MARBLE RIM GALLERY FIRST FRIDAY REVIEW
By Susan Houg
A small but enthusiastic gathering of local artists, history buffs, and would-be writers lapped up the experiences and advice of award-winning author Gail Jenner last night (October 7, 2022) at the Marble Rim Gallery’s First Friday in Ft. Jones. Ms. Jenner positively glowed as she shared her passion for the writing process from start to finish. “The research, the writing, the editing and revising…I love all of it….I’m writing in my head all the time.” Jenner has published two historical novels, Across the Sweet Grass Hills (winner of Willa Literary Award for Best Softcover Fiction in 2002, by Women Writing the West) and Black Bart: the Poet Bandit (for which she had access to a descendant of that famed outlaw’s personal records.) It placed Second in the Jack London Novel Contest, 2009.
More prolific in the world of non-fiction history – including a lavishly illustrated cookbook of pioneer recipes with personal histories attached (Sourdough Biscuits and Pioneer Pie, by TwoDot Books), Jenner focused Friday night on her most recent project, which chronicles her visits (during Covid!) to California graveyards from San Diego to Siskiyou. What Lies Beneath: California Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards, published by TwoDotBooks, is now on sale at the Gallery along with Jenner’s other books, including One Room: Schools and Schoolteachers of the Pioneer West, also by TwoDotBooks .
First Fridays throughout the State of Jefferson are open houses put on by cultural venues to display the artistry of local painters, sculptors, potters, jewelers (and the occasional musician). Because this October marks the 170th anniversary of the founding of Fort (literally) Jones, the Marble Rim Gallery event featured a collaboration with the Ft. Jones Museum, Siskiyou Historical Society and writer Jenner. Marble Rim co-op members and students loaned historical items from their personal collections for the display, which will remain up through Saturday, October 15.
First Friday in November (the 4th) will feature jewelers from all over Scott Valley, not only those who are members of Marble Rim Gallery.