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E-mail StoryCamille Gavin: Patriotic art show to hold reception Friday
| Wednesday, May 7 2008 11:47 AM
Last Updated: Wednesday, May 7 2008 11:30 AM
It’s always interesting to see the different ways artists interpret a specific theme, and the Bakersfield Art Association’s “Patriotic Art Competition” is no exception.
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What: “Patriotic Art Competition” reception
When: 4-7 p.m. Friday
Where: East Hills Mall, 3000 Mall View Road
Admission: Free
Details: 872-2806
Photos:
“May Our Flag Wave” by Charlotte White
“For My Country” by Patti Doolittle
“Clown” by Bob Golden
“Served With Pride” by Karen King
As might be expected, the American flag is prominent in nearly all of the paintings and photographs, but it’s presented in a slightly different way in each.
“Home of the Brave,” a watercolor by Karen King, shows a blue-billed white cap and a pair of crisp white gloves resting on top of the Stars and Stripes.
“This painting is especially meaningful to me,” King says in her artist’s statement accompanying the painting. “I served as a WAVE in the U.S. Navy and the painting is a portion of my old uniform. As an enlisted person, I used to get goose bumps when I heard the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ played, and I saluted the flag. The uniform is gone now, but not the goose bumps.”
Patti Doolittle’s “For My Country” is a portrait of a helmeted U.S. Marine wearing a camouflage uniform; the butt of his upturned gun rests upon his thigh. In the background is a large flag, so faded that you get the idea it has spent too long under the hot desert sun. The model for the Marine is Cameron Lefler, a member of Doolittle’s family who served five years in Iraq.
Bob Crabtree’s “Air Show” is a stunning photograph of a formation of fighter planes streaming jet trails across a clear blue sky. Yet in the lower left corner can be seen a small flag attached to a wing of a plane that’s on the ground. Taken as a whole, it is impressive for both its sharpness and its simplicity.
Then there’s Charlotte White’s oil painting of the Bakersfield Fire Department’s ladder truck raising the Stars and Stripes to the top of the Fox Theater. It has a warm, hometown feeling that says a lot about Bakersfield.
In a more lighthearted vein is Bob Golden’s “Clown.” It depicts a happy-faced clown standing in front of a backdrop of white stars on a blue field as he doffs his red, white and blue top hat to the crowd.
In all, there are about 30 pieces in the exhibit and all of them will be on display through June 1. Winners will be announced at a reception Friday at the association’s Gallery of Art in East Hills Mall. Usual gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
TUBA SOLOIST
For the final concert of its 76th season, being held 8 p.m. Saturday at the theater at Rabobank Convention Center, the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, led by music director John Farrer, will feature tuba soloist Oystein Baadsvik.
Baadsvik is internationally known and is said to be the only tuba virtuoso to have devoted himself to a career exclusively as a soloist, rather than becoming a member of an orchestra or accepting a teaching post. He is scheduled to play a tuba concerto written by British composer Vaughan Williams. During the evening’s program the orchestra also will play compositions by Rossini, Delius, Elgar and Barber as well as Respighi’s “Pines of Rome.” For ticket information, call 323-7928.
NEW DOWNTOWN GALLERY
Mike and Tammy Niemann’s Underground Gallery and Studio at 1525 19th St. is the newest addition to the downtown arts district. It’s open for business now but will have a grand opening June 7, complete with refreshments and live musical entertainment.
At last week’s First Friday event, Niemann, a graphic designer, said the Underground’s main purpose is to provide a venue for individual artists to show and sell their work. He said wall space can be rented for $175 a month.
The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 395-1600.