Menu
Community Art Banners
Discover the charm of Eastern Madera County as you explore the welcoming towns of Coarsegold, Oakhurst, Bass Lake, and North Fork! Stroll through our historic communites and take in the vibrant local artwork along the Community Art Banner Trail.
This project began as a simple initiative to welcome visitors with a community banner, and in 2024, it evolved into an expansive art display. The banners, showcasing local art, line our town streets from Memorial Day Weekend through ARTober each year. In early November, these artworks are auctioned off to fund future beautification projects and maintain this as an annual event.
LOOK FOR THE NEW 2025 ART BANNERS TO BE HUNG
"AROUND TOWN" BY THE END OF MAY!
Below, you'll find the 2024 Art Banner Map, photos of the banners, and information about the artists and sponsors who made the project possible.
"Save the Date" for the annual 2025 Art Banner Auction on November 15th at the Oakhurst Community Center...more information to come.
If you are posting photos, don't forget to tag us @YosemiteMadera
Loading Loading
Sheila Boyd - "Wildlife at Coarsegold Creek"
Banner location: Coarsegold Historic Village - 35301 Highway 41, Coarsegold
I began my career as an airbrush artist in 1989 with the creation of my business, Clear Vision Graphics. Through the years I specialized in automotive art painting show cars, motorcycles and biker leathers, but also found large murals to be challenging. In 2010-2011 I painted nine murals at the VA Hospital in Fresno--the ‘Stairwell to Wellness’.
My journey has taken me across the United States painting every step of the way, teaching, and learning my craft. I can honestly call myself an airbrush buffet to also include fabrics and fashions, airbrush make-up and body art, illustrating children’s books, granite, marble, and canvas. Recently I added a new process to my repertoire called Tempera Batik.
My husband Jeff and I own Bodys by Boyd in Oakhurst. Although I still paint metal, my focus is on my fine art. My passion is nature, wildlife, animals, plants and rocks. All things are alive and have a voice. I hear their songs and express them into a visual format.
My gallery is located at Bodys by Boyd. Visit anytime during shop hours or join us for Art and Wine Hop and Sierra Art Trails where we are joined by other local artists!
Visit my website at: www.animalartbysheila.com
Banner location: Coarsegold Historic Village, 35300 Highway 41, Coarsegold
My interest in the arts is long and rich. It started with my wonderful Uncle Roy who was a magnificent sculptor. His preferred medium was bronze, but he created some marvelous porcelain vases and busts. Sadly, most of his works were destroyed by his second wife.
Uncle Roy was so entertaining when he was preparing to start a sculpture (not sure if it was for my benefit or this was how he got started). He would take a pencil in both hands and begin to draw his ideas with both hands (each hand drawing half of the rendition). I was fascinated and wanted to do this too (what a laugh). He taught me to draw, however I only use one hand at a time. From there I migrated to watercolors, not happy with this. Then I was on to oils.
Eva Zeitz took me in hand as a very young child (6 or 7) and had me over painting in her studio. (She lived across the street and was fast friends with my Grandmother). She was a great inspiration to me and encouraged me to create and expand my own style. She willed all her brushes, paints and canvases to me. It was a wonderful legacy for me to inherit at the age of 12.
After this I pretty much was a self-taught painter and was fairly prolific until my marriage in 1975. During my childhood and teens, I also created LOTS of embroidered items and tatted items. Most of which were given away as presents. I have entered many original art and embroidered in the various County Fairs in California and won numerous awards. During my marriage, I owned a custom clothing company as well as a ski wear company where I designed all the styles. During the years 1980 to 1989 I exclusively provided custom clothing for June Allyson. I also created and designed custom equestrian apparel from 1980 to 1997.
Now I concentrate on Acrylic Paintings, and Pine Needle Baskets. I prefer the pine needle baskets and items that I have painted on various pieces of barnwood and gourds. I like the pine needle baskets as the raw materials speak to me and I can pick them up locally as well as at the coast. The only items I buy for my baskets are the stone beads, metal beads, arrowheads, and the sinew type thread, everything else is provided by nature. My Acrylic Paintings on Barnwood are unique and really speak to the artist in me with the great texture that is achieved with the paint on the Barnwood.
Website: http://www.jensenent.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YosEncTre/
Banner location: Coarsegold Professional Center, 35301 Highway 41, Coarsegold
A Master in both sculpture and painting, Blagojce embodies all that is meant by the term, mastering a wide variety of mediums including bronze, marble, wood, glass, painting, drawing, printmaking, graphic art, murals, and original frescoes. His drawings, paintings, and sculpture reveal his excellence as an artist capable of expressing his intellectual, spiritual, and philosophical views through any medium.
Blagojce’s art integrates the styles of the ancient world and the modern with contemporary sensibilities. Through his elegant art style, he captures all aspects of the human spirit, infused with power, energy, and movement. He shows particular insight into the emotional connections between humanity’s spiritual and anthropological relationship with the values and principles of the universe.
Blagojce’s work can be found in various corporate, private, and public collections, including museums.
https://www.blagojcefineart.com/
Brooke Soukup and Mikayla Soukup - "Sierra Treasures"
Banner location: Coarsegold Community Center, 35611 Highway 41, Coarsegold
The mother-daughter team Brooke and Mikayla Soukup worked on the 2024 banner project together, combining their art styles to come up with the design and resulting Yosemite-themed painting. Art features heavily in their home where paint, ink, or other creative projects are always in the works.
Brooke (Evans) Soukup grew up on an island off the California Coast surrounded by art and artists in her family; she enjoys dabbling in a variety of mediums, and is the author of the children’s books Dance by the Sea, and Cold. She now lives in the Sierra National Forest, continually inspired by the sea and nature themes.
For the last few years, Brooke has been leaning into her lifetime interest in children’s stories and artwork. Some of her artistic journal covers and books can be found in local boutique shops on the coast of California, on Amazon, in person at art booths, or by reaching out for custom pieces on www.facebook/updraft.ink, www.updraft.ink, www.amazon.com/author/brooke-evans-soukup or contact@updraft.ink.
Mikayla Soukup is an upcoming high school senior in the Sierras. She just finished her 5th year as an animation student through theanimcourse.com. She’s concurrently pursuing her Studio Arts Transfer Degree at the local community college and will continue to focus on traditional studio arts as well as 2-D hand-drawn animation, storyboarding, and character design.
Mikayla has been offering modern digital caricature polaroids for a couple of years at local art booths along with her photography cards. She is also an award-winning artist and member of the Yosemite Sierra Artists. Mikayla takes joy in illustrating, writing, teaching others art techniques, community activities, and connecting with friends. She can also be reached at www.updraft.ink, www.facebook.com/updraft.ink, or contact@updraft.ink.
Banner location: Oakhurst Giftworks, 49027 Road 426, Oakhurst
I was born in 1954 and raised in the Central Sierra Nevada mountains along the San Joaquin River. My mother, a tribal member of the Chukchansi, and my father, from the Mono tribe, provided a simple yet hard life. I had the desire to draw at an early age, drawing my impression of the players on the field at Yankee Stadium in New York. My interest grew and by the late 60’s I was drawing hot rods with “rat fink” characters. High school was a monumental ‘eye opening’ experience to the art world. I knew then that art was something I wanted to pursue in life. After a year in college, I entered the workforce, logging, and then heavy construction. I started a family of my own and slipped away from the art world for the next 25 years. Through all my experience of life’s ups and downs, the new millennia finally brought me back to my love for art. From my heart to the world, my art shares that life is so simple and yet so complex. A special thank you to my family and dear friends, who have continued to support me in ‘living the dream’.
Website coming soon: shootthemoonart.com
Thomas Skahill - "Oakhurst Trolley"
Banner location: Ditton Realty, 40307 Highway 41, Oakhurst
My name is Thomas Skahill and I have been creating art my whole life. My work draws heavily from New Primitivism and centers around Mental Health. I tend to like using bright colors to represent and decorate darker themes and subject matters. The work itself is heavily layered, physically and metaphorically. I will typically start with an idea or a feeling, allowing the base layer to be an erratic representation of that idea or emotion. From here I identify lines that I would like to build on, and the color scheme I will be working with. The colors are made in large batches and act to thematically tie pieces together.
The work I am doing challenges the idea of beauty and aesthetics; looking at “ugly” subjects, or subject matter that we would otherwise avoid, in an aesthetically pleasing way. While I avoid perfect representation or re-creation, I would not say that I avoid perfectionism in my art. Each piece is complete only when it feels complete. The time this takes can vary, but I typically spend months on each piece, and because of this the pieces tend to represent the seasons of my life.
I prefer to work with Acrylic and Permanent Markers, but I also enjoy using Charcoal, Pastel, Photography, and Collage in my work. I don’t have any official training in my artistic practice. I have taken a few classes here and there, but largely I am self-taught. My influences include Jean-Michal Basquiat, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Gauguin. Recently I have been drawn to the art coming out of post WWI Germany, specifically the works of Otto Dix. I tend to gravitate toward subject matter similar to what I am exploring, and expressive line work.
@skahillart
Banner location: Visitor Center, 40343 Highway 41, Oakhurst
Steve Montalto is a multidisciplinary artist and the Creative Director for Visit Yosemite | Madera County. His diverse body of work spans landscape photography, portrait and event photography, sculpture, drawing, and digital art. With a profound affinity for night photography, Steve captures the serene and enigmatic beauty of nocturnal landscapes, with a particular emphasis on the moon—one of his favorite muses. His creative interpretations and various takes on our nearest celestial neighbor have earned him widespread recognition and admiration.
As a former freelance photojournalist for the Sierra Star, Steve has a rich history of storytelling through his lens. His skills extend beyond photography; he has also made significant contributions as a digital content and collateral creator for a variety of businesses and clients, blending artistic vision with practical design.
In addition to his freelance work, Steve plays a pivotal role in his local community as the "in-house" image creator for the Golden Chain Theatre. His artistic contributions help bring the theatre's productions to life, adding a visual dimension that enhances the audience's experience and is key to helping audiences find and engage with the theatre.
Steve's work can be explored further on his website, www.highmountainimages.com, Follow his artistic journey and see some of his latest creation on Instagram @highmountainimages and on Facebook at svmontlato.
Banner Sponsor: Visit Yosemite | Madera County - www.yosemitethisyear.com
Ashley Nebeker - "Leave No Trace"
Banner location: Silver Creek Center, 40879 Highway 41, Oakhurst
"It is all art. All of it. Look to the left. There it is." -AN
From the moment she could grasp a crayon or mold mud, Ashley's artistic journey began. Raised by a mother who was a wild and free artist-educator and a father who blended artistry with engineering, Ashley's childhood was an incubator for artistic exploration across all mediums. This rich upbringing instilled in her a love for experimentation and a deep appreciation for the expressive power of art.
Ashley Nebeker is a Community Wildfire Mitigation Project Developer and Education and Outreach Specialist for the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council; she's also a dedicated artist, wife, and mother of three. She is an advocate for animals of all kids and enjoys her hobby farm, complete with rescued animals and a robust garden. With two grandsons adding to her joys, Ashley's life is a vibrant tapestry of family, community, and creativity.
Despite the demands of her professional and family life, Ashley remains committed to nurturing her artistic spirit. Whether it's stealing moments for the piano, strumming a guitar, wielding a paintbrush, or letting her thoughts flow through pen and ink, Ashley finds solace and inspiration in her creative pursuits.
While she's proficient in many mediums, Ashley's heart belongs to gouache and inks. These versatile tools allow her to capture the nuances of her imagination with vivid colors and fluid lines, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the world around her.
In Ashley Nebeker's world, art isn't just a hobby—it's a lifeline, a language, and a legacy. With each stroke of her brush or melody played, she adds another chapter to her story, weaving together the threads of her passions, responsibilities, and dreams.
https://ashleymargueriteart.com/
Melanie Lopez - "Serenity"
Banner Location: 76 Gas Station/7-11 Store, 40475 Highway 41, Oakhurst
My work primarily consists of painting, mixed media, sculpture, photography, and fiber arts. I enjoy experimenting with new mediums and incorporating natural elements into my work. I’ve been drawing since the age of six, and have always been inspired by nature. My love of art eventually led me to pursue a career as a makeup artist and I found that I loved experimenting with the different textures that this medium offered. After attending college and receiving my art degree, I put my love of art on a shelf for several years to focus on my career and family. It’s only within the past few years that I’ve begun to create and show my work again, and it has been long overdue. I continue to be inspired by nature, the divine, and the feminine. I strive to find beauty in all things, and prefer abstract, ethereal, and often dark themes, because I believe that even in the darkness, there is beauty if one looks for it.
IG@Melanie_ LopezArt Facebook@Melanie_LopezArt
Gina Mims - "Poppies and Peaks"
Banner location: Hampton Inn & Suites, 40740 Highway 41, Oakhurst
A California native, relocated from Orange County to Ahwahnee in 2013. Her family has been visiting Bass Lake for their annual reunion for over 80 years, and during one trip, she decided it was time for a change. Though she painted frequently as an art major, the demands of running her graphic design agency often kept her from her art. After moving to Ahwahnee, she resumed painting following an almost 20-year hiatus. Gina, the owner of Inspiro Brands, works with clients remotely but prioritizes painting whenever she can. Gina's acrylic on canvas paintings, created using both brush and palette knife, evoke a dreamlike quality. She calls her works "Serenity Scapes," painting as a form of escape and hoping to impart a sense of peace and tranquility to those who view her art. Gina is the past president of Yosemite Sierra Artists and is the communications/marketing chair. For more information, visit YosemiteSierraArtists.org.
She is also the co-founder of Oakhurst Art & Wine Hop, which is held on the third Thursday from 5-8pm May - October. For more information, visit OakhurstArtHop.com.
You can find her work at: The Gallery at Oakhurst Spirits, open Friday & Saturday 2-7 pm and Sunday 12-5 pm. Sierra Art Trails during the first two weekends of October.
To view her work, visit GinaMimsArt.com.
Barbara Liss - “Firefall”
Banner location: Fairfield Inn & Suites, 40780 Highway 41, Oakhurst
Art should evoke feelings! I hope that mine does. Now living close to Yosemite, I find it offers endless opportunities for growth, subjects and inspiration. I am the current president of YSA, attend plein air group and portrait group sessions regularly. Please contact me at my email address for pricing and details concerning any pieces which pique your interest! I have an art page on FaceBook and also am on Instagram, where I post new works often. Thanks for reading my profile.
Barbara L. Liss - https://www.facebook.com/BLissfulArtBarbara, Instagram: @BLissfulArtBarbara, https://yosemitesierraartists.org/member-profile/?pu=bliss
Banner location: Holiday Inn Express, 40820 Highway 41, Oakhurst
As a wedding & event planner, designer, & coordinator, Jessica Trettin thrives on creating beautiful stories. Whether that is helping a traveling couple bringing their dream Yosemite wedding to life, designing the perfect tablescape & meal to be enjoyed with family & friends, or creating unique art pieces for her home. Based in Oakhurst, Jess is fueled by her mountain setting and draws on the inspiration that surrounds her. She feels blessed to call this place home!
Lucky enough to take art lessons from the amazing Joan Brumley as an adolescence, Jess started in watercolor painting and instantly loved it. She won several art competitions through her early years and carried her love for being creative into fashion design in college. Jess now loves creating her clients’ wedding designs and bringing them to life, all while telling a little bit of their love story through it.
@thewanderingbrideca
Jon Bock - "Bird's Eye View"
Banner location: Yosemite Gateway Art Center, 40982 Highway 41, Oakhurst
Over the last thirty years I have worked as an business owner, arts administrator, gallery curator, and artist. I am experienced as a creative director and business manager, including founding and managing the 501(c)4 non-profit art organization Sierra Art Trails . I am excited by collaborative projects, and enjoy working with others to reach a common goal. I am comfortable managing large projects and producing innovative exhibits that involve the contributions of many participants.
I have broad experience in the visual arts, with a extensive knowledge of art history, global artistic styles and cultural traditions. I am well connected in the local art community, and stay current with trends in the art world.
Suzanne Banks - "Yosemite's Gem"
Banner location: El Cid Mexican Restaurant, 41939 Highway 41, Oakhurst
Suzanne was introduced to the world of art when she was about 8 years old by her mother, Alma, who was a professional artist and illustrator. Since then Suzanne majored in art in college and has studied with several well known artists including James Soares, Gary Langdon and Jerome Grimmer.
Suzanne's oil and acrylic paintings bring the viewer along, through her eyes, on a journey of the majesty of nature which abounds in the Yosemite area.
Her watercolors are a combination of design and spontaneous creativity. She uses the fluidity of the colors meandering across the paper to suggest magical floral shapes and molds these shapes into floral designs.
Suzanne's paintings hang in private collections throughout the United States, Hawaii and the Far East. She has won numerous awards for her paintings. She enjoys painting florals, landscapes and still lifes, and has done wall murals for businesses and homes.
Ashley Nebeker - "What' SUP, Bass Lake"
Banner location: Stars & Stripes Real Estate, 54250 North Shore Road 432, Bass Lake
"It is all art. All of it. Look to the left. There it is." -AN
From the moment she could grasp a crayon or mold mud, Ashley's artistic journey began. Raised by a mother who was a wild and free artist-educator and a father who blended artistry with engineering, Ashley's childhood was an incubator for artistic exploration across all mediums. This rich upbringing instilled in her a love for experimentation and a deep appreciation for the expressive power of art.
Ashley Nebeker is a Community Wildfire Mitigation Project Developer and Education and Outreach Specialist for the Eastern Madera County Fire Safe Council; she's also a dedicated artist, wife, and mother of three. She is an advocate for animals of all kids and enjoys her hobby farm, complete with rescued animals and a robust garden. With two grandsons adding to her joys, Ashley's life is a vibrant tapestry of family, community, and creativity.
Despite the demands of her professional and family life, Ashley remains committed to nurturing her artistic spirit. Whether it's stealing moments for the piano, strumming a guitar, wielding a paintbrush, or letting her thoughts flow through pen and ink, Ashley finds solace and inspiration in her creative pursuits.
While she's proficient in many mediums, Ashley's heart belongs to gouache and inks. These versatile tools allow her to capture the nuances of her imagination with vivid colors and fluid lines, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the world around her.
In Ashley Nebeker's world, art isn't just a hobby—it's a lifeline, a language, and a legacy. With each stroke of her brush or melody played, she adds another chapter to her story, weaving together the threads of her passions, responsibilities, and dreams.
https://ashleymargueriteart.com/
Jillian Gamble - "Lupines by the Creek"
Banner location: Good Ol' Daze, 54310 Road 432, Bass Lake
From a young age, Jillian Gamble was surrounded by artistic expression and felt an innate pull towards creativity. She had a firsthand witness to the passion and skill of an artist - her own father. She spent countless hours observing him meticulously carving beautiful pieces from wood, cultivating an appreciation for the artwork that can emerge from raw materials through dedication and vision. This early immersion in the arts left an indelible mark on Jillian, instilling within her a lifelong love of artistic exploration and self-expression.
After high school, she pursued her passion by earning a bachelor's degree focused on art education. For the past 18 years, Jillian has shared her love of creativity by teaching art to high school students.
It wasn't until both of her daughters were older that Jillian decided to pursue her personal art again. She went back to school, this time earning a master's degree in art. This season of intense study and immersion was truly one of self-discovery. She began exploring different mediums and styles, finally honing in on what resonates most deeply - abstraction through painting.
Whether teaching the next generation or standing before a fresh canvas herself, Jillian revels in the process of creating. Her art reminds us to constantly seek out new paths of beauty and truth in this life.
Learn more at www.jillianrgamble.com
Eric "Drane" Olague - "Night Cat"
Banner location: The Pines Resort, 54432 Road 432, Bass Lake
Drane is a Fresno native. Drawing since childhood, 30-year graffiti artist, published several times, including Pantone's "20th Century in Color". 2018 began pushing myself with imagery instead of lettering. Working full-time painting Murals, signs, live painting, installments, music festivals, etc, since 2020. Seem to have found a niche in painting realism, including primarily black and white portraits. But I still like to pride myself on versatility. Currently expanding my tool belt, learning traditional sign painting techniques, and learning to oil paint, studying under Kevin Stewart McGee.
View his work at, www.instagram.com/draneone_arts
Katie Wing - "The Evolution of Dinner"
Banner location: The Forks Resort, 39150 Road 222, Bass Lake
My name is Katie Wing, and I grew up in Orange County and more recently moved to Oakhurst at the start of 2024. Although my main career and educational background is in Medical Devices, Healthcare, & Biology (Georgetown University, Applied Medical), I've continued my passion and development in art & design on the side since I was a little kid. I now consistently dabble in a variety of art mediums, but my primary themes viewed across my pieces include Japanese/Chinese/oriental design, functional art, sentimental art (personalizing for the individual), geometric-abstract fusion, zodiac symbiology, and branding work (labels, business cards, logos).
I enjoy both designing and building when it comes to art. The main mediums I thrive in include painting (various kinds), wood-burning, fractal burning, Moto (helmets, tanks), jewelry (origami & wire-wrapping), pen-ink-charcoal sketching (animal/human portraits & abstract designs), and calligraphy (font style creation). I thrive the most off of creating sentimental and personalized art for the individual (not the masses). Anything is a medium to me, and personalizing allows me to connect more with others. My hobbies of traveling, hiking, & motorcycling further feed into my design concepts and final pieces (literally and figuratively).
Reid Woodward: A Tribute to a Multifaceted Artist
Banner location: Miller's Landing Resort, 37976 Road 222, Bass Lake
Reid Woodward was a remarkable artist whose talents spanned multiple disciplines. As a photographer, poet, silver and goldsmith, and teacher of science, math, and art, Reid's creative spirit knew no bounds. He found joy in painting en plein air, embracing the outdoors with ground squirrels, birds, bugs, sun, fog, rain, and the occasional companionship of friends. His approach to painting was immersive and intense, requiring presence in every detail of the day. "There’s an intensity in ‘plein air’ painting…you must be present in every detail of the day. I like that. It becomes exhilarating, humbling, frustrating, and full of wonder," Reid once said.
Reid's sudden passing on July 29, 2023, left a void in the hearts of those who knew him. His legacy as a kind, generous, talented, and multifaceted man endures. He cherished the annual family reunions at Bass Lake, south of Yosemite, where he served as Zoo Boat captain, chief barbeque chef, and the beloved supplier of goodies and fireside fun. Reid's life and work continue to inspire all who had the privilege of experiencing his art and his friendship.
Angeline Karine DeHart - "Free Spirit"
Banner location: Box Feed, 32941 Road 222, North Fork
Art has been an adjoining thread throughout my life journey as a second-generation Armenian-American female, born and raised in sunny California. Influenced by generations of creativity and art in my family, these deep roots, such as those of the grapevines that allured me on my grandparents’ farm as a child, have allowed me to pass my individual expression through my medium to canvas. From a young age, art has opened many doorways to the answers I sought at various pivotal moments throughout my life and, perhaps, those pondered by my ancestors. Art has served not only as an expression and reflection of my life but also as a glimpse into the future…
My pathway as an artist has been long and intuitive. Beginning with my Armenian heritage, I was born of artisan people, with art pumping through my veins, and I arrived in a culture that created and cherished art. Art adorned every wall in my childhood home. My father, an architect and designer, encouraged me to draw at an early age, and his mother, my grandmother, put a paintbrush in my hand.
At school I excelled in art and took courses in watercolor, oil/acrylic, and mosaic. During my junior college years I had the unique opportunity to experiment with welding and metal art under the renown Chris Sorensen in his downtown Fresno studio. At Fresno State I continued to take courses in oil/acrylic and art for children while pursuing my Master’s degree and Education Specialist credential. Later, I started a winemaking business and family with my husband.
Art has continued to thread through my life, further reinforcing my identity as an artist. My husband and I have featured my paintings on our ‘Art Series’ wine labels, including Head Case, Dusty City, and On the Edge, Tulsi Rose, and more. Last year I was inspired to draw a variety of herbs during an herbalism course I took and had the opportunity to practice some line drawing techniques. It has been quite liberating and meaningful to play with this medium for the first time in awhile.
I have enjoyed teaching high school art in North Fork, showcasing my art for SAT since 2021, exhibiting my art at Stix Coffee shop in Mariposa, installing an art banner for this year’s new local project, and signing up to show my art for our first Oakhurst Art and Wine Hop this summer. With these experiences, it has been an honor and inspiration to network with other great artists of our mountain area.
Banner location: Buckhorn Saloon & Restaurant, 32992 Road 222, North Fork
April Rendon is an Indigenous-Mexican artist, based out of North Fork, California. She specializes in photography, and acrylic painting. April has also explored & studied, many different modalities of art, including, but not limited to, interior design, woodwork, jewelry, fashion/cosplay, sewing, and more.
April comes from a family line of artists, and was inspired by the works of her father, who specialized in Landscape Maintenance & Design. April worked alongside him from a very young age and was intrigued by how he was able to bring his visualizations to life. This ignited April’s creativity. She now utilizes photography and painting to story tell her own visualizations, feelings or thoughts.
Her banner was inspired by her travels of ten years, and now being able to call North Fork home. April Rendon is also an Army Veteran, who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. After honorably being discharged from the military, and having her first child, she set out on adventures to get to know herself outside of the military. This inspired her creativity and outlook on life and the world. She visited, and lived in multiple countries, but when covid hit, and airports shut down, April and her family didn’t let that stop them from traveling. Utilizing April’s interior design skills, her and her husband turned an old school bus into a tiny home on wheels. They traveled the United States, and eventually discovered North Fork, California. April now embraces herself in the community, sharing her arts through Photography, and now painting. She thanks The Madera County Visitor Center, for providing this opportunity to share her passion and love, with others, through her art.
You can find April on Instagram, @aprilmrendon & @lluviaysolphotography where she loves to display her lifestyle through arts, and photography.
Mary Beth Harrison - "North Fork Community Spirit"
Banner location: near Hotshot Coffee Shack, 33045 Road 222, North Fork
Mary Beth Harrison is an impressionistic oil painter living in North Fork, California. She is known for combining plein air painting, photography, and studio work to create works of art that capture the honesty and striking beauty of California, especially the local color and moments to remember in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Mary Beth is an active and award-winning member of the Yosemite Sierra Artists and displays her work at several area locations, including the Yosemite Gateway Art Center in Oakhurst and Jennie’s Garden in North Fork. You may contact the artist and preview her art at marybethharrisonart.com
Katie Thurlow - "Native Culture"
Banner location: South Fork Mills Coffee, 33173 Road 222, North Fork
My name is Katie Thurlow, I am 5th generation on my Mother’s side and 3rd generation on my Father’s side to live and grow up in North Fork, California. I am also Native American and of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California. I am an artist of many different mediums including photography, basket weaving, jewelry making and traditional native plant medicine. The theme for this banner project was “what I love about this mountain area” I chose to title my banner “Native/Plants”-for my love of my Native community and our Native plants. I also chose to use the back of the banner with the totem at the North Fork roundabout which is designed after my Great, Great Grandmother Julia Charley (Capp) in honor of her. I love our mountain community and I thank you for this wonderful opportunity to share my art.
Banner location: North Fork Market - 57027 Road 225 North Fork
Michelle Sonoquie Gillette and Craig Schub are local Plein air oil painters. Their work can be found at Yosemite Gateway Art Center in Oakhurst, CA.
Kerby Smith & Lura Schwarz Smith - "The Blue Heron: Tending the Nest"
Banner location: Near the North Fork Market on the corner of Road 222 & Road 225, North Fork
Lura Schwarz Smith has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art, with emphasis in painting and drawing, from San Francisco State University. She produced textile art and mixed media work from 1975, initially showing in California galleries throughout the 70s and 80s. In the 90s, she taught, showed art quilts, and received awards at national and international levels. One of her art quilts was named one of the “100 Best American Quilts of the 20th Century.” Over the past ten years, Smith has turned her focus to oil painting, exploring both realistic and more abstract and fractured approaches, drawn to the directness and immediacy of paint on canvas. Exploring the imagination and inner life through figurative art are primary themes in her art. Fresno Vernissage hosted Smith’s first solo painting exhibit and also had a two-artist show with her husband, Kerby Smith, there. Her most recent solo exhibit was at the Art Center Gallery in Oakhurst in 2022. In 2023, the husband and wife artists had another duo art show at Scarab Creative Arts in Fresno. Among other venues, her paintings have been shown at the Carnegie Art Center, Turlock; Scarab Creative Art Center and Sorensen Studio Gallery, Fresno; Yosemite Museum Gallery, Yosemite National Park; Tree Top Gallery, Mariposa; Kings Art Center, Hanford; and MCAC Circle Gallery, Madera. Smith’s work has been honored with numerous awards, including several Best of Shows. Her work is shown at Yosemite Gateway Art Center, Gallery 6, in Oakhurst. Smith is a member of the Madera Arts Council, Mariposa Arts Council, and Yosemite Sierra Artists. She is currently chair of the YSA Portrait group and often attends the Plein Air group outings.
To see more of her work, visit www.lura-art.com, IG: @lura.artist, or on Facebook, Lura Schwarz Smith Art.
Kerby Smith is a member of Yosemite Sierra Artists and its president for 2024-2025. His works include acrylic paintings, art quilts, digital canvases, photographs, and mixed media artworks. Mixed media pieces may include acrylic paint, acrylic mediums and collaged digital canvas. All the imagery used in his artworks is his own. For the Eastern Madera Foundation 2024 Art Banner Project he collaborated with his wife, Lura Schwarz Smith. The scene of the Great Blue Heron nest is from the Sidenblad Ranch outside of North Fork, California.
Email: freelance@sti.net, Website: www. kerbysmith.com, Instagram: @kerbybirds and @kerbyseye
