Exploring Davis

[davisdiscoveries]

Sadly, of course, this class had to end; yet, my experiences with the cultural offerings of Davis are just beginning! I mean, really, we only just got here. There is still so much to explore!

The scavenger hunt on Friday was a great closer to the class. Watching Dr. Andy lay out all the pictures...

[dwilderone]

I also consider myself a listener, and your description is very well put. I have really enjoyed listening to everyone's experiences and the different cultural aspects of Davis. We all only have more to learn.

[culturecow]

This past Friday, our entire class went on a scavenger hunt. We split into several groups and each group was given several photographs. We then had to venture out into Davis and find each of the places or works of art that were featured in the photographs. It was quite and adventure made even...

[dwilderone]

This class has definitely changed my opinion on both the importance of culture and the many things that make Davis an amazing place to live, learn, and love.

[cityjumper00]

The last class of this seminar was an interesting and fun time. I enjoyed being able to use the knowledge that we had gained throughout our experiences over the duration of the quarter in order to work on the scavenger hunt. For the art work that we were assigned, my group ended up knowing where two places were, but were unsure of the other two. We worked together to solve this, making a plan to split up so that two people could find the known areas and the rest of us would search for those pieces of art that we didn’t know. Aside the obvious of remembering where some cultural spots were from visiting them previously, the seminar also prepared us for this task by introducing us to many sources of information about culture in Davis. For the art works that we didn’t know, we decided to pay a visit to the John Natsoulas Gallery, planning on asking someone more knowledgeable than us about where to find the mural and statue. Without having visited the Natsoulas Gallery before in class, I would have never known that it was a great place to learn more about the arts, whether this be in general or in Davis specifically. It was fun to be able to put the cultural knowledge I have gained over the past several weeks to the test with my peers; even though it was raining as we biked around downtown Davis, it did not put a damper on the enjoyment of the day. 

Looking back on this seminar as a whole, I believe it was a useful class to have taken. It is not a topic that I would have normally been exposed to, since I am a science major and therefore have no requirements pertaining to such cultural classes. However, it has opened up my mind to being more culturally aware, a trait that I believe will stay with me through my experiences in Davis and elsewhere. It has gotten me to think about my hometown and childhood in terms of the cultural events and opportunities I have had there, as well as look into the future for more chances to explore other cultures. One result of this is my great interest in participating in a Study Abroad program. I have decided to go on a Summer Abroad course in France this year, and also am planning one for going to a university in the United Kingdom my junior year. Both of these times will allow me to immerse myself in new cultures and explore the wonderful offerings of these places. As I go through these experiences, the lessons I learned about the varying aspects of culture and the arts will remain with me and further my eagerness to learn about culture all over the world.

[dwilderone]

Yeah I think all of us will only appreciate the value of this class even more throughout our lives. We all can now preserve the culture around us, while at the same time adding our own culture for the future to enjoy and learn from.

[dwilderone]

The End of the Beginning

            Last week we participated in a scavenger hunt of various cultural locations throughout the city of Davis as the last activity in the seminar. I was initially worried about how my random group members and I would successfully find all of our locations within the time limit but it actually turned out to be very fun. My group had: the plaza in front of Pluto’s and the Habit, the train station, the “It Can Happen NOW…TO YOU” mural, and the “Flowers to Miss L” mural. The “Flowers to Miss L” mural proved to be the most challenging to find because neither my team nor me knew where it was, even though we recognized it. We happened to find it by the post office shortly after taking a picture with the “It Can Happen NOW…TO YOU” mural. The class had the honor of being followed by reporters that were working on a project illustrating the interactive seminars at Davis. While my team was biking to the train station, one of the reporters asked us how it was culturally significant. I said that it was where many different cultures intermingle as people including students arrive at Davis. Hanni, (I swear that it was random how we were put in the same group even though we are roommates) said that it is significant because the railroad was a pretty influential addition to the town and marked an important time in its history. It was really great how the scavenger hunt involved all of the things we learned about throughout the quarter. It was characteristic of the class: fun, active, and interesting.

            Culture is what each of us brings to the table, whether that table is a class, a group of friends, or even the UCD campus. We each have something to share, something to contribute, something to include. In addition to the various cultural experiences available in Davis, this seminar has really showed me how any student can be involved and contribute their own culture to their surroundings. This class has really been a great adventure. I probably would not have been aware of the experiences that I could enjoy around town if I did not take the class. The Transmedia Art Walk, the Natsoulas Gallery, Stories on Stage, the Hattie Weber Museum, and meeting influential community members have been just a few of the things I have the class to thank for. I have created connections to different aspects of the community that will allow me to be an involved member of the Davis community. This last weekend I was able to help paint the mural on the second floor of the parking garage of a theater downtown. I saw John Natsoulas, Alan Humason, and even Dr. Andy. I am definitely looking forward to at least three more years of attending UC Davis where I continue to explore the university campus, the city, and the county. There are plenty of more discoveries out there, I just have to go out there and find them.

(Sorry, but no pictures this time)

[mraggieuke]

“So that’s what’s here” I thought to myself as I parked my bike adjacent to the transmedia art piece “Wolf Pipe”. As I entered the complex that I had passed many times before, biking downtown to the John Natsoulas Gallery, I heard a friendly voice call from the level above “Looking for Andy’s class?” With a hearty affirmative we were led inside a crisp and clean office, the Yolo County Visitor’s Bureau. The man that had called out to us was the director himself, Alan Humason. Mr. Humason has been a Davis resident for the past 14 years and has had a number of jobs before arriving here, mainly in the magazine business. Mr. Humason spoke to us about the different ways the Bureau reaches out to surrounding towns, tourists, and even the nation. I especially liked hearing about the fact that with the whole “Farm to Fork” movement more and more people may be interested in coming to Sacramento, and consequently Davis. His shelves lined with books and pamphlets of everything form wine tasting in Woodland to Dancing in Davis, Mr. Humason seemed to have all the information you’d ever need to know about Yolo County at his fingertips. Though don’t mention the word YOLO or the fact that one of the many pamphlets read “You Only Live Once” since Mr. Humason “tries to distance the county from that affiliation”. After a few questions we began to head out, but I knew that if I ever needed to find something to do locally, that Alan Humason was the go-to guy.

[dwilderone]

He was a really cool guy and his knowledge definitely qualified him for his job. I am sure I will need to visit the bureau to learn about more cultural activities in Davis.

[imjinvolved]

It was a warmer than usual day in Davis when we visited the Visitor Bureau. I remember arriving and hoping that I wasn’t sweaty and smelly. My hygiene issues aside the Yolo County Visitor’s Bureau is located across from the John Natsoulas gallery near the Wolf Pipe sculpture. Now I never knew what...

[dwilderone]

Yeah the Visitors Bureau is such a great resource for people to discover what activities in Yolo County will compliment their interests, along with their limits on time and money. By going to the bureau, one is actually more likely to take advantage of local opportunities because of the personal advice from people like Mr. Humason.

[inanutshell-galaxy-life-blog]

Not so long ago, I read a blog of someone’s good-bye to the University of California, Davis. I don’t know what it is about quarters, but it always feels like the end of a school year to me. Is it weird to get sentimental?

Regardless, I have been thinking about how things have and will end....

[dwilderone]

I completely agree with you about how the cities in Yolo County are so connected. Even though there are only four cities, the county seems stronger than my home county, which had many more cities.

[dwilderone]

Ye ole County of Yolo

            Last week we went to the Yolo County Visitors Bureau in Davis. There we met Alan Humason, the Executive Director of the bureau. When I first walked into the grouping of suites, I noticed that there were many restaurants. It seemed right that the Visitors Bureau should be in the midst of other downtown businesses. I was expecting it to be the biggest of the stores but it actually turned out to be in a really small area on the edge of the second floor. I was one of the first students there so I was able to experience the peaceful and quiet atmosphere of the bureau. In my hometown of Lompoc, there is the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. Even though it is only for the city rather than the county, it is still much larger than the bureau in Davis. It was very interesting to hear that only two or three people actually run the entire Yolo County Visitors Bureau because it seems like there would be too much work for them. Despite their small staff and small office space, they are a valuable resource for both the city of Davis and Yolo County.

            Mr. Humason told the class about how he came to Davis and joined the bureau. He was originally from out of state but his family moved to Davis because he and his wife wanted a better school system for their son. Before joining the bureau, Mr. Humason worked with a variety of magazines. He was an editor and involved in management, both of which were good experiences to prepare him for his current job as Executive Director. He now works on advertisements for the attractions of Yolo County, develops the county’s social media connection, and helps visitors by directing them around the area.

            I was surprised to discover how big the wine industry is in Yolo County. I know that there are many areas that are good for growing grapes and producing wine, but I did not know that Norcal was. In the Central Coast where I am from, the area is exceptional for making wine. The coastal breeze and temperature are said to be perfect conditions for growing grapes. While some people may think of Yolo County as the place to make wine, the Central Coast will probably always be “wine country” to me.

            I did some research on the origin of the word “Yolo”, which most of us recognize from the saying “You Only Live Once.” According to Wikipedia, it is from either a tribal name (Yo-loy), a chief’s name (Yodo), or a village’s name (Yodoi). The county from where I am from, Santa Barbara County, shares the same name as one of the cities so Yolo County is definitely cool in part by its awesome name. It was interesting to see that despite its somewhat official presence, the bureau uses the “You Only Live Once” saying as a marketing strategy. It refers to the various thrills that Yolo County has to offer.

[nataliadaraselia-deactivated201]

I’m actually live blogging this, which is rather cool. The speakers can answer your question directly, and in goes the typed response!

The speaker, artistic director Rob Salas begins by explaining how this ensemble got started. At first, it was mostly a UC Davis students based theater group. The...

[dwilderone]

I will always be surprised and amazed at how the different aspects of the Davis community are connected. Most people think that theater is just for actors, but in reality almost every type of artistic expression can be utilized in a production. I will definitely try to explore most of the theater groups in the area since, relative to other types of art, acting is the one I have been exposed to the least.

[cityjumper00]

Last week in class we heard from a representative of the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble. This gave a different perspective on Davis culture than many of our other speakers, as it was a personal experience rather than an overview of the city by third parties. I think this added to the interest of the...

[dwilderone]

The way I saw how theater is important is that it is one of the only places where the faults of humanity are displayed, whether through comedy or drama, in such a personal setting through other people. But I understand how you think other art forms can create a similar phenomenon.

[dwilderone]

Davis Shakespeare Ensemble (Festival)

        Last Week we were able to meet Rob Salas from the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble. He is the Artistic Director of the organization, and founded it along with Gia Battista. Earlier in the quarter when I attended Stories on Stage, she was one of the readers, but was unable to present to the class last week. Reading her biography in the program was the first time I heard of DSE. It was very interesting hearing Mr. Salas talk about the short but very active history of DSE. The group started in the summer of 2010 with a performance of Romeo and Juliet in the Arboretum. This summer marks its fourth year of operation. The performances will be moving from the Arboretum to the Veterans Memorial Theatre to accommodate a larger audience. The performances this year are Much Ado About Nothing, one of Shakespeare’s plays, and She Loves Me, a musical. In addition to Shakespeare’s works, DSE also does original plays like Nightingale. It was interesting to learn that the DSE is modeled after the Shakespeare Festivals in Oregon, Utah, Alabama, and California. Mr. Salas described the locations of the festivals as “Destination Theaters” where the small towns would sharply increase in population because of the performances. DSE is pretty much the Davis Shakespeare Festival in the summer when the main shows are given.

        Mr. Salas’ favorite play is Twelfth Night while his least favorite is Two Gentlemen of Verona. I also learned about the motivation and focus of the DSE. Mr. Salas described the “aesthetic” of DSE as an obsession with music and sound accompanied by a feminist edge. One of the most impactful things he said to the class was that it was important to see theater because it is “one of the only places where truth is celebrated live.” In addition to creating performances, DSE also does a program called Camp Shakespeare where kids can be exposed to the creative world of acting. DSE also holds other educational programs and tours both in and around California. I found out about different theater companies that are found throughout Davis and Sacramento, including: Davis Community Theatre, ACME Theatre Company, and an acting group that performs in an old barnyard. One of the major projects that DSE is trying to promote is the construction of an outside amphitheater for the city of Davis. It was great to learn about the another one of the many opportunities to experience culture in Davis and the many transitions it is experiencing as it gains influence in Davis and beyond.

        Last weekend I also went to the Hattie Weber Museum for the Valentine’s Day display. The center of the building was cleared out to allow room for visitors. There was a decent amount of elderly citizens conversing with one another while one man played the piano. The display itself was pretty interesting because it had replicas of vintage Valentine’s cards. It was cool to learn about how some of the traditions we enjoy in the present day were established throughout history.

[coolturaldavis]

So I haven’t actually been to any well-known, fancy plays like Phantom of the Opera or any Shakespeare reenactments. The only plays I have been to are the ones my high school had. To be fair though, these plays were actually really good. I have some great memories from these plays.

Some of the...

[dwilderone]

Yeah, my high school theater is a popular community gathering place as well. While it is on the smaller side, it is always packed during a production. It was cool to see my friends enjoy acting and contribute to the community at the same time.

[imjinvolved]

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Don Saylor the Yolo County Supervisor and local politician. While the meeting was wonderful the travel was not so pleasant. I was not familiar with the location and it also happened that there was heavy rain all around. Needless to say I was soaked and I...

[dwilderone]

I also would not have spoken up if I was in his situation. There are many things that I hold in high importance that I don't speak up about. It was great to see that both as a politician and a human being, his actions match his passions.

[citynittygritty]

The squirrels on campus are so cute! Sometimes I think they’re a bit too comfortable with people though haha!

[imjinvolved]

I have to agree that the squirrels on campus are absolutely adorable! Although it sometimes feels like they are a little comfortable with bikers. I can’t count the times I have had to swerve my bike to avoid running over a squirrel, and usually the swerving makes nearly hit a human….

[youllseedavis-blog]

This is my favorite picture I’ve seen all day. The squirrels are one of my favorite things about Davis, actually. I want to hug all of them and name them all George. I definitely do not mind sharing our town with them, even when they dart in front of my bike.

[culturecow]

This picture is very funny!  Yes, the squirrels here each seem to have their unique personalities.  They are quite cute.  I think they have integrated themselves into Davis’s culture quite nicely.  

[dwilderone]

Actually, today I almost ran over a squirrel while riding my bike. A car was coming from the other direction, so I'm really glad the squirrel decided to run to the less dangerous side of the road.

[dwilderone]

YOLO County

          Last week we met Don Saylor, a Yolo County Supervisor. While his position called for a certain composure and formality, he was very personal and friendly to the class as he spoke. It was really cool to learn about his personal connections to the Davis community and his passions that influence his politics. It seemed to me that he really tried to get the best possible outcome out of his political situations. With his children growing up in Davis, he understood how policies could affect a greater range of people.  

          It was really interesting how he used input from his son in designing a new theatre in Davis. I forgot what it was called, but the performing arts program that was started by students who wanted to perform plays but didn’t have a teacher really inspired me. It really showed that in the Davis community, despite difficulties, people could still find creative solutions that would benefit both themselves and others. I also liked the story of the water tank outside the city. It could have ended up being another boring water tank that cars just drive by, but Don Saylor helped make it what it is today, a great piece of art and an integral part of the community. I believe that its saying in English was “The sun shines on all of us.” It really shows the connectedness of Davis and how one person’s achievements can help many other people. I haven’t seen the actual structure yet, but I will definitely go one day when I can read the entire statement. It is really cool how it was made to be able to be completely read only twice during the year.

          It was also interesting to learn about the different periods of change of the Varsity Theatre. I have only been there once, and went to see “Inside Llewyn Davis.” To go on a tangent, I thought that the movie was really great not only because of the music but also the culture. It was set in the early ‘60s in New York. What was really different from today was that there was a greater divide in fashion between the upper and middle classes. Two weeks ago we were talking about the influence of the homeless and the underground music scene on a community. The movie connects to that because Llewyn Davis was a poor musician who struggled to make a living off of his folk music. I found out from Wikipedia that the movie is actually loosely based on the life of a real musician named Dave Van Ronk, who despite life challenges became pretty influential. It goes to show that every individual, no matter what financial status, can contribute to the good of the community. Now, back to Davis the city instead of Davis the character. Overall, I thought that Don Saylor embodied the YOLO lifestyle by taking the path that wasn’t easy but the one that was better for the people and environment, as well as not compromising on the importance of art.

[imjinvolved]

Last week I had the great privilege of visiting the Hattie Weber Museum located near Central Park.

When I attempted to locate this museum I almost went to the wrong building. When I imagine a museum, I think of an enormous building with either a large sign saying “MUSEUM” or a building with lots...

[dwilderone]

Yeah when you learn about history in school it tends to seem unrelated to you and distant while learning about your community's past through a museum brings history to a personal level. Speaking of photos of possible ancestors, a few years ago I took it upon myself to research my own ancestors. I have gone back in all branches of my family at least 4 generations, some even up to 12.

[moo-ving-deactivated20150111]

Last week, our class spent time at the Hattie Weber museum, another one of the numerous venues that presents the history and artifacts of Davis and its development. Museum Director Dennis Dingemans, an author and professor emeritus of Geography, opened up the museum just for our class to...

[dwilderone]

I'm really glad that the citizens of Davis were able to oppose making the city more industrial. I like the feel of Davis that comes from all of the local businesses. With the number of students at UCD expecting to increase in the future, Davis will certainly have to face more challenges as it decides how to grow and what to sacrifice.