Also on May 22 is the Paso Robles Wine Festival in the park, directly across from our gallery in Studios on the Park. This is a huge tasting event for fantastic local wineries. Michael will be watching the gallery, so will miss Tai Chi open house for the first time in 13 years (we’re sad about this – but we’re very happy about both events). Family from San Francisco are coming down to see Peggy at open house for the first time, so that will be fun for her.

On Saturday, May 29th, of Memorial Day weekend is the Paso Robles Festival of Art in the down town park. This event is put on by Studios on the Park in conjunction with the City of Paso Robles. It will feature top notch artists from the area, in many different mediums. The city closes off Pine St. between us and the park and Studios on the Park becomes an integral part of the show.

On Father’s day weekend in June (the 18th, 19th, and 20th) Michael will be going to the KCBX Live Oak Music Festival. It’s near Lake Cachuma on the way to Santa Barbara (see their site for maps and details) and Michael will be selling our work while soaking up great music, fun and sun. Peggy will be in the gallery in anticipation of family arriving for our annual Miller/Vrana big family reunion (a huge hug and hello to our family!)

As always, join us at Studios in the Park, where we have our gorgeous gallery space amongst a plethora of great artists.

Peggy’s collaboration with D’Ambino Winery and Cellars, a winery owned and operated by a family of talented and fun loving musician/winemakers, has shaped and inspired her to make pieces with music as a central theme.

Like the D’Ambinos, we’re a family of music lovers, too. Many years ago – way before MySpace, color computer monitors, and almost before the Internet was invented – we were in the band Up in the Air. Peggy played flute and Michael played conga drums. It was great fun and we still have our original instruments decorating our home.

Peggy has always enjoyed illustrating and glazing people in her wax-resist work. It’s a natural next step and adventure to capture musical life, and she is eagerly exploring and inspired to do more musical designs.

The photo of the hanging plate above is the 3rd piece capturing musical life. It’s not for sale – we’re keeping it. The first two, including “D’Ambino Family at Play,” were sold during the Art of Wine auction on April 16th, 2010.

Peggy and Michael each paired with local Paso Robles area wineries to collaborate on inspired pieces, mixing the feel of their respective winery in art. Later, offerings from the wineries and the pieces were sold at silent auction.

Clayhouse Wines and Michael Miller paired to create “Clay House” – with David Frick, winemaker, getting his hands nice and covered in clay in the process.

D’Ambino Vineyards and Cellars and Peggy Vrana paired to create “D’Ambino Family At Play”, a piece highlighting five musical members of the D’Ambino family run business, each wearing tuxedos and playing in a ceramic jazz concert.

Both of these wineries have absolutely amazing wines, created by truly wonderful people. It was a lot of fun and good times working on these pieces. We’re looking forward to getting out to the tasting rooms again!