SPRING ART FESTIVAL SUNDAY, APRIL 5

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TIGHT ECONOMY “BEST BET†FOR BROWSING & BUYING:

“BRENTWOOD SPRING ART SHOW†SUNDAY, APRIL 5

(< ?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Brentwood, CA—March 5, 2009)  Today’s economy presents shopper’s with a dilemma: save money because you might need it tomorrow, or spend money to stimulate the economy and support your community. The solution is both, but shop wisely – art shows and festivals offer browsing and buying advantages: all items are hand-made and many are one-of-a-kind collectables. The Brentwood Spring Art Show is a one-stop, boutique-type mall adventure, where event-goers save time, gas, and money!

Artworks encompass a mix of medias and styles, from whimsical to contemporary conversation pieces, intermixed with traditional art festival favorites — fine art and photography, adult’s and children’s clothing and accessories, jewelry, sculptures, stained glass, hand-blown glass, porcelain and ceramics, paper and textile art, potpourri, soaps, candles, furniture, and more.

In addition to the juried selection of fine artists and craftspeople at this year’s event, you and your family cab also enjoy all day performances by the JazzZone Trio’s (11:00 am to 1:00 pm – guitarist Ed Wing, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm – trumpeter Rahmlee Davis, and 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm – drummer Steve Foster), an international food court of tasty treats, and amusements for kids of all ages. Don’t miss the 12^th annual Business Expo, with over 60 business and health exhibits presented by the West L.A. Chamber of Commerce.

The free admission, one-day adventure, is set for Sunday, April 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in downtown Brentwood, along San Vicente Boulevard, beginning at Saltair and running east to Darlington in Brentwood. Plenty of parking is available at pay lots on San Vicente Boulevard and at the VA (north on Gorham).

For more information: Brentwood Spring Art Show, visit www.BrentwoodArtShow.com or call (626) 797-6803; Business Expo, www.westlachamber.org or (310) 481-0600.

A few of this year’s juried artisans include:

Fine Contemporary Jewelry – C. Fritz Pearce (Fritz & Mischell), Sonoma

Photography – Bart Everett (Bart Everett Fin Art Photography), Los Angeles

Hand-Painted Décor and Clothing – Sara Palacios, Walnut

Art Pottery – Hong Rubenstein (One Dream Design), Palm Springs

Embellished Gourds – Terese Miller (Laughing Spirit Gourds), Monrovia

Oil Paintings/Limited Edition Prints – Ora Tamir (Ora’s Art), Newbury Park

Jewelry – Gretchen Handel Fleet (Lily Pearl Designs), Carlsbad

Ray Leier, Brentwood Spring Art Show producer explains the juried process.  “We only select the best-of-the-best for our shows, and we take our responsibility very seriously, rejecting hundreds of applications because the work doesn’t meet our standards. We are only interested in only handmade items and one-of-a-kind collectables. You will only find the most unique, creative and interesting pieces at our show: no cheap manufactured items here.â€

“I encourage everyone to support the artist entrepreneurs, the talented musicians, and the many others who lend their time,†Leier said, “Every year I work very hard to make all of our events successful for each participant, the surrounding retail and residential community, and for the enjoyment of our visitors.â€

A long-time supporter of local non-profit and community-based organizations that provide arts enrichment, education, mentoring, and scholarships, Leier added, “This show was created as a community gathering, but also as the major fund-raising source for the various projects the West L.A./Brentwood Rotary Club supports.â€

“In hard economic times, community support is essential to the continuation of special projects offered by various clubs and non- profit organizations. Every community has one that is suffering from serious financial hardship and in dire need of funds not raised the traditional way. Many groups can’t afford to produce huge gala fund-raisers; those most in need are the ones I seek out to assist. In the past 30+ years, I have donated proceeds from the events to aid the efforts of various community-based organizations. I’m proud to know that through our success, I’ve assisted each in financially realizing their goals.â€

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The Brentwood Autumn Show is sponsored by the West Los Angeles/Brentwood Rotary Club and supported by the West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce to benefit community non-profit organizations, in addition to providing mini-grants for primary school teachers and scholarships for area high school students. Ray Leier, co-owner of Brentwood’s del Mano Galley, produces the annual events (Spring and Fall) for his Altadena-based del Mano Productions, LLC.

The Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit member organization. The purpose of the Greater West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce is to promote the commercial, civic, cultural, educational, and industrial interests of the West Los Angeles area so that its businesses, neighborhoods, and citizens shall prosper. It is the primary resource for small and medium-sized firms doing business in West Los Angeles, helping 1,250 members – one of the largest and most active Chambers in the county dedicated to the success of our membership – and associates deal with the ever-changing business climate in the city, state, nation and the world. The Chamber offers a wide range of programs, including seminars, events, networking and referrals while providing service to a diverse residential population that exceeds 228,000.