‘Do it Yourself’ theme of newest Fairfield-Suisun Visual Arts show

Featured artist showcases photos of ghost town Bodie

It’s a new year and a new opportunity to take in some art at the Solano Town Center Gallery.

For its first exhibition of 2021, Fairfield-Suisun City Visual Arts Association (FSVAA) has some simple advice: Do it yourself.

The new show “Do it Yourself” is a collection of member artists’ imaginative takes on the DIY concept. The show, which opens Friday, explores the idea of creating something from nothing and providing an interactive experience.

The featured artist for the exhibit will be Dennis Ariza, who will be promoting the release of his new book “Bodie, A Ghost Town,” a photographic collection of Ariza’s visit to Bodie State Park in Bridgeport. Located east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Mono County, Bodie received a population boom in 1876 during the Gold Rush and had a population of nearly 10,000 by the end of the decade. In the late 19th century, Bodie had several daily newspapers, a Wells Fargo bank, post office, volunteer fire organizations, many saloons, a Chinatown district, union hall and mortuary, and was even considered the first town in California to have electricity.

As mining profits declined in the early 20th century, so did Bodie’s status as a bustling community. By 1920, the population had dwindled to 110 people, all of whom had moved out by 1950. In between, the town burnt down tw ice including once as a result of a boy playing with matches. In 1942, the last gold mine closed as the U.S. government ceased the operation of all non- essential mines during World War II, thus ending Bodie’s status as a city

However, tourists can still visit Bodie and its remaining structures at the Bodie State Historic Park, which was established in 1962. On the first weekend of each August, Friends of Bodie celebrate the town’s history with a fundraiser by opening the gold mine and some of its buildings for tours. Ariza’s book is a collection of photos taken in Bodie and the surrounding eastern Sierras.

“Do it Yourself” will open Friday and be on display through Feb. 21 at the gallery, located on the upper level of the mall near the At&T Store, 1350 Travis Blvd., Fairfield. The gallery’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. For more information, visit Fvaa- arts. org/call-to-artist.