FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4th El Cajon Invitational Art Exhibit Opens . . .
Rare Opportunity to See So Much Art . . . And So Much Diversity . . .
El Cajon CA : . . . Seventeen artists and photographers have accepted the invitation to show their art at the 4th El Cajon Invitational Art Exhibit at the St. Clair Gallery located in the East County Business Center in El Cajon. The show opened June 17 and will run for 45 days, closing on July 31, 2008.
The exhibit is anchored by several east county artists including Chuck McPherson, who won a Juror’s Commendation in the current San Diego Watercolor Society’s show for his piece “Tower of Jewels.”
Chuck is demonstrating oil and watercolor techniques at the San Diego County Fair representing the SDMA Artists Guild June 24, 29 and July 1 and 6 starting at noon; and on June 26 he will participate in the Fair’s on-site Plein Aire Competition. Chuck is exhibiting six pieces in the 4th El Cajon Invitational that reflect the great variety and versatility in his work.
We are fortunate to have East County artist Jack Jordan, a superb oil landscapist and former art teacher with Grossmont College Adult Education who now works primarily on a commission basis, rarely exhibiting his work. Also from East County, oil artist Melva Riley, who is a professional designer with a love for painting animals, especially horses. Melva has been commissioned to paint dozens of pet portraits for proud owners. She can create portraits from photographs already available, but prefers to meet in person with the beloved pet that is the subject of the and get to know his or her personality. This way she takes the perfect photo that will translate into a beautiful portrait.
The exhibit also features artists from greater Dan Diego including Carol Cottone Kolthoff, who holds an MFA and BFA in drawing, painting, and art history from California State University, Long Beach. Carol attended Loyola-Marymount University, Los Angeles for teaching certification. She has studied with Joyce Treiman, contemporary figurative painter, and Daniel Greene, renowned portrait painter. Carol’s work is firmly grounded in the formal elements of composition, color, value, and design and strengthened by proficient drawing ability. Though at first glance, her work is realistic, it is held together based on the abstract principles of structure and form. Carol says, “I have been strongly influenced by American realists such as Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer and the Ash Can School with a smattering of Mary Cassatt and Norman Rockwell thrown in to warm things up a bit!” Among Carol’s clients are: The Humane Society of the United States, San Diego Maritime Museum, Macmillan Publications, San Diego Zoo/Wild Animal Park and Houghton Mifflin Publications. Carol is offering six watercolor paintings for our enjoyment that demonstrate the breadth of her talent.
Artist Patrick Carney began his career in the 1960’s while
hanging out with musicians, many of whom became famous. Patrick is presenting Artists Proofs of some of his works such as a double portrait of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, The Boss, Sting and another double portrait of Keith Richards and Mick Jaeger.
North County artist Lola Juris brings six pieces to the exhibit. Born in Berlin, Germany, of Russian parents, Lola began her art education in New York City. She holds a diploma from Parsons School of Design, a B.F.A. and M.F.A. from Syracuse University, both in Painting, and has had further studies across the country. Concurrent with these studies, Lola established a multi-level art teaching career spanning both coasts. Lola is a Signature Member of the San Diego Watercolor Society and Water Color West, and regularly exhibits her work in the area including the San Diego Museum of Natural History and the San Diego Museum of Art.
St. Clair Gallery Director Howard Bagley says this 4th Invitational is the strongest exhibit yet in the series of seven invitational exhibits planned for 2008. “The collective quality and diversity of the work presented by the seventeen exhibiting artists is absolutely outstanding,” says Bagley. “We have 107 pieces of fine art in all mediums hanging in the 4th Invitational, which makes the St. Clair Gallery the exhibit the largest in East County. The collective awards, published articles, and other honors of this group of artists are far too numerous to mention. Plus, the work currently presented is sticking in terns of its broad appeal and diversity of subject, as well as the variety of art mediums and artistic presentation by the artist.”
The seventeen participating artists will host an artist’s reception on Thursday, July 17th from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in the St Clair Gallery located on the second floor of the East County Business Center at 270 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon. The artists look forward to being able to meet guests and talk about their work. The reception is free and open to the public. Most of the artwork presented is for sale.
The St. Clair Gallery is open 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday, and until 4:30 pm on Friday. For additional information please contact Stevie Norman at the East County Business Center, (619) 401-4000, or Gallery Director Howard Bagley (619) 448-2816 (director@stclairgallery.com). The gallery web site can be viewed for additional information at www.stclairgallery.com
# # # June 20, 2008
