"POINTS OF INTEREST" by Rhyena Halpern, Executive Director
Chair's View by Dan Gorfain, Commission Chair
SMAC Highlight
SMAC in Your Community -- Begin the New Year with a visit to one of SMAC's Galleries!
Thank You To Our Community Partners

As I reflect on this past year, what stands out are all the innovative and 
creative approaches artists and arts administrators employed in order to keep 
up with the times. Many have become more responsive to their audience; more 
relevant to their community; more collaborative with their partners; and more 
generous in their offerings to the underserved in Sacramento.  This spirit of 
adaptable, creative innovation is not only a moving testament to the power of 
the arts but also to entrepreneurism. 

At SMAC, we are working to support this innovation in tangible ways. In 2010 
SMAC and the Sacramento Region Community Foundation (SRCF) will partner to 
offer a new Stabilization Grant to reward innovation. We will make an 
announcement regarding the grant details during the first quarter of the year 
so please stay posted.  

The new year promises to be full of opportunities and challenges.  January 
begins with a statewide Envisioning Conference held locally by California Arts 
Advocates; a new gallery reception program geared to serious art lovers held 
on the second Thursday of each month will officially launch soon; SMAC will 
host national art leader Randy Cohen here on March 24; development 
enthusiastically continues regarding quality of life initiatives including 
facilities and funding and the Mayor's arts initiative; our public service 
campaign, ARTS. OPEN DAILY. will continue and expand.  Finally, the actual 
creation of the public art for the new Terminal B at the Sacramento 
International Airport will begin, along with presentations and exhibitions 
about the art and artists.  

I look forward to the new year and these exciting initiatives, as well as 
serving you with our ongoing programs.  I extend warm thanks and gratitude to 
our wonderful commissioners, staff and consultants here at SMAC; you make it 
all happen!

In partnership,
Rhyena Halpern

On November 14th, SMAC collaborated with twenty-five area artists, three 
elementary schools and Regional Transit to conduct a free community tour of 
the Plein Air Project along the Franklin Boulevard corridor.  This project was 
conceived by Shelly Willis, Director of SMAC’s Art in Public Places Program 
with assistance from Lorrie Kempf, and involved SMAC’s Arts Education program 
lead, Erika Kraft and program coordinator, Chelsea Hunt. 

The “open air” paintings on the various buildings, depicting what the artists 
saw along the Boulevard, has attracted a lot of community attention and 
generated community pride around Franklin Boulevard.

For those who have not yet seen it, I strongly urge you to between now and 
March 12, 2010.  A colorful map and supporting information can be found at: 
http://www.sacmetroarts.org/documents/APP_UrbanPleinAir_Handout.pdf. (Click on 
the link below.)

In addition to the paintings themselves the project provided a tangible 
demonstration of the value art education can have in our schools.  Three of 
the artists spent several weeks working with students and staff at three local 
elementary schools.  The artists led the students on walking tours on Franklin 
Boulevard nearby their schools to see and talk about the Plein Air paintings, 
taught them painting concepts and art techniques such as cubism and 
perspective, and had them paint their own paintings applying what they 
learned.  The results, exhibited at the schools, were dazzling.  Talking with 
some of the students as well as their teachers and principals, everyone’s 
excitement over this learning process was heartening.  

One teacher’s comment that stuck with me was that this experience has changed 
some of the kids’ attitude toward school and learning in general.  What a 
great way to emphasize the value art education we have in our schools!

Sincerely yours,
Dan Gorfain

Teaching Artist Workshop Series (TAWS) -- New Season Announced!
If you are an artist who also wants to teach or build a career as a teaching 
artist, TAWS is for you.  Each free workshop takes on a practical topic in the 
field, providing artists with the opportunity to refine or refresh their 
teaching skills, develop connections in the educational community and access 
the latest resources to help you land paying jobs as a teaching artist.  This 
is especially relevant as Sacramento works with the Kennedy Center’s Any Given 
Child Initiative to develop more arts education providers in the region as a 
resource for the City schools. 

Workshops occur monthly throughout the City beginning January 13th.  Topics 
include: effective teaching in drop-in settings; arts integration speed 
dating; arts lesson planning strategies; creating interactive music 
performances; and the business of being a teaching artist.  Workshops are free 
but pre-registration is requested.  Visit www.sacmetroarts.org/professional-
development.html (click on the link below) for schedules, locations and 
registration information or call Chelsea Hunt at 916-808-3979.

SMUD Art Gallery

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) 
Customer Service Center
6301 S Street at 65th Street
Sacramento, CA 95817
Hours - Monday - Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Located in the first floor lobby.
Current Exhibit: SacTown Fogscapes: Photographs by Donald Satterlee 
EXHIBIT DATES: December 7, 2009 - February 5, 2010 

The new exhibit at the SMUD Art Gallery features a series of dramatic black 
and white images by local photographer Donald Satterlee including some of 
Sacramento's best known landmarks encased in a layer of fog creating a surreal 
effect in the photography. 

Airport Gallery
Sacramento International Airport
Terminal B
6900 Airport Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95837
Four enclosed exhibition cases are located in the public areas on the lower 
level of Terminal B. Three enclosed exhibition cases are located on each of 
the secured passenger concourses.
Current Exhibit: "Welcome to the Pacific Flyway"
EXHIBIT DATES: November 20, 2009 - February 28, 2010

Welcome to the Pacific Flyway is a natural history exhibition sponsored by the 
Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission (SMAC), Arts in Public Places (APP) 
program which focuses on the Yolo-Sacramento region of the Pacific Flyway zone.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Geese in a Rice Field, photo by Dave Feliz, California Dept. of Fish and Game 

Robert T. Matsui Art Gallery
City of Sacramento City Hall
915 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Located in the H Street lobby of the new City Hall building.
Current Exhibit: Robert Takeo Matsui: A Visionary Advocate for 
Sacramento
EXHIBIT DATES: Opened April 14, 2009 

Black and white photographic journey of the late Congressman Matsui's life 
from childhood to his days in Congress. 

THE FRANKLIN URBAN PLEIN AIR PROJECT
September 12, 2009 - March 12, 2010
Twenty-five local artists were selected to create temporary public art on 
Franklin Blvd as a part of the artists-in-residence program presented by the 
North Franklin Blvd. Business Association and the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts 
Commission (SMAC). The murals have been painted on the facades of 22 
businesses and 3 schools in the Franklin Blvd area. The project is titled 
Franklin Blvd. Urban Plein Air Project. You may pick a tour map at:
1. Tangent Gallery, 2900 Franklin Blvd. Sacramento
2. North Franklin District Business Assoc., 5383 Franklin Blvd., Suite F 
3. Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission, 2030 Del Paso Blvd
For more information contact Lorrie Kempf at (916) 808 -3977.

2009 witnessed a plethora of new partnerships and collaborations in both 
business and the arts. SMAC would like to recognize just a few of the many new 
relationships that are helping to redefine our region and the arts we offer. 

A very special thank you to the Mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson and Sharon 
Gerber for the creation of "For Arts Sake" Initiative,  Ruth Blank and 
Priscilla Enriquez of the SRCF, Steve Hammond and Sonya Bradley of the 
Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bill Muller and Chris Aguirre of 
Valley Vision, Ann Lucas and Jan Geiger of the Nonprofit Resource Center, 
Carol van Bruggen and Michelle Alexander of the Arts and Business Council, 
Michael Ault and Lisa Martinez of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, Jeff 
von Kaenel and Kathy Kleckner of the Sacramento News & Review, Brian Fisher 
and Darby Flynn of Eventually, Andrea Lepore of HOT ITALIAN for her "Pizza As 
Art" T-shirt fundraiser, sold at her restaurant, benefiting Friends of SMAC.  
And finally, to the dedicated, highly skilled professionals at SMAC who keep 
us relevant in the community by running their programs with integrity and 
passion; and to our Commissioners, who devote their time and energy as 
cultural ambassadors of the arts!

The ARTS welcome 2010!