Eric Mizelle’s band from Valley Bible Fellowship will perform Friday night in the “Hope for Haiti Benefit Concert” at the church. Photo courtesy of Eric Mizelle

By Terry Telford

The Scene Now: A concert to benefit Haiti

Devastation, loss and confusion blanketed Haiti on Jan. 12 when a 7.0 earthquake shattered its land and the lives of its people. Churches, often the gateway for aid in the poverty-stricken country, crumbled. Faith leaders, who had previously offered hope, were crushed and killed in the disaster. Here in the United States, two pastors of large congregations felt an urgent call to do something.

Churches Helping Churches was begun by James McDonald, senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Illinois, and Mark Driscoll, teaching pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, Wash., who felt a call to rebuild the church in Haiti.

Now, several churches in Bakersfield are lending support with the “Hope for Haiti Benefit Concert” from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 at Valley Bible Fellowship, 2300 E. Brundage Lane. The free event is the brainchild of Kern High School District board member and pastor of Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield, Chad Vegas.

The concert line-up includes The Boasting Weak from RiverLakes Community Church, Bryan Easter from The Bridge Bible Church, worship leaders Eric Mizelle and Kristin Matthews leading their bands from Valley Bible Fellowship and All of Grace from Sovereign Grace Church of Bakersfield.

“This is a direct effort to help the Christian churches that might be lost in the rubble. We are trying to help the churches which minister to the local (people of Haiti),” says Tom Touchstone, executive pastor at Valley Bible Fellowship. Donations will be accepted at the event.

“If She Was Alice” by Sarah Downie, on display at the Younger Gallery Jan. 29 to March 25 as part of “Down The Rabbit Hole,” art inspired by “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” Image courtesy of Sarah Downie

The Scene Now: Down the Rabbit Hole

While Hollywood readies to steal box office hearts with March’s opening of “Alice in Wonderland,” starring Johnny Depp, Bakersfield imaginations will be captured starting Friday, Jan. 29, as the Arts Council of Kern presents, “Down the Rabbit Hole,” a professionally juried exhibit of art inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s fantasy, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”

The curiouser and curiouser will be represented by local artists including Nicole Saint-John, Linda Osburn, Alex Ortiz, Sarah Downie and others whose varied use of media is sure to delight art lovers of all ages.

Downie, who works in the medium of photography, is a newcomer to the Bakersfield art scene and is pleased to have been accepted into her first official show. She says it was fun creating the themed photo composite, which took her 15 hours of non-stop work to complete and is composed of 16 different images.

Regardless of how her piece is judged she is already satisfied that her toughest critics have found her a success. “I wanted to impress my children,” she says.

Concurrent with the Jan. 29 opening reception, another display of art, “Outside in Wonderland,” will also be featured. These works have been created by members of the Outside In Visual Arts Workshop, part of the Outside In Project, which provides a mentoring experience for artists with developmental disabilities. Proceeds from the sale of “Outside In Wonderland” artwork will go directly to the artists who created the work.

The opening reception of “Down the Rabbit Hole” will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 at the Younger Gallery, 1440 Truxtun Ave., Suite 105 (inside the Bank of America building). Hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar will be available. The event is free to members and $5 for the general public. RSVP to 622-4243. The exhibit will remain on display until March 25.

The Scene Next: First Friday

The first First Friday of 2010 takes place from 5 to 9 p.m., Feb. 5 in the Downtown Arts District. This monthly event returns after January’s New Years Day hiatus and with its return comes a plethora of new art to experience.

Openings include “CaliforniaContemporary” at Metro Galleries, 1604 19^th St., and a photo exhibit of the historic Padre Hotel at Surface Gallery, 1703 20^th St. Other events include: special hours, sales and discounts at participating boutiques and shops downtown; Art on the Sidewalk presented by BECA (Bakersfield Emerging Contemporary Artists) at the corner of 19^th and Eye Streets; new work by artist Johnny Ramos at his recently opened gallery bossanovastudios, 814 18^th St.; plus fine dining, live music and people watching in an eclectic, art-fueled atmosphere.