Duo takes Artistic License

Young Chang

Julie Mammano and Nikki Grimes will share a booth at the Artistic

License Fair in Costa Mesa this weekend as writers, artists and best

friends.

Eight years ago, they didn’t imagine this would happen. Today, it

seems almost natural that it did.

“We’ve been in the same circle and a part of the same arts groups.

She’s one of my best friends,” Grimes said. “We’re used to being

together.”

While other artisans from Orange and Riverside counties will set up

shop at Estancia Park selling fine crafts -- everything from hand-woven

and hand-dyed garments to jewelry, ceramics and silks -- Mammano and

Grimes’ booth will showcase the written word, too.

Called “Authors who do Art,” the booth’s collection will include

Mammano’s children’s titles, including “Rhinos Who Surf,” and art.

Grimes, a poet and artist, will spotlight her books, wearable knits,

beaded jewelry and beadwork she calls “sculptural peyote pieces.”

It makes sense to Grimes that a writer would be multitalented.

“Every artist I know does several different things,” she said. “But

you don’t necessarily see that displayed in any way.”

Grimes helped Mammano diversify her talents about eight years ago.

Then an unpublished book illustrator, Mammano felt stranded when it came

to getting published. Grimes, who was already published, offered her an

extra ticket to the Book Expo of America, now known as the American

Booksellers Assn.

Editors and publishers at the event responded encouragingly to

Mammano’s pictures. Unfortunately, there were no manuscripts to match,

they told her.

Mammano decided to write her own book -- a decision inspired by the

sound of the name “Griff” because she thought it suitable for a

rhinoceros. Today, her personified animals do human things like surf,

skateboard and surfboard.

“I didn’t want the rhinos to look too rhino-y,” Mammano said. “Real

rhinos look kind of grumpy, but I wanted my rhinos to look friendly.”

Mammano’s “Rhinos Who Snowboard” made it into the top five of the Los

Angeles Times’ children’s bestsellers list last year. The author has been

awarded the Parents’ Choice Awards for Children’s Books.

Drawing the rhinos is an important part of her storytelling process,

she said. If the text does not translate well into art, she changes the

text. When she writes prose, she thinks visually.

Visitors to the fair can get a hint of her artistic process through

her jewelry, greeting cards and paintings.

Grimes, who has published more than 40 books of poetry and prose, said

she is first and foremost a poet. But she likes exploring other genres.

One of Grimes’ novels, “Jazmin’s Notebook,” was named the Coretta

Scott King Award Honor Book and the Bank Street College Book of the Year.

“Meet Danitra Brown,” a poetry collection, has also won awards.

“Novels, essay writing -- it’s all wordsmithing in one way or

another,” Grimes said.

Nancy Gary Ward, owner and manager of the Artistic License Fair with

husband Drew, said this is apparent in Grime’s art.

“It’s just another aspect of her creativity,” she said. “And we felt

it would be a really great thing to feature the work [Mammano and Grimes]

do with their hands as well as their writing.”

FYI

* WHAT: The Artistic License Fair

* WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

* WHERE: Estancia Park, 1900 Adams Ave., Costa Mesa

* COST: Free. Items range from $2 to $300 and up. Menu items for the

event’s catered cuisine will be $1.95 to $5.95

* CALL: (909) 371-6507