LOST AND FOUND ART EXHIBITION
APRIL 18 thru JULY 5
On exhibit in the Museum Gallery is “Lost & Found,” a stimulating group show with multifaceted approaches to collage and assemblage art. The diverse group of 22 jury-selected artists powerfully expresses the concept in their use of materials and mediums as well as subject.
Awards were presented at an energized reception on April 18 attended by a multigenerational group of more than 150 guests. Charlotte Valestra was presented the Jurors Award for “A Leg for a Medal.” The award included a $1,000 cash prize donated by two local arts advocates. Awards of Merit were presented to Julian Harake, Patrick F. McGinnis and Pamela Zwehl-Burke.
Exhibiting artists included: Sima Ansari, R. Anthony Askew, Mike Brady, Barbara J. Cornett, Dale Cornwell, Kimberly Davis, Izzy Greer, Gene Inglis-Ward, Robert Jensen, Thomas Larson, Syd McCutcheon, Barbara B. McIntyre, Diane Reuter, Launa D. Romoff, Mary Stanley, Marlene Struss, Susan Tibbles, and Dug Uyesaka.
The work shown in this special exhibit was selected by a trio of distinguished jurors from a field of more than 100 entries. “The jurists no doubt found their role challenging given the quality of work and the display space limitations,” said Esther Jacobsen Bates, Executive Director of Elverhøj Museum. “The resulting show is an exhilarating look at a very engaging art form.”
The Jurors:
Rita A. Ferri is Visual Arts Coordinator and Curator of Collections for the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission and has been an arts administrator and award-winning arts educator for over 25 years. Debra McKillop teaches art at Ventura Community College is an artist, graphic designer, gallery manager, and curator. Frances Puccinelli has had an active role in many areas of the arts including juror, gallery owner, curator, organizational volunteer, consultant, retailer and collector.
Reception July 18 “ORGANIC ABSTRACTIONS” EXHIBIT
JULY 11 thru SEPTEMBER 6
Debuting July 11 in the Museum Gallery is “Organic Abstractions” featuring new works by artist Pamela Zwehl-Burke. A reception will be held on Saturday July 18 from 4 to 7 pm. Refreshments will be served; there is no charge for admission.
The exhibit showcases the large, colorful oilstick drawing/paintings which are part of an ongoing series of compositions based on observed reality — “accidental” excerpts of animal and vegetative life, slightly rearranged to highlight the dynamic elements of design. The images are composed so that they can be viewed and hung in all four directions. The eye of the viewer is kept interested and entertained by the dynamic “pull” of the unity and variety of value, color intensity, and orientation of shape or form.
Pamela Zwehl-Burke has made drawings and paintings for 50 years. For the last 25 years she has taught college-level printmaking, figure drawing, artists’ books and drawing. Newly retired from Santa Barbara City College, she lives on five acres in Santa Ynez with electronics engineer husband Harold, and many animals (alpacas, horses, cats, fish, chickens and frog). Studio work, the study of Buddhism, family, friends and community work richly fill her time.
September 12 debut
“OUT OF AFRICA” — RECENT PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUSAN JØRGENSEN
Out of Africa: Recent photography by Susan Jørgensen opens September 12 in the Museum Gallery. The artwork is derived from photographs taken on Jørgensen’s recent safaris in Tanzania, Botswana, and Namibia. The work includes panoramas and wildlife studies, complemented with excerpts from her journals.
A reception for the artist will be held on Saturday, September 13 from 4 to 7 pm. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free.
Jørgen Jørgensen, grandfather of the artist, was born in Denmark in 1878, seven years before another Dane — Karen Blixen, who wrote under the pen name of Isak Dinesen. Like Dinesen, Jørgen became an adventurer and farmer in a new land; only he immigrated to the Dakotas, not Africa.
Susan Jørgensen feels that it was the Dane in her that prompted an interest in Isak Dinesen’s novels. She also knows it was her grandparents’ pioneering tales with bison and wolves and flocks of birds that blackened the sky that nurtured her deep desire to be part of wilder places.
A working artist residing in Santa Barbara County, Jørgensen has exhibited extensively and is known for her sensitivity to nature — from the broad sweeps of the landscape to intimate studies of natural objects.
PROPOSALS FOR ART GALLERY EXHIBITIONS
The Elverhøj Museum of History and Art encourages art exhibition proposal submissions from individual artists and artist groups. The guidelines are intended to help expedite the review of these submissions by insuring that each proposal is as complete as possible. Proposals for exhibitions at the Elverhøj must include both written and visual components.
A copy of the artist proposal guidelines is available for download.
Artist Exhibition Proposal Procedures PDF