From left to right, Linda Pyers, Marilyn Crayton, Sylvia Nelson and Barbara Cody. Photo courtesy of Linda Kelly.

LAKE COUNTY – The gourd division at the Lake County Fair had an excellent representation of gourds in the six divisions this year: mixed media, painted, miniature, carved, wood-burned and other.

Located in the Lewis Hall, this is the third year for this special division to showcase the many gourd artists and their art.

This year Debbie Tompkins received Best of Show.

Each division received a first-, second- and third-place ribbon.

The gourds were judged under the American Gourd Society (AGS) guidelines. This year's judges are all AGS-certified and include California Gourd Society Presidenty Marilyn Crayton, Sylvia Nelson and Barbara Cody.

Linda Pyers, also an AGS-certified judge, served as clerk and tallied the scores and Linda Kelly served as head judge.

Artist Karen Mantele's work will be on display at the Lightning Rod Gallery in Upper Lake, Calif., during the months of August and September, 2010. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lightning Rod Gallery is hosting artist Karen Mantele during the months of August and September, with an artist’s reception weekend planned for Friday, Sept. 3 through Sunday, Sept. 5, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

Mantele’s current series on display titled “Chakra Dancers” bursts from the gallery walls with uplifting joy and vibrant colors.

Mantele was born in the small town of Greeley, Iowa, to a family that was at the forefront of organic farming dating back to 1959.

One of 11 children, she knew that one day she would venture out of Iowa to travel and move west.

She came to Lake County in 1976 and earned a degree in environmental studies and urban planning. She has been working in that field for more than 14 years, but has always enjoyed creating works of art.

One of the pieces in Karen Mantele's

Famed rocker and Lake County resident Mike Wilhelm will be a featured performer at the 2010 Lake County Fair, taking place Thursday, September 2, through Sunday, September 5. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Internationally renowned rock, blues and folk guitarist Mike Wilhelm will appear at the Lake County Fair on Friday with his band Hired Guns.

They will perform at 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the Gazebo Stage.

He will appear as a solo performer on Sunday at 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the same stage.

Wilhelm has been playing professionally since 1963 and signed his first recording contract with Kama Sutra Records in 1966.

Since then he has recorded for United Artists/Zig Zag, Sire, Fan Club, New Rose and Last Call as well as his own label, 612 Records.

He will soon be making new recordings at Earmite in Kelseyville for a projected December release date.

In the 1960s heyday of the San Francisco bands he played the Avalon, Fillmore, Winterland and Fillmore West.

Wilhelm holds the unusual distinction of playing both of Stanley Sadowsky's Bottom Line showcase clubs having appeared at the Bottom Line, New York City with Flamin' Groovies and as a solo artist at the Bottom Line, Nagoya, Japan.

He also has appeared with his 1960s band, the Charlatans on the stage of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

Other major performance venues range from the Sportpalast, Berlin; the Pavilion, Paris; Paradiso, Amsterdam; Roundhouse, London; Maxwell's, Hoboken; Jirokichi, Yukotopia and On Air West, Tokyo; Honky Tonk and Bar Isn't It?, Kyoto to name but a few.

The Lake County Fair Web site is www.lakecountyfair.com and Wilhelm's Web site is www.mike-wilhelm.com.