For a List Of The Featured Artists

Sierra Art Trails big Preview Exhibit for the up coming Art Tour is now opened.  The Preview Exhibit will continue to be open, free of charge to the public, for the month leading up to the Sierra Art Trails weekend of October 14^th and 15^th.   This fabulous exhibit can be seen at Stellar Gallery, 40982 Highway 41, in Oakhurst.   The gallery is open from 11AM to 5 PM, Thursday through Monday.

Catalogs for the event itself are now on sale at the following Mariposa locations: the Visitor’s Center (at the corner of 140 and 49), Sherri’s Framing (on 7^th street), Our Country Home, and Shockley ‘s Designs Un-Ldt, both on Main Street.  Catalogs sell for $12 each, which acts as a ticket for two.  They contain a listing of all artists, a picture of one of their pieces of their art, and the maps to locate where they can be seen

Alinda Franklin, one of Sierra Art Trails’ wonderful fiber artists, has been a doll maker for 30 years.  Her creative ability and art training helped her in this new medium of Soft Sculpture Art Dolls.  She started making portrait dolls of celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Tom Selleck, Carol Burnett and Dolly Parton, and then moved on to make “look-a-like dolls” for individuals. Besides these, Alinda makes unicorns, wizards, fairies, and flower maidens that she hopes will bring magic to the environment.

Alinda uses a one-way stretch nylon lingerie fabric to fashion her dolls.  She says, “It is an ideal fabric for needle-sculpturing faces.  I am an avid collector of unusual fabrics, trims, old jewelry, and embellishments.  After sculpting the doll, I use my stash of items to dress them, especially the fantasy dolls.   People inspire me to do my work.   I am also constantly inspired by the stories of the people I meet.  Event every day life situations inspire me.  I love whimsical things, and I enjoy making mythical characters.”  Alinda has recently been featured in the Art Doll Quarterly.  In their article they talk about her doll making techniques and especially her inspired “Magpie and the Fairy.”

Alinda’s magical mystical site is a “must see” on the Art Trails weekend.

For further information about the upcoming show call your local representatives Sallie Dettra or Louise Taylor at 209-966-8363.  We also invite you to visit the Art Trails web site at www.sierraarttrails.org