Jim Denevan and Outstanding in the Field

Jim Denevan is an artist.  He draws in the sand for hours free hand, and he revels in the fact that nature will have her way with his work. 

A Santa Cruz surfer turned Chef entrepreneur who also happens to head up the successful outfit Outstanding in the Field.



Outstanding in the Field began in 1999, in Santa Cruz, California, when Jim Denevan had an idea: To dine at the source on the very soil that nourished the bounty on the plate, in the company of the farmers who cultivated it. Soon San Francisco cooks were tramping out to the farms to get involved, and the al fresco/adventure dinners began to spread across the country. In 2003, Jim and Katy Oursler bought a 1953 vintage bus and started East to set up dinners anywhere beautiful and meaningful, always close if not on a farm, by local loving chefs, mostly under the open skies. Since 1999, they’ve included 180 farm dinners, including six tours of North America.

Come on, how can you not like this guy's style?! 

Want more?

Jim Denevan
Outstanding in the Field

Outstanding in the Field recently announced 2010 Tour Dates for their dinners; they sell out fast...quite an amazing experience!

Water

eric zener
brown cannon III
wolfgang bloch
lawrence la bianca


The Bolinas Museum is having what looks like an amazing show running now to June 13

H2O-the Element of Water in Art

An informal survey

Wolfgang Bloch
Phil Buchanan
Brown Cannon III
Claudia Chapline
Andy Goldsworthy
Mary Daniel Hobson
Basia Irland
Vesta Kirby
Lawrence LaBianca
Therese Lahaie
Richard Misrach
Ben Nixon
Piro Patton
Robert Porte
Richard Shaw
Nancy Stein
Eric Zener


Take a ride; check it out.

Bolinas Museum

Recent Obsession #4

Tall ships, Clipper Ship, Full-rigged Ship, Ship-of-the-Line, Three Masted Schooner, Two Masted, Cutter, Corvette, Frigate, Barque, Barquentine, Brig, Brigantine, Top Sail, Ketch, Sloop, even an hermaphrodite brig! 

it's a brave new world...

more info:
Shipbuilding
Maritime History
Maritime Heritage
Oxbow books on Ships & Shipping

The Cook & Butler go to market

I teach a Mosaic class at a clay studio near by called Clay Creations.  Some work completed (mostly) in class.  We have a great time!  I am enjoying teaching a class again. 

These two are leaving my class :( to start their Vegan Catering adventure ;) at a few local Farmer's Markets.   They are Shivie and Cemaaj "The Cook & Butler" vegan chefs and lovely friends extroardinare! 

And we friends have been enjoying their fabulous food for months now...

   

I'm not a vegan, or vegetarian, I love a burger as much as the next guy.  BUT Shiv and Cemaaj make the best VERGERS I have every tried. Seriously. I'm still waiting to test out the BeetVerger.  They are dynamic in their knowledge of ingredients - and we're not talking mock chicken here people; we're talking talent in knowing your craft and continuing to try new things and expand the menu - though they fit right into the vegan demographic, they are looking to educate and excite the meat eating population to expand on their diets and be more, well, vegan-esque...

What I LOVE about these guys is they aren't about making you into a cute little vegan - they are about introducing Vegan-esque ways of eating into your regular eating habits. There is an education going on and it is smart and delicious.

really - get smart about your food; check them out.  look into it.  give it a go.

You can find them\meet them at:

Point Richmond Farmer's Market

WEDNESDAYS May 12 - October 4

Livermore Farmer's Market

THURSDAYS May 20th- Oct 8

for more information on the Markets http://www.pcfma.com/

If you are interested in catering or more information: link to the website and send them a note.  They are the nicest people!

More about them:

"The big news is that after being “TeamRAW” for the last year or so, we realized that by our very name (which by the way we love) we may be excluding the very people we want to help-namely those that eat meat and/or dairy and want to implement a few healthy changes into their diet without necessarily giving up meat altogether.

In such cases we have had success with people choosing to be vegetarian, vegan or raw vegan for one or more dedicated days a week. We can either prepare for the food for those days or teach you to make the food for yourself-that is where we see ourselves helping others. And again, TeamRAW seems to imply “RAW” (duh, it’s in the name!) and excludes those that are not, we are not even 100% raw (I for one rebel against anything that causes you to be 100%!). There are times, especially in the colder, darker months, that we eat cooked, vegan food alongside some raw staples.

So, what is the new name I hear you cry-drum roll…we shall be called “The Cook & Butler”…we can do all things kitchen, from setting up the ideal raw/vegan kitchen to preparing food and showing you how to prepare the food for yourself. So in that respect the name is more fitting…

But there is more…my birth name is “Cook” and Cemaaj’s birth name is “Butler”, we really are the Cook & Butler by birth and now we find ourselves sharing our life and passion together, back in the kitchen, we feel we have probably spent a few lifetimes there.

We are in the process of finalizing our fabulous new logo (thanks to our Angel, Linda) and changing over the web address (the new address will be www.thecookandbutler.com) …other new things on the horizon…

check them out HERE & the brand new website HERE, get over to TheCook&Butler on facebook - become a fan! 

Handful of Salt highlights Sharon Virtue

If you haven't been visiting the snazzy and neat-O blog
Handful of Salt, you should get on over there...and often, as a matter of fact. 

They feature interviews of local noteworthy artists heroes and heroines.

Recently, they did a feature about one of my biggest inspirations, Sharon Virtue.  I also feel incredibly lucky to call her a friend!  

Sharon is in Haiti as I write this working with kids much in need of a boost and she uses art as her healer...Sharon will rock those kid's world, I've no doubt.  She's a beautiful, talented, trailblazin' mav out to spread the word of living better through art -  and hangin' with the kids. 

see what i mean about inspiration!


check it out here 

I survived Davis but my pieces didn't

Taking the show down was a bit of a melee.  In that moment when the thing breaks there is some adrenaline and instant shock, then you start the getting over it process; because you do...get over it.   By the next morning I was over it.  Accidents happen.  

We'll get the PC11 or 7 (whichever one is white) and we'll put  the Ms. Humpty's back together again!  Now I can call her FrankenMer!  I like it!

here are just a few highlights and other stuffs from Saturday and Sunday's happenings:

I'm a history junkie and this instantly grabs my attention.  Monica Van den Dool rocks.  Her lecture; entertaining.  She has a very wry and witty humor, which I adore in people, and an hilarious approach to her work.  She doesn't take herself too seriously.

all about the Clague.  

From the top:

Natsoulas Gallery

Natsoulas Gallery - really taken by these pieces.

Pence Gallery

Pence Gallery

Chico State - Kelly Lynn Daniels.

can't remember artist or college (yes, lame)

(Clinton?) Woodbeck.  He likes the lichen, so do I.  He has scaled up from last year and he's done it well.

Clarine Wong - Diablo Valley College

Jeff Richards - sgraffito wall piece - Skyline College

SF State Show - artist unknown

Beth Ozarow.  One of the Eight at ACGA's show at the Davis Art Center.  It's a hike to get out to this show but well worth it.  There is one thing you see and do all over the place at CCACA, and that's walking.  everywhere.  over and over.  miles and miles....

I was very moved by Beth's work; and I thought the distant and quiet of the Davis Art Center actually enhanced the feel of her work.

The Davis Farmer's Market is on Saturday and it's a must.  This year was a delight because the sun was out and it was a bright, warm morning.  Sitting with friends having great food and laughing our asses off was a highlight of the weekend! 

Of course, I had 'eyes WAY bigger than my stomach syndrome".  Uh, A pound of dried cantalope and peaches may not make your day.  Support your local farmer, support your local sheep!

BUT this little gem right here made my weekend.

It's called "he was always such a good little boy" and yep; it is moby dick as a baby with his mum.  If you look closely at that little dudes face you can see the attitude.  He's got a chip on his shoulder and he's going to make 'someone' pay...

It was an instant love affair with this and I want to thank Janelle Sonoda again for creating this.  Thanks Janelle!  She is a student at Sac City College and they were in the warehouse right next to us. 

This also sparked the "Whale Exchange" Program with me and Ms. Truman.  We both love Sea Tales and are inspired by ocean myth and stories.  I am going to make a whale for Zan and she's going to make a whale for me.