What: 'Wine-derfull' art exhibit Where: Vino 100 When: Now to June 13
Vibrant purples, greens and blues blend together with meticulous strokes to form distinctive paintings of the various aspects of wine.
Artist Randall Jahn, attended opening night of his showcase "Wine-derfull" at Vino 100 in the Mangrove Plaza on May 10. His collection will be displayed until June 13.
"My paintings are surreal and spiritual," Jahn said. "I've gotten some of my inspiration from the ocean, but when I met Terri, she really opened up my life."
Friend Terri Hogue attended opening night as well and thinks painting is Jahn's true passion, she said.
"It's what he loves," Hogue said.
Jahn was raised in Chico, but recently moved back after being gone for 26 years, he said. His pursuit of art combined with his personal life was an emotional and financial roller-coaster ride that wasn't always easy.
"Everything went downhill at one point," Jahn said. "I got married, stopped doing art altogether and was painting houses."
Life has gotten better and Jahn feels he is at his best, he said.
"This is a new me - it's the best me ever," Jahn said. "I'm doing my own thing."
After spending some time in Hawaii, most of Jahn's paintings had an ocean focus, he said. But, he grew tired of painting the sea and decided to make some changes.
"I wanted to take my colors and my ideas in a different direction and try something new," Jahn said. "I love the wine country, and I love wine, so that's where I took it."
One painting consists of a glowing view of rolling hills behind a vineyard painted inside a glistening wineglass. Another piece shows a bunch of deep, purple grapes sitting in the foreground, with a brilliant white moon rising in the background.
"The variety and vibrancy is amazing," said Jo Scott, one of five owners of the store. "I love the imagination he puts into his work."
Guests can enjoy Jahn's work while sitting at one of Vino 100's patio tables set up in the back of the store and enjoy a glass of wine. Tastings are available for $5 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and include four to five different bottles of wine that change each week. Thursday tastings are $10 with a larger selection of wines.
"It's fun, and it's not at all pretentious," Scott said. "People will feel comfortable and leave happy."
Each month a different artist is chosen to display his or her work at Vino 100, she said. The venue is able to give back to the community in a small way by sharing artists' work with others.
Vino 100 was excited to showcase a Chico artist's work, Scott said.
"We just thought, this is Jahn's first show back in Chico and his collection is centered on wine," she said. "It was a perfect fit."
The move back to Chico and the new collection is Jahn's way of beginning again. Excited and upbeat, Jahn thinks this will be the start of better things to come, he said.
"What better place to start over than in a wine tasting room," Jahn said.
Sarah Worrell can be reached at sworrell@theorion.com
Related links Vino 100 Calendar Vino 100 Web site
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