Tuesday, February 14, 2012

"Rare Sight" to be exhibited at California Art Club "Saving Paradise" Exhibit March 8 to May 6

Rare Sight (Mt Diablo) 14 x 21 watercolor on paper

SAVING PARADISE: The Symbiosis of Landscape Painting and Environmental Awareness
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, March 8 – May 6, 2012

 The "Saving Paradise" exhibit is all about artists working with environmental and land preservation groups to preserve open spaces. I don't know what I would do without Mt Diablo being so beautiful and so close. It dominates the skyline here in Danville and literally nags me to go out painting because I can not miss it as I drive or walk around town. SaveMount Diablo.org is to be congratulated for all they do to preserve and protect the critical habitats on and around Mount Diablo.

Rare Sight was painted when the cloud cover lifted and the snow was still visible, which rarely happens because the snow usually melts. I like the contrast of the snowy summit and the green grass and  yellow spring mustard. The juror for this exhibit is Jean Stern.
Here is the link to the online version of this exhibit :

http://www.californiaartclub.org/saving-paradise-the-symbiosis-of-landscape-painting-and-environmental-awareness/

If you would like to read more, here is write up on the exhibit ( with a nod towards Mount Diablo)

> DESCRIPTION
The California Art Club exhibition Saving Paradise: The Symbiosis of Landscape Painting and Environmental Awareness will feature approximately 50 landscape paintings that spotlight the relationships that artists have with the land that they depict in their works on canvas.
Many of the works have been rendered in the California Impressionistic style that early California Art Club artists influenced more than a century ago as they painted “en plein air” (“in the open air”).
“Representational art forms that employ time-honored techniques are ideal for documenting history,” said American artist Peter Adams, who has served as the president of the Club since 1993.  “As California Art Club artists continually travel throughout the state to paint scenic vistas that they most covet, we strive to preserve these images for generations to come and chronicle how these areas are evolving with the passage of time,” he added.
Jean Stern, Executive Director of The Irvine Museum and one of the most respected authorities on California Impressionism, curated the exhibition that includes imagery of many of California’s most beloved sites, from Mount Diablo, Emerald Bay and the American River in the north to the Santa Ynez hills, Catalina Island, and Torrey Pines State Park in the south.
The exhibition also underscores the extensive efforts of artists to create paintings of specific areas of the state in order to call attention to both their awe-inspiring natural beauty and current efforts to preserve and protect these regions.  The exhibiting artists are involved with the preservations efforts of more than 50 different organizations, including the Aquarium of the Pacific, Catalina Island Conservatory, Friends of the Los Angeles River, Heal the Bay, National Park Service, the Land Conservatory of San Luis Obispo County, Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, Sierra Club, and Tejon Ranch Conservatory.
Most of the works on exhibit will be available for acquisition, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the preservation group designated by each of the artists.
The Saving Paradise exhibition marks the Club’s return to Barnsdall Park, where it was headquartered in the famed Hollyhock House from 1927 to 1942.  Paying homage to those very active years in the organization’s history, during which it sponsored a multitude of art and cultural events, the Club and the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery will host a number of educational programs during the two-month display, including artist’s talks and demonstrations.
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs located in Barnsdall Park.
For more information on Saving Paradise, visit www.californiaartclub.org.

2 comments:

Darlene Koenig said...

This painting is so incredibly beautiful and makes me long for this environment. We live in Texas now, but it's not the same as living among the "golden hills." I've just discovered your art; thank you for these amazing images.

Marian Fortunati said...

This is beautiful, Robin...
Are you coming down for the "meet the artist" night????