Birdie Boyles Art Exhibition at Kondos Gallery
Sacramento City College
October 27 – November 21, 2008

Birdie Boyles (1916-2008), a native Sacramentan, graduated from Stanford University and during World War II worked on the front lines for the American Red Cross, for which service she was awarded the Bronze Star.

After the war, she returned to Sacramento and worked as a research consultant for the State Department of Education. At this time she also began creating woodblock prints and became a leading member of the Sacramento arts community. She was a founding member of the Artist Cooperative Gallery (later named the Artists Contemporary Gallery), showed her artwork often at the California State Fair and the Crocker Art Museum, and was an early member of Creative Arts League of Sacramento.

It is with great enthusiasm that CAL took on the challenge of organizing an exhibition of her artwork, and underwriting a catalogue that will be a permanent record of her accomplishments. In its more than 50 year history, Creative Arts League has presented exhibitions that would not otherwise be seen in Sacramento. In the early days, that meant finding venues for exhibitions of local artists work. In the late 1950s, the group began a long relationship with Crocker Art Museum, organizing and underwriting contemporary craft exhibitions. We see this exhibition and catalogue of the artwork of Birdie Boyles continuing in the tradition of exhibiting work that might otherwise be overlooked.

Our partner in this endeavor has been the Art Department of Sacramento City College and in particular Chris Daubert, art instructor and Director of the school’s Gregory Kondos Gallery. In addition to opening up the Gallery for this exhibition, Chris also agreed to curate the show and assist in the publication of the catalogue. We could not have presented this exhibition without his help.

We would like to thank Birdie’s nieces, Christine Boyles David and Kay Sprinkel Grace, who have collected information about Birdie’s extraordinary life, and made available her archives. Thanks too to Patty Gregory, Pat Johnson and Charlene Noyes who documented the work that Birdie did for the Sacramento Archives and Museum Collection Center (SAMCC). And this project could not have undertaken without the assistance of CAL members Lois and David Warren.

Creative Arts League would also like to thank Melza and Ted Barr and other generous donors whose contributions have made this exhibition possible. Those contributions also underwrote the publication of this catalogue – a document that will ensure that the artwork of Birdie Boyles will not be forgotten.

Susan J. Willoughby
Exhibition Chairman
Creative Arts League of Sacramento

2008 Crocker Holiday Art & Craft Festival 

The event took place at the Scottish Rite Center again this year due to the expansion construction at the Crocker Art Museum. Over 100 fine craft artists displayed and sold their unique work including fine Jewelry, Ceramics, Metalworking, Wood Working, Textiles, Paintings, Sculpture, Glass, Cards and Ornaments, Gourmet Food Items and Handmade Memory Books. Ambrosia Cafe provided terrific food and drink for the event. CALS’ special Victorian Santa was in attendance and posed for pictures with children, large and small.

Our event was an amazing success and it is entirely due to the year-long planning and tireless efforts of the Festival Committee from the Creative Arts League, Pat Snooks, Diane Boal, Lesli Pletcher, Connie Spickelmier, Suzan Goodban, Susan Willoughby, Alice Smith and Santa, Wilma Champlin and from the Crocker Art Museum, Julie Smith and Pat Smith and the incredibly competent, generous and always cheerful volunteers! The total number of volunteer hours (just on the three days of the actual event) came to an incredible 620 hours!!! If you are interested in being an Artist/Exhibitor or Volunteering at the 2009 Festival let us know! 

Creative Arts League of Sacramento Makes Large Donation

In November CALS members joined Lial Jones the director of the Crocker Art Museum to make a donation of $150,000 to the museum expansion. The money has been earmarked for a CALS sponsored craft gallery within the museum.

We are honored to be able to make this donation and to continue to be able to support fine craft art within the Crocker Art Museum.

2007 Crocker Holiday Art & Craft Festival - A Huge Success

The 2007 festival was moved to the Scottish Rite Center due to the expansion construction at the Crocker Art Museum where the event usually takes place. Starting the day after Thanksgiving and going through that weekend - it was a huge success with close to 6,000 people in attendance over the 3-day event.

Over 85 fine craft artists displayed and sold their work. All types of work were represented from fine jewelry, ceramics, metalworking, woodworking, textiles, sculpture and glass to gourmet food products, hand made memory books. We also partnered with the Gold Rush Grille to provide terrific food and drink for the event. CALS’ special Victorian Santa was in attendance and happily posed for pictures with children large and small!

2006 Crocker Holiday Art & Craft Festival

90 Artists from all over northern California participated in this event at the Crocker Art Museum November 24, 25 & 26. Admission to the museum was free for members or $5 for non-members. Friday night the museum was open from 5:30 to 9pm, Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm. This was a great event for unique holiday shopping done in one place Photos were also taken with “Father Christmas.” A cafe was open at the museum serving holiday treats, sandwiches, salads and beverages. Proceeds will help to fund a contemporary craft gallery in the new Crocker Art Museum.