Tapestry Arts

San Jose, California - Take six square blocks of downtown San Jose this Labor Day Weekend and fill it with four live music stages, several hundred different artists, a home show and free hands on kids art and you have the many different festivals within the Tapestry Arts Festival. Perhaps this is why Tapestry is San Jose’s oldest and largest outdoor celebration. It is possible to create the prefect festival simply by walking to the area that has exactly what you came to enjoy.

At the heart of the festival is a juried art show. Explore the work of emerging, as well as established artists, as they exhibit side by side on the streets of downtown San Jose. Festival visitors will see fun and functional ceramics, unique clothing and jewelry, paintings, sculpture and prints, as well as fine works of leather and wood. The works displayed in this event focus on high quality, originality and a bit of whimsy. Festival artists will present decorative ceramics, diverse styles of painting, large-scale metal sculpture and brilliantly colored fused glass. Crafters will display their finest functional pottery, planters, clocks, belts, bags and finely made furniture. Jewelers will share their fine gems and precious metals which they have tooled into creative, one-of-a kind rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. “It’s not too early to start Christmas shopping,” states executive director An Lu. “Several of our artists create holiday ornaments and have many gift suggestions”, continues Lu.

Four live music stages will offer everything from jazz, blues, rock n roll and country. Bands with names like Nitecry, Aja Vu, Wally’s Swing World, Silver Creek, Big Fun and The Joe Sharino Band. The South Bay Guitar Society will host a Guitar and Classical Stage. Highlights on that stage include: James Robinson Quartet, Bob Culbertson and Neil Hogan. Sounds will range from flamenco to steel guitar to acoustic and Mexican folk guitar. The complete entertainment schedule is available on line at www.tapestryarts.org.

To the art, food and music add Interactive Alley, a playland for kids of all ages, the Design for Living Homeshow and free hands on art for children in the Creativity Zone and it is easy to see why Tapestry Arts is a “must do” this Labor Day Weekend. The Tapestry Arts Festival runs September 3, 4 and 5, with hours Saturday and Sunday from 10-7 and Labor Day Monday from 10-5.

Tapestry Arts is supported, in part, through a grant from the City of San Jose and the Adobe Foundation Fund at Community Foundation Silicon Valley. Tapestry Arts is a not for profit organization. The revenue from this festival supports Tapestry throughout the year as the organization brings arts education programs to local school-age children. For more information call: (408) 494-3590 or go to www.tapestryarts.org.

August 15, 2005

I’M GOING FOR THE FOOD!

San Jose, California - If you’re going to the 2005 Tapestry Arts Festival expecting great food, your expectations will be exceeded. Or to quote an unidentified festival goer from last year “I really like this event, all parts of it. But I really love the different food booths.”

Tapestry Arts serves up an unexpected variety of tastes from dozens of food booths. To be sure you will find barbeque and burgers, ice cream and smoothies. But San Jose’s oldest and largest street festival also offers such delights as Hawaiian Kailua Pork, roasted corn, made to order ice cream sandwiches and honest-to-goodness Texas barbeque served from an unusual behemoth called “The Road Hog!”

Come to the 2005 Tapestry Arts Festival for the music. Come for the art. But make time for the great food and see why it is impossible to be bored or starve as one enjoys the Tapestry Arts Festival.

August 15, 2005

AT TAPESTRY IT’S THE MUSIC

San Jose, California - Some who attend the Tapestry Arts festival this Labor Day Weekend say it’s the food. Some say it’s the great art. Still others love the Design for Living Home show. But everyone who attends the Tapestry Arts Festival agrees it definitely IS the music.

The 2005 Tapestry Arts festival has set a great lineup on each of the four live music stages. Here’s a quick look at just a few of the groups set to perform:

Bathe yourself in the blues with the bands “Nitecry” and “Doghouse Riley”
Swing with “Wally’s Swing World,” the best little big band on the bay
Rejoice in three decades of the Steeley Dan sound with San Francisco’s “Aja Vu.”
Enjoy “Steve Czarnecki” and his classic Soul Jazz Quintet
Relive the hits of the ancient 90’s with “Big Fun”

On Sunday, September 4, Tapestry goes a lot country on the KRTY stage with “Silver Creek,” “California Cowboys” and “James Sanchez and Wanted.” It’s nice and easy on the classical stage all three days as the South Bay Guitar Society serves up classical guitar.

August 15, 2005

Aja Vu to do Steeley Dan

San Jose, Californa - If you can name that tune in three notes and the answer is “Reelin in the Years” by Steeley Dan, then the Tapestry Arts Festival has a show for you. San Francisco’s Aja Vu faithfully lives the music of Steely Dan and performs it on stage Monday, September 5 at 3 PM.

From "Hey Nineteen" and "Reelin' In The Years" to "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", you can buy a thrill when you hear the tight chunky horns, vocals and solos note for note and phrase for phrase backed up by an unparalleled rhythm section. The Aja Vu show recreates the combination of rock, jazzy blues and unique storytelling that has made the Steely Dan sound endure throughout pop culture for 30 plus years!

Aja Vu is the proud winner of the KFOX Last Band Standing competition on the Greg Kihn Morning Show and has performed with The Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason, Robben Ford and at the Shoreline. Catch Aja Vu on stage at the Tapestry Arts Festival, Monday, September 5 in downtown San Jose starting at 3 PM.

Tapestry Arts presents San Jose’s oldest and largest street festival. Three days of food, fun, art and live music Labor Day Weekend, September 3, 4 & 5. Each year the Tapestry Arts Festival brings together hundreds of artisans, four live music stages and the Creativity Zone with free hands-on art for children. In Parkside Hall, next to the Tech , the Design for Living Home and Garden Show is filled with the all that is cutting edge for the home.

Hundreds of community volunteers make it possible for the annual festival to provide core support for Tapestry Arts, a 30 year old community arts organization. During the year Tapestry provides arts outreach in community centers and arts education programs in local schools. Outreach programs place artists in residence in community centers, homeless shelters and the Alternative Education Program.

Tapestry Arts is a public benefit organization dedicated to providing the community with quality arts education programs throughout the year.

August 15, 2005

The Joe Sharino Band in first Tapestry Arts Twilight Concert

San Jose, California - Poll after poll names the Joe Sharino Band the bay area’s best band. In fact they’ve won 15 “Best of the Best” awards to date. On Sunday, September 4^th, as part of the 2005 Tapestry Arts Festival, The Joe Sharino Band kicks off the festival’s first Sunday Twilight Concert at 6 PM on the steps of the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA). Baby boomers and those who love the music will feast on two hours of pure Joe Sharino Band. And like the festival, the concert is free.

As a Radio TV Broadcasting major at San Jose State College, Sharino began performing at local nightclubs as a part time job in 1974 earning $30 a night. By 1976, he was filling nightclubs like the Garrett, Mountain Charley's and bigger nightclubs such as the Parlor and Fargo's on weeknights on drums. By 1979 Joe decided to form a band to make it possible to open for major acts. Concert openings soon came and the Joe Sharino Band was the opening act for America, David Lindley, B. B. King, Emmy Lou Harris, the O'Jays, Charlie Daniels, Chuck Berry, Alan King, The Drifters, The Temptations and many more!

In 1982, Apple Computer founder and Sharino fan, Steve Wozniak invited Joe and the band to perform at the Us Festival in Southern California. Dubbed the "West Coast Woodstock", it was a three day festival which drew 250,000 people to hear Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, The Police, Santana, Pat Benatar, Jackson Browne, The Cars, The Kinks, Eddie Money and yes, The Joe Sharino Band! In 1984, thanks to help from Steve Wozniak, Joe released his second record, and MTV video, "I Wanna Be President". Also in 1984, Sharino and the band began a tradition that continues each year, The New Years Eve show at the Cocoanut Grove in Santa Cruz on the day before New Years Eve, December 30th. This show sells out 1000 tickets in advance each year. The Joe Sharino Band has won fifteen Best Band Awards in Northern California from the San Jose Mercury News (4), Metro Magazine (3 awards), Good Times Magazine (6 awards), KGO radio's listener's poll and Accent Magazine.

A lot has changed since 1974, but the fun, the great sound, the sing alongs and the sheer love of the music has always been a big part of every Joe Sharino show. The Joe Sharino Band will be on the special CPA stage Sunday, September 4, at 6 PM in downtown San Jose to kick off Tapestry Arts Sunday Twilight Concert series.

August 15, 2005

WALLY TO SWING AT TAPESTRY ARTS

San Jose, California - Some of the bay area’s biggest swingers will be in front of the Blues/Jazz stage Monday, September 5 at the Tapestry Arts Festival. That’s when Wally's Swing World performs the best dance music of the '40s and '50s, a time often called American music's "Golden Era."

Headed by vocalist Wally Trindade, who also plays guitar, Wally's Swing World is a seven-piece "little big band" that makes its home in Santa Cruz. Most of the band members have played together for over 15 years; the group's other instruments include upright bass, piano, drums and a three-piece horn section.

From the big band sounds of Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller to the early rock tunes of Bobby Darin and Elvis Presley, the music of Wally's Swing World is guaranteed to make audiences tap their feet and get up and jive. The band's extensive repertoire includes Latin jazz, samba, salsa, bossa nova and of course, swing.

Formed in 1992, Wally's Swing World packs in audiences for their traditional Happy Hour Fridays at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz; they also appear monthly at the Hotel De Anza in San Jose. Past gigs include a three-year weekly stint at Top of the Mark in San Francisco and performing with a number of well-known acts, including Chris Isaak and Royal Crown Revue.

Wally swings Monday, September 5 for two sets starting at 12:30 PM on the Blues/Jazz stage at the Tapestry Arts Festival in downtown San Jose.

Tapestry Arts is a public benefit organization dedicated to providing the community with quality arts education programs throughout the year. Proceeds raised at The Tapestry Arts Festival provides support for year round programs.

April 21, 2005

Contact: An K. Lu, Executive Director

408.494.3590

Tapestry Spring Arts in the Schools

Tapestry Arts, a San Jose-based public benefit corporation, is bringing arts to schools and community centers. Tapestry Arts provides arts residencies in music, visual art, dance, drama and circus arts to school-age children.

These spring programs will take place at Sherman Oaks Elementary School, Lowell Elementary, Summerdale School, Escuela Popular, and several other local schools, as well as sites operated by InnVision and Sacred Heart Community Center.

Tapestry’s arts programs provide students with a minimum of eight weeks of arts instruction by professional artists. Youngsters are presented with a sequential program based on the California State Framework for the Visual and Performing Arts. These programs create a meaningful experience which ties to the classroom curriculum.

Continued state funding cuts have left schools with few arts resources. While not designed to replace the classroom arts specialist, programs such as Tapestry’s are needed to keep the arts alive for today’s students.

Tapestry Arts has been a San Jose based not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization since 1976. It is the producer of the annual Labor Day Tapestry Arts Festival. The proceeds from that annual event provide the seed monies for these arts education and outreach programs throughout the year.

Tapestry’s arts programs are presented in cooperation with CORAL (Communities Organizing Resources to Advance Learning) and San Jose Afterschool, and are funded in part by the Morris Stulsaft Foundation and the City of San Jose.

For Programs Information: 408.494.3590