Vanguard Art Gallery to Host a Series of Events

The Vanguard Community Art Gallery announced that it has a series of events beginning this June. On the evening of Friday, June 13, between 6 and 10 p.m., Charles Bibbs will be conducting a collaborative painting at the Vanguard. Charles will begin a painting and other people attending the event on Friday will add to the canvas. The completed artwork will be on display for the remainder of Charles Bibb’s exhibition, Mystics & Legends, featuring many original works that are being seen for the first time. The public will be able to bid on the collaborative artwork through Saturday, July 12, which will be the completion of the exhibition. Proceeds from the winning bid will then go to the Moreno Valley Cultural Arts Foundation for the support of the Vanguard. There will be refreshments and appetizers. On Saturday, June 21 beginning at noon and wrapping up at 5 p.m., the Vanguard Community Art Gallery launches its Vanguard Outdoor Art Expo. Artists will display their artwork for sale in the courtyard area adjacent the gallery at the StoneridgeTowne Centre on 27120 Eucalyptus Avenue, Suite A, Moreno Valley, CA 92555 (right off the Nason Street exit at Route 60). The event is free to the public and will be similar to the Art Walk in Riverside. Artists, public service organizations, and commercial vendors interested in selling their work or providing information may contact the Vanguard at 951-486-9700 or fill out the online application and make their payment on the MVCAF website, www.mvcaf.org (go to the Events Page). The Vanguard Outdoor Art Expo will be conducted on every third Saturday of the month. The July and August event will be start at 3 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. to allow some relief from the summer heat. In September, the event will return to the noon to 5 p.m. schedule for the remainder of the year. Saturday, June 28, will be the beginning of the Vanguard Concert Series. The 108th Avenue Entertainment Group is bringing J. Michael O’Neal and his band, O’Neal Music featuring independent vocalist and Moreno Valley resident, Aretha Scruggs. O’Neal has performed with a variety of musicians including Chaka Khan, Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, and James Ingram. Scruggs has performed with Anita Baker Christina Aguilera, and Natalie Cole. Their lively jazz stylings comes to the Vanguard, beginning at 6 p.m. and closing at 9 p.m. This will be the last concert they will perform in the US before going on their music tour of South America. It will also be the start of the Vanguard’s beverage and snack service which will include free Wi-Fi for patrons. Richard L. F. Archer, Sr., President/CEO of the MVCAF and Director of the Vanguard, stated, ”This is an exciting time for the Vanguard. We are rapidly expanding into all areas of the arts in an effort to become the central “arts hot-spot” for Moreno Valley. People have an amazing opportunity to experience a broad range of local talent while at the same time being a tremendous launch pad for artists of all genres.”