By Miriam Raftery

December 11, 2008 (El Cajon) — This year's holiday tea, sponsored by Friends
of East County Arts, Inc. served up something new along with the traditional
tea, scones and finger sandwiches.

"This is the first year that men have been invited," said Howard Bagley, director
of St. Clair Gallery and a strong supporter of the organization.  "In
24 years, they've raised a half million dollars," he said, adding that the
group has no significant overhead and donates all funds raised for worthy local
causes.  "It's all gone to schools and the arts, including the (East County)
Performing Arts Center."

By Tammy Lawhead

December 1, 2008 (El Cajon) —
The Armchair Impressionists, including Jeffrey Graham, Rustin Holec,
David Lawhead, Karen Marsh, and William Marsh, will feature their
paintings December 1 – 31, 2008 at the Rancho San Diego Library, 11555 Via
Rancho San Diego; El Cajon, CA.  Please join them at the Artist’s Reception,
December 7th from 2 – 4 pm in the Community Room.

The
Armchair Impressionists are five artists who came together while students of
artist Jack Jordan when he taught at Grossmont College. The group meets to
offer support and encouragement as they submit their paintings to the various
venues available to artists in and around San Diego County.

Reviewed by Kathy Carpenter

Now showing at the Don Powell Theatre at the San Diego State University campus, through December 7, 2008.

Sundays 2:00 p.m. all other days 8:00 p.m. For ticket information call 619-594-6884 or check online at www.theatre.sdsu.edu.

Charles L Mee's Hotel Cassiopeia follows the American collage artist Joseph Cornell. Cornell's dreamlike abstract art is the theme of the play, which is directed by Peter James Cirino. Characters in the play are reminiscent of people Cornell knew, observed or dreamed about. Mee created the play from diaries, letters, clips of Cornell’s life, and the music and movie he loved.

By Jolene Crowley

October
1, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) - Three local artists, Theresa Vandenberg Donche
of Mt. Helix, Encinitas resident Reed Cardwell, and Igor Kautsenko of Fallbrook,
will be displaying their latest work collectively entitled “Extraordinary
Times, Extraordinary Art!” at 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25, at 3911 Harney
Street in Old Town.

By Richard Noel

Notes On Air is a monthly music column highlighting local artists,
events, and other music-related news. 

In this month’s column, we talk with Tracy Lee Nelson, accomplished
blues musician who is also tribal chairman of the La Jolla Indian Reservation
in Pauma Valley.  Nelson’s music places an emphasis on his heritage,
bringing a Native American perspective to the blues.  His most recent
CD, Indian Reservation, was released in November of 2007

Thank you for taking the time to talk to East County Magazine.

Thank
you.

You’ve been playing since you were fairly young.  What
were your earliest musical influences?

I’d have to say my earliest
musical influence was the Beatles.  I
remember when I was young my brother would play their records.  He would
say to me, “You’ve got to listen to this band; you’ve got
to know their names!”  Even more so now; after I understand music
and structure and guitar-playing, I am in awe of some of their formulas and
structure. 

By Jackie Hanson

 “There’s a colorful character,” you might say to yourself
upon seeing Phebe Burnham laughing and chatting at a local art event.  If
you guessed that she was one of the artists (or the artist, as is
often the case) you’d be correct.  Phebe Burnham is not only a source
of local color, she is an acclaimed artist, widely exhibited and collected,
both locally and nationally.