Pasadena Society of Artist September 2023 Artist's Choice Exhibition

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WHITE’S FINE ART in MONTROSE

Exhibition can also be viewed at www.issuu.com
2023 Artist Choice Exhibition (ACE)
September 1-30, 2023

Montrose,

2023 Artist’s Choice Exhibition
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September 30, 2023
September
-
courtesy of PSA members. Copyrights held by the artists. All rights reserved.
Exhibition Chair — Lawrence D. Rodgers
Artists represented on the cover: Top : Darien Donner Center: Patricia Fortlage Bottom: S. A. Smith Artwork appears
California
Reception Saturday, September 2, 2023
view this artwork online please visit https://issuu.com/pasadenasocietyofartists This catalog is available for purchase from Blurb.com
Artists’
To

President’s Message

It is my pleasure to introduce the 2023 Artist’s Choice Exhibition. Forty-two PSA artists have entered 74 of their best works for display at Whites Gallery in Montrose, California. Members submitted a wide range of media from traditional painting to ceramics, collage, photography, sculpture and more. This 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 14 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 depending on 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,

Exhibition Chairman’s Welcome

Welcome to the 2023 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 Artist’s 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.

This Artist’s Choice Exhibition catalog is available for purchase. Visit www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org for the direct link to order from Blurb.

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President’s Message 1 Exhibition Chairman’s Welcome 1 Table of Contents 2 Directory of Artists 3 Julianna Aparicio-Curtis 4 MariBeth Baloga 6 Cyndi Bemel 8 Barbara Lai Bennett 10 Mariko Bird 12 Chuka Susan Chesney 14 Sharon Jeniye Cohen 16 Roger Dolin 18 Darien Donner 19 Karen Duckles 20 Martin Ehrlich 22 Maryellen Eltgroth 24 Robert Michael Sullivan 25 Mims Ellis 26 Patricia Fortlage 28 Gina M. 30 Karen Hochman Brown 32 Karen M. Holgerson 34 Jeffry Jensen 36 Joanna Kos 38 Nora Koerber 40 Tommy Lei 42 Warner LeMénager 44 Rosina Maize 46 Chris Moore 48 Albert Natian 50 Victor Picou 52 Rebecca Harvey Pollack 54 Rhonda Raulston 56 George Repetti 58 Kathleen Swaydan 60 Marvin Jackson 62 S. A. Smith 63 Barbara Thorn 64 Suzanne Urquiza 66 Tsvetelina Valkov 68 Ken Weintrub 70 Carolyn Young 72 Jean Richardson 74 Janet Manalo 75 Kevin Hass 76 Sean Yang 77 Contact the Artist 78 PSA Board of Directors 2023–2024 81 Catalog Production Team 81 Artist’s Choice Exhibition History 82 PSA History 82
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Table of Contents
Artist’s Choice Exhibition 2022 Reception

Directory of Artists

Julianna Aparicio-Curtis 4 MariBeth Baloga 6 Cyndi Bemel 8 Barbara Lai Bennett 10 Mariko Bird 12 Chuka Susan Chesney 14 Roger Dolin 18 Darien Donner 19 Karen Duckles 20 Martin Ehrlich 22 Mims Ellis 26 Maryellen Eltgroth 24 Patricia Fortlage 28 Kevin Hass 76 Karen Hochman Brown 32 Karen M. Holgerson 34 Marvin Jackson 62 Sharon Jeniye Cohen 16 Jeffry Jensen 36 Nora Koerber 40 Joanna Kos 38 Tommy Lei 42 Warner LeMénager 44 Gina M. 30 Rosina Maize 46 Janet Manalo 75 Chris Moore 48 Albert Natian 50 Victor Picou 52 Rebecca Harvey Pollack 54 Rhonda Raulston 56 George Repetti 58 Jean Richardson 74 S. A. Smith 63 Robert Michael Sullivan 25 Kathleen Swaydan 60 Barbara Thorn 64 Suzanne Urquiza 66 Tsvetelina Valkov 68 Ken Weintrub 70 Sean Yang 77 Carolyn Young 72
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©
www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org
Artwork appears courtesy of PSA members. Copyrights held by the artists. All rights reserved.
2023 Pasadena Society of Artists
Artist’s Choice 2022 Reception

Abstract Vines

Julianna Aparicio-Curtis

Ink, Pen, Watercolor 18" x 22" $425

This piece has a delicate air and floaty essence. The greens, golds and negative space help push forward the thick black vines and leaves that burst with energy and bring your eye in to take a deeper look. There are four layers of medium in this art piece and it was a joy to create!

4 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

The Burren, County Clare, Ireland

Julianna Aparicio-Curtis

Acrylic 8" x 8" NFS

Ireland stole my heart and took it away the moment we set foot on ground. The Burren in County Clare has the most ethereal landscapes with unusual flora, subterranean terrain, and neolithic rock formations. The fog swept in and the air was so still it was absolutely magic! This little 8” x 8” piece is painted from a picture I took and my dreamy memory of the day.

5 Contact information for this
can be found on page 78.
artist

Dormancy

MariBeth Baloga

Etching and Aquatint 10" x 7.75" $600

If an artwork has some mystery, it invites the viewer to interact with it and to formulate their personal interpretation. I create images set in landscapes that are meant to suggest a state of being or an emotion.

Dormancy is a state of latency and implies a time of reawakening and the promise of a future. This print was inspired by the image of a swaddled baby. It is set in a cool, dark landscape suggesting winter. The roots of this tree provide protected spaces for the babies until they awaken.

6 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Frenzy

MariBeth Baloga

Collage 16" x 10" NFS

Focusing on texture, line and motion, I look to capture some essential element of a state of being. Frenzy is a state of mind that is often a response to anxiety, danger, or uncertainty. The arrangement of the wings in this piece suggests speed, frantic movement, and urgency. An artwork that leaves the viewer with questions and curiosity invites interaction and personal interpretation. What causes this frenzy?

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

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Beyond the Light Cyndi Bemel

Photograph

In the sea of life, joy is what we find when embracing the openness of the horizon, dreaming without limitations, and surrendering to the captivating allure of the sea. The music of the waves rushes in with eagerness, passing on the powerful energy that is seemingly endless. Spending time at the ocean momentarily stops the rush of life and offers a stillness to love the world with gratitude. Can you see my grateful heart?

“I’ll ride the wave where it takes me”

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

– Pearl Jam

13.5" x 10.5" $555
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Forward Bound Cyndi Bemel

Photograph 10.5" x 13.5" $555

Life’s journeys and challenges keep moving us forward, but there is a comforting solace to return to the places that offer inspiration and discovery without end. This road, this place is a perfect fit. I long to return time and time again for the promise of new revelations, comfort and a sanctuary with endless possibilities.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

9 Contact information
can be found on page 78.
for this artist

Indigo Eclipse, Tectonic Shift

Acrylic, Watercolor, Ink, Thread on Linen 72" x 22" $2,300

I embroidered and painted on raw linen for this artwork. I used a long, vertical, unframed piece of fabric as an homage to ancient Chinese scroll paintings. I inserted a part of a different piece in the middle, one whose lines are rendered in ink rather than thread and with a more spontaneous application. It disrupts the formerly smooth connection and creates a more dynamic energy to the piece overall. The different sections are related, but each one is unique. The shapes and lines allude to what we see on earth and in the sky and how they interact with and affect each other.

10 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Barbara Lai Bennett

Moon Flower Mountain

Barbara Lai Bennett

Watercolor, Pencil, Thread on Synthetic Vellum on Paper 30" x 42" NFS

This collage is composed of parts of previous works done over a couple of decades. The oldest is a sketch I did of a mountain on Kauai as the sun rose, tinting the hillsides with soft violets. The most recent was a large pencil drawing on paper. I happened to store the fragments together in a plastic sleeve with the large drawing behind them acting as a unifying backdrop. After some work there was a coalescence that conveyed the feeling of moving air and light, like moonlight drifting over a landscape whose flowers only bloom at night.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

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High-Fire Stoneware 6.5" x 10" x 5" $370

Ginger is one of my favorite vegetables for its taste, nutrition and visual intrigue. They seem to take amusing shapes sometimes. This sculpture is my attempt to stretch their ability a little further.

Ginger Acrobat Mariko Bird
12 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Tropic Mariko Bird

High-Fire Stoneware 13" x 5" x 5" $750

This is a hand-built vase, decorated with colored slips and using the sgraffito technique. Inspired by philodendron leaves, I tried to create a tropical scene where leaves are swaying by the ocean while waves gently come and go.

13 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Pen & Ink, Brush & Ink Wash, Pastel, Colored Pencil 12" x 9" $250

I drew Heather Heyer because I think she was very brave. She believed in equality and fairness. She was a counter-protester at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville and was purposefully run over and killed by 20-year-old James Alex Fields, Jr. Fields has been convicted of second-degree murder and other counts. Heather’s mother said her daughter had a passion for justice.

14 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Heather Heyer Chuka Susan Chesney

Marilyon

Chuka Susan Chesney

Pen & Ink, Brush & Ink Wash, Pastel, Colored Pencil 12" x 9" $250

I drew Marilyn Monroe with a really wide cheek. I was trying to learn about mixing my style, which is usually flat, with incorporating form. I used color temperature and pattern on Marilyn’s skin to show planes of her face advancing and receding. My husband said Marilyn looks like a lion in this drawing. So I was going to title the work “Marilyn Lion.” I put the image on Facebook and then my friend Don Kingfisher Campbell, who is a poet, said her name should be “Marilyon.” Thanks, Don, for naming my painting!

15 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Floating Floral

Sharon Jeniye Cohen

Foil, Mercury Papers, Vinyl on Glass, Integral Frame 9" x 9" $300

“Floating Floral” uses the suggestion of a flower form in layers of foil and iridescent papers with another layer of vinyl on glass to suggest infinite space. The viewer perceives those layers as light changes and emphasizes shadows and layers, constantly developing new shapes.

16 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Gold Labyrinth

Sharon Jeniye Cohen

Mercury Foil, Vinyl on Acrylic Sheet, Integral Frame 12.75" x 12.75" $400

The labyrinth floats over colorful levels and atmospheres. The path may be unknown, but eventually you may arrive at the center or heart, whatever your goal may be. Occasionally you may encounter a dead end and then you change directions and persevere. The lesson may be either the journey or the goal.

17 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Hospital Room Panorama

This is the hospital room I stayed in for a month. Flowers from my not-yet wife, get well cards from our students. The white board that kept track of daily progress. Some of the many visitors - my sister, mother, brother-in-law. The sharps container under the privacy curtain and my feet under the blanket. An homage to all the people involved in my road to recovery.

Roger Dolin Acrylic on Panel 15" x 28" $2,300
18 Contact information for this
can be found on page 78.
artist

Becoming the Season of Past Souls

Darien Donner

Watercolor on Cotton Paper 22.5" x 30" NFS

Navigating our day: unique experiences, new moods, new seasons; what or who has to be left behind; moving towards, retrieving from; endless choices. It seems impossible to manage, yet we get it done -- going to sleep and starting another day. Endless adventure.

19 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Green Leaves

Karen Duckles

Oil on Canvas 30" x 24" $2,000

This is one of a group of paintings with the theme of “Life Force.” It depicts the energy contained in a growing, living entity. I have used a gestural paint application to suggest this energy. The vitality of nature is an inspiration for me.

20 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Yellow Flower

Karen Duckles

Oil on Canvas 30" x 30" $3,000

In this painting I am interested in depicting the vitality and life force of the plant. The flow and physicality of paint is important to me and I use this gestural paint handling to impart a sense of life - the urge of the plant to live and grow.

21 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

It’s Just Colored Dirt

Martin Ehrlich

Raku-fired Ceramics 82" x 16" x 3" $1,850

I was at a PSA member meeting where Richard Cohen demonstrated how he creates his glitter art. He commented that he had people criticize his novel work as “it’s just glitter and glue.”

Tongue in cheek, I decided to name this piece, “It’s Just Colored Dirt,” since clay is just highly refined dirt and I color it with mineral-based glazes that are even higher refined dirt.

information for this artist can be found on page 78.

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Contact

Leilani Estates

Martin Ehrlich

Raku-fired Ceramics 35" x 12" x 5.5" $875

This is a recent addition to my “Kilauea Collection.” It honors and remembers those who lost their homes in the 2018 eruption and lava flow that inundated the Leilani Estates housing development.

We flew over the area in a helicopter after the catastrophe and our pilot pointed out the tip of a television aerial poking about a foot out of the hardened lava flow. He told us, “that is all that is left visible of the house of a friend of mine.”

Pele was very energetic during that eruption. There were 716 homes lost in Leilani Estates. Fortunately no lives were lost.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

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Knee-deep in Runaway Heat

Cibachrome Print 16" x 20" NFS

Yesterday this was a cool, sheltering glade. Today deep silence wraps the land as sycamore and oak flounder in an ocean of ash. One more wild community has perished or fled, leaving scorched soil and spirit to erode. Can we wait another century for this treasured habitat to revive?

This simple photograph documents the aftermath of careless moments. It evokes an impact of reality not present in many other art forms. Sometimes a pure, recorded image just works best.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

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Evening Rhapsody

Robert Michael Sullivan

Photograph on Canvas 15" x 22.5" $850

Looking through the silhouettes of tree trunks and branches, one experiences the exuberant, intense final display of light and color as the day wanes and the sun disappears from view. This is a time to take delight in the day that is passing, and look forward to quiet contemplation as the evening approaches.

25 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Lightning Struck Bough Vase #3

Mims Ellis

Ceramics 12" x 5" x 5" $175

When lightning strikes a tree, it inflicts terrible damage and disfigurement. But out of that frightful event arises a stark beauty of broken and gnarled limbs, limbs that will become a safe nest for some grateful woodland creature. This piece is made with over 50 clay coils in varying heights. Glaze was achieved by dipping the entire piece in the brown color first. Then I dipped a light green/blue over the top third of the piece. These two glazes work together to achieve that wonderful dripping movement.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

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Sea Coral Vase

Mims Ellis

Ceramics 10" x 9" x 4" $300

While snorkeling off the shore of Kauai I saw many beautifully colored corals. I decided to create a piece that reminded me of that wonderful time. This piece is made with over 70 coils in varying heights. To glaze, I first dipped the bottom in blue. Then I brushed the light green above and over part of the blue. Finally, I brushed the coral tips in the pink glaze.

27 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Babylon

Patricia Fortlage

Pigment on Paper (Photographic Fine Art Print) 16" x 20" $500

This fine-art photographic series, “Not as It Seems,” tests assumptions and encourages contemplation. What do you see? Are you sure? We are living in a time when jumping to conclusions has become sport. We’re quick. We’re decisive. Are we right? How can we be so quick in our conclusions when so much of what surrounds us is made up? None of the pieces in this series is what it first seems, the end result not being a representation of materials used. Can you figure them out? To create each piece, I first draft out an idea for a scene that I want to achieve. From there, I build a physical (mini) theatrical set that I submerge in water. I watch the freezing process until I have achieved the desired ‘ripeness.’ Once removed from the mold, I light and photograph the sculpture as quickly as possible before it disappears.

28 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

This current fine-art photographic series is titled “Not as It Seems.” What do you see? Are you sure? Fake news has become an art form. It’s everywhere. This series as a whole provides us a challenge, an opportunity to question our own beliefs and assumptions. How quickly am I convinced of what I see? What is the evidence that supports this? Is it credible? None of these pieces is what it first seems, the end result rarely being a representation of materials used. I hope you will take the time to test yourself -- test your assumptions and hopefully enjoy the exploration. What do you see?

Octopus Patricia Fortlage Pigment on Paper (Photographic Fine Art Print) 16" x 20" $500
29 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 78.

Recapture the Flag

Gina M.

Oil on Board 26" x 35" $2,000

What do you think of when you see the American flag? MAGA? GOP? Trumpers? It’s not the unifier it used to be. It will take some heavy rebranding to recapture the flag so it represents all Americans again.

30 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

This man must know the hypocrisy of the ad on this bus bench stating, “Trust that moves you.” He is here everyday at the same time. It is home, for now. Until someone moves him.

UnHoused Gina M. Photograph 20" x 20" $500
31 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Black and White In Color - Polar Quills Akimbo

Karen Hochman Brown

Archival Pigment Print 16" x 16" $300

When the Macintosh computer came out 39 years ago, I fell in love and have collaborated with computers to make my art ever since. I appreciated how the computer brought mathematics and art together seamlessly. Each interaction with the computer and software presents a puzzle that my logic-loving mind adores. At first the tools were rudimentary. The pixel matrix was crude and each pixel was either black or white. The graphic software was basic and clunky. There was only one level of undo. It was over a decade until home computer graphics were able to produce in color.

Eventually the software became sophisticated enough to create professional-level images. I discovered several programs that have become core to my practice. For this series, I input a visual reference image and the computer applies virtual brushstrokes to the “canvas.” I am at the helm developing brushes and control all aspects of appearance and application.

32 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Black and White In Color - Open Wide

Karen Hochman Brown

Digital Print 16" x 16" $300

In my “Black and White in Color” (BWiC) series, I am returning to the world of grayscale, but with a twist. Using grayscale images of geometric figures as my source, I am letting the computer interpret the stark reference material into vivid colors by using a randomization factor and amping up the values.

With “BWiC - Polar Quills Akimbo,” my simple square image is transformed into an undulating series of brushstrokes that are applied in a grid pattern starting at the border and progressing toward the center. The angle and flow of the brushstrokes are dictated by a variety of factors including a polar-space algorithm and luminescence adjustment that together skew the square.

“BWiC – Open Wide” started out as concentric squares, but I stretched and reflected the computer-drawn image to change the symmetry of the final artwork.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

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Autumn is a favorite time of the year for me. Although I’ve spent most of my life in California, I grew up in Wisconsin and attended university in Minnesota, where autumn colors are vibrant, especially in late September through October. This October I’ll be spending two weeks in early October in Michigan, where I’ll be surrounded by all the bright autumn hues and abundant wildlife.

34 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Autumn Hues Karen M. Holgerson Fabric Collage on Board 18" x 24" $1,500

My friends tell me I have a garden with a house rather than a house with a garden. It’s an astute comment, I think. I have an eclectic collection of trees and plants as well as a variety of birds at my three feeders. My garden is where my imagination is always alive and ready to do art. This floral piece is a fanciful take on what has a home there.

Poetic Prose Karen M. Holgerson Fabric Collage on Board 24" x 18" $1,500
35 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Agave Spirit

Jeffry Jensen

Digital Photograph 14" x 11" $360

After a rain storm, I noticed that the agave plants were filled with moisture and filled with spirit. There were droplets of water covering the plants. The agave was speckled with fresh spirit. The plant has absorbed this spirit and has the ability to grow stronger and wiser. Like the plant, we can come away wiser also. This holy plant is our inspiration. It has beautiful lines and simple shapes that glisten. Out of the darkness, there will be a beam of fresh light.

36 Contact information for
this artist can be found on page 79.

The Weeping Window Jeffry Jensen

Digital Photograph 11" x 14" $360

With all the rain that we’ve had, I’ve been struck by how many fascinating images I’ve come upon almost by accident. I happened to look at a bedroom window and noticed the rain streaks that washed over the window. So I see a window weeping from the past, but there is a reflection of a fence and a sky that is beginning to show some brightness. The past may hang on, but there is potential for a brighter future ahead. I wanted to find hope in what life has to offer.

37 Contact information
for this artist can be found on page 79.

Fighting Gravity

Joanna Kos

Oil on Canvas 36" x 24" $2,900

“Fighting Gravity” is an expression of sheer human potential, which, through knowledge and invention, has allowed people to rise beyond the confines of Earth. It is also an allusion to the power of the human spirit within the realm of emotion, an energy that lets us overcome fear, sadness, and other feelings that make our existence difficult.

38 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Quiet Tornado

Joanna Kos

Oil on Canvas 24" x 18" $1,500

This painting refers to a brief moment of silence just before violent events. These first air turbulences look harmless, but they have devastating potential. It is also a metaphor for the state of mind where there is absolute calm before any restless thought destroys our inner peace.

39 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Delighted

at Descanso

Nora Koerber

Oil on Linen Panel 12" x 16" $475

This is a plein air work done on-site in two visits. It was painted in an Impressionistic manner with a painterly approach. I sought to describe just what I saw, without artifice, “focal point,” “enhanced light,” or anything but what it was. These experiences, painting on-site, connect me with nature.

40 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Seeing Red at Descanso

Oil on Linen Panel 9" x 12" $350

This was a work done on-site, alla prima, which literally means, “at the first” or “at once,” meaning done in one take. With all the detail that was before me, this was a daunting task, but I seem to be drawn to complexity. I saw a number of different reds, from cool to warm, and the afternoon light helped things along. The phrase “seeing red” is antithetical to the mood of the moment I felt when painting these roses. It felt warm and deep, like the red I was seeing. I think I can take a worn phrase and turn it around if I want to because, well, I’m an artist.

41 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

East Village

Tommy Lei

Digital Photograph printed on Canson Infinity Rag Photographique Paper 21.13" x 24.13" $1,200

When it comes to capturing the essence of New York City’s East Village, there’s nothing quite like a golden-hour sunset photograph. This iconic sight is familiar to most New Yorkers, but it’s often missed by those who are too busy shopping on 5th Avenue or seeking attention at the hipster bars of Williamsburg. But for those who take the time to appreciate it, the golden-hour sunset over the East Village is a breathtaking display of the city’s beauty. It’s New York in its entirety, in all its glamorous flesh.

42 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Tommy Lei

Digital Photograph printed on Canson Infinity Rag Photographique Paper

21.88" x 26.88" $1,200

Nestled beneath a flourishing tapestry of bougainvillea, a magnificent collision occurs between two supermarket shopping carts. This serendipitous encounter transcends the mundane, transforming into a captivating moment frozen in time—a kaleidoscope of breathtaking curiosity. Who could have predicted that a routine visit to the neighborhood Trader Joe’s would unveil a profound revelation about the interconnectedness of our destinies? It serves as a vivid reminder that we not only inhabit this world but are essential agents, propelling our purpose forward with an irresistible force. In this cosmic symphony, we embody both the catalyst and the consequence, forever entwined in the eternal dance of cause and effect.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Kismet
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Ginkgo Fall Leaves Black Warner LeMénager

Photograph 11" x 16.5" $500

We can go through many neighborhoods here in southern California and see ginkgo trees lit up with their yellow-orange leaves in the fall. The city of San Marino has many, but if you visit the Huntington Gardens you will see an array of them in both the Chinese and Japanese Gardens with slight differences due to their origin. The leaf holds such importance in Asia it is the logo of Tokyo.

44 Contact information for
can be found
this artist
on page 79.

Pumpkins

Warner LeMénager

Photograph 15" x 15" $400 each, $700 pair

These are two images of pumpkin art from Japan. An artist has gone around the country making these pumpkins, which seem to average about six feet tall. Print 1A (top) is from the city of Fukuoka and sits at one of the entrances to their city art gallery; it is in a park area with a fantastic lake. It is a hotbed of activity on Sundays when weather allows. Print 1B (bottom) is from Kyoto and is in front of the entrance to the traditional arts center at Gion Corner, a theatre in the geisha district. Amongst the arts performed at the theater are dancing by a maiko, solo, or maybe with a geiko; a tea ceremony; puppeteering; and other arts. To the artist, Yayoi Kusama, pumpkins are representative of stability, comfort and modesty.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

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A New Day Rosina Maize Oil on Stretched Canvas 8" x 16" $750

During a brisk winter morning, I came upon a flock of seagulls silently gathering along the surf’s edge. They were intent on their thoughts as they stared out to sea, not flying off as they usually do when a person passes. I stopped to watch. Gradually, they made their decision. First one, then another, headed out across the waves following the leader into the new day.

46 Contact information for this
can be found on page 79.
artist

Spring Grass

Rosina Maize

Oil on Linen Panel 9" x 12" $650

As I was painting the beautiful majestic cliffs in Zion, I noticed a deer enjoying the tender spring grass near me. Each time I looked up, more of the herd appeared. Despite the cold springtime breeze and near-freezing temperature, it was a delightful experience.

47 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Mad Love II

Chris Moore

Metal I-Beam Sculpture 54" x 13" x 40" $650

I repurpose found objects and scrap metal in ways they were not meant to be used. There is beauty even in junkyard remnants and discarded machine parts and it is an exercise in design to take such elements and attach them to one another in interesting ways. I love the look of heavy, industrial-grade metal arranged in such a way as to make it seem light and pretty.

48 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Set the Controls

Chris Moore

Assembled Found Metal Objects 30" x 16" x 50" $350

This is what happens when you take several unrelated pieces of remnant steel and some bicycle sprockets that don’t need to take up more space in a landfill somewhere, then see what happens when they are all welded together. What started out as an exercise to combat writer’s block for artists turned into “Set the Controls.”

49 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

One can imagine intelligent aliens living in a corner of our galaxy who are on an evolutionary and technological trajectory of generational transformations that will result in their progeny of transaliens. If transhumans and transaliens will ever contact, how will they understand each other and see the world for what it is and not for what they wish it to be? How will they lay common foundations of understanding upon which they will together erect an edifice of objective knowledge about the world? How will they thereby coexist and flourish?

Transalien Albert Natian Pen and Ink on Paper 7" x 10" $1,400
50
Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Transhumanism advocates the enhancement of the human condition by developing sophisticated technologies that greatly enhance longevity and cognition, resulting in new generations of transhumans and eventually posthumans. Biologist Julian Huxley popularized the term “transhumanism” in an influential 1957 essay. The Journal of Posthuman Studies addresses such questions as what makes us human in this age of technological, scientific, cultural, and social evolution and how this will all change in a distant future.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Transhuman Albert Natian Pen and Ink on Paper 7" x 10" $1,400
51

Hot Chocolate Card Party

Victor Picou

Cotton Thread and Acrylic on Canvas 12" x 16" $1,000

Bright colors, stitching and patience brought this piece to life along with my love of card parties, hot chocolate and chocolate-chip cookies. Creating with needle and thread is without tool sounds, and a quiet meditative experience.

52 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Life is Beautiful

Victor Picou

Acrylic 30" x 40" $6,000

“Life Is Beautiful,” created entirely with Q-tips, was my first painting using pointillism. My love of birds, trees, color and life, and my appreciation of color guided this composition point by point.

53 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Geranium Leaves

Rebecca Harvey Pollack

Watercolor on Arches Paper 10" x 13" NFS

This is a watercolor study of a fallen geranium cutting. I was intrigued by the gesture of the branch, the curling leaves, and the delicate cast shadows.

54 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Weeds

Rebecca Harvey Pollack

Zinc Plate Etching 12" x 10" $200

This is a zinc-plate etching of weeds that I found in an overgrown, neglected yard. Their intricacy and delicacy captured my attention. I enjoyed drawing them and, ultimately, creating this print.

55 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Blue Wall - Nubian Village, Aswan, Egypt - 2022

As a photographer, I try to capture unguarded moments, always as an observer without making my presence known. This series focuses on simple moments as women go through a routine day. I cannot know their errands or thoughts, their worries or their joys, but I imagine that these women - contemporaries in time - but separated by vast cultural, religious, and technological differences are remarkably similar in their humanity – in their love for their families, their daily concerns, their simple joys, and pleasures.

The blue wall, the black tuk-tuk and the black-robed and regally serene woman captivated me.

56 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Rhonda Raulston Photograph 9.5" x 14" $350

Yellow Wall - Český Krumlov, Czechia - 2021

Photograph 14" x 12" $350

As a photographer, I try to capture unguarded moments, always as an observer without making my presence known. This series focuses on simple moments as women go through a routine day. I cannot know their errands or thoughts, their worries or their joys, but I imagine that these women - contemporaries in time - but separated by vast cultural, religious, and technological differences are remarkably similar in their humanity – in their love for their families, their daily concerns, their simple joys, and pleasures.

The yellow wall, the pink scooter, and the mini-skirted woman on her phone were a wonderful addition to this series.

57 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Rhonda Raulston

Lotus Blossom

George Repetti

Photograph

This picture was taken at Echo Park, located in the east-central region of Los Angeles, with my 70-300mm Nikon DX lens because the flower was in the water a good distance away from me. I like the way the light covers the flower as well as the details and the background. It is in a white frame with a double mat which I think is ideally suited for the picture.

11" x 14" $115
58 Contact information for this
can be found on page 80.
artist

Photograph on Archival Ink Jet Paper 13" x 19" $115

One can find many blossoming magnolia trees in the Burbank area, but the tree containing the flower I took a picture of has been cut down. It was next to a duranta bush from which the blossom that sits on the tip of the magnolia fell.

Magnolia George Repetti
59 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Down the Trail

Kathleen Swaydan

Oil on Linen Panel 5" x 7" $195

“Down the Trail” depicts a segment of the Gabrielino Trail just above the ranger station. The mountains in the background lead to Angeles Crest Highway. The streambed on the right can be dry most of the year. When filled with water, it drains into the Devil’s Gate Dam. This scene no longer exists as it was dramatically changed after the heavy rains this past winter and spring. The Greek and Roman tradition of landscape and still life paintings discovered in Pompeii has been a primary influence for my art. Those images provided a private devotional area or visual banquet for the guests and evoked an impression of hospitality and generosity. That ancient tradition is the undertone of my artwork.

60 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Upper Arroyo

Oil on Linen Panel 8" x 6" $225

“Upper Arroyo” depicts a northern view of the Arroyo Seco adjacent to a spreading basin. I have frequented this trail for over 40 years. It is in a constant state of flux making it a great place to paint. I am primarily a studio artist but like to paint outside on occasion. Early on I was influenced by the ancient Greek and Roman tradition of landscape and still life paintings found in guest quarters in the private homes discovered in Pompeii. Those images provided a private devotional area and visual banquet for guests and evoked an impression of hospitality and generosity. That ancient tradition is the undertone of my artwork.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

61

Citrus Fruit

Marvin Jackson

Oil on Belgian Linen 32" x 22" $1,000

I wanted to paint a still life. I set objects on a table, then I saw this photograph of an orange tree in a flower pot with a lime cut in half in the background in a magazine. I immediately thought of Salvador Dali. I was then inspired by Dali’s painting “The Persistence of Memory” to create a painting of the image on a beach.

62 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Guardians of a Lost Soul

Acrylic, Assemblage, Applique, Foil on Board 18" x 24" x 3" $950

My works present dreams and stories. Dream-based elements may not always make sense, but they create their own relationships for the viewer to encounter. Each interaction takes the viewer down a unique path into the life of the artwork. Together they create a personal and unique narrative.

“Guardians of a Lost Soul” has a direct genesis from the old English folk song “Three Ravens.” The various visual elements come specifically from the ballad, inviting the viewer to create a unique personal story. Every interaction results in a new tale and each one has validity. As the artist, I am simply a tool, like a paintbrush or pencil, employed to make a work manifest. The works contain mysteries even I cannot always decipher … sometimes it is good to have a little mystery in one’s life. 63

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Mardi Gras

Barbara Thorn

Watercolor on Arches Watercolor Paper, Colored Feathers 19" x 13.5" $450

I’ve always loved the colorful costumes and festivities of Mardi Gras. I wanted to create a painting depicting the mood, beauty and celebration of this historical event. And let’s face it, there’s no place quite like the “Big Easy” when celebrating Mardi Gras, the holiday of indulgence. The world is a stage when it comes to the Big Easy. Mardi Gras is even a state holiday in Louisiana!

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

64

She’s a Clown

Barbara Thorn

Watercolor on Arches Watercolor Paper, Mixed Media with Gesso and Pastel

18.5" x 13.75" $450

After viewing a photograph of an advertisement at a Capezio dance shoe store, I decided to create my own clown. “She’s a Clown” is a mixed-media rendition of a young girl with a forlorn look in her eyes. I used droplets of white gesso for her hair, which created a three-dimensional effect. I highlighted her hair and collar with watercolor and pastel. I hope I created a dreamy and pensive look.

this artist can be found on page 80.

65
Contact information for

Floral Splendor

Oil on Canvas 24" x 36" $800

I began my artistic journey painting florals more than 40 years ago; I have a genuine love for bringing them to life on canvas. I often return to painting florals as they are the jewels of nature and bring me joy.

This is how I see and paint daffodils and most flowers. My palette is bright, popping with color and organic depth. I often change the structure and color as my imagination takes over and the flower is transformed.

66 Contact information for
can be found
this artist
on page 80.

The Jogger Suzanne Urquiza

Oil on Canvas 22" x 28" $800

While walking in my canyon I spotted a man jogging; it was a perfect setting for a painting. Later I found him; after asking a few questions it turned out to be him. I am so happy to connect with people I paint.

67 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Side Effects - 1

Tsvetelina Valkov

Watercolor Monoprint 14" x 11" $750

This monoprint is created in а range of pastel colors that builds layers of radiating circles. Thanks to the sheer quality of the watercolors, the circles overlap with each other to resemble colorful reflections of rain drops.

68 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Side Effects - 2

Tsvetelina Valkov

Watercolor Monoprint 14" x 11" $750

Because this artwork is a watercolor monoprint, there is always a moment of unpredictable effect that the printing press delivers. It works, though, favorably in merging the details of the composition, and harmonizing the color palettes used, as well.

69 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Square Series #92

Ken Weintrub

Acrylic on Cradled Board 20" x 20" $1,800

When I first began this series I chose the square because I thought it had no social or cultural meaning and I could be free to express emotional content through the elements of painting itself, i.e., value, color, texture, shape, relationship, size, and line (in this series that is usually direction or movement). However, I was mistaken. I have come to realize the square is a symbol of balance, honesty, agreement, and being on the level, as in “square up,” “a square deal,” “square with,” “on the square,” etc. I still have the same pure freedom of expression, now with the awareness of the shape as a representation of finer aspiration. 70 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Square Series #116

Ken Weintrub

Oil on Panel 9" x 12" $360

This work explores physical and visual textures, space division, depth and flatness, movement and relationship on a multi-layered surface that gives the impression of age, wear, and honest use. It is a relatively small piece that draws the viewer into more and more visual realizations as one takes the time to contemplate it and discover them.

71 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Mary Carolyn Young

Watercolor and Ink 16" x 12" NFS

Mary is a praying mantis that lived on my patio for three weeks recently. She was very friendly with me and I would carry her out to my deck in the afternoon for a visit. It was a special time.

72 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Poppies

Carolyn

Young

Watercolor and Ink on Mineral Paper 11" x 14" NFS

We had a superbloom of poppies this spring after all the rain we had. I couldn’t help but paint them. They are so simple in construction, four to five petals, and such purity of brilliant orange color. This purity makes them special to me. They also come and go, always surprising me. You don’t need to buy and plant. They just pop up with the first light of spring. And if you’re lucky, they spread.

73 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

The River You Do Not See

Jean Richardson

Oil 30" x 40" $700

In nature, it is often what you do not see that is most interesting and powerful. The currents and rocky bottoms of rivers are hidden and not apparent until you immerse yourself and can fully experience the power and the complexity. This is true of rivers, oceans, forests, and canyons and so much more. Enter with respect and awe.

74 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

Coming into Focus Janet Manalo

Acrylic Paint and Pencil on Canvas 32" x 32" $600

My 2-am muse visited me recently. The next day, I recalled floating, fuzzy geometric shapes and began working on the canvas. I wasn’t sure where the direction would take me, nor was I focused on anything specific. In addition to using brushes, I also applied and removed acrylic paint with rags and paper towels. Some areas are shaded with colored pencils. After two weeks, the title “Coming Into Focus” popped into my head. During the process, I sent images to poet Suzanne Bruce. She and I have created many collaborative ekphrastic pieces. She wrote a captivating poem, titled “Geometric Sound,” which is posted on-line at www.EkphrasticExpressions.com.

75 Contact information for this artist can be found on page 79.

Pure Motion

Kevin Hass

Archival Inkjet Photographic Print 15" x 10" $700

is is an image from my “Pandemic Project.” It was started as a creative outlet while avoiding too much exposure - to COVID-19, that is. I very much appreciate vintage figure-study photographs of the early 1900s. Working to recreate that look through the use of vintage camera diffusion filters on a digital camera was an interesting part of the project. This photograph was produced in the camera to give me exactly what I saw in my mind’s eye.

for this artist can be found on page 78.

76
information
Contact

Etudes of a Man #7

Watercolor, Ink, Rock Salt on Paper 17" x 13" $350

Cobalt(II) carbonate(CoCO3) melts very actively in oxidation and if it’s mixed into a fluid frit base in a high enough percentage, it will completely crystallize during cooling. “Etudes of a Man #7” works as a blueprint that will be printed on a form of decal paper for a product design element. It is an exercise to improve the technique or demonstrate the skill of the art maker as a craftsman and fine artist. “Etudes of a Man #7” is intended to be transferred onto ceramic tiles for a site-specific installation project.

Contact information for this artist can be found on page 80.

77

Julianna Aparicio-Curtis

Contact the Artist

julianna.m.curtis@gmail.com

https://juliannamarieartist.com

FB: juliannaapariciocurtis IG: @juliannamarieartist

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/julianna-curtis/julianna-curtis.html

MariBeth Baloga

Cyndi Bemel

mbbaloga@gmail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/maribeth-baloga/maribeth-baloga.html

cbemel3@me.com

FB: cyndibemel

https://cyndibemel.com

IG: @cbemel3@me.com

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

Mariko Bird marikoceramics@gmail.com

FB: marikobird

http://www.marikobird.com

IG: @marikobird

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/bird/mariko-bird.html

Chuka Susan Chesney chukasusanchesney@gmail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/chesney/chuka-susan-chesney.html

Roger Dolin

roger@muralenvironments.com

FB: roger.dolin

https://rogerdolin.com

IG: @rogerdolin

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/roger-dolin/roger-dolin.html

Darien Donner dariendonner@gmail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/darien-donner/darien-donner.html

Karen Duckles karenduckles@gmail.com

https://karenduckles.com

IG: @duckles_karen

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/karen-duckles/karen-duckles.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

FB: mimsellisceramics 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

Patricia Fortlage

patti@patriciafortlage.com

https://www.patriciafortlage.com/ IG: @patricia.fortlage

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/patricia-fortlage/patricia-fortlage.html

Kevin Hass kevinhassphoto@aol.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/kevin-hass/kevin-hass.html

78

Contact the Artist

Karen Hochman Brown hochmanbrown@gmail.com

https://www.hochmanbrown.com/

FB: KarenHochmanBrownArtist IG: @hochmanbrown

Vimeo: @hochmanbrown

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/brown/brown.html

Karen M. Holgerson kmholgerson@msn.com kattail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/karen-holgerson/karen-holgerson.html

Marvin Jackson jacksonmarvin4@gmail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/jackson/jackson.html

Sharon Jeniye Cohen sljcohen@earthink.net

www.portfoliosharon.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/sharon-jeniye-cohen/sharon-jeniye-cohen.html

Jeffry Jensen jjensen011@earthlink.net

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/jensen/jeffry-michael-jensen.html

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

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

Gina M. homiebase@earthlink.net artistginam.com

IG: @artistginam

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/gina-m/gina-m.html

Rosina Maize RMaize@charter.net

RosinaMaize.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/rosina-maize/rosina-maize.html

Janet Manalo jrmana@pacbell.net www.JanetManalo.com

IG: @JanetManalo20

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/manalo/janet-manalo.html

Chris Moore cemoore102903@yahoo.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/christopher-l-moore/moore.html

Albert Natian albert.natian@gmail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/natian/albert-natian.html html

79

Victor Picou

Contact the Artist

vicpicou@charter.net

victorpicou.com

IG: @victorpicou

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/picou/victor-picou.html

Rebecca Harvey Pollack beckpollack@gmail.com

FB: Rebecca Harvey Pollack, IG: @RebeccaHPollack

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/pollack/rebecca-harvey-pollack.html

Rhonda Raulston rlraulston@gmail.com

RhondaRaulston.com

FB: RaulstonART IG: @RaulstonART

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/raulston/rhonda-raulston.html

George Repetti igrep12@yahoo.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/george-repetti/george-repetti.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 www.smithartonline.wordpress.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/smith/sa-smith.html

Robert Michael Sullivan bob@robertsullivan.us

RobertMichaelSullivan.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/sullivan/robert-michael-sullivan.html

Kathleen Swaydan kdswaydan@gmail.com

kathleenswaydan.com

FB: kathleen swaydan, kathy swaydan IG: @kswaydan

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/swayden/swayden.html

Barbara Thorn betotto@gmail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/thorn-otto/barbara-thorn-otto.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

Carolyn Young cjymesalila@gmail.com

https://www.pasadenasocietyofartists.org/artists/carolyn-young/young.html

80

Pasadena Society of Artists Board of Directors 2023 - 2024

President: Kathleen Swaydan President@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org

Executive Vice President: Robert Asa Crook VicePresident@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org

Vice President - Exhibitions: Lawrence D. Rodgers Exhibitions@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org

Recording Secretary: Rhonda Raulston Secretary@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org

Treasurer: Kathleen Swaydan 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: Art Carrillo MembersatLarge@PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org

Member at Large: Liz Crimzon 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

Treasurer: Kathleen Swaydan

Technical Lead: Rhonda Raulston

Instagram Content: Gina M.

Facebook Content: George Paul Miller

Webmaster: Fred Chuang

Catalog Designer: Lawrence D. Rodgers

Cover Design: Karen Hochman Brown

81

A Short History of the Artist’s Choice Exhibition

The Pasadena Society of Artists began the Artist’s 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 “Artist’s Choice” exhibition work, you ask? Simply put, an “Artist’s 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 Artist’s 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 2023 Artist’s Choice Exhibition carries on this tradition. It is the tenth in the series and will be presented online for a worldwide audience and in gallery. Forty-two members are presenting 74 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, Katherine B. Stetson and Marion Wachtel.

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.

www.PasadenaSocietyofArtists.org

Facebook: PasadenaSocietyofArtists

Instagram: @pasadenasocietyofartists

82

Call for New Members

Are you an artist?

Throughout Pasadena Society of Artists’ 98-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

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