78th Annual SP Art & Photography
Show awards reception Saturday
March 18, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
The 78th Annual Santa Paula Art & Photography Show had barely gone up on the walls of Blanchard Community Library when two paintings were sold.
But those and other art works will stay up for the Santa Paula Society of the Arts (SPSA) sponsored show, the oldest such juried exhibit in the state whose winners will be revealed at the March 21 reception at the library, located at 119 N. 8th St.
Barry Cooper will entertain with his acclaimed jazz/blues guitar at the 3 to 7 p.m. reception that will also mark the end of voting for the Peoples Choice Award; art lovers will have until 5 p.m. sharp to turn in their vote for their favorite artwork.
But, noted Virginia Gunderson of the SPSA, voting is encouraged before the reception date to avoid the rush and to ensure the 6 p.m. awards ceremony gets off to a prompt start.
There are 262 paintings exhibited in the show: “It’s amazing how our reputation has grown and we have such fabulous entries from all over,” said Gunderson, whose late uncle Douglas Shively was one of the founders of the show in 1937.
“As Uncle Doug always used to say a rising tide raises all ships,” and the quality of the entries are reflective of the overall excellence the show is now famed for.
The Santa Paula Art — photography was later added — was founded by Shively, Jessie Arms Botke, Cornelius Botke … the show provided the works purchased by various entities including the city, chamber, library, school districts and later the hospital — that became the genesis of the famed Santa Paula Art Collection.
Judges for the 2015 exhibit are Joe Cibere and Christine Brennan for
Oils/Acrylics, Watercolor, Mixed Media/Graphics and Pastels and Stephen Schafer for Photography; the Juror was Rex Kochel. All are esteemed artists with a background suitable for the diverse entries.
Volunteers work on the show for months, first planning and then making sure all interested artists are aware of the schedule to submit works for pre-judging.
“The first night artists could bring works in was March 5,” when they were instructed to bring entries to the northern roll up door of the library.
Noted Gunderson, “We just finally closed the door and went out to our cars when a woman roared up in her car and said she was sorry she was late but she had driven in,” from northern Los Angeles County.
“We took her entry,” as volunteers did the next morning when a man showed up a half-hour early with his entry, apologizing that he was scheduled to lead a tour at the Getty.
“We had a fine crew accepting and hanging the artwork, they were extra special this year,” including a stint of duty on a day described by Gunderson as “beastly hot,” but all volunteers she noted, “Did a wonderful job!”
The entries, said Gunderson, “Come from everywhere and it was such a nice happy group of artists … we want everyone to be sure to come to the show, we have some exquisite pieces.”
The show is unusual because of the categories as well as the number of awards totaling more than $4,750. One Douglas Shively Award of Excellence Jury of Your Peers — open to show artists’ only — is awarded in each category; Judges/Founder Awards are sponsored by Limoneira Co. and Peoples Choice by the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce, SPSA, Bank of the Sierra and others. The Best of Show — the combined result of all judging categories — is sponsored by Santa Paula Chevrolet.
Gunderson encourages art lovers to shop the show: “For those who prefer original art many of the works are very reasonably priced and there are many subjects from which to choose,” ranging from watercolor, oils and photos to pastels, computer graphics, collages and pen and ink drawings.
“We have so much community spirit, so much support with donations and volunteers and from those that aren’t artists and just love art ... we’ve already gotten one patron,” member of the society, a non-artist who Gunderson said joined because they were so impressed with the display.
The exhibit will close April 8.
Blanchard Community Library is open Monday, Tuesday & Thursday noon to 8 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. except for the March 21 awards reception when the library will be open later.
