Thanks, Eduardo!

Eduardo Suastegui (left) receives an award for outstanding photography from then-Gallery President Mike Tyler at the Gallery’s April 2011 reception (photo by George Rodriguez)

After taking over and making improvements to the Whittier Art Gallery’s website a couple of years ago, then starting up this blog for the Gallery, our friend and fellow artist Eduardo Suastegui has handed-off both to yours truly.

Ed is moving on to other important activities in his life and career, and the Board of Directors of the Whittier Art Association wishes to thank him most sincerely for the excellent work he has done in enhancing the Gallery’s web presence.  He has been very generous with his time and talent, a god-send for an all-volunteer organization like the Association.  He will be missed, and we wish him the best and look forward to seeing him and his work occasionally at the Gallery.

Meanwhile, this blog needs some catching-up, so watch for some posts chronicling events at the Gallery over the past few months.  There’s always a lot going on at the Gallery, so if you can, and as often as you can, you should come by and see what’s happening!

-Mike Tyler

The Spirit of Art reception

Last night, the Whittier Art Gallery hosted a reception for The Spirit of Art. Artists and art lovers from Whittier, surrounding communities and beyond came to share in a terrific exhibit featuring a variety of art forms and styles. As you can see in this slide show, the Gallery looked terrific, and artists and art lovers alike enjoyed terrific conversations as they discussed the art on display. If you missed it, it’s not too late. The exhibit will remain in place through February 26th, during the gallery’s regular hours. Come by and check it out.

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Photos by Eduardo Suastegui

The Spirit of Art returns

Returning for a second year in a row to the Whittier Art Gallery during the month of February, the Spirit of Art is proud to present award winning artists from around the globe. This impressive collection of works created by renowned artists, whose lives and mediums vary, come together to present this eclectic and inspirational exhibit. The show will run from February 1st through the 26th, with a reception on Saturday February 4th, from 5-8:00 pm.

The Spirit of Art, February exhibition at the Whittier Art Gallery

Featured artists: Marie Huizar, Lalo Garcia, Lix Mario, Crystal Maes, Katie Novella, Eduardo Suastegui, Guillermo Rodriguez, and Doug Wolven.

Join us during gallery hours, February 1st through the 26th, and come meet the artists during the Reception on Saturday February 4th, from 5-8:00 pm.

October at the gallery, with Jessica Jang

Original article by Gwen McCants, edited by Michael Tyler

Whittier, California, October 02, 2011 – The Whittier Art Gallery is hosting the celebrated Korean-American artist, Jessica Jang, from October 5th to the October 16th, in an exhibit titled, “Movement of Dream and Challenge.”

Director of the Orange County Korean-American Professional Artists Association, Jang has participated in numerous group exhibitions, has been a member of San Dieguito Art Guild’s “Off Track Gallery,” the Carlsbad-Oceanside Art League, and the Whittier Art Association.

Her abstract expressionist work evokes seascapes, landscapes, and other influences from her love of the natural world.

A painter since the age of 18, of her own work, Jang says, “Art was, is and will be my source of peace, comfort, and joy.”

Gwen McCants, Whittier Art Gallery committee member, says of Jang, “her art is a gift from the sea.”

A reception for the public will take place Sunday, October 9, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Whittier Art Gallery, 8035 Painter Avenue, Whittier.

For the second half of October, Jang will share the Gallery space with the Orange County Korean-American Professional Artist Association, whose presentation of paintings and other works will run October 19th to the 30th.

The OCKAPAA is devoted to not only furthering Korean American Art, but all community art. McCants says, “Their work is well worth seeing.”

The OCKAPAA will hold a reception for the public October 23rd from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Whittier Art Gallery.

Refreshments and a chance to meet the artists will be available at both receptions. The Whittier Art Gallery is located at 8035 Painter Avenue, between Whittier Blvd and Moreland Ave. Gallery hours are 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

An image of Jang and her paintings may be seen on the Whittier Art Gallery’s website at www.whittierartgallery.org.

The non-profit Whittier Art Association is in its 72nd year in its landmark gallery on Painter Avenue. The Gallery is wholly owned and operated by its members. The Association receives no funding from the City of Whittier but runs on membership fees, art sales, gallery rentals and charitable donations. Its continuing mission is to create and maintain its community art gallery, offer continuous exhibits of fine arts and crafts, stimulate and coordinate the expression of local artists, and to advance the appreciation of fine art in the greater Whittier community.

For additional information, contact:

The Whittier Art Association
Patricia Brown, Curator
(562) 698-8710
www.whittierartgallery.org

Photos from Frog’s Ear reception

Here are a few photos from the August Frog’s Ears reception.

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Photos by Mike Tyler

Featured artist, Annette Atwood

Our September show will feature local artist, Annette Atwood. Here’s some of the work she will be showing:

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September show featured artist

Original article by Gwen McCants

The Whittier Art Association welcomes Annette Atwood as its featured artist for the September Home and Garden Show. A Whittier native, the words that are most commonly used to describe Annette’s award winning ceramics are whimsical, joyous, and above all, delightful; but a second look, and the words of Annette, herself, tell us there is a more serious purpose here. Annette creates with the hope that her pieces will encourage personal growth and healing.

Annette lost her father to colon cancer, and the treatment and cure of this disease has been a consuming interest ever since. She heads the Cancer Society Art Workshops for cancer survivors and their families at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital (PIH), and led the Patricia L. Scheifly Breast Support Group’s creation of the tile panels, “Words of Hope 1 & 2”.

Annette has had a successful career both in fine and commercial art, and was commissioned to create the Ed and Ruth Shannon Commemorative plaque for PIH. She has been the featured artist at the prestigious Hillcrest Art Festival in La Habra Heights, and has shown at The Folk Tree Collection, Pasadena, the La Mirada Art Gallery, and is a member of Whittier Art Association.

Robert Thome show reception

Yesterday, the Whittier Art Gallery held a reception for Robert Thome’s show, which will run through August. Here are some photos from the reception.

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Photos by Michael Tyler, Copyright (c) 2011, all rights reserved

Robert Thome showing now…

Robert Thome returns to the Whittier Art Gallery for another solo exhibition featuring a selection of new works painted especially for this exhibition. Robert is an internationally acclaimed mouth painter, with a career spanning over 35 years during which his work has been exhibited around the world. He is a lifetime member of the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.

Here are some samples from the ongoing August show. Come by the gallery to have a fuller, more enjoyable look at his collection.

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Photos by Michael Tyler, Copyright (c) 2011, all rights reserved

Remembering Ruth Radlauer

RUTH RADLAUER
1926—2011

In the March/ April Sketches, we wrote that Ruth Radlauer was having a book launching party for her memoir, Collaboration, which chronicled the years she and her husband Ed wrote and published over 200 children’s books during their marriage of 56 years.

In our May/June issue we thanked her for her great generosity in donating the proceeds from her book to the gallery for our Gallery Upkeep Fund.

It is with sorrow that with this issue, we report Ruth Radlauer’s death from pancreatic cancer, which she had been battling for almost two years. During this time, we note with awe, Ruth still managed to write two more books!

She was a tireless practitioner of the arts: a writer, editor, teacher, and as she was best known to us at the Gallery, a skilled maker of baskets and jewelry. Her perseverance, focus, and ultimately, great courage, were and will remain, an inspiration to all.

A native of Wyoming, she moved to La Habra Heights in 1950, where she and Ed, wielding hammer and saw, built their lifetime home. She leaves two sons, Dan, and Dave, a daughter, Robin, daughter in law, Karen, and niece, Jad.. She often said that the “afterlife” is being remembered. We will remember Ruth Radlauer.

Submitted by Gwen McCants