The Pastel Society of Southern California Invites Public to its 15th Annual Gallery Exhibition and Art Fair
--Gala Reception and Pastel Quick-Draw Event, Saturday, April 13, 1-4 p.m.
Artist Booths featuring original art for sale, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.--
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. (March 26, 2024) –The Pastel Society of Southern California (PSSC) announces its 15th Annual Gallery Exhibition showcasing members' artworks, to be held April 10 - May 11 at Riviera UMC, 375 Palos Verdes Blvd., Redondo Beach.
The show features original paintings by nationally recognized pastel artists, as well as local PSSC members from Palos Verdes, the South Bay, the greater Southern California area and nationwide. A total of 90 artworks, including landscapes, seascapes, still life, florals, animals and portraits/figures will be on display, most of which are available for purchase.
The public is invited to attend the Gala Reception, including Artist Awards and Quick-Draw on Saturday, April 13, from 1-4 p.m. at the Riviera UMC gallery. Light hors d’ oeuvres and drinks will be served. For a special treat, attendees can watch multiple artists create their artwork from scratch in a timed “Quick Draw” live simultaneous event from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Each of the finished pastel pieces will then be donated to an “opportunity drawing” for attendees to try and win.
New this year is an entire day of art, featuring artist booths on the upper lawn/patio area along Palos Verdes Blvd. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 to coincide with the opening of the exhibition. The public is invited to browse the many artworks available for purchase, ranging from paintings to jewelry to wildlife photography, ceramics and more.
“As we celebrate our society’s 15th anniversary, we are excited to present the 15th Annual Members’ Exhibition and Art Fair to the art lovers of the Palos Verdes Peninsula and surrounding South Bay communities,” said Christopher Stillians, President, PSSC. “The focus of our society, founded in 2009, is to educate the public about the luminous medium of pastel. Our society continues to grow and includes members from all over Southern California as well as national and international communities.”
The show is juried by award-winning pastel artist Tracy Ference (tracyference.com) from North Carolina and judged by master pastelist Karen Margulis from Atlanta, Georgia (karenmargulis.com).
Generous prize sponsors include Royal Talens, Diane Townsend, Dakota Art Pastels, Holbein, Golden Artists Colors, Terry Ludwig, Armadillo Art & Craft, UArt, Jerry’s Artarama and International Artist Magazine. 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.
Pastel comes from the French word, pastiche, which means paste or powder. It is pure pigment in a stick, with just a small amount of binder, and it can produce glorious color and light refraction. It is also extremely archival, standing the test of time for more than 400 years...as evidenced by the artwork of famous early pastel artists Quentin De La Tour, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt and others, whose pieces are shown in museums worldwide. Today’s pastel artists incorporate many new techniques and advanced materials, with styles ranging from traditional to contemporary.
The show’s ocean view galleries are located on the upper level of the Riviera UMC complex. The Art Fair takes place on the front lawn area along Palos Verdes Blvd. Free parking is available in the parking lot behind the building. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting Wednesday, April 10 and ending at 12 noon on May 11.
The PSSC is a 501(c)-3 nonprofit organization and member of the International Association of Pastel Societies. Visit pastelsocal.org for more information.