An eye for eyes 

Lance Kinney is a passionate man who tends to spaz out a bit. Not that that's a bad thing. Because of this energy surging through the general contractor turned photographer, he has many projects going on at the same time with lots to show from each of his endeavors. He loves to shoot photos so much that he just can't keep his finger off the shutter.

"I have thousands upon thousands of photos from over the years," says Lance who has shot everything from the Monterey Jazz festival to surf spots around the globe. "I took over 2,400 images on this last trip to Guatemala ."

Lance's specialty is what he calls chronicling the conditions and concerns of indigenous and forgotten peoples from around the world. "I have two lives, one as a general contractor specializing in high-end remodels, the other as a photographer with a vision to share with others."

The latest vision he's sharing is from a recent trip to Panajachel , Guatemala with I Care International, where he accompanied several eye doctors and volunteers who treated close to 450 patients per day during a four-day stint in remote, poverty-stricken areas.

"The need was so great that we could have stayed for months on end," says Lance. "For most, this was their first encounter, or first time seeing a medical doctor of any type, including childbirth. To see an elder put on a pair of donated eyeglasses and witness him or her clearly see their loved ones for the first time in years was life-changing for all involved."

Twenty-five of Lance's photographs from this momentous trip are hanging on display in Cambria for a benefit titled appropriately "Visions Of Color." The photos will be sold with proceeds benefiting I Care International. The party goes down on Saturday, July 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Jewel of Cambria at 777 Main Street in, you guessed it, Cambria . Give 'em a call at 927-1770 for more info. If you go, please bring a pair of old eyeglasses. The doctors at I Care will refurbish them for the needy. To view Lance's photos, check out www.lancekinney.com.

FAST FACTS

Central Coast Gymnastics Sports Center is celebrating its 14th year in business. It started in 1991 with about 15 kids and now show the ropes — er, bars — to nearly 800 would-be Mary Lou Rettons. To do this they've acquired 15,000 square feet of tumbling space and created what looks like a high-school gym overrun with large, squishy pieces of foam. Lottsa fun. "It was time to take the next step," says owner and self-described "happy" director Mimi Phene-McKellar of their space at 21 Zaca Lane just off South Higuera . If you've got a little tumbler around, check out CCGS at www.iflipforccg.com or call 549-8408. ...

... After all that tumbling you'll get pretty hungry. "Feast in the Field" is a mobile party that makes the rounds of Central Coast farms to bring attention to locally grown food and the farmers who grow and sell it (i.e., those friendly faces you see each week at Farmers' Market). The third fete in the "Feast" series is going down in Arroyo Grande. Sponsored by Affaire L'amour , the organic, multi-course meal will be prepared by Chef Tim Bolle, and go down on Saturday, July 16 at Rutiz Farms on The Pike off of Elm Street in A.G. Monsieur Bolle will preparing in addition to top-shelf meat and seafood, greens from the very field you'll be dining in. For reservations call 473-3389 or do some virtual salivating at www.affairelamour.com. ?

Contributor Bryan Dickerson compiles New Times' Strokes & Plugs. E-mail him at [email protected].