Pastel Society of Southern California 13th Annual Members’ Exhibition By Lynn Attig
Pastel Society of Southern California 13th Annual Members’ Exhibition
By Lynn Attig
If you are an art lover or collector, you understand the value of viewing art in person. When a painting speaks to you from across the room, you move in closer, maybe six feet away, and then if it keeps calling, you walk up to view it three feet away and then up close and personal. Aha! Only now can you appreciate the delicate brush strokes, the surface texture, the abstract shapes, and true colors. None of this can be absorbed well on a computer screen. And yet, for the last two years, online art viewing and buying was perhaps your only option.
While virtual art events certainly have a role, the return of “brick-and-mortar” exhibitions is something to celebrate. This is why the Pastel Society of Southern California is excited to announce the opening of its 13th annual art exhibition right here in Palos Verdes on April 27. A total of 75 original paintings by local, national and international artists will grace the walls of the space formerly occupied by The Loft at the Promenade on the Peninsula, 550 Deep Valley Drive, Rolling Hills Estates, Suite 117 until May 22. Whether you enjoy landscapes, seascapes, portraits, figures, animal, abstracts or still life—this show has it all.
As a bonus, imagine walking around the gallery and watching 7-10 artists create their artwork from scratch in a timed “Quick Draw” live simultaneous event, which is planned during the exhibition’s Public Opening Reception on Saturday, April 30 from 1-4 p.m. Each of the finished pastel pieces will then be donated by the artists to an “opportunity drawing” for lucky attendees to try and win. Limited tickets to this free event are available at EventBrite
( https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pastel-society-of-southern-california-13th-annual-art-exhibition-tickets-312906069477)
The opening reception also includes artist awards, complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres and educational materials on the art of pastel. The show is juried by award-winning pastel artist Stan Sperlak (thesperlakgallery.com) from Goshen, New Jersey and judged by master pastelist Otto Stürcke of Valencia, Calif. (Sturckestudio.com).
Generous prize sponsors include Richeson Art, Dakota Art Pastels, PanPastel, Holbein, Ampersand, Sun Eden, Terry Ludwig, Armadillo Art & Craft (Art Spectrum), Graphaids, Agoura Hills, Calif., and Michele Aplin, PastelsEtc. Thank you also to Frame Destination (FrameDestination.com), as well as event sponsors VEFA (Visual Experience Fine Art) Gallery, and Pavillions (Rolling Hills Estates). The grand prize, “The Carole Kearns Best of Show Memorial Award,” sponsored by Joe Kearns, will be presented in memory of the Society’s beloved treasurer, Carole, who was a Palos Verdes resident.
A portion of the proceeds from the art sales will benefit Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. Regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (April 27 to May 22). Free parking is available in the mall structure. For more information, visit psscwebsite.org.
The Pastel Society of Southern California is a 501(c)-3 non-profit organization.
