Artist’s Choice Exhibition
August 6 – August 31, 2024
Exhibition Chair — Lawrence D. Rodgers
Montrose, California
Artist’s Reception Saturday, August 10, 2024
To view this artwork online please visit https://issuu.com/pasadenasocietyofartists This catalog is available for purchase from Blurb.com
Artists represented on the cover:
Top : Liz Crimzon, R. Rene Hoffman
Artwork appears courtesy of PSA members. Copyrights held by the artists. All rights reserved.
Center: Tommy Lei, Mariko Bird, Kathleen Swaydan
Bottom: Lore Eckeberry, Mims Ellis, Marion Dies
President’s Message
It is my pleasure to introduce the 2024 Artist’s Choice Exhibition (ACE). Fifty PSA artists have entered their best work for display at Whites Fine Art Gallery in Montrose, California. Members submitted a wide range of media, from traditional painting to ceramics, collage, photography, sculpture and more. It is especially great to see so many new members submitting their art for this exhibition. ACE will be a spectacular in-person exhibition thanks to the hard work of our artist members, the Exhibition Committee, and all others involved.
The Artist’s Choice Exhibition was first presented 15 years ago in 2009. The initial exhibition was at the Citibank Art Space in the Silver Lake district of Los Angeles. I know many of you were there. It was a great, cavernous space perfect for exhibitions, if a little far from home. Over the years this exhibition has evolved with the venue. The space at Whites Gallery is well known to our artists and provides a beautiful place for showcasing our members’ work.
Artfully yours,
Kathleen Swaydan President Pasadena Society of Artists
Exhibition Chairman’s Welcome
Welcome to the 2024 PSA Artist’s Choice Exhibition. PSA initiated this style of exhibition in 2009 to allow every member of PSA to act as their own juror when selecting artwork to be displayed. Since then many of the Artists’ Choice Exhibitions have presented close to or more than 100 new and exciting artworks. Our members look forward to this opportunity to present work that they may not always offer for the traditional juried exhibitions.
We hope you will enjoy viewing all of the artwork. This exhibition, like all PSA exhibitions, is installed by a large group of volunteers working together to present the artwork in the best way. Sometimes this involves some very animated discussions about which piece goes with which piece. The end result is always a spectacular-appearing art gallery filled with great artwork.
PSA wishes to thank Whites Fine Art Gallery for its continuing support of our ongoing exhibition activities.
We hope you enjoy your visit to the gallery.
Lawrence D. Rodgers Exhibition Chair Pasadena Society of Artists
This Artist’s Choice Exhibition catalog is available for purchase. Visit www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org for the direct link to order from Blurb.
Directory of Artists
2024 Pasadena Society of
www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of Immigrants
Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin
My painting is in the Mexican tradition of narrative surrealism. I tell a story of the daily struggle of Mexicans who attempt the dangerous journey to cross the border to “El Norte.” A Mexican, the man, dies at the river’s edge at the border. He becomes a bird, then an angel, and then he reaches the city of Los Angeles at the LA River. Our Lady of Guadalupe guides his spirit.
Acrylic on Canvas 22" x 28" $600
Watercolors and Ink on Cotton Paper 20" x 16" $650
This ethereal, delicate art piece is inspired by my many trips to the Japanese Garden at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino. I imagine myself in a dreamy state of bliss floating with the water lilies and koi, as I become one with them.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Koi Woman
Julianna Aparicio-Curtis
Watercolors and Ink & Pen 20" x 16" $725
Magnolia is fragile in her delicate skin. She sits stoically under her tree, enveloped in the sadness of a memory that trickles slowly into her brain. The diaphanous leaves wrap around her head like a crown of comfort and hope.
Magnolia in Amber
Julianna Aparicio-Curtis
This mixed-media piece was completed in response to a workshop taught by Walter Nottingham, a well-known textile artist. His message was that our choice of materials is as essential as the image is in conveying our ideas. This piece was done at a very difficult time in my life when my responsibilities were the priority, and it was difficult to focus on my artwork. In image, choice of materials, and text, it reflects the anger and loss that I felt, as well as an evolution to more hopeful works.
8 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Everyday Has a Text
MariBeth Baloga
Wire, Colored Xerox, Thread, Colored Pencil 15" x 8.63" $750
Wire, Colored Xerox, Thread, Colored Pencil 8.5" x 8" $600
There is tremendous energy and movement in the loose threads, knots and seemingly random stitching on the back of an embroidered fabric, even an air of carelessness. However, there is a distinct structure and rhythm on the back that is the skeleton and essence of the image on the front. Joining a fabric from the back of the embroidery with a color Xerox of the same suggests that the two-dimensional image actually exists in a more substantial way. There is some irony in trying to create an image of something ancient with modern technology.
Sumerian Girdle
MariBeth Baloga
Listening
Cyndi Bemel
Photography 19" x 13" $555
Encounters on the street appear and disappear. Images are blurred and become a memory, slowly turning into a blank canvas. When night falls, the hum simmers; only then can the real heartbeat of the city reveal itself.
“Silence is how we catch our breath.” - Julia Cameron
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Photography 19" x 13" $555
There are always new opportunities for those willing to delve into the darkness. Light can only shine when there is darkness. It’s not a wonder that the two can coexist and interact in harmony.
“First you must lose yourself. Then it happens.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson
Standing Tall Cyndi Bemel
Aftermath
Barbara Lai Bennett
Mixed-Media Collage: Laser Print Transfer on Silk Organza, Watercolor, Thread, Pencil, Crayon on Vellum 21" x 30" $1,200
This is a mixed-media collage on polyester vellum that I finished in 2023. I transferred color laser prints onto silk organza, cut the silk and vellum, and pieced them together using stitching and adhesive. I also used watercolor, pencil and crayon. Like my other piece in the show, “Lotus Swirl 2,” “Aftermath” is about new growth or regrowth. I first thought about how a forest sometimes will regenerate after a devastating fire, sending new shoots up from a scorched landscape. And then I thought about the fire in Lahaina, Maui, and the banyan tree which survived and is leafing out, a hopeful sign of healing. The yellow/gold floral shape superimposed on the surface is a symbol of hope for regeneration from natural or human-caused disasters. I wish for the beauty of new growth to blossom in their aftermath.
12 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Lotus Swirl 2
Barbara Lai Bennett
Collage on Canvas: Color Laser-Printed Polyester Vellum, Acrylic, Pencil, 22" x 28" $1,100
This collage was made in 2005. Eighteen years later I made my other mixed-media piece called “Aftermath.” Visually they are very different, but certain similarities like coloration and choice of material stand out. In both pieces I collaged polyester vellum referencing sewing techniques, such as quilting in this one and stitching in “Aftermath.” In this older one I enlarged photos of my paint palette, made color laser prints of them on the vellum and arranged similar-sized pieces to make the “quilt.” Additional lines and shapes were added with acrylic paint and pencil.
Lotus plants start in muddy water, then send their beautiful flowers to open above the surface. At night they close up and sink back into the water and reemerge with the next day’s sun. It’s easy to see why they’re a symbol of regeneration and regrowth after a dark period, hope after despair.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Forest spirits are born in the depth of the woods and start moving upward in a spiral motion, constantly filling the space. This vase is my attempt to represent an essence of energy that heals and grows all living things.
Forest Spirit
Mariko Bird
High-Fired Clay 8" x 7" x 7" $370
V is for a voice that is waiting to be heard and this vase is full of them: Voices that are silenced, voices that are manipulated away from the truth… While I was cutting these V-shapes into the clay, I hoped to make these voices visible -- so they can be heard, perhaps? I used a glaze inside and decorated the outside with engobes.
V Vase
Mariko Bird
High-Fired Clay 15" x 6" x 6" $470
Butterflies Emerging
Katy Bishop
Alcohol Ink Reverse Painting on Plexiglass 12" x 12" $475
In creating this piece, I dove into the ephemeral beauty of transformation. I chose vibrant inks to capture the fleeting and delicate essence of blossoming emotions. The fluid and mingling colors represent the intertwining of struggle, growth, and ultimate emergence that reflects life’s perpetual flux. This artwork embodies the raw, evocative energy of expressionism and the non-conformity of abstraction and aims to inspire a sense of renewal and possibility in your space.
16 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Pansies
Katy Bishop
Alcohol Ink Reverse Painting on Plexiglass 36" x 24" $2,500
In this artwork, I used ink to explore the fluidity and organic nature of emotions through an abstract and expressionist lens. The delicate interplay of yellow hues invites the viewer to interpret their personal connections to growth and serenity. This piece aims to bring a calming, reflective energy into any space, enhancing the surroundings with its gentle but poignant presence.
And It’s Beside Her That I Rest
Acrylic, Colored Pencil & Ink on Paper 15" x 20" $2,000
This mixed-media piece, combining acrylic and colored pencil on paper, presents a visually rich tableau set against a backdrop of deeply hued mountains and vibrant banana leaves. At the heart of this composition lies the solitary figure of a woman lying on her side across the expanse of the paper. Her expression is solemn and penetrating, as if gazing directly into the viewer’s soul. The color and form choices create a scene that is both serene and intensely emotional, inviting viewers into a moment of profound introspection and connection.
18 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Anya Cherrice
Reflections in Nature
Anya Cherrice
Acrylic, Colored Pencil & Ink on Paper 15" x 20" $2,000
This mixed-media creation merges acrylic and colored pencil on paper and is intended to challenge and captivate the viewer’s perspective. “Reflections in Nature” presents a mirrored composition of two women, one on each side of the canvas, in profile from face to stomach and enveloped in an array of leaves, blurring the lines between top and bottom, reflection and reality. With this work, I play with the concept of reflection—both as a physical phenomenon and the act of contemplation within nature. This piece invites viewers to engage with the dual meanings of reflection, emphasizing the deep, introspective connection we share with the natural world
this artist can be found on page 95.
Marilyn of My Dreams
Chuka Susan Chesney
Mixed Media including Pen & Ink, Watercolor and Acrylic 20" x 14" $500
I painted Marilyn Monroe with highlights and lowlights on her skin. Then I did something different than usual: I painted most of the rest of her skin a medium gray with acrylic paint. I think she looks like a rain puddle with a little bit of light, maybe from a streetlamp shining on her. I also played around with the thickness of the line. Some of the lines are bold brushstrokes and some are made with a crow quill pen. The crow quill allows the artist to push a little harder and make the line thicker or not push and make the line thinner. This technique can help to make an object recede in the background or surge forward toward the viewer. I used the thick and thin lines to interpret form in Marilyn’s left shoulder and her fingers.
20 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
My Favorite Marilyn Chuka Susan Chesney
Mixed Media including Pen & Ink, Watercolor and Acrylic 20" x 14" $500
I have painted over 100 Marilyn Monroes. This particular Marilyn is one of my favorites because I love how powerful she looks. The thick brush strokes around her hair and shoulders make a bold statement. Her powerful shoulders depict her strength. Marilyn Monroe was a talented actress who started her own production company. When I first started painting Marilyns on a bungalow bed, I had no idea why I was doing it. But then during the pandemic, I had long conversations with my Nanny. She told me my mom was very ill when I was a baby and spent a lot of time in bed. She couldn’t take care of me. Eventually she got much better and lived to be 95 years old.
21 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Beach at Fort Worden
Liz Crimzon
Original Digital Photograph 11.24" x 15" $175
This image was taken while I was attending the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival – a week-long event that is held annually in Port Townsend, Washington. Housing for the festival is located inside the barracks of Fort Worden, an historic Army base that was active during both WWI and WWII. The barracks are a short walking distance from Fort Worden Historical State Park, so I took the opportunity to explore the beach during a break between events. As I sat on the beach watching the scene, the nighttime fog rolled in across the ocean and began to engulf the pier. I snapped the photograph at the moment when the seagulls took flight, as the sun was setting on the end of the gray, murky day.
22 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Mangrove Trees in Oyster Bed, Guinea-Bissau
Liz Crimzon
Original Digital Photograph 11.25" x 15" $175
A DNA test traced my mother’s side of the family to Guinea-Bissau, a small country in West Africa that was formerly a Portuguese slave-trading colony. After the test, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to join two other people who planned to visit my ancestral homeland. During our visit, we donated and helped to raise enough money to build a new school and a medical facility, and to also dig a well for the village of Djati. After our celebration in Djati, we spent the night in a hotel located on the bank of the Rio Grande de Buba, a 34-mile-long estuary that empties into the Atlantic Ocean. In the morning, I walked along the bank, and had my first encounter with this stand of mangrove trees growing out of a large oyster bed. I found them very unusual and beautiful.
23 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
This is the moment we rode through the ceiling of a fog bank and emerged into the morning sun. The golden grass glowed brilliantly over the still misty embankment. It was an unforgettable experience from the back of a motorcycle thirty-some years ago in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Northern California.
24 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Misty Morning
Jean Cunningham
Acrylic on Canvas 12" x 12" $600
Outcropping
This small painting started with a thick layer of molding paste applied with my favorite round-headed palette knife. The crisscrossing arcs created a wonderful textured surface on which to apply layers of color. Allowing myself to be unusually spontaneous, the painting evolved into a landscape that evokes a clump of grass emerging from an outcropping in the mist.
Jean Cunningham
Acrylic on Canvas 12" x 12" $600
Mystic Connection
Acrylics mixed with Inks, Mediums, Collage, Aquarelle 48" x 60" $8,995
The “Mystic Series” is an exploration of the profound interplay between markings and colors, creating organic imagery that resonates on multiple levels. Each painting—”Connection,” “Whispers,” “New Dawn,” and “Romantica”—invites the viewer into a unique visual narrative. Through layered markings, I delve into themes of interconnectedness, subtle communication, renewal, and romanticism. The hues blend seamlessly, reflecting the complexity and beauty of our natural and emotional landscapes. This series is a testament to the intricate dance of color and form, revealing the hidden layers of meaning and connection within our world. Through these works, I aim to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation, encouraging viewers to uncover the deeper stories within the art.
26 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Adeola Davies-Aiyeloja
Spiritual Devotion #3
Digital Assemblage 36" x 24" $1,395
“Spiritual Devotion #3” is a digital assemblage that immerses the viewer in the lush, verdant embrace of nature. Using a palette of vibrant greens, this piece evokes a sense of tranquility and deep connection to the earth. The layers of foliage and organic forms intertwine, symbolizing the harmonious relationship between spirituality and the natural world. This artwork invites you to pause, reflect, and find solace in the serene beauty of nature’s devotion.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Adeola Davies-Aiyeloja
Branch
Karen Duckles
This painting is from my “Life Force” series, which has botanical forms as the subject. Here, I’ve used oil paint thinned to an inklike consistency. I’ve applied this paint with a palette knife, using a gestural style that imparts immediacy. I feel that this gives the painting a sense of life, and I enjoy the process of interacting with the unexpected effects that occur.
Oil on Canvas 30" x 20" $1,000
This painting is from a series called “Life Force,” which consists of abstract botanical forms. To impart a sense of energy and vitality, I use an energetic gestural paint application. I’m embracing the accidental and surprising effects created by the use of a very large palette knife. I enjoy interacting with these unexpected paint effects, as they cause the painting to take twists and turns around the original idea, and keep the process fresh.
Yellow Flower #3
Karen Duckles
Oil on Canvas 30" x 30" $3,000
Alex in the News
Lore Eckelberry
Mixed Media on Canvas 36" x 24" $1,200
Alex is from Oaxaca, Mexico, and loves dressing in a traditional way. She is so proud of her State of Oaxaca, which she promotes a lot. Alex is constantly on the news. Love for country, state, and traditions is very strong with Oaxacans.
I find inspiration in my travels, and I love painting people and their traditions. I am inspired by the strong colors in their outfits and the decorations that they use in their hair. I am a mixed-media painter and I love painting on different surfaces such as skateboard decks, vinyl records, Japanese paper, and canvases. I usually collage with old paper and then paint a portrait on top. In this case I kept it simple, I painted with acrylic on canvas and let the colors speak for themselves.
30 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Cristy is a lawyer who loves to help people build a new life and a bright future. She has a big heart and pays the city fees herself to help people who have very little income. She is the light of hope for many people.
Cristy in Blue Lore Eckelberry
Acrylic on Canvas 24" x 20" $1,200
Feeding Frenzy
Martin Ehrlich
on Aluminum 12" x 36" $225
This sea jelly or jellyfish (as it is so commonly misnamed) is floating in a sea of plankton, sating its appetite. Tentacles with their tiny but numerous stingers are grabbing everything within reach. In the background is a rainbow anomaly created by the light splitting into a rainbow as it angles through the water.
32 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Photograph
Martin Ehrlich
Translucent jellies mirror the light sifting through the kelp forest above. The color is reminiscent of the uranium glass of the 1880s through the 1920s. There is an ethereal, otherworldly glow to these delicate creatures of the sea as they pulse their way through the calm clear waters.
Iridescent Jellies
Photograph on Aluminum 20" x 16" $225
I have been experimenting with various forms for a teapot. I decided to abandon the familiar round shape to see what I could do with a rectangular shape. This piece started as a slab of clay which I stamped with an all-over texture. I also added small feet to raise it off the table. But where the real magic happened was in the glazing process! I dipped it in only one glaze, a Shino, that changes color as it “breaks” or flows over the high and low points of textures.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Golden Teapot Mims Ellis
Ceramic 8" x 7" x 5" $175
I have used the form of a large shallow bowl many times. It allows me to glaze it in one of my favorite styles, such as landscapes. But this bowl is different. I first dipped it in the underlying white glaze. Then I took a medium flat-tipped paintbrush and dabbed the turquoise over the white in a circular pattern. I did this three times in order for the turquoise glaze to stand out. And finally, where there are hints of red, I dabbed another glaze over the turquoise… but not red! It was a type of clear glaze that turns red when it interacts with green glazes. Glazing is all about chemistry!
The Tide Comes In Mims Ellis
Ceramic 2" x 12" x 12" $275
Mighty and Majestic
There is something so timeless about a substantial oak tree such as this one found at Placerita Canyon Natural Area. I love trees and paint them frequently. This oak by the creek had such a presence and a feeling of permanence. The water added a nice touch, especially after the years of drought.
36 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Sandy Fisher Oil on Linen Panel 10" x 8" $600
Peaceful Pastime
Sandy
While scouting for a painting location one morning, I stopped at Cub Lake in Bear Valley Springs, California, where there were many fishermen engaged in their favorite pastime. Walking along the lake, I passed a huge weeping willow with its massive trunk and beautifully cast shadow pattern. As I turned around, I saw the distant female fisherman and the lovely glimmer of the lake edged by the reeds, with the far-off hills all combining to create a peaceful and idyllic scene that I knew needed to be expressed on canvas.
Fisher Oil on Linen Panel 14" x 18" $1,975
Arles in the 4th Dimension
Judy Frisk
Watercolor 22" x 30" $2,480
This work is based on my memory of wandering through an empty ancient arena. The pitch blackness of the interior was broken periodically by blinding light pouring through the arched openings making it impossible for eyes to adjust. The resulting disorientation made the few silhouettes we saw in the distance feel more like spirits from the past. This led me to ponder the possibility of meeting up with a past self from an ancient time. This painting is part of a series titled “Wherever You Go, There You Are” - a collection of narrative works about self-examination. In our fleeting moments of self-doubt, disorientation or open clarity - whether real, remembered, imagined or dreamed, frightening or wondrous, we meet up with ourselves. It is my hope the intentional ambiguities will heighten intrigue, prompting curiosity and introspection.
38 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Uncertain Journey
Judy Frisk
Watercolor 22" x 24" $2,040
Many years ago my exploration of an ancient arena coincided with an intense personal journey. Vacant of tourists, the pitch-black corridors offered no escape from my internal struggles, transforming vacation into spiritual journey. Sometimes the way forward involves returning, sightless, back into the darkness of past mistakes and forgotten insights in order to venture back out into the light of the arena, to tackle the world at large with greater awareness.
This painting is part of a series titled “Wherever You Go, There You Are” - a collection of narrative works about self-examination. In our fleeting moments of self-doubt, disorientation or open clarity - whether real, remembered, imagined or dreamed, frightening or wondrous - we meet up with ourselves. It is my hope the intentional ambiguities will heighten intrigue, prompting curiosity and introspection.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Vanishing America
Steve Graziani
Etching 12" x 14" $145
I tell stories with etchings and block prints. “Vanishing America” is about the wheels of change: land where generations of families lived and died for their land and legacy now bears corporate farm billboards. That’s my story, but what I strive for with my art is to leave enough flexibility for others to find their own story.
40 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
What Ifs
Steve Graziani
Etching 17" x 13" $145
I tell stories with etchings and block prints. I consider myself an artist who occasionally likes to write short stories so, in that vein, a number of my etchings play with the crossing desires of art and writing. In both media, it’s all about stirring imaginations. Please imagine whatever you want to find in this piece—I have no interest in telling you what that should be.
R. Rene Hoffman
Digital Photograph 11" x 14" $400
This is a flower from my grandmother’s cactus. It blooms for one night and then it wilts. I remember this cactus always being at her house. It was there from before I was born. My grandmother gave me a piece of it when I was in my 20s. It has continued to thrive and bloom, especially when you ignore it. I’ve named it Guadalupe.
42 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Cactus Flower
Lily
R. Rene Hoffman
Digital Photograph 8.5" x 13" $400
I’m a sucker for curves. I was visiting Descanso Gardens looking for something unique to photograph. The sun was low enough in the sky to make the flower translucent. The white of the spathe drew me in. All the other flowers and leaves just lined up.
Japanese Sumi Ink & Pencil on Paper 46" x 26" $3,000
My art is inspired by a lifetime of study and mentoring people in the fields of transformation; this spiritually integrative work informs my visual art. The intensity of the brush strokes comes from my martial arts and sword forms. Sometimes the work comes out of a “point zero” inner stillness, or expansive awareness from meditating before or while producing a piece. I want to make visible this inner world. I often come back into a piece adding, in pencil or other media, detailed drawing, mostly figurative, using the female form to reaffirm the positive and powerful aspects of the feminine. My art creates an intersection between my Japanese and American heritage, and Eastern and Western philosophies.
44 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 95.
Ecstatic Motion
Michele Benzamin-Miki
Lily Pond at Gamble House Marion Dies
In May of this year, the artists of the Pasadena Society of Artists were invited to come to the Gamble House in Pasadena for MOTA Day (Museums of the Arroyo) to do artwork in their gardens. This lily pond is at the rear of the house and the water lilies were just starting to pop up and bloom. I like to concentrate on vignettes within a larger scene and this water feature is a lovely tranquil part of the landscaping around the Gamble House. I went intending to do some plein air painting on site, but ended up doing several sketches with notations to create this oil painting later in my studio.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Oil on Panel 11" x 10" $420
Earthslide
Maryellen Eltgroth
Cibachrome Photographic Print 20" x 16" $1,300
An army of ant-sized D9 earth movers (each weighing over 40 tons) bravely grades the slipping slope above this spectacular landslide. Was it a zephyr that nudged one final grain of earth at the top to change its equilibrium? Or was it an ocean wave at the base that dislodged one pebble too many? Could the impetus have come from an inland nonlinear land shift? What set these statistical mechanics in motion? More importantly, why do we persist in rebuilding our road just here? This is my aerial shot of an old Highway 1 Big Sur slide.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Facescape Series: Chris
Richard G. Murphy
Acrylic on Canvas 20" x 16" $1,350
My “Facescape Series” of acrylic paintings on canvas features portraits of friends and neighbors I have come to know and appreciate. I attempt to capture the depth of their character, especially through their eyes. As a self-taught artist, what is most exciting to me is what I discover with each series and each new painting. Indeed, the freedom to experiment with different brushes while mixing and diluting paint colors often results in what I like to call “happy accidents” creating beauty while inspiring a technique that I can exercise in my next work of art. Consequently, when asked what I would consider to be my favorite painting, my reply is always “My next!”
47 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Rhonda Raulston
Sumi-e Paper, Gouache, Encaustic, Photo Transfer on Handmade Book 7.88" x 28.75" x 3.38" $600
“Lovinia’s Journey” combines my interests in herbal medical lore, genealogy, and family history with an imagined “Herbal Receipts” journal, reminiscent of the type my great-grandmother would have consulted during her family’s trek from Illinois to California in the 1880s. I used materials that would have been available to my great-grandmother. The pages of the journal are made from lightweight paper; the sketches are pen and ink, colored with gouache paint, and slightly “aged” as if they were over 140 years old. Each page is encased in protective beeswax, and the elegant “handwritten” entries are photo transfers embossed into the wax. I imagined that her journal was handmade and was carefully passed down through generations.
48 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Lovinia’s Journey
“Unity Totem 1” represents women and children in unity, both spiritually and physically, seeking to uphold a community to protect and enrich their lives. It represents the protective stance of mothers and family in support of children.
Unity Totem 1
Jean Richardson Oil 30" x 36" $1,100
Dreamweaver: One From Many
S. A. Smith
Acrylic, Assemblage, Applique, Foil on Board 19" x 25" x 3" $950
The Western Hemisphere is a melting pot of various cultures and ethnicities coming together to create a rich and vibrant world on this continent. The foundation of Western society is constantly evolving … a force moving towards a greater positive presence … at least, this is the dream. “Dreamweaver: One From Many” is a reflection upon the continual growth of our society: it becomes richer over time through additions from other cultures arriving at the country’s shores. Symbols represent new arrivals from other continents, immigrants arriving at the image of the Dreamweaver. Symbols are placed throughout the image: birds and astronomical forms guide the newcomers to their new land as an oak tree, a traditional symbol of wisdom, watches over the image.
50 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Connections
Robert Michael Sullivan
Photograph on Metal 15" x 22.5" $1,100
Rooted in the earth, trees represent our lives, and the branches that emanate from the trunk spread out with twigs to form a web of connections that represent our relationships and interdependence with other people and everything in life. The canopy of yellows and greens provides us with shade and shelter, similar to our family and friends.
Sharon Jeniye Cohen
Objects float in space - perhaps they are a moon with many small craters, a large shiny ring, and linear clouds. We see them as they overlap through immense distances farther away than we can imagine. They drift past us silently, unnoticed until a sparkle or reflected beam of light illuminates them and then they drift on.
52 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Drifting Sky
Metallic Foil, Mercury Paper, Vellum 8" x 8" $350
Silver Weave
Sharon Jeniye Cohen
Tyvek, Mercury Paper, Silver Paper 10" x 10" $350
This piece evolved after several experiments weaving paper strips and using the creative processes of warp and weft of thread and yarn. Floral shapes were introduced along with embossed patterns, creating flowing layers and visual depth. Adding color will create more layers of intricacy and depth.
The Last of the Pomegranates
Jeffry Jensen
Digital Photograph 14" x 11" $375
I noticed there was only part of one last pomegranate left on the bush. It looked as if it had been opened up and partially consumed. The inside made for an intriguing architecture. I needed to work with the image right then and there. The next day the remains were totally gone. I only had that one chance to take a photo of the pomegranate. It is amazing how an artist must always be aware of his/her surroundings in order not to miss a creative opportunity. I lucked out this time and was able to create an image that is both bizarre and strangely playful.
54 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Playing Montrose Dress-up
Jeffry Jensen
Digital Photograph 14" x 11" $375
I stopped by one of the used clothing stores in Montrose, California, and was inspired to take some pictures of the mannequins posed on the outside of the store. I got the idea of how we make ourselves into something different and how we become something else through a costume. We wear masks that are both visible and invisible. We put on a pose for public consumption. It was fun to manipulate the image into something more fake than it started out as. It becomes a fake-on-fake. What is revealed is the creative spirit and not a literal truth.
55 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 96.
Everyday there are millions of immigrants who are struggling to make ends meet. We don’t get to see the hard work that goes into building something great. Something big, so their kin will be sucessful in this land of the free. Our parents and ancestors have built a foundation for us to work on. “LA Senorita” is simply building a strong foundation for her future generations. 56 Contact information
LA Senorita
Saon Kashem
Photography 12" x 16" $200
Photography 16" x 24" $300
Power and Hope” are two female qualities that I’ve experienced in my life. We don’t give enough flowers to the women in our lives sometimes. The women in my life are multitalented, perform numerous tasks on a daily basis, and wear many hats throughout their day.
Power and Hope
Saon Kashem
Soul
The inspiration for this painting arose from my garden. There were three older roses, clustered tightly together. I felt they mirrored the feeling I have when I’m with my close girlfriends, how we gather to chatter and exclaim, discussing serious and very silly things. Age has relevance here, in that the older ones may be more sassy, more direct, more caring, sweeter than expected, and the fragrance can be divine... most of the time, that is.
58 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Sisters
Nora Koerber Oil on Panel 12" x 12" $650
Window to Spring
“Window to Spring” originated as a plein air painting. In the studio I added a few bits of information I couldn’t obtain on-site. I became more expressive, and the painting took on an identity of its own. As nature grows, so did this painting. It evolved into an abstract feeling of the place that, in certain ways, feels more real and earthy, and describes the wild energy of spring.
Nora Koerber Oil on Panel 9" x 12" $500
Lake
This painting depicts a peaceful spot at a lake surrounded by reeds. It is an imaginary place where one can relax and feel at peace. I aimed to convey a sense of tranquility by using rounded shapes and swaying forms. I specifically chose a pale, primarily blue palette for this composition, as it enhances the serene atmosphere of the scene.
60 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Joanna Kos
Oil on Canvas 24" x 36" $3,000
Wind
In this abstract composition, I attempted to paint wind: its force, energy, and beauty. The image contains elements representing this phenomenon, such as floating clouds, fluttering wings, and swirls of pigment forming a raging air vortex. Vigorous lines and curves infuse the composition with a sense of twirling movement, bringing it to life.
Joanna Kos
Oil on Canvas 24" x 36" $3,000
Patricia Lee
Photography 10.5" x 14" $375
Every sunset is unique. The peace at the end of day and the beautiful colors that the sunset brings are wonderful. Feeling the peaceful beauty at sunset, I capture the color palette, the beauty and the inspiration, by exploring the spirit of the desert sunset. How can one be open to this? By allowing this intimate connection with life.
62 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Tucson Sunset #38
Patricia Lee
Photography 10.5" x 14" $375
I have visited the Tucson desert many times and have always found sunsets there to be special. They are an intimate connection with life. The sense of space, the quiet light of the setting sun can be a way to release the troubles of the day and open to the peace of the night. I can explore the inner beauty with the quiet of the night.
Tucson Sunset #43
In this inviting vignette, sheep-skinned chairs rest gracefully in a lush, grassy meadow accompanied by a bounty of apples. Captured on the serene Skeppsholmen island of Stockholm, this provincial scene evokes a sense of tranquility and clarity, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the gentle embrace of nature and the simplicity of rural life.
Apple Meadows
Tommy Lei
Platine Fiber Rag
Archival Print 24" x 20" $800
A baroque brass frame hangs delicately against Victorian-era floral wallpaper, whispering to be noticed. Nestled within the lobby of the renowned Hotel Pigalle, in the heart of vibrant Gothenburg, I stumbled upon this enchanting sight after indulging in several glasses of their exquisite gin and tonic. The result? A mesmerizing blend of charm and intoxication.
Self Portrait
Tommy Lei
Platine Fiber Rag
Archival Print 24" x 20" $800
The Italian culture would not be able to survive without their love of celebrations, both folk and religious. Two of these celebrations take place in Venice and in Oristano on the island of Sardinia. They both take place at the time of Mardi Gras, but have the names of Carnevale and Sartiglia. Both are at precisely the same time: Shrove Sunday (Quinquagesima) and Shrove Tuesday. The next day begins Lent, so they eat, drink, and are merry.
This image represents the beauty that can be created by a stark white mask against a red netting and satin costume. She was one of a pair of twins with almost no way to tell the difference between them. When Carnevale originated, the mask was already an item of use in the streets (canals) of Venice to give liberty of action to the upper class while they remained anonymous.
66 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Facce da Festival Primo: Viso Bianco in Rete Rosso
Warner LeMénager
Photograph on Metal 16" x 14.5" $850
Facce da Festival Secondo: Donna dal Volto del Pagliaccio, upper left
Cavallerizza Glostratrice, lower right Warner LeMénager
Photograph on Metallic Luster Paper 11" x 18" $550
Donna dal Volto del Pagliaccio
A woman with clown make-up is still able to hide her identity in public, from the Carnevale of Venice. Many buy or make elaborate costumes, where she saved money with some clever body-paint artistry. She is the female counterpart of a man also made up as a clown.
Cavallerizza Giostratrice
This image is from the festival in Sardinia at Oristano, which has 120 jousters composed mainly of men, all on horseback. The festival has both folk and religious overtones that are far too complicated to explain in a few words. This image is of a rare horsewoman. The better the joust results, the better the prosperity of the coming year. This rider, named underneath as Gabriele Calvisi, has no anonymity.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
“Ascension de Luna” captures the pivotal moment of transition as a female figure emerges from the darkness to step into the ethereal glow of moonlight. The interplay of light and shadow creates a sense of mystery and depth, inviting the viewer to contemplate the potential for transformation and growth. Through my art, I seek to explore the themes of inner strength, resilience, and the power of embracing change. 68
Ascension de Luna George Paul Miller Oil on Canvas 24" x 18" $1,930
The colorful hummingbird is suspended in midair, its wings frozen in motion against a backdrop of vintage wallpaper. Having only the old wallpaper as its backdrop adds a sense of nostalgia to the piece, transporting the viewer to a bygone era. This painting is about the delicate beauty and grace of the hummingbird in flight. While being a testament to the wonders of nature and the enduring appeal of classic design, it is also a statement on the unnecessary replacement of our natural environment with human-made floral replicas that can only pale in comparison and remind us of what once was.
Hachidori
George Paul Miller Oil on Canvas 8" x 8" $800
I tell myself that using harvested or recycled materials is a good idea because it will help the planet and blah blah blah. In fact, it’s easier because it saves travel time to the steelyard and the look of reused objects and whatnot feels more substantial. This perspective may or may not be shared by others.
Moonage Daydream
Christopher Moore
Copper Wire and Rod 49" x 27" x 45" $450
Set the Controls 2
Christopher Moore
Welded Steel Objects 30" x 48" x 51" $450
This piece is kind of funny. I have been making mobiles for only a short time (seriously, at least) so they have the look of sculpture. I do think of them as two separate disciplines because the mindset differs in their creation. Mobiles tend to be delicate and fussy, whereas sculpture can be tacked together without a lot of pretense. This was both.
904
Tom Oldfield
Digital Photograph 11" x 14" $500
My photography is an escape from everyday reality. I am fascinated with the process of how things became what they are and where they are going, whether the subject is a grand landscape or some decaying technology from the past. Most of my work is in black and white. To me a black and white image is more elegant and encourages the viewer to participate by bringing their imagination into play. I mostly use large format film and traditional darkroom techniques.
This is a digital image from the Rolex Reunion at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. The Porsche 904 is a car of remarkable beauty and grace and is perhaps the pinnacle of the Porsche four-cylinder, aircooled era. The Reunion is a week of old racecar overload. I was able to capture this image while the car rested between races.
72 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Silver
Gelatin Print from Large Format Negative 14" x 11" $700
My photography is an escape from everyday reality. I am fascinated with the process of how things became what they are and where they are going, whether the subject is a grand landscape or some decaying technology from the past. Most of my work is in black and white. To me a black and white image is more elegant and encourages the viewer to participate by bringing their imagination into play.
This photograph was taken at the Gladding McBean terracotta factory in Lincoln, California. Although their major product is currently sewer pipes, they originally created terracotta embellishments for buildings. The workshop of the Italian artisans from years ago is still in place and ready to go in the event that someone needs fancy gargoyles or such for a new building. This image was captured on large format film and printed on traditional silver gelatin paper.
73 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Gladding McBean Tom Oldfield
“Carnival of Color” is part of an explosive series of color compositions, as the COVID-19 pandemic attempted to stifle my creativity. This basic drawing was spontaneous, followed by many hours of selecting bright colors. I wanted it to feel like being in a circus or a carnival, full of action and surprises.
Carnival of Color
Victor Picou
Colored Pencil on Paper 30" x 20" $1,800
For the Love of Ukraine
Victor Picou
Acrylic by Qtips on Canvas 30" x 20" $2,000
I started this painting in February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. I felt the pain and horror of this war on innocent people in a country where friends and neighbors come from. I restricted my palette to the national colors of Ukraine represented in their flag and in the symbols of their crafts. I designed this piece with uplifting, balloon-like components, having faith in peace.
1970s Horikawa Fighting Robot Mike Pitzer
Graphite and Colored Pencil on Paper 58" x 36" $3,250
I bought this late 1960s-early 1970s Horikawa Fighting Robot for $15 at a garage sale when I was single and living in Los Angeles. I sold it a few years later for $5 in our “Being Deported — Everything Must Go!” garage sale just prior to getting married. Today, that robot is worth $600 because I also had a pretty much mint box. Oh well…life goes on. I picked this as my subject matter because of what it meant to me— the freedom of being single 40 years ago and the freedom to draw what makes me happy 40 years later.
76 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Gumby Mike Pitzer
Graphite and Colored Pencil on Paper 72" x 36" $2,375
“What would Gumby do?” I asked myself when I started “Gumby” back in March 2020. It was just as the COVID-19 quarantine was initiated. I had finished my initial line drawing and was fortunate enough to order an additional dozen assorted green PrismaColor pencils from Blick Art Materials before any of the coronavirus delays kicked in. I remember wiping down everything with Formula 409 wipes, including the shipping packaging. Working on “Gumby” brought back some amazing memories from my childhood and the complete freedom we enjoyed. He also represents the freedoms and family we lost during the quarantine lockdown. Memories...
Rebecca H. Pollack
Photography 8" x 10" $150
Bromeliads are amazing plants. I first became acquainted with them at Lotus Land in Montecito. They’re in the pineapple family, which has 3,700 species. Bromeliads come in many shapes and colors, preferring tropical shade and rainforest habitats. They bloom only once in their lifetime but do produce pups that can grow up on their own. Water trickles down from their cupped areas. This image looks down into the rain-filled center of the flower. I love the soft hues.
78 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 97.
Bromeliad
Spring
Rebecca H. Pollack
Photography 10" x 8" $150
“Spring” is an image of my neighbor Esther’s flowers, which bloom and then die out completely with the seasons, leaving no sign of their former existence. Suddenly, they reappear in their full glory, as a surprise gift. The rich salmon color of Esther’s house accentuates the plants’ beauty. The flowers’ scientific name is Acanthus mollis, commonly known as Bear’s Breeches.
I am a studio artist; my goal is to paint realistic still-life and landscape paintings. “Arroyo Sycamore” is a recent painting of a favorite subject. I walk in the Arroyo Seco weekly and pass this sycamore and rock formation frequently. The strong contrast between the sunlight on the surfaces of the rocks and the shadow of the sycamore creates an appealing composition. My inspiration comes from painters such as Théodore Rousseau of the French Barbizon school and Edgar Payne, the American western landscape painter.
80 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Arroyo Sycamore Kathleen Swaydan Oil on Linen Panel 7" x 9" $275
Still Life with Blue Vase, Orange and Marbles
Kathleen Swaydan
Oil on Linen Panel 12" x 10" $275
I am a studio artist; my goal is to paint realistic still-life and landscape paintings. “Still Life with Blue Vase, Orange and Marbles” is an exercise in capturing the transparency of the blue glass vase and depicting the reflections of the orange and marbles on its surface. My challenge with any still-life painting is to represent the objects, valued or mundane, as realistically as possible without losing sight of the artist’s hand. My inspiration comes from Dutch/Flemish and Spanish still-life painters such as Clara Peeters, Pieter Claesz, and the Spanish lay monk, Juan Sanchez Cotán. I find their ability to capture both valued and everyday items fascinating.
81 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Direct Print on Aluminum Dibond 10" x 10" $475
“Gilded Kalanchoe Cluster” is a macro photograph taken in February 2024 in our newly landscaped garden. Like a proud mom, I spied this petite bloom tucked in a quiet corner by our entry gate. I had entirely forgotten I had transplanted a potted plant there several seasons prior. At the time I took this photograph, I was experimenting with a more painterly mode and was pleasantly surprised with the transformation after playing with digital editing tools. The bronzed bouquet is enhanced by a complementary faux blue-green backdrop in an effort to mimic Dutch portraiture.
82 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Gilded Kalanchoe Cluster Laurel Termini
Frondscape
Laurel Termini
Direct Print on Aluminum Dibond 10" x 10" $475
“Frondscape” was photographed in October 2023 at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden just before closing time. I was walking briskly down the garden path by the plumeria when I glanced up towards the palm fronds in the waning light of day. The branches, intriguingly illuminated by the filtered light and the repetition of leaves and stalks under the canopy, caught my attention. I chose the black and white aesthetic to optimize the natural geometry. I enjoy capturing the vicissitudes of natural light in an outdoor setting versus a staged indoor setup for my floral portraiture.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
This Indigenous girl caught my eye when I was on an educational trip traveling in Tequila, Mexico. I was a sales representative employed by a company known as Heubline, Inc., located in Hartford, Connecticut. They represented top national brands such as Jose Cuervo Tequila. We were in the fields where workers were harvesting the agave plants used to make tequila when we saw “Little Pocahontas.” What a wonderful experience to see how history was made in the harvesting and production of one of Mexico’s tequilas.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Little Pocahontas
Barbara Thorn
Pastel 13.75" x 9.75" $325
Matilija poppies are probably the most painted flower in the art world! Spiritually, the flower is said to represent the broken-hearted. The common name may originate from the fictional Chumash character “Chief Matilija.” This eye-catching flower can’t be missed on the many bushes here in Southern California.
Matilija Poppy
Barbara Thorn
Watercolor 8.75" x 11.75" $400
Bridge to the Arroyo and JPL
Suzanne Urquiza
Pastel on Paper 18" x 24" $800
On a walk south along the Arroyo Seco to Devil’s Gate Bridge on a brilliant winter day, I noticed the bridge or street that winds down to the base of the arroyo. It is a route that hikers and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) employees take to hike or work. The morning sunlight cascading across the bridge is light but fresh; below the bridge are deep shadows that the sun has not yet reached. The hillsides are dotted with trees that are sprinkled with the colors of the last autumn leaves. I started this painting during the COVID-19 lockdown but saved it to finish another time because I could not shop for new pastels. Walking the Arroyo for over 40 years has given me great joy and peace.
86 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Pastel
After a winter storm the clouds hovering over the foothills behind the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are a wondrous sight. The sunlight cascading across the hills creates a warm blanket of color. Many of the clouds are still heavy with rain but appear to be light and swift. I started this pastel painting during the COVID-19 lockdown. That isolation brought me back to my old friends, pastels; however, as with “Bridge to the Arroyo and JPL,” I tucked this piece away to finish later, once I was able to shop for more colors. I am primarily an oil painter; the pastels offered a fresh approach to my work.
information for this artist can be found on page 98.
View from the Arroyo Suzanne Urquiza
on Paper 18" x 24" $800
Watercolor Monotype 8" x 9.75" $580
It is always sunny in Pasadena -- the skies are open, clear, and warm. The hot air twinkles and sunbeams reflect off the golden domes of churches. Everything is quiet as if time has stopped. But then a storm arrives -- rare like the blooming flowers of agave -- mighty, striking, and beautiful. 88 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Pasadena Skies
Tsvetelina Valkov
The Tunnels of Time
Silkscreen Print over Oil Monotype 13.75" x 11" $800
This image is based on the distinction between the color of the sky and a silhouette of the skyline. To make this contrast more intense, I applied two different techniques: silkscreen for the skyline, and oil monotype as a background with added texture and a sense of unreality.
Tsvetelina Valkov
Nancy Series--The Shortest Distance
Ken Weintrub
Watermedia on Handmade Paper 20" x 25.5" $450
When my sister passed away I made a series of paintings that expressed my path back to emotional normalcy. This piece is one of those works. Most of us have been taught that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. However, as in many cases, the shortest distance was rather circuitous so that nothing was missed, which would have meant retracing the route and going back in order to go forward. 90 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Nancy Series--Dependence and Structure
Ken Weintrub
Watermedia on Handmade Paper 22.5" x 30" $450
This piece is part of a series of paintings depicting my way back to emotional stability when my sister passed away. It expresses the regaining of structure and grounding I reached after a year or so. Each part of that journey was dependent on all the other parts for its balance and steadiness in the same way as a mobile is.
“Tasi” means “sea” in Chamorro, the language of the Marianas in Micronesia. As a Pacific Islander, sea life and reminders of the ocean follow throughout my life. The fragrance, the scenery, the sea colors, and the unique sound of waves do not leave me. Creating a ceramic sea-life image solidifies those memories.
92 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Tasi
Cecilia Torres
Ceramic 17" x 7" x 3.5" $450
A Chip Off the Old Block
Sean Yang
Mixed Media: Acrylic, Cast Bronze, Gold Leaf, Wood 15" x 6" x 6" $6,000
“If you describe someone as a chip off the old block, you mean that they are just like one of their parents in character or behavior.” (collinsdictionary.com)
“He really is a chip off the old block.” “Those of us who knew and loved his father will recognise a chip off the old block.” “We feel that his son is a chip off the old block.”
(Definition of a chip off the old block from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press).
Synonyms for “chip off the old block”:
• chip off old block, clone, copy, facsimile, imitation, likeness, younger version, carbon, spitting image, look-alike, carbon copy, likeness, photocopy, replica, miniature, model, reproduction.
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 98.
Pasadena Society of Artists Board of Directors 2024 - 2025
President: Kathleen Swaydan President@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Executive Vice President: Victor Picou VicePresident@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Vice President - Exhibitions: Lawrence D. Rodgers Exhibitions@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Recording Secretary: Rhonda Raulston Secretary@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Treasurer: Ken Weintrub Admin@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Director of Communications: Debbi Swanson Patrick News@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Director of Grants: Kruti Shah Grants@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Director of History & Archives: Robert Asa Crook Historian@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Director of Membership: Marion Dies Membership@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Past President: Victor Picou PastPresident@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Member at Large: Robert Michael Sullivan MembersatLarge@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
FB: PasadenaSocietyofArtists IG: @pasadenasocietyofartists
Catalog Production Team
Exhibition Chair: Lawrence D. Rodgers
Director of Communications: Debbi Swanson Patrick
Editor: Alison Davies
Editorial Assistants: Martin Ehrlich, Cecilia Torres, Ken Weintrub
Treasurer: Ken Weintrub
Technical Lead: Fred Chuang
Instagram Content: Bella Chen
Facebook Content: George Paul Miller
Webmaster: Fred Chuang
Catalog Designer: Lawrence D. Rodgers
Cover Design: Cecilia Torres
Vibiana Aparicio-Chamberlin
Contact the Artist
vibi@sbcglobal.net www.artediosa.com
FB: vib aparicio
IG: @vibiana.aparicio https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/vibiana-aparicio-chamberlin/vibiana-aparicio-chamberlin.html
Julianna Aparicio-Curtis
julianna.m.curtis@gmail.com
MariBeth Baloga
Cyndi Bemel
IG: @juliannamarieartist
https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/julianna-curtis/julianna-curtis.html
mbbaloga@gmail.com
https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/maribeth-baloga/maribeth-baloga.html
cbemel3@me.com
FB: cyndibemel
https://cyndibemel.com
IG: @cbemel https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/cyndi-bemel/cyndi-bemel.html
Barbara Lai Bennett
blaibennett@gmail.com
www.blaibennett.com
IG: @blaipics https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/barbara-lai-bennett/barbara-lai-bennett.html
Michele Benzamin-Miki mbm@fivechanges.com https://michelebenzaminmiki.com/ FB: michele.benzaminmiki FB: artistmbm IG: @michele.benzaminmiki https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/michele-benzamin-miki/michele-benzamin-miki.html
Mariko Bird marikoceramics@gmail.com http://www.marikobird.com FB: marikobird IG: @marikobird https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/bird/mariko-bird.html
Katy Bishop kbishop9@earthlink.net www.katybishop.art FB: katybishopart IG :@katybishop.art linkedin: katy-bishop-332099242/ https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/katy-bishop/katy-bishop.html
Anya Cherrice anyagonzales@gmail.com
IG: @anyacherrice_art https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/anya-cherrice/anya-cherrice.html
Chuka Susan Chesney chukasusanchesney@gmail.com aarnungallery.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/chesney/chuka-susan-chesney.html
Liz Crimzon crimzon@charter.net https://www.lizcrimzon.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/liz-crimzon/crimzon.html
Jean Cunningham jeancunningham@mac.com https://jeancunningham.com FB: jean.cunningham.315 IG: @jeancunningham6337 https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/jean-cunningham/jean-cunningham.html
Adeola Davies-Aiyeloja adeolastudio@yahoo.com http://www.adeolastudio.org FB: daviesaiyeloja IG:@adeolastudio_art IG: @adeolametalsmithstudio https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/adeola-davies-aiyeloja/adeola-davies-aiyeloja.html
Marion Dies
Karen Duckles
Contact the Artist
marion.dies@gmail.com
IG: @marionsilverlake
https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/dies/marion-dies.html
karenduckles@gmail.com
https://karenduckles.com
IG: @duckles_karen https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/karen-duckles/karen-duckles.html
Lore Eckelberry
lore@loreeckelberry.com
www.loreeckelberry.com
IG: @loreeckelberry https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/eckelberry/lore-eckelberry.html
Martin Ehrlich me_rakuman@aol.com firewaterceramics.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/ehrlich/martin-ehrlich.html
Mims Ellis mims.e@charter.net
www.mimsellisceramics.com
IG: @mimsellisceramics https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/ellis/mims-ellis.html
Maryellen Eltgroth
rettacox26@gmail.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/maryellen-eltgroth/maryellen-eltgroth.html
Sandy Fisher sandyfisherfineart@yahoo.com https://sandyfisherfineart.com IG: @sandyfisherfineart https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/sandy-fisher/sandy-fisher.html
Judy Frisk
Steve Graziani
jfriskart@gmail.com
judyfrisk.com
IG: @jmfrisk https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/judy-frisk/judy-frisk.html
gdesigns@sbcglobal.net
www.graziart.com FB: grazarts https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/steve-graziani/steve-graziani.html
R. Rene Hoffman renesfeat@verizon.net
IG: @renesfeat https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/r-rene-hoffman/r-rene-hoffman.html
Sharon Jeniye Cohen
sljcohen@earthlink.net www.portfoliosharon.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/sharon-jeniye-cohen/sharon-jeniye-cohen.html
Jeffry Jensen
Saon Kashem
jjensen011@earthlink.net
https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/jensen/jeffry-michael-jensen.html
saonkashem89@gmail.com www.saonkashem.com
IG: @saon.kashem https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/saon-kashem/saon-kashem.html
Contact the Artist
Nora Koerber norakgroups@gmail.com norakoerberfineart.com
IG: @norakoerber6
https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/koerber/nora-koerber.html
Joanna Kos joannakosart@gmail.com https://www.joannakos.com/ https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/kos/joanna-kos.html
Patricia Lee quickerlee@sbcglobal.net https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/lee/patricia-lee.html
Tommy Lei studio@tommylei.com www.tommylei.com IG: @tommy.lei
https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/tommy-lei/tommy-lei.html
Warner LeMénager ilmigliore@earthlink.net https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/lemenager/warner-lemenager.html
George Paul Miller georgepaulmiller@gmail.com https://www.georgepaulmiller.com/ IG: @georgepaulmiller https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/miller-gp/george-paul-miller.html
Christopher Moore cemoore102903@yahoo.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/christopher-l-moore/moore.html
Richard G. Murphy r.murphy@manorprods.com richard.g.murphy.art https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/richard-murphy/richard-murphy.html
Tom Oldfield toldfield@earthlink.net https://toldfieldphoto.smugmug.com/ https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/tom-oldfield/tom-oldfield.html
Victor Picou vicpicou@charter.net victorpicou.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/picou/victor-picou.html
Mike Pitzer mpitzer@icloud.com https://mpitzer.com IG: @mpitzerart https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/michael-pitzer/michael-pitzer.html
Rebecca H. Pollack beckpollack@gmail.com FB: rebecca harvey pollack IG: @beckpollack https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/pollack/rebecca-harvey-pollack.html
Contact the Artist
Rhonda Raulston rlraulston@gmail.com
rhondaraulston.com
IG: @raulstonart https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/raulston/rhonda-raulston.html
Jean Richardson jean.richardson@med.usc.edu www.jeanrichardsonart.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/jean-richardson/jean-richardson.html
S. A. Smith
ateliersmith.1972@gmail.com smithartonline.wordpress.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/smith/sa-smith.html
Robert Michael Sullivan bob@robertsullivan.us robertsullivan.us https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/sullivan/robert-michael-sullivan.html
Kathleen Swaydan kdswaydan@gmail.com kathleenswaydan.com FB: kathleen swaydan IG: @kswaydan https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/swaydan/swaydan.html
Laurel Termini beadafterdark@gmail.com
https://laurelnevarte.com IG: @laurelnevarte https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/laurel-termini/laurel-termini.html
Barbara Thorn betotto@gmail.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/thorn-otto/barbara-thorn-otto.html
Cecilia Torres islandfireceramics@gmail.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/cecilia-torres/cecilia-torres.html
Suzanne Urquiza suzyq91001@yahoo.com
IG: @suzannedelacruzurquiza https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/urquiza/suzanne-urquiza.html
Tsvetelina Valkov lozenez1@yahoo.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/valkov/tsvetelina-valkov.html
Ken Weintrub kweintrub@gmail.com kenweintrub.com https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/weintrub/weintrub.html
Sean Yang countryang@gmail.com
IG: @seanyang_art https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/sean-yang/sean-yang.html
A Short History of the Artists’ Choice Exhibition
The Pasadena Society of Artists began the Artists’ Choice Exhibitions in 2009, with an inaugural show which featured 110 artworks presented by 48 members. Each member was assigned ten linear feet of wall space and allowed to install as many pieces as they desired within that space. Three-dimensional artists were assigned a location in the gallery space or a certain number of pedestals. The exhibition was presented at Citibank Art Space in Silver Lake.
How does an “Artists’ Choice” exhibition work, you ask? Simply put, an “Artists’ Choice” exhibition allows the artist to self-jury their artwork and select the best pieces created within a certain time period. This type of exhibition opportunity has proven to be very popular with the membership since all entered artwork is accepted.
Over the years, PSA’s Artists’ Choice Exhibitions have been presented in a variety of other venues including The Women’s City Club of Pasadena, Whites Fine Art Gallery in Montrose, the Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center in Burbank, Keystone Gallery in Los Angeles, and the Pasadena Central Library in Pasadena.
The 2024 Artist’s Choice Exhibition carries on this tradition. It is the eleventh in the series and will be presented online for a worldwide audience and in gallery. Fifty members are presenting 90 artworks, many never seen in public until now. This is truly a diverse exhibition in subject matter, media and approach. Enjoy your journey through the artwork.
A Short History of the Pasadena Society of Artists
The Pasadena Society of Artists came into being in early 1925. Benjamin C. Brown, the “dean of Pasadena painters,” sent out a notice to local painters to discuss the formation of a society for local artists. In addition to Mr. Brown, attending this meeting were Edward B. Butler, Maud Daggett, Antoinette De Forest Merwin, Louis Hovey Sharp, F. Carl Smith, Orrin A. White, Wallace LeRoy De Wolff, and Frederick A. Zimmerman. The consensus was that the Pasadena Society of Artists should be formed. Seven more artists then joined PSA to form the founding charter members. They were Herbert V. B. Acker, F. Tolles Chamberlin, Alson S. Clark, John “Jack” Frost, Jean Mannheim and Katherine B. Stetson.
It has been suggested that PSA was formed out of the desire of the founders to exhibit their contemporary work, which was not acceptable in exhibitions of the California Art Club. The first Annual Juried Exhibition was presented in April 1925 at the Pasadena Art Institute located in Carmelita Park, now the site of the Norton Simon Art Museum. The PSA founders stated that “the standard will be high and only work of real merit will be accepted.” Every year since 1925 PSA has presented an Annual Juried Exhibition as part of a robust exhibition schedule.
PSA continues to adhere to the guiding statement of the founders by accepting new members by juried submission.
Call for New Members
Are you an artist?
Throughout Pasadena Society of Artists’ 99-year history, works by PSA members have been sold at major auction houses, collected in important art collections, and displayed in museums throughout the United States and Europe. Our legacy is immense!
Would you like to be part of our organization?
We are always looking for new, dedicated members. Our artists work in all media and styles of drawing, painting, sculpture, and photography. All have been juried into the Society.
New Member Screenings for the Pasadena Society of Artists are usually held twice a year, in the spring and fall. Please go to our website at www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org for more information. If you are interested in becoming a member, please complete a Membership Inquiry Form, found online, and contact our Director of Membership, Marion Dies. Ms. Dies will notify you when the next screening has been scheduled.
Qualifications considered for membership include the applicant’s dedication to artistic standards of excellence, professionalism, accomplishments, skills that benefit the Society, and the artist’s future potential. Applicants submit three (four if a virtual screening) pieces of artwork representing current media and style, created in the past two years. Artwork submitted is judged by presentation, talent, and originality. We encourage perseverance; a number of our members have been offered memberships after having been declined multiple times. Former members include Charles White, Walter Askin, Jirayr Zorithian, Conrad Buff, David Green, Enjar Hansen, Frode Dann, Jae Carmichael, Leonard Edmondson, Mildred Lapson, Paul Sample, Hanson Puthuff, Sam Hyde Harris, Martin Mondrus, Betye Saar and many more.
We look forward to welcoming new artists to the Pasadena Society of Artists as we approach our 100th anniversary in 2025.
For a Membership Inquiry Form go to: https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/get_involved/join/application.html
Pasadena Society of Artists
P. O. Box 90074
Pasadena, California 91109
www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Facebook: PasadenaSocietyofArtists
Instagram: @pasadenasocietyofartists