October Featured Artists

Plenty to Talk About

Featuring Pam Dixon and Jean Purnell

An exhibition of the work of Benicia artists and friends Pam Dixon and Jean Purnell, who met through art. Pam's painting and sculpture boldly and playfully capture her subjects through line, paint, collage, and mixed media. Jean's paintings are inspired by the beauty of the natural landscape, captured with a painterly sense of calm and restfulness.

"We are so different, and we learn from each other. There's always plenty to talk about."

 September 29th through October 30th.  

An Artists Reception will be held Saturday, October 15, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Asmat Man, bisque fired and cold processed ceramic, by Pam Dixon

Pam Dixon describes herself as a Bay Area figurative artist whose art developed during the California funk movement. She began her career in free-lance commercial and industrial art, later becoming a serious exhibiting artist in the 1980s. Born in San Francisco, she was raised in Carmel. She moved to Benicia in the 1970s, just as the art scene was beginning to flourish here. A longtime Benicia resident, she founded Gallery 621, a co-op for contemporary artists in Benicia.


Courtland CA, oil on canvas, by Jean Purnell

The beauty of nature creates endless inspiration​​ for Jean Purnell. She paints landscapes and nature-inspired still life. Working mainly in oils, her paintings explore the landscapes of northern California, as well as familiar scenes of Maryland and Pennsylvania.

June Featured Artists

LIMINAL SPACES

Featuring Linda Stevenson Dunlop and Tom Arie Donch

Threads #1, acrylic painting by Linda Stevenson Dunlop

Linda Stevenson Dunlop has been an exhibiting Artist for over 40 years. Bringing color, form, and movement to the forefront of her abstractions, she works in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, monotype print, and sculpture. Dunlop shares a body of artwork that is inspired by “mourning in the process of living”. She reflects “change is amongst us all. I express this through painting emotions and the sensitivity to loss. I find this is the greatest truth one can give to the world as an Artist”.

Seven Bullets, bas-relief by Tom Arie Donch

Tom Arie Donch began his career creating relief sculptures about the socially disenfranchised and environments that oppress. At the age of 23 he started to work with communities creating public art and sculptural environments. As a founding member of the Community Built Association, his work brought people together through active participation and involvement. After 42 years and hundreds of public projects in 21 States he has returned to creating relief sculptures with political, environmental and social concerns. Sculpting liminal spaces his work also focuses on the human condition and our inner journeys.

An Artist Reception will be held on Saturday, June 4th, 4- 6 pm.

Auction Fundraiser Success!

“The situation in Ukraine is horrific, especially for women and children, and we felt the need to do our part to assist in their relief,” said Nikki Basch Davis about the artists’ motivation to launch the event. “We put the auction together very quickly, and the generous donations from our artist community made it happen.”

86 artists donated over 100 artworks for sale in the silent auction, which was held April 14-16, culminating in a well-attended reception on the closing Saturday. Music by the UnConcord, featuring member artist Warren Dreher, provided a lively background to the active bidding on artwork. Gallery artists donated their time to set up the event and paid for auction expenses so that 100% of the proceeds from sales could be forwarded to Ukraine. In addition to funds raised through winning bids, $1,300 was donated in cash from gallery visitors. “I’m happy to help for a good cause,” said donating artist Kate Moriarty, expressing the sentiment felt by everyone who participated. “We’re proud of what we accomplished,” said member artist Cherry Moore, ``and, we’re proud of the generous response by our community in providing help for Ukraine.”