Art Inspired by County Parks

The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission, with the County Park Foundation, and the County Art in Public Places Committee presents an exhibition Art Inspired by County Parks to open with a reception on Wednesday, February 23, 2011, from 4-6pm, at the Betteravia Government Center Gallery, 511 E. Lakeside, Santa Maria. This is an exhibition that celebrates the outdoors and highlights the beauty and diversity of some of the most picturesque parks and special places in California overseen by Santa Barbara County Parks.

Twenty-two artists chosen for the exhibition from an artist call-for-entries: Kit Boise-Cossart, Mark Bright, Marcia Burtt, Chris Chapman, Kate Connell, Bill Dewey, Noah Erenberg, Tom Fayram, Mary Freericks, Elizabeth Hallowell, Julie Harris, Carolyn M. Hubbs, Larry Iwerks, Hilda Kilpatrick, Alan P. L. Liu, Nadya Penoff, Chris Potter, Nicole Strasburg, Rebecca Stebbins, Nancy Taliaferro, Roe Anne White, Deborah Traer. This exhibition will celebrate the beauty and diversity of these unique resources with a wide variety of artist styles and media.

The juror for the exhibition was Scott Canty, who is currently the Curator/Director of the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Senior Curator for Los Angeles World Airport exhibition program and Director of the DCA Slide Registry. In addition, Canty also serves as the Director of Exhibitions at the Palos Verdes Art Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA. Canty received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University Long Beach in 1983, with an emphasis on drawing and painting and an Associate Arts degree from El Camino College in Advertising Design in 1980.

Santa Barbara County Parks is the steward of over 2,000 acres of parks, beaches, open spaces, historical landmarks, and miles of trails all over the county. The Santa Barbara County Park Foundation’s mission is to sustain and enhance regional parks, trails and open spaces through community partnerships and volunteer efforts and serves as a vehicle for private donations that can supplement public funding for our parks and open spaces. Some of the artworks featured in the competition are featured in a 2011 Santa Barbara County Parks calendar.