Posts Tagged: McCormack Hall
Sneak Peak at a Couple of Solano County Fair Entries
A sneak peak at a couple of Solano County Fair entries...think insects! The COVID-19 pandemic derailed fairs and festivals, but now they're back on track. Take the 73rd annual Solano County Fair, themed "Bales of Fun." Located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo, it opens June Thursday through...
Heather DeGroot of Vallejo, coordinator of the McCormack Hall exhibits, Solano County Fair, shows a watercolor by Richard Laswell of Rio Vista that depicts three dragonflies. In back is an oils-acrylic butterfly by Ashley Workman of Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Heather DeGroot displays an image of a syrphid fly and honey bee, the work of 17-year-old Matthew Agbayani of the Vaca Valley 4-H Club, Vacaville.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Talented artist Iris Mayhew of American Canyon entered these pieces in the Solano County Fair. She drew inspiration from her safari in Kenya. Her work will be displayed June 16-19 in McCormack Hall. She'll be depicting monarchs and Gulf Fritillaries next. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Syrphid flies are often mistaken for honey bees. Here a fly shares a blanketflower (Gaillardia) with a jumping spider, unaware of its presence. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hear That Buzz at the Solano County Fair?
Hear that buzz? Honey bees own the flower beds at the Solano County Fair, 900 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo. But bees and other insects claim the exhibit halls, as well. They're depicted on everything from quilts and photos to graphic arts displayed in McCormack Hall. Indeed, pollinators are an...
Gloria Gonzalez, superintendent of McCormack Hall at the Solano County Fair, holds a bee-themed quilt with assistant Jarod Fernander of Vallejo, 15, a student at the Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy. The quilt is the work of Tina Frothy of Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Insects, we have insects! Gloria Gonzalez, superintendent of McCormack Hall and assistant Jarod Fernander show some of the insect-themed entries. The butterfly is a Blue Xlipper, Parthenos sylvia ssp. lilacinus, from southeast Asia, as identified by Art Shapiro, UC Davis distinguished professor of evolution and ecology. In the background are entries ready to be judged or displayed. The fair runs June 27-30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This pencil sketch of a moth is by Alana Boman of the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club, Vallejo, who entered it in 4-H youth graphics arts, ages 5 to 8, in McCormack Hall, Solano County Fair. The fair runs June 27-June 30. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Madeline Giron of Benicia entered this drawing of a bee in youth graphics arts, ages 14 and over, in McCormack Hall,Solano County Fair. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
'Blue Ribbon Fun' at Solano County Fair Includes Bugs
The 69th annual Solano County Fair, located at 900 Fairgrounds Drive, is themed "Blue Ribbon Fun"--and that includes bugs. The two-day fair, downsized from years past, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1. Admission is free; parking is $5 per vehicle. (See...
See the bumble bee on the aghan (top row)? This Minnesota sample afghan is the work of Debra Holter of San Pablo. Holding it are McCormack Hall superintendent Gloria Gonzalez (right) and assistant Kara Payne. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Preparing to hang a dragonfly project are McCormack Hall superintendent Gloria Gonzalez and assistant Daniel Brown, both of Vallejo. Crafted by Tina Saravia of Suisun City, it is made of recyclables: fan blades and furniture legs. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
McCormack Hall assistants Jacob Greene (left) of American Canyon and Daniel Brown of Vallejo, admire insect-themed photographs: a bee by Ryan Anenson of the Tremont 4-H Club, Dixon, and a moth by Maya Prunty of Sacramento 4-H. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
It's Bugged! And You Won't Want to Miss It!
It's bugged. Yes, bugged. And you won't want to miss it. If you head over to the 69th annual Solano County Fair, 900 Fairgrounds Drive, Vallejo, between now and Sunday, July 31, you'll see lots of bees, butterflies, lady beetles, dragonflies, ants and other insects in McCormack Hall....
Gloria Gonzalez hangs a needlepoint fan, the work of Laura Ryan of Benicia. Note the blue butterfly. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Rebecca Banducci (left), part of the McCormack Hall crew, and superintendent Gloria Gonzalez of Vallejo, show a display board crafted by Ryan Anenson of the Tremont 4-H Club, Dixon. It won a best of show. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This "best of show" is the work of Laquita Cumings of Rodeo. Butterflies abound! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Beverly O'Hara of Benicia appliqued this quilt, titling it "Ant-titude." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
This is a close-up of a butterfly on a quilt made by Celia Weller of American Canyon. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Have you ever seen a honey bee on a rock? You have now! This painting is the work of Andrew Donato of Vallejo, entered in the 9-10 age category. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A Winged Affair
Say the word “wings” to folks who attend fairs and festivals and they may think of something to eat--buffalo wings or chicken wings. But if you head over to McCormack Hall at the Solano County Fair, Vallejo, you'll be thinking of insect flight. Flight of butterflies and moths. And...
McCormack Hall superintendent Gloria Gonzalez hangs "Butterfly Lovers" by Tina Waycie of Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
McCormack Hall assistant Angelina Gonzalez with "Butterflies," a needlepoint by Mario Wilson of Vallejo. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
McCormack Hall assistant Sharon Payne with "Butterfly T-Shirt" by Leslie Dunham of PACE Solano. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Hanging "Flying Wing" are (from left) Gloria Gonzalez, Angelina Gonzalez (back) and Sharon Payne. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
McCormack Hall assistant Iris Mayhew holds a photo of a moth, the work of 9-year-old Maximillian Burgess-Shannon of Benicia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)