L.A. Art Class Gives Rare Access to Studios and Sites
Submitted by: Lynwood Associates
2008-05-08 00:07:16
Los Angeles, CA (OPENPRESS) May 7, 2008 -- Art lovers will get a rare chance to visit artists' studios and other exclusive artistic destinations in the Los Angeles area through Steen Art Study's 2008 Summer Salon.
Early registration is strongly encouraged because the class is already almost full. Class size is limited to 30, and there are only 10 spaces left. A Tuesday section is already sold out.
Professor Ron Steen, art historian, will lead class members on a treasure hunt that includes visits to two high-end artists' studios, a premier private art collection, selected art galleries and a prized architectural site that is normally closed to the public.
The five-week salon will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays from July 31 through Aug. 28. There will be a luncheon orientation on July 31 and an extra morning session on Aug. 7.
For registration and more info, please visit www.SteenArtStudy.com or contact SteenArtStudy@sbcglobal.net or L. Jaross at (818) 790-2328.
Field trips will take class members to locations ranging from downtown Los Angeles to Glendale, Culver City, West Hollywood and Long Beach. Exact addresses will be provided to class members after registration. Steen Art Study will assist registrants in carpooling. Destinations focus on contemporary art made in southern California, which has emerged as a global center for art production.
The class begins at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 31 with a luncheon orientation followed by a visit to the studio of versatile artist Sandow Birk. He has an extensive history of national and international exhibits, prestigious grants and awards. Much of Birk's art addresses American life today, often with an emphasis on social issues. Recently he finished a major project of putting Dante's "Divine Comedy" into current English with illustrations set in contemporary urban America.
Class members will also get to tour the studio of artist Marina Moevs. She is known for her breathtaking oil paintings of landscapes that seem serene, yet have a surreal quality. Artists will be present to discuss their work during studio visits.
Another highlight will be visiting a private contemporary art collection. Steen praises the collection as "one of the top three contemporary realist collections in southern California." It consists primarily of figurative art and includes work by Aaron Smith, Tim Lowly, Jeffrey Gold and Alex Gross, as well as a large selection of contemporary photographs.
Another unusual treat for Summer Salon members will be a home by architect Rudolf M. Schindler. The public is seldom allowed inside the architectural gem. Schindler was an Austrian-American modernist architect who worked in Los Angeles during the mid-20th century. The Schindler house to be visited is one of his least altered works, with beautiful, complex interior spaces and built-in furniture.
Steen will also guide the class through exhibitions at two elite art galleries. At a gallery in Culver City, they will see a group show by Master of Fine Art graduate students from Laguna College of Art and Design and the distinguished artists who serve as their "mentors." The show will debut realistic art that is "fresh off the easel" by some of today's newest artists, Steen says. The exhibit will include works by mentors such as Wes Christensen, Darlene Campbell, D.J. Hall and Barrie Mottishaw.
The class will also visit the Papillon Gallery. The gallery specializes in European and American paintings and sculpture from 1890-1950, with emphasis on the School of Paris. Modernist figurative works that capture the ambiance of the period are the gallery's specialty.
"Southern California is a rising star in the global art world, so now is an exciting time to take a course focusing on art produced here," Steen says.
Steen is an art historian and educator who has taught at such institutions as California State University at Fullerton, UCLA Extension and the J. Paul Getty Museum Education Department. He founded Steen Art Study in 1983 to conduct independent art history classes and study tours. Based in Pasadena, Steen Art Study is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Students praise Steen's "in-depth knowledge, style, delivery and zest for the subject" and describe his classes as "the most enjoyable educational experience I ever had."
For images, go to:
http://steenartstudy.com/07a.htm
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Contact Info
Lynwood Associates
Phone: 323-221-2112
Website: Not Given
Lynwood Associates
P.O. Box 31133
Los Angeles, CA 90031
