'Pasadena - It's Aura' drawings by Russell Hobbs on exhibit April 1

The Blinn House Foundation and the Women’s City Club of Pasadena introduce “Pasadena – Its Aura” – an exhibition of artwork celebrating Pasadena’s historical landmarks. The exhibition features the unique and beautifully rendered pen and ink drawings of noted artist and architect, Russell Hobbs and runs from April 1 - June 30, 2012. A wine reception and fundraiser benefiting the Blinn House Foundation is scheduled for Saturday, April 21 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. and is designed to help kick-off National Preservation Month during May.



Accompanying Hobbs’ artwork will be narratives by local historians including Doctor Robert Winter, the first recipient of The Blinn House Foundation’s “Doctor Robert Winter Award”, Ann Scheid Lund, author of “Historic Pasadena, An Illustrated History,” Ted Bosley, Director of the Gamble House and author of books about architects Greene and Greene, Tim Gregory, the “Bungalow Biographer”, Romy Wylie, Architectural Historian of Caltech, John Ripley, the Historian of Bungalow Heaven, Sid Gally, local noted Pasadena Historian, and William Ellinger III, architect of the firm of Ellinger Architects and Associates. The historians will be on hand at the reception to answer questions, and speak about Hobbs’ work depicting local landmarks.

Mr. Hobbs, who served in both World War II and the Korean War, graduated from U.C. Berkeley with a B.A. in Architecture. He was a practicing architect for over fifty years and was responsible for the construction documents of approximately 500 buildings in the United States and in Canada. Hobbs work has been featured in brochures for events sponsored by the Blinn House, Bungalow Heaven Neighborhood Association (Home Tour), The Gamble House, local galleries, Gale’s Restaurant, and through the California Art Club.



The Blinn House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1905 for lumber baron Edmund Blinn and was designed by popular Chicago architect, George Washington Maher in the Midwestern Prairie School Style. The building has been home to the Women’s City Club since 1945 and continues to serve the Pasadena community as a meeting place for civic, cultural, and educational activities.

The “Pasadena – Its Aura” wine reception and fundraiser is Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. A $25 donation is requested to attend the reception. Reservations are required. The Blinn House is located at 160 N. Oakland Avenue in Pasadena, CA 91101. The website is www.womenscityclub.com. Free parking is available behind the building off Madison Avenue. Phone 626-796-0560 for reservations. The exhibit is open for viewing Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.