“Take some herbs with you,” offered artist Jennifer Gutierrez. She indicated a dish of lavender, near the new exhibit “The Magical Worlds Within Nature.”
This new exhibition, featuring work by Jennifer and fellow artist/fiance Paul Hogue, included an enchanting miniature treehouse and fairy gardens, all created from natural materials. The exhibit was one of the highlights of the Cherry Blossom Festival, at the Cultural Alliance of Long Beach, on Saturday, April 6th.
But Jennifer and Paul’s talents were by no means the only highlight, as CALB‘s first Cherry Blossom Festival brought springtime color and festivity to downtown Long Beach.
Laughing visitors showed up in elaborate cosplay costumes. Artists instructed guests in origami, Chinese calligraphy, and printmaking. Participants were invited to fill in a large mural on one wall. And, of course, the walls were covered with local artists’ creations, adding color and life to every available space.
CALB’s three galleries were filled with visitors and interesting things to see. Their performance space prepared an anime show, while vendors offered Japanese art and anime-related gifts. Food trucks pulled up outside, offering sushi and shaved ice. At noon, a spiritual leader offered an all-faiths blessing, encouraging guests to meditate quietly for a minute and send out vibrations of love to all those around them.
And the Cherry Blossom Festival, while a huge success, was just the beginning of the Spring 2013 festivities at CALB. Currently, they’re preparing for their first annual Green Prix of Long Beach, on Saturday, April 20th–featuring local “green” chefs, and artists who create their work from recycled materials!