LOCUS I: Art and Craft of Claremont and the Region Opens July 22 at the Claremont Museum of Art
Special Media Preview Thursday, July 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Director, Curator and Artists in Attendance
with nylon strapping.
Claremont, CA (July 16, 2007)—Members of the media are invited to preview the Claremont Museum of Art’s next exhibition, LOCUS I: Art and Craft of Claremont and the Region on Thursday, July 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. All 13 participating artists will be in attendance, as well as the exhibit’s curator and the Museum’s director.
LOCUS I is the first of a series of exhibitions by the Claremont Museum of Art devoted to presenting the art currently being produced in and around Claremont. The word “locus” is the Latin word for “locality” or “place.” With LOCUS I, the Museum seeks to offer visitors a snapshot of the dynamic artistic environment of Claremont and the Pomona Valley. The exhibit opens July 22 and runs through September 2.
Representing a variety of media, the 13 artists included in LOCUS I vary broadly in age and represent both art and craft traditions. They include Dee Marcellus Cole, Gary Geraths, Crispin Gonzalez, Rebecca Hamm, Amy Maloof, Chuck Moffit, Michael O’Malley, Thomas Pathé, Susan Rankaitis, Juan Thorp, Ruth Trotter, Michael Woodcock, and Connie Zehr.
“We’re pleased to introduce this group of artists in our second exhibition,” said Museum Executive Director William Moreno. “LOCUS I continues the museum’s exploration of interesting and compelling regional works. The show is composed of both young and mid-career artists. All are accomplished with unique points-of-view. The range of work is quite varied, and we are excited to bring a focus on this talented group.”
LOCUS I curator Steve Comba said choosing a representative group of artists from such a large pool was neither easy nor arbitrary. “Ultimately, I chose to focus on what I believe to be the core reason Claremont and its sister communities can justifiably lay claim to the title ‘art center’ – education. Artists congregate in communities for many reasons, chief among them natural beauty (Laguna Beach), commerce (New York), and education, with the complex of opportunities and values it represents.”
The LOCUS I artists are affiliated with one of the Pomona Valley’s many colleges, including Pomona College, Scripps College, Pitzer College, the University of La Verne, Chaffey College, Cal Poly Pomona, and Mt. San Antonio College, as well as one or more of the ‘art colonies’ of Pomona, Upland, and Claremont. Comba said, “Over the past 15 or so years, reclaimed commercial areas such as downtown Pomona and Ontario have experienced a renaissance, with artists, galleries, shops, and performance venues as driving forces. Likewise, the availability of large industrial spaces in cities like Upland and Claremont has led to new opportunities for studios. What seems at first a single reason for living and working in an area soon becomes many, and, before you know it, you’re living in an “art colony.”
LOCUS I Schedule of Events:
Media Preview
Thursday, July 19, 2007, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Public Opening Reception
Saturday, July 21, 2007, 5–7 p.m.
Exhibit Dates
Sunday, July 22 – Sunday, September 2, 2007
Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission: $3.00 for adults; those under 18 are admitted free.
The Great Art Hunt
Sunday, July 22 – Sunday, September 2, 2007, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Explore and interact with LOCUS I artworks by studying them closely as you try to match “art part bubbles” to each other and to the artworks in this fun and challenging matching game. There are three levels of difficulty. Receive a prize when you turn in your completed cards at the welcome desk. Free with admission.
Family Days at the Museum: “LOCUS-Focus: Reconstructing a Memory of PlaceSunday, July 22 and August 19, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Bring your friends and family to our free art-making activity in the Packing House atrium. On July 22, you’ll create a mixed media postcard that tells a story about a special place in your neighborhood or places you’ve traveled to. On August 19, we’ll dive into another LOCUS I-themed activity.
Curator/Artist Gallery Talks
Sunday, July 22 and August 19, 2 p.m.
Join LOCUS I Curator Steve Comba and a few LOCUS I artists on an informal tour and discussion about the exhibition, as well as the art and craft in the region. Free with admission.
Meet the Artists Lecture Series
Saturday, July 28 and Thursday, August 23, 7 p.m.
Come hear a few of the LOCUS I artists discuss their art and craft and what it means to be an artist in this region. Facilitated by LOCUS I Curator Steve Comba. Free to members; non-members $5.
First Friday Art Walk
Friday, August 3, 5–8 p.m.
On the first Friday of every month, the Museum stays open late and offers free admission after 5 p.m. as part of Claremont’s monthly First Friday Art Walk throughout the Village.
Art Workshop: “Magical, Mythical Creatures”
Saturday, August 11, 1–4 p.m.
This hands-on workshop will explore the “Flying Carnival Seekers” of LOCUS I artist Dee Marcellus Cole, who will introduce you to the Latin and South American themes and materials that have inspired her flying sculptures currently on display in the Packing House atrium. Create your own soft sculpture creature with paper and other simple materials. Suitable for ages eight and up. The cost is $45 for child/adult pairs ($40 for members) and $30 for individuals ($25 for members). All materials supplied.
Art Dialogues and Gallery Tours
Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Docents are available in the galleries most weekends for informal conversations about the Museum’s permanent collection and LOCUS I. Docent-led group tours are available by appointment.