May 1, 2004 By Christine Haines 3 min read

CALIFORNIA – The Second Annual California Area Cultural Arts Exposition will be held this weekend, with displays and live performances scheduled both Saturday and Sunday. The exposition is sponsored by the California Optimists Club, with most of the activity at Jozart Studio, located at Second and Wood streets, above the Dollar General. California mayor and president of the Optimists Club, Gerald “Galvie” Gardner, said the lower portion of Wood Street will be blocked off so booths can be set up.

“This is big. It’s not just art. We have people who are going to sing, dance, you name it,” said Gardner.

Participation has increased tremendously since last year, according to Roger Sealy, vice president of the Optimists.

“We’re flabbergasted. I would guess we have in the neighborhood of over 600 submissions. Some kids submitted four or five,” Sealy said.

There were about 220 entries last year. Sealy credits California Area School District art teacher Bernard Spada with the increased participation.

“He got 75 to 80 percent of the elementary and middle school students to participate. All year long he kept the best stuff, then he made sure all the kids knew about it,” Sealy said.

The exposition will feature the artwork, creative writing and performance art by students in the California Area School District, as well as performances from professional musicians from throughout the region.

“This will be a wonderful weekend for our community. The talent and abilities of our students is quite impressive and deserves to be on public display in this setting,” Gardner said. “This is for everybody, not just for California.”

The event will run from noon until 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Ten different musical performers are scheduled to take the stage Saturday including Todd Edwards, a folk musician from California; Utah, an acoustic club performer from Pittsburgh, the Mon Valley band The Klick, and Scott Spahr of Monongahela, all in the first three hours of the festival. Taking the stage between 2:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. will be the Electric Folk and Blues Band, Chris Kinsey, the Monophonics, Next Door, Fred Adams and Cherylann Hawk.

Several musicians Sealy met at the Panhandle Jam at Wheeling Park last year will be performing Sunday, as will Gary Antol of California. Student performers will include Michelle Min on violin and piano, Lauren Turosik and Alyssa Walters, who will be tap dancing, and Autumn Harris, who will be singing.

New this year is a California history quiz sponsored by the California Historical Society. The competition will pit two teams of four students against one another as they answer questions presented by state Rep. Peter Daley. The members of the winning team will receive $100 savings bonds. The second place team members will receive $50 savings bonds. Vito Dentino Real Estate is providing the bonds.