California Art Club to present exhibit at Autry April 1-22

The California Art Club will present its signature exhibition, the 101st Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, for the very first time at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles from April 1 to 22, 2012.


The highly anticipated display of more than 200 representational works of art is unthemed to encourage artist members of the Club to challenge themselves and significantly raise the bar with their art. The featured works in this year's event, selected for inclusion by a jury that included representatives for five major California museums, spotlight sculpture and paintings of genres ranging from pristine landscapes and grittier urbanscapes to figures and still lifes.


“The California Art Club is honored that the Autry National Center will present the 101st Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition, as the Center's dedication to sharing the stories and experiences of the people that have lived in the American West provides an ideal platform for documenting in artwork the Club's unique voice and vision in American art history,” said American artist Peter Adams, who has served as the organization's president since 1993.

The exhibiting artists include a number of renowned contemporary-traditional fine artists, who have been active in expanding the interest in the plein air heritage associated with the organization's beginnings in 1909. Among these artists are painters Peter Adams, John Cosby, Dennis Doheny, David C. Gallup, Steve Huston, Ray Roberts, and Mian Situ, as well as sculptors Béla Bácsi, Victor Riseau, and Christopher Slatoff.

During the exhibition, the California Art Club will present a number of events and educational programs that will enable art enthusiasts to meet the participating artists and learn more about traditional art forms. Information about these activities, which include the Artists' Gala Reception on Saturday, March 31, as well as a “Paint-Out/Sculpt-Out at the Autry” on the closing day for the exhibition, are detailed at www.californiaartclub.org.



Key Information for the 101st Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition

Exhibition Dates: April 1 to 22, 2012

Location: Autry National Center
4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462

Public Information: (626) 538-9009 or www.californiaartclub.org



Related Programs and Events:

Artists' Gala Reception - Saturday, March 31, 6 to 9 p.m.
Art enthusiasts can meet the exhibiting artists at this preview reception. Tickets are $75 in advance, $100 at the door, and include a copy of the exhibition catalogue. (626) 583-9009.

Figure Painting Demonstration with Steve Huston - Sunday, April 1, 1 to 3:30 p.m.
Gold Medal artist Steve Huston, best known for his iconic archetypes of both the masculine and feminine forms, will present a figure painting demonstration. Tickets are $20 for members and $25 for non-members (does not include museum admission). (626) 583-9009.

“When Fine Art Meets Moviemaking” Panel Discussion - Sunday, April 15, 1 to 3 p.m.
Gold Medal artist William Stout, whose credits include Jurassic Park and Pan's Labyrinth, will moderate this discussion, at which panelists will discuss the intersection of traditional fine arts and filmmaking. Panelist include Peter Brooke (Jim Henson's Creature Shop), Glen Eisner (Babylon 5, The Legend of Zorro), Ernesto Nemesio (Pixar), and Drew Struzan (Star Wars, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones)Tickets are $10 for members and $15 for non-members (does not include museum admission). (626) 583-9009

“Paint-Out/Sculpt-Out” at the Autry - Sunday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
California Art Club painters and sculptors will set-up the tools of their trade on the grounds of the Autry in Griffith Park to create new artwork featuring live models. Free.

Closing Tour and Membership Open House - Sunday, April 22, 3 to 5 p.m.
On the closing day of the exhibition, Gold Medal artists will lead tours and share insights on the artwork on view. Free with museum admission.


Digital images of artwork in the exhibition are available upon request.

Image Credits:
Left: Ray Roberts, Crashing Waves at Garrapata, Oil, 30" x 40"
Center: Casey Baugh, Autumn, Oil on canvas, 30" x 20"
Right: William Wray, Backdoor, Oil, 24" x 24"


About the California Art Club
The California Art Club (www.californiaartclub.org ), established in 1909 by early California Impressionists or plein air painters, is recognized as one of the oldest, largest and most active leading professional art organizations in the world. The mission of the Club, which is headquartered in Pasadena, Calif., is to promote traditional fine art in the fields of painting, drawing and sculpture; to produce and promote art exhibits that foster understanding and interpretation of traditional art heritage and California history; and to furnish educational opportunities in fine arts.

About the Autry National Center
The Autry National Center (www.theautry.org ) is an intercultural history center dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences, and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West. Located in Griffith Park, the Autry's collections include those of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian and the Autry Institute's two research libraries: the Braun Research Library and the Autry Library. Exhibitions, public programs, K-12 educational services, and publications are designed to examine critical issues of society, offering insights into solutions and the contemporary human condition through the Western historical experience.

Weekday hours of operation for the Autry National Center's museum at its Griffith Park location are Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday hours for the museum and the Autry Store are 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Museum admission is $10 for adults, $6 for students and seniors 60+, $4 for children ages 3-12, and free for Autry members, veterans, and children age 2 and under. Admission is free on the second Tuesday of every month.