Dear Friends,
Due to a family emergency, I’ve been largely silent with my news and on my social platforms. As I get back to my artistic activities and posting, I have several events and shows I’m excited to share with you.
I’m very pleased to announce I was selected as part of an ambitious juried group show at the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California called 4x4x15, curated by Jeffrey Frisch.
https://www.ocair.com/travelers/dine-shop-relax/relax/arts-program/vi-smith-concourse-gallery/
I was selected as one of 15 artists from Southern California who were invited to exhibit. Two large non-representational pieces were selected for exhibition and are displayed in the beautiful glassed Vi Smith Concourse exhibition space, seen by hundreds of thousands departing and arriving from their journeys in this soaring and vibrant space. The show runs from May 2023-March 2023. If you are flying in or out of John Wayne Airport, you can see them inside the Terminals A and C. See the video of the show here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4eA6z6_-a0
My work has typically focused the elements of our precious Earth, mainly focused on painting the flora that surrounds us in internationally recognized gardens around the world. The covid lockdown stopped my garden residencies, and allowed me to confront non-representational artwork, exploring pictorially my childhood questions surrounding dreams: what are they made of and where do they come from? My two selected paintings are The Birth of Dreams, and Awakening. These pieces are reflective pieces on the infinite interior of the subconscious mind. Each is large format, oil on canvas, 4ft x 4ft. Developing these paintings in the call for artists was an interesting experience. While I traditionally work in larger format canvases, often outside in gardens or in front of water, a 48”x48” (122cmx122cm) painting had to be exclusively a studio piece due to sheer size and weight of the canvas. Thank you to the JWA Art Commissioners and Jeffrey Frisch for inclusion in this show.
In June, I donated a painting of Topanga Canyon for auction to benefit the Resource Conservation District of Santa Monica Mountains. This is exactly the type of donation I like to make: this organization furthers conservation efforts in our precious natural environment in California. I’m very happy to report the painting sold and proceeds will help further the mission of this important conservation group.
In my garden world, I am again invited to be a guest artist for the Sherman Gardens August 27 Summer Garden Party, a must-attend event in Corona del Mar from 4-7pm. I will be exhibiting three paintings and doing an art demonstration in the garden as part of the “Artists in the Gardens” showcase. Additionally, the event features live music, a bouquet bar, garden party hat contest (some are amazing!) and a fabulous raffle and silent auction. Tickets to this fun event are sold in conjunction with the 26th Annual Newport Beach Garden Tour, which is again virtual this year (so my friends in Europe can also see these great gardens!). Tickets are available here. All proceeds benefit Sherman Library & Gardens and children’s education programs. I urge you to support this botanical jewel in Southern California, and please join me August 27!
Finally, I have some garden paintings in a cool new gallery in Laguna in an iconic pink building on PCH – Pacific Coast Highway – across from Main Beach in the Civic Art District of Laguna Beach. The Gallery at the Villa will be soft-opening Thursday, July 7 during the Laguna Art Walk from 5 – 8 pm. Please stop by; I’ll be there with Suzanne Barber, gallery owner and artist. The Gallery at the Villa is located at 206 N Coast Hwy in Laguna Beach.
I hope to see you there!