Past events: 

 

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Now through March 1, 2010

"SCULPTURE IN THE GARDEN"

Special thanks to the City of Encinitas and the Mizel Family Foundation for making this exhibition possible.

San Diego Fine Art Society and San Diego Botanic Garden present an installation of artwork that experiments with the contribution context has to the meaning of art. By installing a diverse range of sculpture outdoors in the Garden, both the art and the garden are transformed.

This exhibition of 23 large outdoor works of art is a Phantom Gallery - a "gallery" exhibition of artwork for sale integrated temporarily into a non-gallery venue - in this case lovely botanical gardens. Proceeds from your purchase of the artwork in the exhibition fund the work of San Diego Fine Art Society and San Diego Botanic Garden, nonprofit, charitable organizataions.

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Forty percent (40%) of your sculpture purchase is a tax-deductible charitable contribution. If you have questions about a work of art in the exhibition, please call 858-205-4354.

Click here [1] to see coverage of last year's "Sculpture in the Gardens" exhibition on

Robert Verhees - "Lean on Me" (2009 Urban Tree) - $55,000

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE APRIL GAME AND ROBERT VERHEES INTERVIEWED BY BROOKE LANDAU ON SAN DIEGO CHANNEL 6 NEWS

 

 

 

Lia Strell [3] - "Triflow of truth" (2008 Urban Tree) - $30,000

CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW ARTISTS JAMES STONE, JOHN MCDAVID, LIA STRELL AND KATHRYN WEISS INTERVIEWED FOR SCULPTURE IN THE GARDENS 2008 FOR KUSI NEWS

Fred Briscoe [5] - "Ascent" - $10,000

 

Fred Briscoe [7] - "She Dreams Her World"

Frank Mando - "Pele - Goddess of Fire" - $10,000

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James Stone [11] - "Sheephead - Size does matter" - $15,000

 

James Stone [12] - "Tropical Sea Life Garden Bench" - $10,000

 

Charles Bronson [13] - "Ocean's Breath" - SOLD

Charles Bronson - "Blu"

Ilona Passino [14] - "Courage" - $12,000

 

Melissa Ralston - "Blessing Tree" (2009 Urban Tree)

 

Ken Smith - "WorldWind"

 

Benjamin Lavender [15] - "Second Century" -$7,200

 

Pat Cranor [16] - "Tree for all Seasons"(2009 Urban Tree)- $8,000

 

 

John Dole - "Spire"

 

John Dole "Mastaba"

 

Mike Tauber - "Koi pond"

 

 

 

Rae Barney [17] - "Wisdom's Strength" - $17,000

 

Carolyn Guerra - "Native Spirit"

 

Carolyn Guerra - "Indecision Emptiness"

 

Carolyn Guerra - "Something's Fishy Around Here"

 

Carolyn Guerra - "We've all had a hand in"

For lovers of gardens and of nature, there are few places more magical than San Diego Botanic Garden [18] (formerly Quail Botanical Gardens) in Encinitas: a 35 acres of flowers, trees, waterfalls, lily ponds and a rich selection of succulentsand California native plants, all on rolling, immaculately well cared forgrounds. For lovers of art - San Diego is a rich repository of quality if somewhat obscure regional artists and art works waiting for key exhibitions to bring them together and to light. San Diego Fine Art Society focuses exclusively on the promotion and support of San Diego's regional fine artists - and the sculpture on display at San Diego Botanic Garden is a showcase of some of our best.

One of the aspects of the "Sculpture in the Garden" exhibition that I find most dazzling and fun is the element of serendipity that contributes to the show's success. The art takes on a totally different life in its new context than it had in the sculptor's home or studio, the Embarcadero, or at the gallery it originated from. In a garden it echoes the shapes and colors of plants around it. If well placed, it takes on a sense of place, and the new context gives new meaning that the artwork didn't have before.

For the Urban Trees, the large outdoor works alongthe Embarcadero at the Port of San Diego, the work is dramatically transformed. The leafy, calm, undulating setting of the Garden is a strong contrast to the urban sea-side setting of downtown. Installing the exhibition Garden staff and volunteers all expressed amazement as the artwork changed before our eyes once settled into its new context.

The Garden also takes on a meaning. Plant colors and shapes are echoed in the artwork and leap forward where before the same plants and trees may have been all-but invisible. We stop to look at the sculpture, and are aware of the setting, the sweeping line of bamboo trees behind the "Blessing Tree", the spiny agave near the spectacular "Lean on me" with its blown-glass anemone-like elements, or the red bromeliads leaping to life around the base of the mighty red-gold "Triflow of truth." Enriched by the inclusion of sculpture fuse with the art into one perception, one song of two voices, and both are temporarily transformed.

"Sculpture in the Garden" is a Phantom Gallery - a temporary art gallery in a non-gallery venue: in this case, a public garden. All of the sculpture in the exhibition is available for sale and will entice the savvy home owner, landscape architect, interior designer, garden aficionado or art lover to fuse their interests in the same way the Garden has, and bring artwork home to enhance one's own "lifescape."

Last year, all of the art that was sold went to people who had significant gardens of their own - making the success of the exhibition all the more satisfying. We had the opportunity to bring the wonder and magic of art that works so well at Quail to the individual, helping them create "cross-pollenated" gardens, as it were, and we are privileged to see the artwork transform again as it left the Garden and entered yet another new context - and new meaning. A trustee expressed to me last year (to paraphrase) "Its a misunderstanding that people grow gardens- gardens grow people." It is our hope that when you experience “Sculpture in the Garden” you will feel the same way.

The exhibition is on view from September 12, 2009 –March 1, 2010 "Sculpture in the Garden" Group Tours

San Diego Fine Art Society will be offering group tours of the exhibition by appointment Monday through Friday during normal San Diego Botanic Garden Hours. A docent will be leading groups of 12 - 25 through the Gardens, stopping at each sculpture and bringing them to life for you and your group. Bring a camera and some comfortable shoes and get ready for a delightful one-hour journey through the exhibition. Cost: $20 seniors, children and students, $25 for adults. For information call Carol, tour coordinator at (858) 805-5301.

Garden Hours
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, except Christmas and New Years Day.

Click here [19] view the KUSI "Good Morning San Diego" interview with April Game and artists John McDavid, James Stone, Lia Strell and Kathryn Weiss from 2008's "Sculpture in the Gardens" exhibition. Special thanks to Lia Strell who edited the KUSI interview footage.

 

 

 

SDFAS welcomes best-selling author Susan Vreeland to our Fall salon

SDFAS October Salon: La Vie Parisienne!

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

4:00 - 6:00pm

With her richly textured novels, Susan Vreeland has offered pioneering portraits of artists’ lives. Now, as she did in Girl in Hyacinth Blue, Vreeland once again focuses on a single painting—Auguste Renoir’s instantly recognizable masterpiece, which depicts a gathering of Renoir’s real friends enjoying a summer Sunday on a café terrace along the Seine. Narrated by Renoir and seven of the models, the novel illuminates the gusto, hedonism, and art of the era. With a gorgeous palette of vibrant, captivating characters, Vreeland paints their lives, loves, losses, and triumphs so vividly that “the painting literally comes alive” (The Boston Globe).

Join SDFAS in welcoming author Susan Vreeland for a reading and discussion of her New York Times bestselling book Luncheon of the Boating Party. Ms. Vreeland will be reading from her well reviewed and beautifully researched historical novel, entertaining us with anecdotes and a rich slide show, answering questions and joining SDFAS members and guests in conversation, and signing her book.

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 Lost + Found: The Prodigal Son in Art

Collectors Club Lecture and Juried Exhibition

May 3, 2009 from 5:00 - 7:00pm

$25 Members / $40 Non-Members

Planet Rooth Studio Gallery: 3811 Ray Street, San Diego 92104 [21]

 

 

Join SDFAS and lecturer Ann Hoehn for a fascinating and rich lectureabout how the Parable of the Prodigal Son has been depicted in art fromthe 15th century to the present, including a juried exhibition by SanDiego artists exploring this theme.

Collectors Club Lecture and Juried Exhibition

About the lecture:

InChristian tradition, during Lent, the Parable of the Return of theProdigal Son is typically read on the third Sunday. It is Christ' mostbeloved parable, a parable of God's mercy and human mercy, as relevanttoday as 2000 years ago. Artists through the centuries have depictedvarious aspects of it for various reasons, as simply a commission, orfor cultural and personal reasons. Join the San Diego Fine ArtSociety's Collectors Club and delve into images from 15th Italian andNorthern European Renaissance to to 20th century Europe - from ColonialAmerica to contemporary African, Indian, and British images toilluminate how artists have portrayed the parable across time andacross cultures.

While the lectureand exhibition are ostensibly about the Christian parable, it is, moreimportantly, an opportunity to explore the emotional issues of filiallove, jealousy, forgiveness, loyalty, fairness and unfairness...universal themes that transcend religion and are truly about the humanexperience. Can we look at this story in terms of human beings beingthe prodigal sons of the earth, for instance? Join us and see howContemporary San Diego artists deal with these powerful and universalthemes.

About our lecturer:

Betty Anne Hoehn is a memberof the San Diego Fine Art Society and has served for five years asAdjunct Art History Professor at University of San Diego and two yearsas Curator of Education at the Timken Museum. She has been involved invarious aspects of museum field in San Diego for 20 years, and is nowguest lecturer throughout the San Diego community on Art and theChurch, as well as guest lecturer for Cathedral High School. Shereceived her Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College and her Mastersdegrees from the University of Memphis, both in Art History.

About our gallery partner:

Planet RoothGallery is located in San Diego, California in the heart of NorthPark's Arts and Culture District, the studio/gallery is on well knownRay Street. Ray Street is home to many artisan studios as well asarchitect and interior design firms. Once a month, the arts andcultural event "Ray at Night", founded by Gustaf of Planet Rooth andKen Callaway of North Park Studios, draws an estimated 1,200 people tothe open house event. Hosted the second Saturday of every month, theevent took root in September 2001, and is continuing. Planet Roothhouses a fine arts gallery, music studio, as well as the studios whereGustaf Rooth, master craftsman/owner, and Anjela Picard, gallerymanager, spend their days providing and hosting fine arts for thecommunity.

Tickets are $25 for members - $40 for non-members

For tickets or information call (858) 205-4354

COMING SOON:

RAYAT NIGHT MAY 9th: PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS FOR "LOST + FOUND" - CO-HOSTEDBY CITY BEAT! ENJOY RAY AT NIGHT, VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE PIECE AND LETYOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

 

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Rich Hawk and Ansley Pye - featured SDFAS artists at Mission Federal ArtWalk

April 25-26

 

Please join SDFAS at the 25th Anniversary of Little Italy's MissionFederal ArtWalk. We will be featuring the work of artist Rich Hawk atbooth #504. See more of Rich Hawk's work at Hawkstudio.com. [22]Our SDFAS has sponsored a limited edition print, "The Swimmer" (below)signed by the artist. Two of these prints will be available artArtWalk!

"The Swimmer", oil on canvas by artist Rich Hawk, booth #504

Don't miss the work of up and coming artist Ansley Pye at SDFAS ArtWalkbooth #527. SDFAS has sponsored a limited edition giclee of herintriguing oil on canvas painting "Garden Wizard" (below).  Two ofthese prints will be available at ArtWalk! Learn more about AnsleyPye's work at Daemonstudio.com.  [23]

 

SDFAS would like to thank artist Kate McCavitt for donating booth #504to the Society. Kate's Asian-inspired mulit-media paintings can befound at the Art and Framing Gallery in Coronado. Click here to learn more about the art of Kate McCavitt. [24]

We are would also like to express our appreciation to artist AnitaLewis, who donated booth #527 was donated to SDFAS. Anita's abstractpaintings can be found at Monarch Gallery in La Jolla. Click here to learn more information about Anita Lewis. [25]

 

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