Action Plan, and YOUR voice matters. The time to act is now. Culture Forward will help ensure that arts and culture remain thriving part of our county’s identity—fueling economic growth, fostering inclusivity, and preserving our rich cultural heritage. But to do so effectively, we need your input! How to Get Involved This is your chance to make a difference! Nevada County residents are encouraged to participate in multiple ways: Take our Culture Forward Survey—Your insights will guide future arts and culture initiatives. Join a listening session during Scansion’s in-person visit—Specific times coming soon! Engage with us on social media—Follow updates, share feedback, and stay connected through our platforms: Sign up for Culture Forward updates
The Culture Forward website will serve as a hub for updates, event details, and engagement opportunities—so be sure to check in regularly!
|
March Creatives MeetupFriends of the arts, in lieu of this month’s Creatives Meetup we invite our creative community to join us this Thursday, March 6 from 5-7pm at the Miners Foundry in Nevada City for the Community Tour and Input Session. Following the recent transition of operational control of the Miners Foundry Cultural Center to the City of Nevada City, a newly formed City Council Committee is hosting a facility tour and listening session. The City encourages the community to tour the historic venue, learn about its capabilities, and provide valuable input on future programming and community use.
Click here for more information on the changes happening at the Miners Foundry. |
|
|
|
|
|
Artist Spotlight - Jennifer Ruggewords by: Judie Rae
|
|
|
|
|
Art That Honors the EarthNevada City artist Jennifer Rugge’s desire to protect the environment led her on a journey to move away from the use of manufactured oil and acrylic paints, which contain toxins. She calls herself an earth artist. “I create works that reflect Nature and the communities evolving from this awareness. I use organic and non-toxic materials called natural mineral paints on hand-made papers over wood.” Jennifer often hikes our local hills in search of pigments, minerals and clay deposits she turns into her own paints. She mixes natural softened beeswax and walnut oil into pulverized earth pigments to create her colors. (For the interested, Jennifer occasionally offers workshops on how to process pigment and minerals to create non-toxic paints.)
|
|
The processes of creating environmentally-safe art “engage the self with the earth and to the Art,” says Jennifer. Her art then “takes on a significant connection with the land and its creator.” Rugge says that even as a kindergartner she knew she wanted to be an artist. In those days her works were created with chalk and crayons and watercolors. A fifth- grade teacher offered inspiration by playing music for his class, handing out paper and asking his students to draw what they heard. Her art developed from there. |
|
|
|
In 2005 Jennifer and her family moved to Europe and lived there for over six years. It was in Italy where she took art classes and was introduced to the practice of creating pigment mixtures. When she returned to the US, she wanted to continue her work using earth-friendly methods. This led her to a deeper study of European cave art and the methods they used to make paints; her work today reflects her passion for the ancient art with a contemporary flair. She shares that “cave artists knew 3-D perspective,” something we may not notice when viewing prehistoric cave drawings. She also has traveled to the Australian outback to study rock and cave art and signs of the Aborigines.
|
The ancient roots of language are another interest of Jennifer’s; she feels it connects her present art with the prehistoric past. To that end, Jennifer incorporates ancient symbols into her art, especially Hebraic pictographic writing. Jennifer’s latest award for her art came at the 2025 Wild and Scenic Film Festival, where, as an art exhibitor, she won "Best of Theme Award" for her painting “In a Purple Universe”, which honors this year’s festival's theme "Wild at Heart". To view Jennifer’s art, and to learn more about her process, you can contact her through Instagram @jenniferruggefineart or website, jenniferrugge.com. You can also reach her at ruggej@aol.com. |
|
|
|
|
The Sisters Who Married Stars – A Washoe TaleIn honor of International Women's Day (March 8) and Women's History Month, we celebrate the rich oral traditions of the Washoe people with The Sisters Who Married Stars. This tale, set near present-day Taylor Creek, narrates the journey of two sisters and their celestial adventure. Delve into this captivating story in MUSE 2025. Read the full story here. |
|
|
MUSE Launch PartyThursday, March 13, 5:30pm The Granucci Gallery at
The Center for the Arts
314 W Main Street, Grass Valley Come celebrate the second edition of MUSE Magazine: A Guide to Local Art & Culture. Meet the contributors and pick up your free copy of MUSE 2025! RSVP |
|
|
|
|
Honoring the Feminine... The 6000 Circles ProjectFeaturing works by the communityArt Opening:
Sunday, March 9, 3:00- 6:00pm
Exhibition Dates:
March 6 - April 25, 2025 The Granucci Gallery at
The Center for the Arts
314 W. Main Street, Grass Valley This project is a global collaboration with heavy participation from the national and local chapters of The Women’s Caucus for Art. All art is created by individual artists( and non-artists alike)from around the globe. All artwork is created in a circular format on a variety of substrates, in all mediums and all in devotion to The Feminine. @the6000circle_project |
|
|
"Winter's End...New Beginnings”On display through March 30th Nevada City Winery Gallery
321 Spring Street, Nevada City Artist Ron Kenedi’s “Winter’s End…New Beginnings” is abundant with engaging movement and expressive colors – from exuberantly vivid, to subtle and soothing. Medium: Oil on hand stretched cotton and linen canvas Learn more… |
|
|
|
|
The Woman’s GazeOpening Reception:
Saturday, March 8, 6:00-8:00pm
On display through March 30 Seven Stars Gallery
210 Spring Street, Nevada City In honor of National Women’s Month, featuring the work of eight local artists. |
|
|
Introducing our new intern - Moises!
|
My name is Moises Ortega, a resident of Nevada County, and I am happy to find myself at Nevada County Arts Council as their intern. As an artist, I am excited to learn more about my community and the work it takes to cultivate togetherness through the arts. I found myself in this lovely organization through the amazing people working at Connecting Point. Being an artist, I am especially inspired by this opportunity. Through this internship, I want to seek more of an understanding of the art world and better help my community by advocating for more artistic spaces, safe spaces for youth, and more opportunities for people of color. As a Chico State student, I hope to gain more experience through this internship to help me hopefully work in an Animation studio one day. Check out Moises’ art over on his Instagram! @moseynaround |
|
|
|
|
Sense & SensibilityThursday, March 6th – Saturday, March 29th Nevada Theatre
401 Broad Street, Nevada City Sierra Stages presents this playful new adaptation of the beloved Austen classic which follows the fortunes (and misfortunes) of the Dashwood sisters—sensible Elinor and hypersensitive Marianne—after their father’s sudden death leaves them financially destitute and socially vulnerable. Tickets |
|
|
WindSyncSunday, March 16, 2:00pm
Pre-concert talk 1:15pm Seventh-day Adventist Church
12889 Osborne Hill Road, Grass Valley WindSync is known for connecting with audiences through storytelling, humor, and interaction, making the experience fun and accessible. They are “a group of virtuosos who are also wonderful people, too.” (Alison Young, Classical MPR). Their program entitled “Taxonomies” reflects this concept by exploring the beauty, complexity, and interconnectedness of nature through music. Tickets |
|
|
|
|
The Motive
and the CueWednesday, March 19, 6:30pm Nevada Theatre
401 Broad Street, Nevada City National Theatre Live presents - Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in this fierce and funny new play. 1964: Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new Broadway production of Hamlet under John Gielgud’s exacting direction. But as rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel. Tickets |
|
|
SPF FRINGE
—Sierra Poetry Festival’s month-long
“Fringe” event—
Friday, March 21 - Saturday, May 3 Various location throughout the GVNC Beginning on World Poetry Day at The Book Seller in Grass Valley and celebrated throughout National Poetry Month, come enjoy all things poetry with the SPF Fringe! For a full calendar of events and to learn more about the Main Stage event on Saturday, April 12 check out the SPF website… |
|
|
|
|
I have been preparing rigorously for post-high school education during my senior year. I decided late into high school that I wanted to attend a four-year college right after graduation. This decision has led to a lot of hard work in a short amount of time. After building my portfolio, writing my essays, and finally, deciding what schools I wanted to apply to, the next step was seeing the schools in person. The four schools I chose to apply to were Laguna College of Art and Design, Otis College of Art and Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, and SUNY Purchase. Two of the schools, Otis and Laguna, are in southern California. The other two, Purchase and FIT, are in New York. Having toured each school now, I have a new perspective on each school and what they offer. In October, I toured the West Coast schools. This trip was when I was still working on my portfolio, and had yet to submit any applications… |
|
|
|
Interested in learning more about the goings on in our sister cultural district? Sign up to receive the Truckee Turntable.
|
|
Copyright © 2025 Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District, All rights reserved.
You've received this email because you are interested in the arts, culture and people of Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Our mailing address is: Grass Valley-Nevada City Cultural District
PO Box 1833
Nevada City, CA 95959-1833
|
|
|
|
