Santa Maria Times from Santa Maria, California • 22

C6 Santa Maria Times Friday, July li, 2003 Cuesta plans classical guitar festival in fall orte Kickaff" concert features the San Francisco Guitar Quartet and the mandolin and guitar duo from Germany, The AhlertSchwab Duo, whose program will include the world premier performance of "Interiors of a Courtyard" by American composer Geoffrey Gordon. Rounding out the three-day event is a premier performance-of "Bailes de Ensueno" (Dream Dances) for guitar and strings by Reed Gilchrist, featuring the Tolosa Strings. This festival will mark the third year presenting La Gui-tarra California. Considered one of the best classical guitar festivals in the United States, it has become a world-class event Tickets are on sale now. Visit reedgilchristcom for pricing and ticket information, and click on "online ticket sales" to purchase festival passes and individual event tickets.

This festival is funded in part by a grant from the Promotion-. al Coordinating Committee of the city of San Luis Obispo. TIMES STAFF SAN LUIS OBISPO La Cuitarra California, a three-day classical guitar festival, will be held Sept 26, 27 and 28 at Cuesta College on San Luis Obispo. Sponsored by Cuesta College Community Programs and The Cuesta Guitar Circle, a group of 15 internationally famous classical guitarists will be performing and presenting master classes. The program includes luthi-er lectures and exhibits, a guitar marketplace and a display of the Forderer collection of rare and historic guitars.

Artists scheduled for the festival are: from Scotland, headlining guitarist Paul Galbraith; from Iran, the world-renowned Lily Afshar, American lutenist Ronn McFarlane; from Turkey, French baroque specialist Cem Duruoz; from Croatia, young guitarist Ana Vidovic; and Spanish guitarist Jesus Saiz-Huedo. The Friday night "two-for- i Melissa Iwalt works Include such titles as "Night Shift Daddy," "The Beeman, "Gramps and the Fire "Snuggle Mountain "and "Big Bad Wolf." Woman enjoys woridng i 4-- CD 2 make my own books when I was growing up in Lompoc, but didn't continue studying art in college." Iwai studied illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and received her degree in 1996. "Armed with my new training, I bravely moved to New York City," said Iwai. "I worked myself silly at a large advertising agency for two years, while I struggled to get work as an illustrator. Finally, with the help of my wonderful agent, Christina Tugeau, I got my first job." For the past three and a half years, Iwai has been able to focus all her energies happily on children's book illustration.

"It's been a long, hard road getting here, and every day I am thankful at now fortunate I've been along the way," said IwaL The first trade book Iwai illustrated came out in April 2000. It's called "Night Shift Daddy" and is written by Eileen SpinellL "It's a wonderful story about a little girl and her father, who Iwai studied Illustration at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. the University of California at Santa Cruz, Iwai went to Japan to teach English and work as a coordinator for International Relations. "It wasn't until I was in the midst of a doctorate program in linguistics at Stanford University that I realized that I wasn't pursuing what I really loved to do. So, with great trepidation, I changed careers," she said.

"I always loved to draw and Bank showcasing art at Cambria branch TODAY BESTSELLERS by Brenda poe TIMES STAFF WRITER Melissa Iwai has made her way into the big league illustrating children's books. Iwai will return to Lompoc from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday at Read More Books for book signing. Her works include such titles as "Night Shift Daddy," "The Beeman," "Gramps and the Fire Dragon," is for Bulldozer," "Snuggle Mountain," and "Big Bad Wolf." "Melissa has a very appealing way of drawing characters that capitivate children," said Jerri ThieL owner of Read More Books. "Her books are beauti-ifully illustrated, and I am pleased to be able to host her here." All of Iwai's books will be available at the book-signing for purchase, including her two new releases.

Iwai is a 1984 graduate of Cabrillo High School. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in linguistics from USA Key: F-Fiction; NF-Nonfic-tion; H-Hardcover, P-Paper-back 1. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" by J.K.Rowling (Scholastic) (F-H) 2. "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" by Robert C.

Atkins (Avon)(NF-P) 3. "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck (Penguin) (F-P) 4. "Living History" by Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon Schuster) (NF-H) 5. "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand (Ballantine) (NF-P) 6. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" by J.K.

Rowling (Scholastic) (F-P) 7. "The South Beach Diet" by Arthur Agatston (Rodale Press) (NF-H) 8. "The Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown (Doubleday) (F-H) 9. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic) (F-P) 10.

"The Shelters of Stone" by Jean M. Auel (Bantam) (F-P) 11. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone" J.K. Rowling (Scholastic) (F-P) 12. "Eleventh Hour" by Catherine Coulter (Jove) (F-P) 13.

"Killjoy" by Julie Garwood (Ballantine) (F-P) 14. "Treason" by Ann Coulter (Crown) (NF-H) 15. "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd (Penguin USAMFP) 16. "Johnny Angel" by TIMES STAFF Heritage Oaks Bank is showcasing accomplished artists' work at its Cambria office at 1276 Tamson drive. As a kickoff event for the bank's new art exhibit schedule, the work of Howard Kline was Times staff photos Dragon, is for Bulldozer, for works the night shift," said IwaL "Gramps and the Fire Dragon" was published in the spring of 2000.

The book is an action-packed fantasy that follows the adventures of Jesse and his grandfather. Iwai used pictures of her husband, Denis, when he was young as a model for Jesse, and Denis' father, a real-life grandfather now, as a model for Gramps. "I'm happy to announce that I have two books coming out this spring which I've already finished. One is 'Snuggle published by Clarion books. It's about a little girl's mountain-sized quest for pancakes in the morning," she said.

The other is is for Bulldozer," which is an alphabet book about a construction project taking place through the course of a year. "I am told it has been nominated as a Book of the Month Club book," said Iwai Brenda Poe can be reached at lrlifestylespulitzer.net Exhibit in wood opens at SLOart center TIMES STAFF San Luis Obispo "Back to the Craft 2," an exhibit of special works created by members of the Santa Ynez Woodworkers Guild, opens July 12 at the San Luis Obispo Art Center. "Back to the Craft 2" features a variety of finely craft- ed wood furniture and other household objects by woodworkers Bud Tullis, Ken Frye, Emily Howard, Roger Combs, Richard FarwelL Dave Seymour, George Paes, Pete Thompsen, David Tarleton and Mike Stanton. "I am looking forward to mis reprise of the popular "Back to the Craft" exhibit the art center hosted in 1998," said Tim Anderson, curator. Meet the artists at the opening reception Saturday, July 12, from 6 to 8 p.m.

"Back to the Craft 2" win be on exhibit through August 18. The San Luis Obispo Art Center is a nonprofit visual arts organization dedicated to promoting and exhibiting the visual arts. The center is at 1010 Broad Street, on the west end of the Mission Plaza. It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.nu, except Tuesday.

It is open every day from July 4 through Labor Day. Admission is free. skin mwacf wmi Woodworking exhibit opens at art center Contributed chosen to be on exhibit through the month of July. One piece in the show, "Carte Blanche," is a giclee print of "Joyful Harvest," seen above, a commission for the Zinfandel Wine Label 2003. The bank patrons entered a contest to win an artist's proof of the award-winning image.

and Mike Stanton. Meet the artists at the opening reception Saturday, from 6 to 8 p.m. "Back to the Craft 2" will be on exhibit through August 18. The San Luis Obispo Art Center is a nonprofit visual arts organization dedicated to promoting and exhibiting the visual arts. The center Is at 1010 Broad Street, on the west end of the Mission Plaza.

It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Tuesday. It is open every day from July 4 through Labor Day. Admission is free. Fresh Picked Sweet Bing i Cert See Wltt't hew it vltA Opca Dy 9-6 PM ci Avf Eeach Drive Danielle Steel (DelacorteXF-H) 17.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling (Scholastic) (F-P) 18. "To Sir Phillip, With Love" by Julia Quinn (Avon) (F-P) 19. "The Lake House" by James Patterson (Little, Brown) (F-H) 20. "Kentucky Sunrise" by Fern Michaels (Kensington) (F-P) 21.

"An Accidental Woman" by Barbara Delinsky (Pocket) (F-P) 22. "Star Wars: The New Jedi Order Force Heretic 3: Reunion" by Sean Williams, Shane Dix (Del Rey)(F-P) 23. "The Beach House" by James Patterson, Peter de Jonge (Warner) (F-P) 24. "The Essential 55" by Ron Clark (Hyperion) (NF-H) 25. "Holes" by Louis Sachar (Random House) (F-P) 26.

"Benjamin Franklin" by Walter Isaacson (Simon Schuster) (NF-H) 27. "Nights in Rodanthe" by Nicholas Sparks (Warner) (F-P) 28. "Tom Clancys Op-Center: Sea of Fire" Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik; written by Jeff Rovin (Berkley) (F-P) 29. "Three Junes" by Julia Glass (Anchor) (F-P) 30. "Atkins for Life" by Robert C.

Atkins (St Martin's) (NF-H) 31. "Angels Demons" by Dan Brown (Pocket Star) (F-P) Senior portrait sessions available now 934-2001 Luis Escobar, Photographer 32. "Life Of Pi" by Yann Mar-tel (F-P) 33. "Nerd In Shining Armor" by Vicki Lewis Thompson (Dell) (F-P) 34. "Unfit To Practice" by Perrl O'Shaughnessy (Dell) (F-P) 35.

"The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?" by Rick Warren (Zonder-van) (NF-H) 36. "White Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos (Putnam) (F-H) 37. "Trading Up" by Candace Bushnell (Hyperion) (F-H) 38. "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" by Alexander Mc-Call (Smith Anchor) (F-P) 39.

"Self Matters" by Phillip McGraw (Free Press) (NF-P) 40. "The Devil Wears by Lauren Weisberger (Double-day) (F-H) 41. "The Nanny Diaries" by Nicola Kraus, Emma Mclaughlin (St. Martin's) (F-P) 42. "The Dark Tower The Gunslinger" by Stephen King (Viking) (F-P) 43.

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold (Little, Brown) (F-H) 44. "Dr. Atkins New Carbohydrate Gram Counter" by Robert C. Atkins (M. Evans) (NF-P) 45.

"Amazonia" by James Rollins (HarperTorchXF-P) 46. "Sunset In St Tropez" by Danielle Steel (Dell) (F-P) 47. "Bare Bones" by Kathy Reichs (Simon Schuster) (F-H) 48. "Stone Kiss" by Faye Kellerman (Warner) (F-P) 49. "The Virgin Blue" by Tracy Chevalier (Plume) (F-P) 50.

To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee (Warner) (F P) 805 929 505 Orchard. Suite AVEDA. mis roios I 505 Orchard. Suite nii5 TIMES STAFF San Luis Obispo "Back to the Craft 2," an exhibit of special works created by "members of the Santa Ynez Woodworkers Guild, opens Saturday at the San Luis Obispo Art Center. "Back to the Craft 2" features a variety of finely crafted wood furniture and other household objects by woodworkers Bud Tullis, Ken Frye, Emily Howard, Roger Combs, Richard Far-well, Dave Seymour, George Paes, Pete Thompsen, David Tarleton I st of Season tree picked Fum knm'i A ft Ihi 595-2016 12 ML off the 181 Hwy.

I fish School Senior of the Week. 805-929-01 51 Nioomo. CA 93444 i 0151 Nioomo. CA 93444 Adrian Arguilles.