California Heritage Museum – One Man’s Passion

This was my second visit to the Watercolors: One Man’s Passion, Selections from the E. Gene Crain Collection​ exhibit at the California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica.

The museum, as its name suggests, celebrates the history and culture of California.

This Victorian house was moved from another location in Santa Monica for a second life as a museum. Otherwise it would have been demolished. Don’t you love stories like this?

A friend suggested a visit to the watercolor exhibit a few weeks ago and I thought, why not? I love all kinds of art. I was totally blown away by the paintings.

So I proposed the exhibit as the September activity for the Culver City Art Group.

We were not allowed to photograph in the art gallery upstairs. So these photos are of the downstairs which is furnished in the Monterey style.

I am a big fan of ceramic tiles. This table is decorated with California Poppies, the official state flower, Eschscholzia Californica.

The downstairs is decorated with Monterey style furniture and ceramics from various California factories.

I salivate over ceramic tiles. I don’t know why. But when I see decorative tiles I make a beeline for them.

Meyers Pottery: Rainbow Pottery. I think this was from the 50s… not sure… but it’s worth a fortune today.

California Mission.

The founders of Santa Monica. Colonel Robert S. Baker and U.S. Senator John P. Jones. In the middle, the house that became the museum.

We were not allowed to photograph the watercolors in the upstairs gallery. You’ll just have to take my word for it that they are spectacular. Artists included Rex Brandt, Phil Dike, Phil Paradise, Millard Sheets, Robert E. Wood and Milford Zornes.

We were told it is possible (but not certain) that some more paintings from the collection might be on view later in the year. If so, you can be sure I will be there!

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

Help save Rivers of the World Mural

This mural is at the entrance to the Ballona Creek bikepath on Duquesne Avenue, Culver City, a couple of blocks from my house. It was originally spearheaded by Lori Escalara, who was the founder and first president of the Culver City Art Group.

The mural represents the rivers of the Amazon, Ganges, Yangtze, Nile, Mississippi, Merced and Los Angeles.

The public is invited to come and help with the restoration from April 16 – 20, 2015. You will be provided with brushes, paint, guidance… and snacks and drinks. Bring a hat, sunglasses and sun protection.

Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment or I would be out there with a paint brush and taking photos of the progress. But I will take photos of the finished project and post them on this blog.

In the meantime, these are the photos I took today so you can see what it looks like currently. It is partly painted and partly tiled.

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As it is installed on a gentle slope I have seen skateboarders out there doing their best to destroy it. Nothing is sacred to them.

Entrance to the bike path with wrought iron designed by Brett Goldstone.

For more info the Facebook page is at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/124480450908112/

From Facebook:
A Los Angeles County Prop A Mural created in 1998 is in dire need of attention from the ravages of time. This group will be committed to the Mural’s renovation targeted for 2015 and seeks to support the community efforts towards the Mural’s improvement and future. The mural was originally created under the co sponsorship of Culver City and Ballona Creek Renaissance (BCR) 501c3 under a grant from L.A. County. It employed three artists Lori Escalera, Lucy Blake Elahi, David Fairrington and approximately 20 students. It involved a multitude of volunteers!

Rivers of the World” Mural (ROW) is located at Duquesne on the bike path access ramp to the north side of the Ballona Creek. In 1998, a competitive grant by Los Angeles County Proposition A fund final cycle was offered, and was applied for by Culver City at the request of Ballona Creek Renaissance (BCR) a 501C3 organization. The project was implemented and directed by BCR, endorsed by the Culver City Unified School District and completed in 2000 by artists, employing 9 – 12th grade CPHS students, and the talents of community volunteers.

The acrylic and tile painted mural consists 214 linear feet of ceramic mosaic, painted tiles, and acrylic paint. There is 700 square feet of paint and 700 square feet of hand-painted glazed ceramic. Approximately thirty youth taken from Culver Park Alternative High School, of middle school and high school age participated on the nine-month project. As part of the process the artists went into the classroom to mentor a vocational mural project experience. This means the students were engaged in the design, production, development and completion phases of the project. They learned how to draw thumbnail designs, grid mural layout from paper to wall, hand paint, glaze and fire tiles, hand-make and apply custom mosaic, used professional quality products and met stringent obligations as “employees” of the project. The students were paid for their work at the wall. Not only did they paint, they installed tile alongside professional contractors!

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins unless otherwise noted. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

Feline Friday – #6 – the colors of spring cat tiles

Colors of Spring tile tryptich approx 14″ x 6″ (35.5 x 15cm). Glazed, kiln-fired ceramic tiles. roslyn m wilkins

For more information, see my blog post at Hot Out of the Kiln.

All photos, designs and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and link to One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

Culver City Art Group 18th Annual Holiday Art Show

 

Yes, it’s that time of year again when the members of the Culver City Art Group put on our annual art exhibit.

So far I have five 16″x 20″ photos to exhibit and zero ceramic tiles. So I’m taking a break from tour guiding (except for one or two that I already committed to) and I have to get busy painting those tiles.

This will be my first year exhibiting photographs as part of my repertoire so I am excited… and nervous… about that.

I have a lot of ideas swimming around in my head for those tiles but I have not had… or made… the time for any painting since one whole year ago. Aaaarggghhhh… how can that be?

As soon as have those tiles out of the kiln I will be posting them at Hot Out of the Kiln and hopefully updating my website at www.RMWceramics.com.

I need a clone. In fact, I need a six pack of clones!

Hope you are packing those suitcases now to come visit our art show! And bring your dollars for our raffle! Our organization is not for profit so the raffle helps us to cover our expenses for the show and gives you the chance to walk away with a nice prize.

Please click on all the photos for a larger view.

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, either give full credit to myself and One Good Life in Los Angeles, or contact us for proper usage. Thanks!

 

One Good Life in Los Angeles takes on the world – cat in the Plaka area, Athens

Our last night in Athens I took one look back at the Plaka area as we walked back to our hotel.

This cat sitting in the doorway, the twin of my Tuxedo cat Friday, seemed to be bidding us farewell. Or maybe he was just waiting for dinner.

Wikipedia has a good description of the Plaka: Pláka (Greek: Πλάκα) is the old historical neighborhood of Athens, clustered around the northern and eastern slopes of the Acropolis, and incorporating labyrinthine streets and neoclassical architecture. Plaka is built on top of the residential areas of the ancient town of Athens. It is known as the “Neighbourhood of the Gods” due to its proximity to the Acropolis and its many archaeological sites.

One of my hobbies is painting kiln-fired ceramic tiles. This scene inspired me to paint a tile in my “Places” series.

All photos and content copyright roslyn m wilkins. Please feel free to pass along this post via email or social media, but if you wish to use some of our images or text outside of the context of this blog, please check with us first for proper usage. Thanks!