Head north the first weekend in April for Napa Valley Arts, one of Wine Country's most creative festivals, complete with openings, exhibits, and a host of special events.
Local Music & Emerging Artists Collective Collaboration
Crowd-sourced art takes on a new meaning at Slack Collective with their external mixed-media community art piece, which melds the concepts of mural, art wall, and community bullentin board into one piece. Dab away with a backdrop of live acoustic music, and bolster your creative spirit with bites and drinks. Free. April 1 - 4. Slack Collective Studio and Gallery, 964 Pearl Street, Suite B, Napa.
Verve Napa Valley presents an architecture tour specifically designed for Arts in April. T. Beller, Verve’s founder, designed the tour of di Rosa and will host a chef-catered lunch at a private Oakville estate. Oh la la. $295 per person, all-inclusive. April 2: 9:30am - 4:30pm. Verve Napa Valley at Oxbow Market, 610 1st Street, Napa.
Arts in April Opening Party and Napa Valley Collects Opening Reception
Kick off Arts in April at Napa Valley Collects, Napa Valley Museum's annual exhibition featuring work from local art collections. Sip on signature wines from around the valley while curator Doreen Schmidt guides you through the exhibition. $10 for Napa Valley Museum Members, $20 for guests. April 2: 5pm for museum members, 6 - 8pm for general public. Napa Valley Museum, 55 Presidents Circle, Yountville.
Hands-On Glass Art Making Experience with Artist Gordon Huether
Local noted artist Gordon Huether has been creating large-scale, site-specific art installations across the country and abroad for nearly 30 years. Join the artist for a hands-on glass art-making experience, along with a behind-the-scenes tour of this 15,000-square-foot studio space. $50/person, limited to 35 guests. April 4: 1 - 3pm. Gordon Huether Studio, 1821 Monticello Road, Napa.
Tap into your bohemian side at this al fresco bash combining art, photography, studio tours, an artist talk, and a garden tour. Listen to Napa's live Maximum Jazz band while noshing on BBQ from Ring of Fire food truck. Spontaneous stream-of-consciousness poetry welcome—berets optional. $35 for wine club members, $40 for guests. April 4: 4 - 7:30pm. Kopol Bonick Art & Photography, 3061 Cuttings Wharf Road, Napa.
Cuba: Glimpses at Back Room Wines
Cuban-inpsired music and appetizers (and local wine, of course) set the scene for Napa Valley artists Elizabeth Bush and Mark Mattioli's exhibition of photography, drawings, and paintings inspired by 2014 travels in Cuba. Bush’s work focuses on vibrant images printed on metal, while Mattioli’s Cigar Series includes original drawings and paintings. Free. April 4: 2 – 6pm. Back Room Wines, 1000 Main Street, #120, Napa.
The Art of Life presented by Festival del Sole and The Hess Collection
Take in an afternoon of live music, wine, and contemporary art at the Hess Collection's preview event for of Festival del Sole, which begins its tenth season this July. Wander through the Hess Collection Contemporary Art Museum before taking the afternoon up a notch with a three-way pairing of food, wine, and music in the winery’s private dining room and library while being serenaded by the Napa Youth Chamber Ensemble. Free general admission, $20 VIP (includes light hors d’oeuvres). April 5: 11am - 2pm. The Hess Collection, 4411 Redwood Road, Napa.
