OUR PREVIOUS EVENTS

OUR UPCOMING EVENTS

     SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: ALCHEMY BREAD

By Mariah Ring

   Originating from a passion to learn and a way to save money on groceries, Alchemy Bread is now a staple in downtown Modesto. Founder Bonnie Ohara began baking her way through every bread-related cookbook in her local public library, posting finished products on social media with notes of what may have affected the baking process and how she could improve. Friends began to reach out to buy loaves of her sourdough bread, which she delivered on bicycle with her children in tow. After delivering this way for two years, Bonnie decided that it was finally time to make a change, opening Alchemy Bread as a certified cottage bakery out of her home in 2014. When asked about the meaning behind the name, Bonnie explained that much like the medieval theory that lead could be turned to gold, a simple wheat kernel could also be turned into something beautiful and golden, but much tastier. 

     Open almost every Thursday and Saturday, except when too hot or too wet, Alchemy Bread offers fresh sourdough loaves, baguettes, and seasonal pastries. Thursdays serve as pick up days for sourdough subscribers, who pay a flat fee to receive one loaf of bread a week for four weeks. With as many as ninety subscribers per month, Thursdays are busy and people flow in and out of the bakery from 12 PM to 6 PM to pick up loaves or purchase cookies and focaccia. During the summer, Thursdays are even more special as Friendship Bake is held in the evenings. Bonnie encourages local farmers and makers to bring their goods to barter while a story-time session is held for kiddos. Saturdays are also a big day for Alchemy, as they are open from 12PM to 3PM, or until they sell out, and are stocked with bread and pastries. Bonnie and Madelyn, Alchemy’s pastry assistant, create beautiful pastries from local produce thanks to the farmer’s markets and local farms. Tea cakes, brownies, galettes, scones, cookies, and more are sold on Saturdays and are limited in quantity but never in quality. 

     In addition to running a successful business selling her baked goods, Bonnie has also published two cook books focused on educating others. The first, titled Bread Baking for Beginners, was published in 2018 and explains all the things Bonnie wished someone would have told her about baking. It includes beginner-friendly recipes for no-knead, kneaded, and enriched breads with advice on troubleshooting and possible missteps along the way. Her second book was released in late 2023 and pulled from her experience homeschooling her three children. Let’s Bake Bread!, is intended to bring families together and to “turn kids into confident bakers and helpers in the kitchen.” Recipes for flatbreads, sandwich loaves, cookie bread, and more are paired with fun creative ways for parents to integrate lessons on senses, nutrition, and creativity. Let’s Bake Bread! Was also just named as a finalist for an International Association of Culinary Professionals award, one of the most prestigious award programs in the culinary industry. 

     To stay up to date on hours and offerings at Alchemy Bread, follow them on Instagram, @alchemybread. To start your own sourdough subscription, learn more about Alchemy bread, or purchase Bonnie’s cookbooks, visit the website linked below.

ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT: HOPE’S CHANCE HORSE SANCTUARY

By Mariah Ring

     For those with a passion to help others and a love for animals, Hope’s Chance Horse Sanctuary (HCHS) is the perfect place to lend a helping hand. Founded in 2013 by Sue Forrest, a Central Valley native, HCHS aims to “rescue, rehabilitate, train, and/or give sanctuary to horses caught in perilous situations.” Sue spent several years showing and caring for horses before she began to save those that were found as strays, going to slaughter, or being surrendered for one reason or another. Her goal, and the name of the organization, come from her granddaughter Hope, as they want to heal and provide hope for the horses they take in. 

     Horses come to the sanctuary for a variety of reasons and all need comprehensive care. Those that are blind, deaf, have special needs, illnesses, are wild, or retired from show/riding will find comfort at HCHS. All horses are given dental, health, and farrier care, along with specialized dietary programs to meet individual needs. They also work to train horses with professional guidance and heal any injury by partnering with local clinics and veterinarians.

      With over forty horses housed at HCHS, there is a lot of work to do with limited support. Horses need to be provided with food and water daily, be brushed regularly, and stalls need to be cleaned. There is never a shortage of work that can be done to help the sanctuary and improve the lives that Sue and her family have saved. The work is not easy, but so rewarding and drastically improves the quality of life for these horses, making them more comfortable and possibly one step closer to finding their forever home. Sue and her daughter train volunteers and the public on how to best care for horses and all of the stewardship responsibilities that come with them. Additionally, they partner with equine specialists to provide the best care and hold clinics to further educate others.

     To inquire about adoptable horses, apply to volunteer, or learn more about the organization, visit HCHS on Instagram, @hopeschancehorsesanctuary, or at their website linked below!

CREATIVE NATIVE Q & A: ANNIE & XABI OF ICNOCALLIPRINTS

Q: What is your name and hometown? 

A: My name is Annie Vizcaino, I was born and raised here in Modesto, California.

X: My name is Xabi Soto Beleche. I was born and raised in South Side Modesto.

Q: How were you first introduced to art? 

A: In high school I actually took a ceramics class and loved it. It inspired me to continue to look at art in different ways, there isn’t just one medium and that is exciting. 

X: It wasn’t until I was in college that I realized that I had always been drawn to art. I don’t think we consider art in elementary school as very formative. I realized I would go over the top designing things since I can remember. Making projects far more complicated than they needed to be. Designed year books. I was always also good at math or science, so that was where I found more praise than any of the art I ever did. When I learned how to screen print in the Xicanx Studies Department at UC Davis, I got this vital reawakening of what art is and how I will always be an artist.

Q: What is your favorite medium to work with and why?

A: I love to work with beads. Earrings are my favorite but I’ve done necklaces, bracelets, keychains and sun-catchers. I love working with beads because jewelry shouldn’t be gendered. Anyone can have an outward expression of their sense of self. 

X: Screen Printing and block printing. I gravitated to the tedious layers. The overlapping of stencils. I enjoyed breaking down images to ten plus colors when I could. Especially when I started recoloring family photos. Coupling that with the history of screen printing in community organizing and social movements, printing in this way was accessible.

Q:  Is creating art your full time career? If not, is that your goal? 

A: Art is not my full time career and at one point I would’ve said yes. But I think capitalism has ruined this for me. Overworking myself just to survive, oftentimes having a side hustle with a full time job.

X: I personally do not dream of working. Art for me is a part of me. Right now in taking care of myself and others in trying to survive, I have chosen teaching in public schools to make ends meet. I want to do art the way I crave making birria from scratch randomly. The way I like to toil with the earth. It calls me. When asked I like providing what skills I do have and hope to take advantage of my summers to get back into community art.

Q: Where do you find inspiration? Are there artists that inspire you? 

A:  I find inspiration by the weather or by life experience. For the longest time my pieces held me through my grief. It was so grounding creating something with love and intention until I didn’t need that crutch anymore. I find artists who are true to themselves and show their creative process are ones that I gravitate towards most. Pearl (@PXCDESIGNS916), Christina (@MOONLITSUBSTANCE), Gabriel (@GBRLGRCRMN), Jenny (@JENTI.VF).

X: Inspiration is everywhere. Looking at calendars from the mercados. Murals and graffiti in the hood. The color and shape of the houses from the pueblos in Mexico that my parents are from. The I-beams you can see holding up parking garages. I also believe in the recurrence of art through generations in families. Looking at family photos where the composition is gorgeous and the memories vital, I notice my dad isn’t in the pictures and assume he is the one taking them. My mom likes to rasquache her way through her garden, making fountains out of old cat towers. Painting her plants and repurposing barrels. You will always find the art in your family. There are too many artists too name that I have met and fan-girl over to list. The ones that have taught me how to be an artist, not so much how to create art, are Malaquias Montoya and his son Maceo Montoya. The writer Reyna Grande. The beautiful souls from the Royal Chicano Air Force. Jennifer Andrea Porras and Co.

Q:  Do you have advice for youth that are interested in pursuing a career in the arts but may be anxious to start?

A: I would tell them that you are only letting down yourself by letting your anxiety take over. It’s okay if you fail but starting is the hardest part and you’ll be so proud for doing that regardless of the outcome. Have faith in your craft and be genuine! It’s a hard road but such an enjoyable experience to share with folks who are just as passionate.

X: For those wanting to make a living from their art, I have seen that it takes a lot of commitment and planning. Knowing who would be interested in your art. Knowing that it is okay to drift a bit with pieces or items that are more mainstream that can bring more eyes to what you really enjoy making. Along with planning is setting goals. The financial goals will help you determine how much time to account for. And always charge your worth in labor. No less than $25 an hour (the true minimum wage)!

Q: What do you believe is the most prominent or most recurring theme in your art? What does this theme mean to you? 

A: Colors that I use are a recurring theme. I'm so attracted to jewel tones and I have to force myself to use other colors. Crystals/ gemstones are something that I gravitate towards as well. Each one has a meaning and pulls customers in. It’s interesting learning about them and sourcing them responsibly.

X: Queerness. Being deviant in a cisheteropatriarchal lens. Being trans, non-binary and queer, there is nowhere to exist where the oppressive languages and imagery understands me. But with that I have noticed that many can relate. When I make art for myself, the act of making art is where I seek the satisfaction, so when others can relate to the queer fragments I make, it is just a bonus.

Q: Where can people go to view or purchase your art?

A & X: Our Instagram is our most active place to view our pieces. We just relaunched our website! IcnoCalliPrints.com

Q: Do you have any community events or collaborations coming up that you would like to promote? 

A & X: Not at this time! But we are always open to vend at local events or have Xabis Art featured somewhere!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS