September 13 - December 30, 2022

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California is a large and complicated place, where dreams are formed and sometimes realized, and where homelessness, want, and xenophobia remain. Stitching California: Fiber Artists Interpret the State’s People, Life, and Land, a travelling exhibition, showcases an exciting collection of art quilts that reflect the complexities of the Golden State. Viewers will enjoy a balanced show of beauty, originality, thought-provoking content, realistic and abstract imagery, and quality workmanship.

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Presenting a well-rounded picture of a complex state, Stitching California displays works from over 40 artists working in California and neighboring states today. Their dynamic offerings highlight the rich and varied California landscape, but also present us with darker themes such as the impacts of climate change and injustices faced by some of California’s populations across the centuries. Rendered in diverse ways, Stitching California’s 2D and 3D fiber works contain references to industry, economy, geography, and topography, and run the emotional gamut from hope to despair.

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Stitching California originated at the Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah, CA and is traveled through Exhibit Envoy in partnership with Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA).

California Dreaming
October 4, 2022 – January 21, 2023
 
 

The environment, people, economy, and mythology of California all provide rich subject matter for artists. In the call for this juried exhibition, artists were asked to explore their California dreams, how they see our state, with its promises past and present.  The resulting show has a wealth of imagery and interpretations of the theme.

55 works by 39 artists were selected from over 140 submissions. The exhibition includes paintings, photographs, prints, drawings, watercolors, mixed media, pastels, ceramics, glass, and fabric arts. Subjects range from our state’s iconic landscapes to more personal stories of growth, loss, struggle, and wonder.

Juror for the exhibition was Jonathan Bock an artist, business owner, and non-profit leader, with a lifetime passion for the arts.  Bock has a BFA degree in printmaking and art history from Indiana University and an MFA degree from California Institute of the Arts. He is owner of Williams Gallery West  and Stellar Gallery, both in Oakhurst, and in 2020, Bock founded Yosemite Gateway Art Center, dedicated to community involvement in the arts and cultural tourism.  He is president and founding director of Sierra Art Trails, dedicated to promoting artists and artisans in the Sierra Foothills, and serves as executive director of the Yosemite Renaissance, organization, dedicated to promoting the arts in Yosemite National Park and the California Sierra Nevada region

Awards

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Best of Show

Monique Wales, Eventide, reductive linocut relief print

Awards of Merit

Veronica Gross, Golden Gate Migration, watercolor

Nina Thomson, California Dreaming – Full Lakes, oil on canvas

Honorable Mentions

Susan Conner, California Beginnings 2022, photograph

David Dolan, pe-num-bral, photograph

Debra Drake, California Valley Ancestors, colored pencil

Jon Nichols, When Avocados & Corn Dream, collage & ink

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Artists included in the Exhibition:

Anna Barber, Ripon

Mel Beach, San Jose

Tommi Lou Carosella, Modesto

Susan Conner, Altaville

Katherine Crinklaw, Newman

David Dolan, Modesto

Debra Drake, Hughson

Jennifer Fosgate, Merced

Denie Fuller, Pleasant Hill

Barbara Gill, Modesto

Chella Gonsalves, Modesto

Veronica Gross, Los Gatos

Kate Jackson, Merced

Mary-Jane Kiskinen, Modesto

Jared Langley, Modesto

Larry Lew, Modesto

Lisa Livingston, Modesto

Loren Lukens, Merced

Catherine McLean, Modesto

Geneva Mello, Lodi

Denise Oyama Miller, Fremont

Jon Nichols, Turlock

Monica Ocegueda, Turlock

Darrell O’Sullivan, Galt

Michelle Park, Turlock

Lynn Sarraille, Turlock

Steven Showers, Oakdale

Sue Siefkin, Modetso

Kyle Silligman, Vernalis

Susan Slesinger, Seal Beach

Ileana Soto, San Leandro

Michael Souza, Turlock

Henrietta Sparkman, Modesto

J.C. Strote, Lodi

Jim Taylor, Coarsegold

Nina Thomson, Sacramento

Christopher Viney, Atwater

Monique Wales, Oakhurst

James Weber, Waterloo