Category Archives: Artists

This is Us: Surfing Safari

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For this episode we went aboard the O’Neill Sea Odyssey in the Santa Cruz Harbor. It’s a 65-foot catamaran on which kids get to take a field trip they’ll never forget - a science cruise on Monterey Bay. You’ll learn more about this educational adventure during the show.

We also met the man behind the sea odyssey program, Jack O’Neill, a surfing icon and innovator who is also credited with the invention of the wetsuit.

And we visited the Stradivarius of surf board shapers, Doug Haut. Doug has been shaping boards for 50 years. He's another Santa Cruz legend.

Finally we went to class – surf class that is- with veteran big wave surfer Richard Schmidt. A former Santa Cruz lifeguard, Schmidt made his reputation riding huge waves on Hawaii’s North Shore and now he’s teaching just about anyone how to surf.


This is Us Visits California Artists

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This is Us visits the studios of four Northern California artists; Kirk McNeil, artist/blacksmith who works with white hot steel and really big hammers to create unique art; Beth Gripenstraw, she's best known for her original ceramic jewelry and large ceramic murals but it is her paintings about life with vertigo that are drawing attention these days; Hans Skalagard, a world-renowned nautical artist who managed to escape three separate sinking ships during world war II and finally Richard Mayhew, one of the finest living landscape artists in the nation.

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Profile: Karen Gabay, Ballerina

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Karen Gabey of the San Jose Ballet - after 28 years as a leading ballerina in San Jose, the 47 year old dancer is turning her attention to choreography.


Profile: Irene Dallas, Opera San Jose

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Profile of Irene Dalis - Up until her retirement in 1977, she was the principal artist at New York's Metropolitan Opera for 20 consecutive seasons. She founded the Opera San Jose and is currently its General Director.