RoundUp: In the abstract
New abstract exhibition at SebArts, a Tesla protest, random beauty and more
Driven to Abstraction: SebArts abstract art show is back after a three-year hiatus
The ‘Driven to Abstraction’ exhibition, which opened last weekend, is showing in the main gallery at Sebastopol Center for the Arts from now through March 16. This show is free to the public. The juror for the show was abstract painter Carl Heyward, and the show was coordinated by North Bay abstract artists Catherine Cruz and Gabrielle Disario. Four hundred and fifty artists from around the world submitted pieces to the show; 85 were chosen. If you like abstract art, this is the show for you, and I must say, the prices are surprisingly reasonable. The Nelson-Gal piece above, which is large and quite beautiful, is just $600.
West County at the anti-Elon Musk protest at Tesla
Two Sebastopol Times readers sent photos from the anti-Elon Musk protest in front of the Tesla dealership on Airway Blvd. in Santa Rosa on Saturday morning. Both said there were lots of West County folk among the 80 or so people in attendance.
Asked why he decided to attend this protest, Graton’s Walt Frazer said, “We need to take power away from Musk and the easiest way for us to do that is economically, which means discouraging people from buying Tesla and also discouraging people from using X. These are just the baby steps in creating a counter-insurgency. Because the insurgency has been completed now and has taken over our country, now we have to start organizing to undo that insurgency and take back our country.”
Brad deGraf heard about the protest on Bluesky, the liberal alternative to X, formerly Twitter. In terms of #Resist, deGraf has been appreciating the work of the local Indivisible group. “I think Indivisible could be a vector for continued picket lines at all 248 US Tesla dealers,” he said.
It’s spring at Hospice Thrift
Small acts of beauty are important in the world—especially in the most unexpected places. Hospice Thrift in the Redwood Marketplace is a favorite among bargain-hunting locals. It’s located in a homely, utilitarian building. They sell the sifting detritus of our lives—used clothing, used books, used kitchenware and knick-knacks and, sometimes, remarkable treasures.
And every now and then, thanks to the talents of Wei-Lin Ha Shaw, they have beautiful displays. This is one of those times. Shaw must have felt how ready people are for spring after all these rainy days—her bird wall and flower wall displays are small islands of beauty.
The blue between the rains
Sebastopol Police Logs, Feb. 3-9
The following are crimes excerpted from Sebastopol Police Department daily crime log entries and listed at the time the alleged violation was reported.
MONDAY
7:11 a.m. Disorderly conduct, lodging without an owner’s consent, trespassing, and refusing to leave (misdemeanors) at Willow and South Main streets. Suspect arrested.
TUESDAY
12:36 a.m. Forging a vehicle registration (felony) at Southpoint Avenue and Gravenstein Highway South. Suspect arrested.
9:36 a.m. Burglary from a motor vehicle (felony) at Valley View Drive and Valley View Court. Pending further investigation.
WEDNESDAY
3:10 a.m. Burglary with breaking and entering, and vandalism involving destruction of another’s property (felonies) at Sebastopol Avenue and Highway 12. Suspect arrested.
FRIDAY
10:32 p.m. Driving while under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol content of at least 0.08% (misdemeanors) at downtown Sebastopol and North Main Street. Suspect arrested.
SATURDAY
4:51 p.m. Disorderly conduct involving alcohol (misdemeanor) at Petaluma Avenue and McKinley Street. Suspect arrested.
4:58 p.m. Rape by force (felony) at Laguna Park Way. Cleared by circumstances beyond police control.
SUNDAY
10:08 a.m. Burglary from a motor vehicle (felony), and vandalism with defacing property (misdemeanor) at Covert and Sequoia lanes. Investigation suspended, leads exhausted.
OTHER POLICE ACTION
The Sebastopol Police Department also recorded 136 other events requiring police action during the period, such as lost animals, assisting citizens, parking violations, foot patrol, traffic hazards and reckless driving.
Re the handful of boomers at Tesla, W County shouldn't be proud of its vulnerability to propaganda. If they were actually free thinkers they'd grasp what an opportunity lies in Musk et al's exposure and suspension of government corruption.
Tesla…An icon of our our current challenges.
For decades comfortable corporate powers, and stockholders maintained a « safe » way to keep profits by not investing in what Tesla chose to circumvent.
The invention of useful batteries lead to Powerwalls for energy storage and the future of transportation, electric vehicles. Contrary to standard US industry practice of demanding that government fund improvements, Tesla began installing a vast network of chargers before they pushed vast production of cars. They formed a critical mass of chargers and robust charging plug, that finally the traditional car manufacturers are acknowledging. Tesla is obviously staffed by many very intelligent, prudent and far thinking people. The fact that people for the most part are ignoring, by voting for people that reject climate change, is testimony of much that is wrong with the ability for critical thinking.
We are early adopters of the tools made available by Tesla. We installed solar panels decades ago, but they were only a part of energy prudence. The invention of the excellent Powerwall system means we don’t even reset clocks when our neighbors have a power loss. And lastly vehicles. We bought a Model 3 in 2017. Because it was the RIGHT thing to do for society. We could afford to be altruistic; the more people that chose electric vehicles, the lower would cost eventually go. And then the Cybertruck, the ultimate current icon and the magnet for people to give us the finger as we drive by. BUT, the engineers produced, again, what US companies wouldn’t ; 48V electric systems, rust proof monocoque construction, small turning radius via rear wheel steering and vastly lower cost of ownership and carbon impact than the tens of thousands of traditional vehicles in vogue with we wealthy urbane voters.
I have voted progressive in every election since I became of age. Our society always chose a traditional « daddy » candidate. Even now too many voters believe, without thinking, that Reagan was a prudent president. The religion of our voters is capitalism. And YES, Musk has a brain that is challenging. But both political parties favor corporations over people. Now voters have elected christan fascists and they are the enablers of the crazies, including Musk.
Few readers of Sebastopol Times are as ignorant as much of US society, and I’m thankful I live here and have you as a news source. Thank you.