First Friday in Downtown Tehachapi - 5 to 8 p.m., July 7
First Friday
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Ghoulie Line up - Photo submitted by Christi Friesen
Treasure Trove featuring artist Christi Friesen
On Friday Evening, July 7, Tehachapi Treasure Trove will celebrate First Friday from 5-8 p.m. A make and take to bake experience has been scheduled with Christi Friesen, internationally known polymer clay artist and author of a number of polymer Clay how to books. Come join Christi and have some fun making a glow-in-the-dark ghoulie to take home and bake. Christi will supply the materials. Enjoy our usual food, wine, good conversation and laughter along with music by Art Larsen on clarinet.
Christi Friesen is an award-winning artist, who works in mixed media. Her work has been showcased in numerous books, magazines and exhibits. She is the author of over a dozen how-to books on creating with polymer clay. She teaches throughout the world, using humor and positive energy to encourage students to stretch their creativity, technical skills and artistic confidence
According to Christi "It seems to me that one of the joys in life is to be interested. Interested in what you do, interested in what surrounds you, interested in what you experience. Creating interests me. And I find joy in creating things that are interesting to look at."
"Meandering Bloom" Photo provided.
Christi and her husband moved to Tehachapi in 1988. They purchased their house in Stallion Springs when her children were very young. In addition to Christi's polymer clay, they are the owners of 'Hachapi Tees and have raised two children and one grand child here in Tehachapi.
Christi had worked with fired clay sculpture for years before moving to Tehachapi but did not move her kiln with her. When she decided that it was time to start being creative again, Karen Lewis introduced her to polymer clay. She purchased some clay and a book and started to play. The rest is history. She started teaching, published magazine articles, then books. She soon found her talent in demand and for the past 10 years has become a world traveler conducting workshops around the globe. Christi will be teaching a workshop here at the Treasure Trove on July 8.
For additional information call (661) 822- 6794 or website at tehachapitreasuretrove.com or our face book page at http://www.facebook.com/TehachapiTreasureTrove. The Treasure Trove has 55 vendors on commission in addition to an extensive line of arts and craft supplies, artist services, yarn, books, music related merchandise and more.
Gallery 'N' Gifts featuring underwater photographer Chris Naftel
Chris Naftel with a photo he took of an Orange Sponge.
Gallery ‘N’ Gifts will feature underwater photographer Chris Naftel during July and invites the public to the opening reception on First Friday, July 7, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Naftel was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. Naftel received a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering from Auburn University and a Master of Science in Astrodynamics from George Washington University. He worked for NASA for 37 years at locations in Virginia, Alabama, and California.
Before Naftel retired from NASA Armstrong in 2015, he created and managed the NASA Global Hawk Project. This project supports Earth Science research with flights over hurricanes, flights to the Arctic, and flights over the Pacific Ocean.
During a deployment of the NASA Global Hawk to Guam in early 2014, Naftel decided to take up snorkeling during his free time. This led him to sign up for scuba diving lessons at the Air Force base on Guam.
Over the next 18 months Naftel went on several diving vacations and started taking underwater pictures with an inexpensive camera. He enjoyed his early pictures until he found out what was possible with a good camera system and instruction from a professional underwater photographer.
In August 2015, Naftel took an underwater photography class on the island of Bonaire in the Caribbean. Since then, he has been on over 125 dives, taking pictures of many fish, coral, and creatures. Through his photographs, Naftel is excited to share the amazing colors and beauty of the underwater world with the Tehachapi community.
Naftel will be donating all net profits from this exhibit to the Ninos de la Promesa orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. Rotary International, including the Rotary Club of Tehachapi, has provided support to this orphanage for many years by providing clothes, food, supplies, musical instruments, appliances, passenger vans, and other needed items. Ninos de la Promesa provides a safe, structured environment for about 60-70 orphaned children.