Lodi, CA, July 3-August 25
This story was featured in the July 2012 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Order the Southwest Art magazine July 2012 print edition here, or purchase the Southwest Art magazine July 2012 digital download here. Or simply click here to subscribe to Southwest Art magazine and never miss a story!
This year marks the 75th anniversary of a bridge many said could not be built. Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is admired around the world for its architectural significance and aesthetic brilliance. The anniversary of the bridge coincides with Knowlton Gallery’s show titled Down by the Bay, which celebrates the complex beauty of the San Francisco Bay Area. “I thought it would be great to have a show that was landscape paintings of the Bay Area,” says gallery owner Robin Knowlton. “It’s one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world.”
The show runs from July 3 through August 25 and includes more than 35 new works in oil, watercolor, pastel, and photography. An opening reception is on July 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. Ten of the gallery’s artists are featured in the show: Randall Sexton, Kathleen Dunphy, Clark Mitchell, Timothy Horn, Kim Lordier, Carolyn Lord, Chuck Kovacic, Gil Dellinger, Roman Loranc, and Dennis Ziemienski. Each artist displays 3 to 4 works that depict their favorite Bay Area scenes, including at least one image of the Golden Gate Bridge. Knowlton says she’s especially excited about this group of artists because many live in the Bay Area and have an affinity for painting a variety of scenes in “their own backyard,” including areas that are “off the beaten path” or from different views that collectors may not have seen before.
Artist Kim Lordier grew up on the San Francisco Bay and says that while classic scenes of the Bay are an inspiration, her “heart resounds with the smells, light, and reflections of a more intimate view of the region’s marshlands.”
Southern California artist Chuck Kovacic also wanted “to venture outside of the iconic images” when creating works for the show. “I really wanted to investigate the hidden and overlooked areas that residents and tourists alike pass by without a second glance,” he says.
Beyond its iconic architecture and distinctive landscapes, the Bay Area is known for its characteristic cool winds and fog—a climate many artists find inspiring. “Painting the San Francisco Bay region is an adventure of ever-changing perspectives,” says pastel artist Clark Mitchell. “The views can be crisp, glorious, and richly colored on a clear day, or softened and tantalizingly obscured by the fog that never seems to be too far away.”
San Francisco artist Dennis Ziemien-ski expresses similar sentiments. “Having been born and raised down by the Bay, I feel that it is more than just a visual—it’s a feast for all the senses. The moist air creates diffuse light that is uniquely inspirational,” he says.
The Down by the Bay show captures the unique and complex beauty, history, and sense of place associated with the Bay Area that captivates both locals and tourists. “I can’t visit [San Francisco] without taking my paints and my sketchbook,” says Northern California artist Kathleen Dunphy. “It’s a magical city of contrasts—shimmering light and spectral fog, icons and hidden gems, manmade canyons cutting between towering buildings and expanses of breathtaking natural beauty.” —Lindsay Mitchell
contact information209.368.5123 www.knowltongallery.com
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