Friday, February 23, 2007

More Whiskey Flat Days Fun

Yes, Whiskey Flat Days is a fun-filled weekend. However, there is tons of history behind this annual event. Kernville, California was first established during the Gold Rush days, but was known as the town of Whiskey Flat. Many miners were travelling through this region and a man by the name of Adam Hamilton saw this as a great business prospect. Hamilton set up a tent next to the Kern River and began selling whiskey to the prospecters that came through the valley. Next thing you know, Whiskey Flat was a town.


Some years later, a dam was built on the Kern River that created our own Lake Isabella. When this happened, the town of Whiskey Flat had to be relocated to a higher spot on the mountain. This is when the town became Kernville, as we know it today. As the Gold Rush dwindled down, people began to really settle into the town of Kernville. However, they were faced with a challenge: not many people wanted to travel all the way up here in the mountains. So, they decided to devise a plan that would bring tourists, and therefore more money into the town. Without tourism, the people knew that Kernville would not last.

The people agreed to have some kind of a celebration to attract people. According to The Kern Valley Sun, "Lloree Knowles, a local real estate broker, was the first to recommend that the community use a frontier-type celebration to try to bring more people into the Valley during the slack winter period." Then, Ardis Walker, a local historian and author, suggested the name "Whiskey Flat Days" because he thought that it would be a great way to showcase the town's historic past. The first Whiskey Flat Days kicked off in 1958 and has been growing ever since.

There you have it! The history of Whiskey Flat Days in Kernville, California.
As Candace said, there is so much to see here...and some GREAT artwork too.

But for me, the best part is that it offers fun for the whole family.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Whiskey Flat Days

Hello again everyone! I hope everyone in the Kern River valley managed to make it up to Whiskey Flats and enjoy the festivities. I managed to make it for a few hours but didn't have much time to spend there. For those of you who are not from the area and are not familiar with the celebration, it is an annual event held in Kernvills to celebrate the history of the town. Vendors come from al over the United States to sell their goods; everything from home-made kettle corn to clothes and art. There are also events such as a shoot-out held in the park (following the western heritage of the town) and a carnival for the kids. I got a chance to speak to one of the vendors, Paul Harding, who comes to Kernville each year from San Jose, where he and his wife sell various goods, many hand-made. They have a great website; its definitely worth checking out. All of the pictures I have here are from their booth.
It seems like there are a dwindling number of good artists and good art each year. Maybe it's just me, or maybe I'm going on the wrong days, but I think the new restrictions put on sellable goods by the Chamber of Commerce has something to do with it. A few years ago, there were two different booths that sold original paintings that were remarkable, and all I saw this year were prints. Maybe I just missed them. I do miss some of the good stuff because I always have to work all weekend. Hopefully some year I'll make it to the carnival, or catch some of the live music at Riverside Park.

Friday, February 16, 2007

"Met" Minutes

Hello, everyone! Just a little update on the progress of our Metamorphoses project. We had another (slightly condensed!) meeting yesterday, and we have some issues we need to work out fairly last minute for this project. Were having a little issue with funding, and Gary is going to have to scramble This weekend to put together the necessary paperwork to show that Met is a vocational project. Hopefully Dani's ideas will help him! We're all thinking of Gary this weekend.

We also are having a problem figuring out what to do with the printing. We are being encouraged to print in-house, which would be a little bit of a step down for the project. One of the goals of Met is to improve a little bit each year; one idea for this issue is to print the art pieces in color if funding allows. So we also have to convince someone that it is necessary to print out of house.
We did have some good news, on top of all the little details that need to be ironed out: The submissions are rolling in and some of our favorite contributors are signing up. Thanks for your involvement, guys!

Whiskey Flats weekend has arrived. I will be heading up there tomorrow and hoping it is a good year for the arts and crafts vendors. I'll take my camera just in case, and if I find anything interesting I'll definitely let you all know.
Have fun this weekend and drive safe!

Thursday, February 08, 2007

A few words from Aeron Hicks

The following is a letter that the Metamorphoses editors received from a Cerro Coso alumnus and poetry contributor to the premier 1989 issue. Since the writing of this letter, Aeron has agreed to serve as an alumnus editor of the upcoming 2007 issue of Metamorphoses.

February 01, 2007

Good morning!

I was viewing recent editions of Metamorphoses on the Cerro Coso website this morning, and noted my poem, "Metamorphosis" [1989 premier issue], among the assorted poems, stories, photos, and other works of art. What a joy it is for me to see; First, that Metamorphoses has continued; And, second, that my poem still inspires.

I remember the day my friend, Julia, and I approached Carol Hewer, our then English professor, about the idea of a literary magazine. How I hoped that our first effort would serve as a vehicle for students and others to express their voices – then and now.

The "Metamorphosis" poem, coupled with the drawing that served as cover art that year, hangs in my office and in my home as a testament to life and as an inspiration. Writing the poem was a turning point in my life; it was and is the hallmark of two years of deep reflection and growth – much of which took place in the classrooms and halls of Cerro Coso Community College. Challenged and lit afire, I rose from the testing of my wings… ready to fly.

I think of Carol Hewer, Dr. Maddox, Dr. Rosenberg, Leo Girardot, Dr. Leo, Morris Scharff, and many other professors and instructors who helped me build a strong foundation for future academics… and for life. I will always love Cerro Coso and remember that squared-off drive into campus…and the roadrunners and bunny-rabbits who attended me as I arrived every morning, ready for a new day, full of questions and the energy of seeking. I remember Santiago Vaca and the red walls (at least for one semester!) of the art gallery upstairs, the Library and the classroom across the hall where I "taught" my tutoring group in psychology… I even remember the cafeteria and that expansive view out the back bank of doors and windows, and the outdoor area outside the classroom where I first conquered math (bless you, Sally!). My memories enrich and fill me with renewing hope.

I send my best to you and to the students who bring their dreams to their experience at Cerro Coso.

With appreciation,

Aeron Hicks
Crossfield Consulting
crossfieldenterprises.com

Saturday, February 03, 2007

"Met" Minutes

We have some new additions to our list of Metamorphoses officers. Our official list is comprised of: Aeron Hicks (alum), Angela Looper, Candace Hawkins, Dani Draig, Josh Simpkins, Kevin Howe (alum), Pati Ruotsala, Serenity Flash, and Gary Enns. Welcome to everyone!
If you have anything to contribute to the blog effort, please feel free to contact me. I have already recieved one great letter from one of our alumn officers, Aeron, that will be viewable here shortly.
I would like to see some discussion on here, so if any of you would like to talk about anything literary, please do! I know a few of you are taking Shakespeare this semester, and I would love to hear how you like it so far! I was unable to take the class, but I do love Shakespeare and I hope Gary will continue to offer this course so that I might be able to take it in the future. Of the works Ive had the pleasure to read, I still enjoyed "A Midsummer Nights Dream" the most.
We are reading Frankenstein in my class right now and I am enjoying it! Im trying not to run too far ahead but Gary has only assigned us 20 pages per week so far and Im anxious to just read it!
Gary has informed me that all of the Met editors have been invited to participate in this blog, so theres no excuse not to!

Thursday, February 01, 2007

"Met" Minutes

Hi, my name is Candace. I am one of the editors of the new Metamorphoses club and will be checking in periodically to post updates on the success of our local literary journal.
We had our first meeting today. Our current members include Gary Enns, of course, myself, Angela, Pati, Serenity, Josh, and Dani. Our goals are beginning to develop for the success of Met 2007, and we hope to encourage the involvement of more of the members in our community, as well as everywhere else. We hope to receive more attention from the art community, as Met has not received many art submissions in the past. We hope to receive submissions from the students at Cerro Coso, as well as any and everyone else interested. We are working on developing ideas for advertising to help us reach out to possible contributors, and welcome feedback if anyone has any ideas or would like to be involved in any way.
Once again, I will be updating periodically, and encourage responses from everyone on the blog. Hopefully our other editors will be signed on soon and can also contribute. Thanks to Gary for involving me in Metamorphoses, and I will see you all again soon!