Rivers inspire the hidden artist in ordinary people, proving they are not really ordinary. Or extraordinary people are irresistibly drawn to rivers to express their artistic natures, maybe both. My river is teeming with artists.
The Klamath is my river. I own the Klamath; the Klamath owns me. That’s how it goes. Let me tell you about an artist on my river.
Gloria Chappelear lives on the Klamath River. Right on it. When the river floods, her vegetable garden is under several feet of water. Since 1964, Gloria has lived on the Klamath and painted the woods, and trees, and people that surround her.
Gloria was born in 1934 in South Dakota, to a mother who was a painter, and father who farmed a rented section of land on the Sioux Indian Rosebud Reservation. There they farmed and raised seven daughters. Some of her mother’s paintings grace the walls of the house on the Klamath. Gloria attended the University of Iowa, majoring in art education.
She moved to Happy Camp in 1964, with two children, and three more children were added to her home. She has lived in Alturas, Tulelake, and Lake Tahoe, always returning to Happy Camp; even after a short time in Arizona, Happy Camp called her back.
During all this time, she painted, persevering even when one child tried to eat the yellow paint. She painted church nursery walls, and illustrations for church and Sunday school lessons. Gloria has taught art in the elementary school and was an art instructor for a while at COS.
She does plein-aire painting with her best friend Dian Hokanson, and paints from her own photographs, and photos borrowed from friends. Many of Gloria’s paintings are of the forest and individual trees, because “they’re always there.” But she paints portraits and rodeos, and zoo animals, and any subject that captures her spirit. The poet in her names the paintings. “Tenacious”, and “Old Timer” are trees, and “Modern Madonna” is her daughter with a grandchild.
Like many artists, Gloria has more than one area of expertise. One of her arts is woodworking. She builds her own furniture and carves it, and paints the carvings. No need to build something functional without making it also beautiful. And she improves on the gingerbread houses in the magazines because they forget to make the shingles overlap; being a woodworker she knows all shingles overlap!
As if this were not enough, she quilts, bakes her own bread, and makes the most delicious cookies. She raises her own vegetables, and keeps chickens for eggs.
When asked why she paints, she struggles with an answer. After talking about composition, and the path the eye travels with good composition, she finally says she paints “to remember things…because I love to.” And then it all comes out. With a feisty grin she says she paints because ”I’m gettin’ good at it!” That’s humility. She’s been more than good for decades. Now she is approaching her own standards of excellence, which are high indeed.
Marilyn Townsend can be contacted at
klamathmisst@hotmail.com
Gloria Chappelear can be contacted at
(530) 493-2713
The Klamath Siskiyou Artists have done a great job raispng funds for the new art gallery. Now that the property on Highway 96 & Davis Road in Happy Camp is their’s , they are getting closer to the day when they will be able to build.
What a wonderful weekend! Happy Camp had a great time for the Bigfoot Jamboree. Tracy Burcell, Leonie Jacobson, Donna McCulley, Linda Zink, Janet Burcell are to be congratulated on all the work of the Coordinating Council in planning and setting up this weekend. When taking pictures at the parade, I was amazed by the crowds of onlookers watching the parade from Davis Road down Highway 96 and west several blocks. Seemed like a great many unfamiliar faces so we must have had more than the usual number of friends and family members from other places come for the weekend.
I just received an e-mail from Shawna, who said, “We had a GREAT time in Happy Camp this weekend. As always, it was a huge hit with our boys (2 and 4) and the 8th graders did a great job with the breakfast this year.” The pancake breakfast was very successful bringing in over a thousand dollars for the class.
The Ducky Race, where you could “adopt” a little yellow duck, was popular. They all went in the Creek at 2nd Avenue Bridge and Mary Koon’s duck reached the mouth first. Denise Smith’s duck was 2nd, Terry Holloway’s duck 3rd and Lessie Aubrey’s Duck came in fourth place.
Mr. Dyar was the parade announcer. Parry’s Market won the grand prize in the parade. The Bigfoot Jamboree parade over Labor Day weekend was ably organized by Leonie Jacobsen with the assistance of Nell. Leonie’s husband, Kenny, and grandson, Garret, were assisting, too.
The Commercial or Business category entries were Double J/ABC Logging winning 3rd place, Scott Valley Bank won 2nd place and Elk Creek Campground won first place. For the Organizations, Happy Camp Ambulance won 3rd place, Happy Camp Fire District won 2nd place, and Karuk Demonstration Dancers won First Place. Individual entries in the parade, winners were Aubrey Hill Girls with their pet dogs won 3rd place, Katelyn Driskell, riding horseback, with Charlene Driskell and Super Driskell took 2nd place, and the 1957 red T Bird belonging to Terry Hillenberg won 1st place. The grand prize winner was Parry’s Market. Jay and Stella Clark were the Grand Marshalls riding in Carol Day’s beautiful blue convertible! Alan Dyar was the announcer of the parade and judges were Marilyn Townsend. Teri Holloway and Ron Kern.
The Bounce House at the Park was run by Nell Sakota for the Happy Camp Community Easter Egg Hunt. I didn’t see the Bounce House on Sunday but it wasn’t active on Saturday. It is hard to be two places at the same time! It was a wonderful Labor Day weekend in Happy Camp and I heard from so many who had a great time for the Bigfoot Jamboree. Tracy Burcell, Leonie Jacobson, Donna McCulley, Linda Zink, Janet Burcell are to be congratulated on all the work of the Coordinating Council in planning and setting up this weekend.
All the little yellow ducks for the Ducky Race went in Indian Creek at 2nd Avenue Bridge and Mary Koon’s duck reached the mouth first! Denise Smith’s duck was 2nd, Terry Holloway’s duck 3rd and Lessie Aubrey’s Duck came in fourth place
My most wonderful time was from seeing my son and older daughter who brought our 4 year old grandson for his first visit to Happy Camp. Despite spending three-forth’s of his life in surgeries, chemotherapy and stem-cell transplant, he has now been in remission for one year. Besides being our only grandchild at present, it is just so neat to see him healthy and active (very active!) and talkative. Every question you answer comes with another question. Curiosity and wonder at the world around us are so refreshing in a child!
The pancake breakfast and parade were fun for him. After a little time at the park, we couldn’t find the Bounce House. The other children introduced him to silly string and noisy snapping caps. Everyone found lots of varieties of junk food to enjoy. The playground equipment was fun. But by the time we got back home, he was “out” and napped the rest of the day. That is how he recharges his battery to keep in perpetual motion!
Grand parenting is such a fun time of life.
Florance’s succulent smoked salmon is on the menu for the Art Gallery Dinner Friday. Each week, quite a number of dishes, like vegetarian sushi, rolls with spring green and coconut soup, keep coming from the Klamath Siskiyou Art corner by Bigfoot in Happy Camp.
Dinner is only $5. For an additional $2 this week you get organic strawberries and whipped cream on lemon poppyseed shortcake by Joanne Rivera.
The purpose of the dinner is to raise funds of $15,000 this year ($12,320 in May) for the building of a unique and very special art gallery in Happy Camp.
While you are there enjoying visiting with community neighbors, you will enjoy another opportunity to see the monthly art exhibit if you missed it on opening night!
For further information, give Alan Crockett a call!
You are in for an elegant and delicious Dining Experience at the Grange on April 4th at 6 Pm! Remember last years chile relleno dinner at the Grange?
This Time we are offering Live Jazz music performed by Todd Gilbert,A scrumptious and romantic Ravioli Dinner with A crisp and freshly tossed Caesar Salad, Homemade Bread and a highly refined spread of Fine Wines and Beverages. All followed by a moist and mouth watering Chocolate Cake dessert.
And the Evening includes a silent auction of beautiful handmade one of a kind ceramic bowls,plates and cups.
All for the remarkably low price of $20.00 ($5.00 for children) with all profits going to the ART CENTER BUILDING PROJECT! But hurry… we can only seat 50 and reservations are going fast.
Order your Ticket soon by email us or Call us: Alan Crockett at the Klamath Siskiyou Art Center gang at (530)493-5668.
Barbara Yates is a very talented woodcarver and artist. We were pleased to meet Barbara and have an opportunity to look through her portfolio. Barbara does a lot of traveling, and she has been “Artist in residence” and designed woodcarved sculptures in parks.
My favorite woodsculptures by Barbara are her beautiful angels. I’ve been wondering since meeting her if she could turn a log into a child. Actually, I’m sure she could, since a piece of her work, a lady and child, is at present on display at the Health and Harmony at the intersection of Davis Road and Indian Creek Road, in Happy Camp. You’ll know the spot when you see the biggest dreamcatcher in the world!
Barbara plans to come back to Happy Camp and many admirers of her woodcarving wish for her to stay a long, long time!
The Second annual Street Fair sponsored by the board of Happy Camp’s local library was held Saturday.
Musicians played music throughout the day while there were so many things to stroll about and enjoy! Knit afghans to keep you warm on cold winter days. A good book to curl up before the fireplace and read to your heart’s content. Jody and Charlie’s Pizza wagon surprised everyone with delicious sandwiches on fresh baked bread instead of the usual pizza (which is always delicious too.)
The Cub Scouts were selling their popcorn to keep the Cub Scout Pack in funds for the coming year of scouting fun! The fifth grade boys didn’t miss asking a single passerby whether they might like to support the Scout program and buy popcorn. They had carmel corn with peanuts or with almonds, chocolately carmel popcorn, cheesey popcorn and an assortment of microwave popcorn, “Kettle Style,” “Unbelievable Butter,” or even “Butter Light” for those with microwave appliances.
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