IIt's Women's History Month, and as the nation takes note of the many contributions of women to history and contemporary social events, Miner's Foundry Cultural Center is honoring organizers who help keep the community connected with fun events throughout the year. We are giving awards.
Executive Director Gretchen Bond said women are behind the scenes planning the Foundry's most popular annual event.
“What always amazes me is how many creative women there are behind the scenes at the foundry. Our staff are incredibly hardworking. There are several dedicated women, including volunteers, who work hard to put on Foundry events, and our organization and community would not be the same without them,” Bond said. Ta.
Miners Foundry will kick off April Arts, Culture and Creativity Month by announcing the 8th Annual Nevada County Five Women Poets on April 3rd. Details will be announced in the future.
This spring, thanks to the efforts of our community supporters, four annual events will be held again.
35th Annual Nevada City Psychic Fair April 6th and 7th
The 35th annual Nevada City Psychic Fair will once again be held at the Foundry on Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th. This event has been produced by Marza Miller for 20 years, and is currently being co-produced with Shelly Greene, who has been her best friend for 50 years since high school and is known for her work in women's circles.
Considered one of the best psychic fairs in the region, the psychic fair features 60 to 70 vendors including psychics (human and animal), medical intuition, acupuncturists, massage therapists, herbalists, alchemists, and more. will participate. Those who want to expand their knowledge can attend two full days of lectures and workshops held every hour. The majority of sellers, readers, and healers (more than 70%) are women.
“This is a showcase of the talent we have in our region,” Miller said of the event, passed down by former teachers, near and dear to her.
“I look at it as giving back to the city I love,” Miller said. “The miners' foundry is a very important historical part of the town.”
Her parents, who grew up in medicine, co-founded a mystery school in Los Angeles in the 1950s. This background of hers, combined with her background in nursing, archaeology, and ancient civilizations, has made her a highly sought-after healing guide around the world.
“I've sat with many great teachers who are now gone, and I feel like I'm leaving a legacy of my own by teaching those who will carry on my work,” Miller said. .
Tim O'Connor's Readers Theater April 14
On Sunday, April 14th, Tim O'Connor's Readers Theater returns to Miners Foundry Cultural Center.
The event was created by director Gary Bell Stewart, who has been involved for more than 20 years after studying with actor Tim O'Connor, known for his roles in Peyton Place, Gunsmoke and Buck Rogers. This is an upcoming event. ”, “General Hospital”, “Hawaii Five-0”, “Colombo” and many more.
This Miners Foundry benefit, “Story Time for Adults,” features performances from talented volunteers including Sandra Lockman, John Blinder, Kimberly Ewing, and Lindsay Dunkel.
Volunteerism, community and the arts are integral to Belle Stewart's life. She grew up seeing her mother's biggest influence as a champion of civil rights and a regular performer at the Woodminster Theater in Oakland.
“I think volunteering is important. This way, I'm volunteering and doing what I love. So it's a win-win.”
Since moving to Nevada County, she has performed with many local theater companies and says Miner's Foundry has come a long way since she first moved to the area in the 1980s.
“At the time, the main stage was in a different location, there were holes in the curtains and leaks in the roof. Thanks to fundraising and volunteer work, we have seen huge improvements. We are happy to support that progress. It’s a pleasure.”
The foundry sings! “Jolene” April 17th
April 17th, The Foundry Things! unites the community to sing Dolly Parton's most covered classic, “Jolene.”
Former Miners Foundry board member Pamela Meek proposed the idea in 2017 in honor of her mother, who had Parkinson's disease and loved to sing.
“It was therapeutic and fun. Even though she eventually lost the ability to speak, she was always able to sing. It made me realize how important it is to sing regardless of limitations,” Meek said. “Our sponsor, Dignity Health, is participating because they recognize the real health benefits of singing,” he added.
The Foundry Sings is a unique county-wide experience designed to bring people of all ages and singing levels together under one roof to share the power of song. Beginners are also welcome, and you can participate even if you don't know how to read music.
Meek is the driving force behind our events, bringing strong community building skills and an unparalleled joie de vivre spirit. She assures us that this is a “feel good” event. Check out videos of these fun events on her YouTube channel at Foundry.
Annual Nevada City Spring Craft Fair May 5th
On May 5th, the annual Nevada City Spring Craft Fair returns to the Foundry. The event brings together 70 local crafters, designers, and artisans, primarily women, who bring together high-quality, handmade, heirloom-worthy pieces.
Launched in 2010, the event fosters entrepreneurial and creative spirits and is modeled after the successful Renegade Craft Fair in the United States and Europe.
Nevada City Craft Fair is the place to shop for unique handmade leather goods, sustainable body care, candles, jewelry, original art, pottery, beadwork, vintage, textiles, prints, woodwork, repurposed items, and more. more.
Naomi Cabral, an organizer for nine years, says the event is more than just a job. Cabral, an artist and graduate of the California Institute of the Arts, has a background in fine arts and organizes the Indie Craft Street Festival, an important background for contemporary women's voices and the LGBTQ+ movement. .
“Women are obviously creators by nature,” Cabral said.
She admires pioneering artists who helped break down barriers, such as Georgia O'Keeffe, Yoko Ono, and Mary Beth Edelson, as well as Frida Kahlo, who was a personal influence on herself. – Kahlo uses her art to deal with pain and other challenges in life.
“Art is a journey, so I feel like that's really being celebrated today. It can be a journey for everyone. Artists and art aren't that out of reach. It's really within each of us. It's a living thing.”
Cabral brought a sustainability dimension to the craft fair. Everything sold today is harmless to manufacturers, consumers, and the planet.
“The result is a really beautiful show. This is the kind of community that values every item being sustainable. This allows us to differentiate ourselves,” Cabral said. Told.