Since Gayle’s opened in 1978, Joe has been exercising his many creative sides, having written four books, published numerous food articles in local and national publications, written and produced musicals, and participated in Open Studios and plein air events, showcasing his oil paintings. For inquiries, email joe@gocapitola.com
Below you can explore Joe’s work, many of which are available for purchase at Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria.
. . . just to name a few.
Imagine walking into a bar and meeting a woman who insists on telling you the details of her love life . . . in song. Twelve original compositions sung by Santa Cruz vocalist, Lori Rivera in this one-woman show.
Original short CD, featuring Ukulele Dick singing three original Ortiz compositions: “Watsonville,” “The Hermit Song,” and “You Electrify Me.”
First performed at the Cabrillo Stage Summer Festival in 2021, this studio recording pre-dates the stage performances and features local vocalists Lori Rivera, Ariel Thiermann Stahl, and Alex Lucero.
Joe’s new Poetry & Lyrics paperback is scheduled to be published in October 2023. The book features the poetry that led to Joe’s five musical productions and many lyrics from such shows as Kitchen Kabaret, BREAD!—The Musical, Smoke Cabaret, Escaping Queens, and Circus.
The original hardback version, published in 1997 by Hyperion, New York.
One of the first bread books published in the early years of the artisan bread movement. Ten Speed Press.
From time-to-time you can find various pamphlets (free of charge) in the espresso bar, featuring excerpts from Joe’s column in the Capitola Soquel Times, which are drawn from his memoir: PASTINA—My Father’s Misfortune, My Mother’s Good Soup.
Pamphlets “for a small fee” include offerings from a forthcoming book on creativity and include those featured below.
The pamphlet features several vignettes explaining how artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Miles Davis, and Bill Evans used limitation techniques to access their highest creative zones. Selections are drawn from Joe’s forthcoming book, The Great Escape—A Lock, A Key, A Knock at the Door.
A writer’s workshop that anyone can try, explaining an exercise entitled, “The Art of the Five-minute Short Story.”
The show description for “The Café Paintings—Travels with Gayle and Joe” can be found at the espresso bar. It describes the European locations that inspired the art work, listing sizes and prices.
For a private tour of studio paintings for sale, contact Joe directly: joe@gocapitola.com
The white-washed village of Polignano sits on a cliff overlooking the Adriatic Sea in “the heal of the boot.” The roof tops look out over the sea. Grottos carved into the rocks beneath the city are home to many magnificent restaurants suspended over the crashing waves.
One of the most photographed sights in Morocco, the ruins at the Royal Stables is visited by thousands of tourists every year. This original oil painting was sold at Open Studios in 2022. But other versions are available by arrangement: joe@gocapitola.com
Joe’s most recent style of mixing graphic images with abstract surface treatments is evident in this alley one might see while riding on a vaporetto in Venice. Textures were achieved through the use of silk screen, “scumbling,” and stenciling.
Originally entitled Chi Chi, this duet was inspired by two Charlie Parker blues tunes, with lyrics by Joe, who loves argument songs— this one featuring two mythical love-birds, Don and Mel.
From Joe’s 2001 show, BREAD!—The Musical, featuring Lori Rivera on vocals and Scott Nordgren on tenor sax.
This song depicts what a mistreated young boy might say in fantasy to an abusive father what he might not be able to say in person. The song is the climax to Joe’s musical, ESCAPING QUEENS. Vocalist is Tucker Gold.