St Mary's Hearst Gallery, Opening Reception and Paintout for "Superbly Independent: Early California Paintings by Annie Harmon, Mary DeNeale Morgan and Marion Kavanagh Wachtel" this Sunday

I have been invited to paint during the opening events of this exhibit this Sunday.
I can't wait to see the works by these painters.



Superbly Independent: Early California Paintings by Annie Harmon, Mary DeNeale Morgan and Marion Kavanagh Wachtel
July 25 - Sept. 19, 2010
Nearly 100 landscape paintings by three pioneer Western women painters

Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel (1870 - 1954), Untitled (Eucalyptus Trees, watercolor, 12 x 9 inches, n.d. Courtesy of The Irvine Museum)

Tenacious and talented early women landscape painters often received scant attention from the art world. Although it was unusual at the turn of the century to find women artists working atop a cliff overlooking the Pacific or deep in the middle of a pine forest, that is just where these three artists spent much of their careers.

The Hearst Gallery first became interested in Annie Harmon because of her connection to landscape master William Keith—she was his painting student for many years, and became a family member when her brother married Keith’s daughter. Keith’s pupils were primarily women, and he was known to encourage others in their pursuit of a painting career.

While researching Harmon and her relationship with her mentor, interesting parallels emerged with her contemporaries Mary DeNeale Morgan and Marion Kavanagh Wachtel. By presenting the three gifted, independent and pioneering painters together, we are also able to look at the breadth and variety of the California landscape—from the densely wooded forests of the north, to the Bay Area and the spectacularly scenic central coast, to the bright, strong colors and tones of the desert and the Southland.

This exhibition and accompanying catalogue would not have been possible without the generous support of two dedicated collectors, Betty Boone Williams and Alberta Parker Horn. Works are also on loan from museums, galleries, public and private collectors. The richly illustrated color catalog includes a complete checklist of paintings, with biographical essays by Jean Stern, Executive Director of The Irvine Museum; independent art historian, Erika Esau; and Julie Armistead, the exhibition’s guest curator.

" Forest Hill" 14 x 14 from the Superbly Independent  Opening Day Paint Out.
I wanted to focus more on trees in tribute to Harmon, Wachtel and Morgan.

Public Hours: Wednesdays through Sundays, 11 am – 4:30 pm Telephone: (925) 631.4379 Website: www.hearstartgallery.org Contact: Heidi Donner, hdonner@stmarys-ca.edu (925) 631.4069