ARTS IN MADERA COUNTY

Cultural opportunities abound in Madera County from the valley floor to higher elevations. Many artists reside in the county inspired by the visual grandeur of the Sierras and Yosemite National Park.

MADERA
The City of Madera, and seat of Madera County government, has a beautiful art gallery called the Circle Gallery located at 1653 North Schnoor Avenue, Suite 113, that displays and sells the works of over 40 professional artists and houses the Madera County Arts Council, a non-profit arts organization that provides residents and visitors access to art and culture through diverse programs and services, including an extensive visiting-artist in the schools program. The gallery hosts the annual fine art competition entitled Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts, each September attracting artists from all over California. In November, they offer the Holiday Art Affair, a pre-holiday art festival, including arts and crafts by many area artists. For more information or to check local listings for dates and exhibits, visit their website.

Each summer the Madera County Arts Council and the City of Madera Parks and Community Services Department organizes the Free Summer Concert Series at Lions Town and Country Park, every other Sunday evening at 7 p.m. These concerts are funded by the generosity of local businesses and regularly include Jazz, Rock, Military Bands, Big Band Sounds, and Latin Music. Check local listings in the Madera Tribune for exact dates and times.

Quady Winery located at 13181 Road 24, organizes an annual art exhibition called the Revillier Art Exhibition in mid-February, displaying contemporary fine art, photography and sculptural installations. The high quality of the show and the added benefit of tasting wine while viewing the work is lots of fun!

The Madera County Historical Society Museum located at 210 West Yosemite Avenue is a storehouse of artifacts ranging from farm implements to important papers and paintings from the personal collections of Madera County’s earliest residents. The museum is open on Tuesday and by appointment. The first Sunday in December they host an open house fundraiser showcasing beautifully decorated rooms filled with antiques from their permanent collection.

In Courthouse Park, next to the Historical Society, there is a Fiesta in the Park the first week of October sponsored by Latinas Unidas. This event includes a day of free music and cultural foods and craft booths.

CHOWCHILLA
The Art Guild in Chowchilla organizes an Art Exhibition every year during the Madera County Fair each spring. Also, don’t miss the artwork on display at Koffee Kat on Robertson Boulevard.

The community also has a well-respected Chowchilla Summer Theater Production that takes place every summer. Ticket information is available on the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce website.

Down the road in Fairmead, next to the landfill lies the Archeological Dig and home of the San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation. A museum is planned for the site that contains a huge amount of interesting animal skeletons including mastodons. Tours are available by appointment.

OAKHURST
Oakhurst has a wonderful non-profit arts agency, Vision Academy, providing summer art classes in everything from painting classes in Yosemite to dancing and playing the flute. For more information about these fabulous programs, contact Jackie Byers at (559) 683-7071.

There is no shortage of cultural heritage in Oakhurst beginning with the Fresno Flats Historical Park on Road 427. It preserves and displays a home, printing press, barn, schoolhouse, and a blacksmith shop from 100 years ago. It is open Monday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Guided tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m., for more information call (559) 683-6570.

The Children’s Museum of the Sierras on Golden Oak Drive offers hands-on exhibits for school children ranging from old telephone switchboards to archeology, hours vary. For more information call (559) 658-5656.

In addition, don’t forget the Thornberry Museum Sugar Pine Railroad on Highway 41 north of Oakhurst providing authentic train rides, for more information call (559) 683-7273.

Sierra Art Trails - visit the many area artists who live in the mountain area around Oakhurst at their homes and view their art in mid-October during the Open Studios Tour called Sierra Art Trails. Enjoy these three art filled days in the fall rambling through the mountains. For more information visit their website.

There are also many galleries in Oakhurst which offer refreshments and a chance to meet the artists on the second Saturday of every month from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., for more information about the Sierra Art Hop, please call (559) 683-0611.

Art Galleries in Oakhurst

• Art Space Gallery, 40680 Highway 41, Suite B, (559) 683-5551
• The Grimmer Gallery, 40982 Highway 41, (559) 658-2104
• National Parks Gallery, 40982 Highway 41, (559) 683-3345
• Stavast Studio/Gallery, 40982 Highway 41, (559) 683-0611
• Stellar Gallery, 40982 Highway 41, (559) 658-8844
• Timberline Gallery, 40982 Highway 41, (559) 683-3345
• Williams Gallery West, 40980 Highway 41, 559-683-5551

The performing arts thrive in the mountains as well at the Golden Chain Theater on Highway 41 during the Summer Melodramas. For more information visit their website

The Sierra Chamber Singers (559) 683-7071 provides seasonal performances and the Mountain Arts Chorale (559) 658-7376 provides spring and fall concerts. Moreover, do not forget about the Sierra Starlight Theater and the Children’s Summer Musical Theater, for more information phone (559) 642-4329.

All summer long you can drive in your car or your boat and listen to Jazz on the Lake at Ducey’s at The Pines Resort and Conference Center in Bass Lake, Friday evenings, May through September.

AHWAHNEE
Art and cultural heritage opportunities abound in Madera County, and many of them are in the countryside. On the northeast side of Madera County along Highway 49, in Ahwahnee, you can visit one of only three authentic Ceremonial Roundhouses in California, maintained by members of the Miwok Tribe. This makes a great day trip and leaves plenty of time to stop for dinner in Oakhurst on the way home. Tours are available by appointment (559) 683-8194.

COARSEGOLD
The Coarsegold Historic Museum in the original Picayune Schoolhouse displays historic farm and mining equipment. It is located along Highway 41 and open by appointment only by calling (559) 642-4488. In June every year they host Art in the Meadow featuring music and dinner in the meadow. Artists and photographers show their art in the schoolhouse. A People's Choice award is given out each year. Applications are due by May 1.

Inanna’s Gift Studio and Gallery has fine arts and jewelry, classes and healing gardens located at 35572 Highway 41, (559) 673-7529

NORTH FORK
A trip to North Fork provides the opportunity to visit the Sierra Mono Museum on Road 225. It houses a fine display of Native American basketwork. It is open Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

While you are there, stop by the Community Art Gallery, located at the old sawmill site on Road 225, open spring through December, for more information call (559) 877-2487.

You can find performing arts in North Fork as well at the Squirrel Cage Theater offering seasonal performances (559) 877-2431.

Other events include an annual Poetry Reading in May at the North Fork Library, (559) 877-4195, the annual Art in the Garden event in June, the annual Sunset Pow Wow in September (559) 855-4833, and a Fall Festival Art Show in October (559) 877-4195.

This information provided courtesy of The Madera County Arts Council