By Terry Telford

The Scene Now: Visual Arts

What do you get when you mix 1960s pop and color with 1970s swank and swagger? You might get something that looks a lot like bossanovastudios — opening Friday — which features the artwork of its creator Johnny Ramos.

A self-professed lover of mid-century modern design, his paintings recall an era of posh sophistication, innocence mixed with experience, and unusual confidence for such a relatively new artist.  “Ten years ago I was Mr. Mom,” says Ramos, who for a time was a mostly stay-at-home dad raising two sons. “I never, ever would have thought I would be doing this.”

But working at a local paint shop allowed him to learn the tools, and instead of buying others’ art he decorated his living space with his own creations.

“I had some friends come over and they (said), ‘You need to do something with this,’” he said.

Ramos listened to that advice. Since then his highly successful work has been seen all around Bakersfield, from independent shops and restaurants to shows at art galleries. He is regularly commissioned to provide artwork for the homes of private collectors and is the featured artist in shows which his clients throw in their own homes.

Although some out-of-towners have expressed doubts about a relevant artist coming from Bakersfield, Ramos is emphatic about claiming his small town roots. When asked if Los Angeles is the next logical move, he replied, “I like being in Bakersfield. Bakersfield’s been really good to me.”

In fact, Ramos says when people think of him in relation to Bakersfield he would one day like them to think, “Country music, race car drivers, oil … and Johnny Ramos.”

That’s not to say that he and business partner Kynan Chambers don’t have plans for showing work in the Southland. It’s just that they have bigger plans — for Bakersfield.

Chambers, the owner of Fluxar Studios, a firm which designs products such as furniture, graphics, corporate identity, and websites, has opened the doors to share professional space with the new bossanovastudios. Ramos and Chambers have been friends for years, and the business partnership is a new endeavor that excites them both. Says Chambers, “We have big plans of expansion. We don’t just want to sell paintings. We have other great things that involve (our) creativity.”

Adds Ramos, “With both our talents coming together, we’re going to do very well with it. I look at this little building as: So much is going to come out of here!”

This is a bold statement in light of today’s economic climate and the recent closures of other Bakersfield art galleries, including The Basement, J.F Moore Studios, and Jill Thayer Gallery. But both Ramos and Chambers are positive that their combined studios will flourish. Ramos credits a diverse business structure that includes work beyond the paintbrush. Says Chambers, “There’s a lot of stability in here. We own the building, we have plans within plans — stuff that we’ve designed. We have other brands that we’re working on. We feel very stable; we don’t feel threatened by the economy.”

Continues Chambers, “We want to give back to Bakersfield. We want to use (the studios) to build the community of art. They’ve done it with music and some of the big bands that have come out of here. We just want to put it on the map as far as art goes. ‘Here’s Bakersfield … here’s art, now they’re the art capital.’”

The latest component to their plans is Ramos’ new art gallery, a cavernous structure outfitted with modern fixtures which will be stocked with work from the prolific artist and which includes a comfortable upstairs lounge area with windows overlooking the workspace.

With influences like Franz Kline and Willem de Kooning as well as inspiration from a close friend’s grandmother who also painted large florals, Ramos’ work has wide appeal. It is at once both contemporary and reminiscent of the past — with clean-lined florals in soft-colored palettes and wide-stroked abstracts in black, white, green and red. Although the studio space is currently littered with paint cans, sketchbooks, drop cloths and canvasses, by Friday’s opening the working studio will be changed into a gallery of modern art.

Chambers, who designed the look and feel of the interior, is enthusiastic about the transformation. “This is great to see this come to our town. We can be proud to see a little bit of variety.”

As for the future of bossanovastudios, the business partners plan to hold two shows a month at the gallery — one to coincide with First Friday (the downtown open house event that occurs the first Friday of each month) and another mid-month. A public exhibit tentatively titled, “The Darker Side of Johnny Ramos,” which will display some of Ramos’ more sinister abstracts, is in the works for mid-year.

For now, Ramos and Chambers are looking forward to Friday’s celebration. Says Johnny, “Everybody bring a bottle of champagne!”

Bossanovastudios is located at 814 18^th St. in the Fluxar Studios office building. The public is invited to the grand opening Friday, Jan. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. Appetizers and wine will be provided by Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar and Goose Loonies. Art will be available for purchase in a variety of sizes and price ranges.

The Scene Next: Art & Culture

From 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 17, the community is invited to attend an artists’ reception and wine tasting at Valentien Restaurant and Wine Bar, 3310 Truxtun Ave., Suite 160 (at he corner of Truxtun and Oak, behind Conroy’s Flowers).

The walls of the upscale dining establishment will feature work from three local female artists: ceramics from Yvonne Cavanagh, a Bakersfield High School ceramics teacher and co-owner of Surface Gallery; paintings from Vikki Cruz, assistant curator for Bakersfield Museum of Art and co-owner of Surface Gallery; and photography from Marty Weinberg, an artist who works as a dental office manager and creates stunning nature photographs.

Valentien is owned by local art supporters Jennifer Sanderson and Jeramy Brown, who are hosting the reception to allow the public to view the latest display of artwork in their restaurant and to mingle with the artists.

Guests to the reception will be treated to a complimentary wine tasting and sampling of Valentien’s new catering menu as well. RSVP to 864-0397 to reserve a spot at this event.

Visual & Performing Arts

If you are an underground artist who would like to connect with other artists in Bakersfield, or are searching for venues to show your work, a meeting coming up next week should be on your calendar.

BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists) is a nonprofit organization which meets regularly to network, plan and attend art events in and around Bakersfield. Headed by Nyoka Jameson, the organization boasts many bright, innovative new artists who regularly participate in projects such as Burn the Witch — the annual all-female art collaborative – and art on the sidewalk downtown each First Friday.

At 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, BECA will hold its monthly meeting at the Younger Gallery, 1430 Truxtun Ave. (inside the Bank of America building). Items to be discussed include: the group’s plans for First Friday in February, a fundraiser/public art project for March and an upcoming field trip to visit the Cannibal Flower art show in Los Angeles.

Membership is free and all interested artists are welcome to join. For more information visit: www.BECA.ws.