Vallejo is fortunate to be home to Obtanium Works. We got to meet the fabulous Kathy O’Hare, who gave us a tour of the INSIDE of this amazing vehicle, which has three full floors when assembled. One could write a book on its history, but one should check it out online or in person if one can. There are many other art vehicles that Obtainium has done, as she gave us some background of her life with her husband, Shannon O’Hare. What a treasure to have them as neighbors, and how good it is getting to know the artists on Pintado on Mare Island, along with our friends Manny Furtado and Steven Davis, both of whom were featured there as well.
So most of these images are from the INSIDE of the Neverwas Haul.
Featuring music that originated in Vallejo or from Vallejoans, we had a blast at this event, connecting with local volunteers and artists for a good cause and some important local history of inclusion and diversity. Fabulous Board President Liat Meitzenheimer is speaking during this portion.
The first house on the tour was on a hill in northern Vallejo and multiple tiers and outdoor structures with a view of the Mare Island Causeway. I love the one-of-a-kind sculptures.
This was my first time at the Solano County Fairgrounds and I was impressed with the site. LGBTQMinusTobacco had a booth there that day. We saw lots of incredible art and enjoyed the part of the fairgrounds that we got to see.
Our friends Greg and Steve joined us for a trip to the art lofts in Benicia. I had never really wandered around there, nor did I know how cavernous the studios were. I also was very impressed the the gardens on the ground and some of the military (?) architecture even as it begins to look neglected.
One of the joys of living in Vallejo is that we are adjacent to Napa County. In the city of Napa itself, we had a wonderful meal with a bunch of friends and had a long walk through the downtown area to see many light exhibits. The revamped downtown is very Parisian. There was lots of nightlife, a lot of live music and joy, despite the chill in the air.
We ate at a great Mexican restaurant on the river with heating lamps outside. Walking around town I noticed at least two groups of people who were speaking Italian, to my surprise. Here are some images of our evening.
My friend, neighbor, and fellow Humane Society of the North Bay volunteer, Carlene Coury, directed a staged reading of The White Card, written by Claudia Rankine, at the Pinole Community Theater. In the audience were some activist Vallejoans I was able to introduce her to. After the reading, we got to discuss the multi-layered script with the cast and director. It was quite a moving and timely experience for Black History Month.
Many events have drawn me to this organization, including the fundraising Trivia Night, the Vallejo Garden Tour, and various symposia. I’m glad to further entrench myself in this community by supporting this amazing institution with a long history here in town.
