Today is the Summer Solstice. Let the lazy, hazy days of summer begin. Sunday, my sister, painter Susan Johnson and I were invited to master painter Jerrold Turner’s 90th birthday gathering at his adobe home and studio downtown. Guests were mostly artists from “Da Group,” a passel of plein air painters whom he has shepherded through hundreds of paintouts and critiques over the years. The walls were plastered with canvases created since the pandemic began. His new work continues to be informed by the Colorist tradition but with an unexpected twist. No, he hasn’t gone non objective but Surrealistic with a big dose of fantasy and humor and the occasional alien being. Jerry’s imagination has gone hog wild. Surrealistic fantasy, funk, if you will — a new movement perhaps? You might see dogs in space or Botticelli’s “Venus at the North Pole” holding a penguin.
Demonstrating his unparalleled generosity, Jerry offered each of us a painting to take home. We enthusiastically, well, rapaciously, attacked the boxes. In the meantime, Jerry held court wearing a gold and turquoise Pharaoh’s headdress as he surveyed his dominion from the couch. King Tut —- born in Phoenicia — moved to Benicia. King Tut!
The free painting offer was “deja vu all over again.” Back in the day, Jerry said that he would give each of my sisters and me a free painting if we jumped into his swimming pool fully dressed as we were for that occasion — best shoes, jewelry, and our finest party frocks. Susan was in the pool before he finished his sentence, followed by Janie, and then me. I started sinking like a sacrificial virgin in a Mayan cenote, weighted down by all of my Indian jewelry. But we got our paintings. Jerry is an important part of Bay Area art history having inspired countless would be artists to pick up a brush and head outdoors. You can order a book on “Da Group” designed by former Benicia painter Sue Wilson from blurb.com. Turner’s “Best of” and “Fantasy Paintings” catalogues are also available. He shows at Gallery 621 on First Street.
Law and order is alive and well in Benicia. Before the Turner gathering, I accidentally parked in front of his neighbor’s driveway —- it wasn’t a driveway when I parked. The homeowner was standing on his front porch when we approached my car to head home. Realizing that it was indeed a driveway, I shouted an apology to the homeowner who with a wave and a smile indicated that he forgave me. “But I did have to park my car in the alley,” he shared. When I got home there were two messages, both from the Benicia Police Department. The first one from Sophia who politely asked me to move my car and another one from Officer Smith who very kindly requested that I move my car within the next two hours or the owner would have it towed. I called the good officer back immediately to thank him. “We always try to give the driver the benefit of the doubt,” he said. “It saves them from the hardship and expense of towing.” Lucky me! Is that brilliant community outreach or what! Only in Benicia.
Dropped in to Succulents and More next to Adobe and talked with Cecilia, the convivial owner. She bought the fisherman’s cottage and large garden on Kuhland Alley in 2022 and has remodeled it into a cozy and tastefully furnished family refuge. She also rents it out for an Airbnb. “This is where we hold terrarium building classes,” she said, referencing the long rustic table and chairs in the middle of the transformed garden. You pick out miniatures, colored sand, and succulents from the shop and create in the garden.” It’s good to see the cottage and garden so lovingly cared for again.
On my way to work out at Benicia Fitness, I stopped to chat with security guard Michael Jones at 1st Nor Cal Credit Union. We somehow got into a conversation about meditation. Told him how I’ve been practicing right up the street at St. Paul’s with the Benicia Insight Meditation Group for over 20 years and how it has transformed the way I live. “When I was on military duty with the Navy in Singapore I started a Buddhist chanting practice — the same one that Tina Turner adopted,” Michael said. “It changed my life. I learned that everything and everyone is connected. What you put out comes back to you.” So he began putting out kindness and compassion. “I learned to push non-essential stuff out of my path which helped me relate with people. If I’m kind to someone this is what I get back,” he said gesturing to Barbara who had stopped to talk with him as she does daily. “I’m 83 years old and I walk seven miles every day,” Barbara said. What a double dose of inspiration! Michael is Benicia’s good will ambassador with quite a following.
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Letters From Benicia 