William D. Cannon Art Gallery ' On Flowers '

Thursday, 06 March 2008 23:24

Carlsbad, CA - The William D. Cannon Art Gallery presents On Flowers, an exhibition of more than 40 paintings, drawings and mixed media work by 11 contemporary California artists who utilize flowers to evoke the transient nature of life, to explore subjects of art and science, spirituality, sensuality and romance, and to celebrate beauty in the myriad of colors, shapes and textures of the floral world. The exhibition opens on Sunday, March 30 and continues through Sunday, May 25 at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery in the Carlsbad City Library Complex, 1775 Dove Lane at El Camino Real.
 
The flower has been a significant image in art throughout history. In the 17th century, with an intense interest in the connection between art and science, Dutch and Flemish painters perfected the art of the floral still life, making delicate images that literally shimmered on the canvas. Many Impressionists explored their interest in atmosphere and light through the variegated forms of flowers. During the twentieth century, Georgia O'Keeffe created many paintings of flowers with a new and unique perspective – depicting strong and vivid images from a very close vantage point.
 
Today, the great appeal of the flower carries on and stems not only from investigations of the past, but from issues about the relationship of art to nature, to beauty, to life itself. Whether as a symbol of paradise, virtue, or simply for sheer visual delight, flowers remain some of the most enduring images in art. “On Flowers,” curated by Cannon Art Gallery’s Curator of Exhibitions Karen McGuire, presents floral imagery by eleven contemporary artists and illustrates their divergent styles and approaches to the subject. Manny Farber of Leucadia, Mary Manusos of La Mesa and Muriel Roston of Carlsbad represent the San Diego area; Timothy Berry, Rose Cabat, Cynthia Evans, Carol Goldmark,  James Lorigan, Tanja Rector, Sandra Sallin and Olga Seem reside, work and exhibit in other regions of California.
 
Operated by the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Office, the Cannon Art Gallery is a focal point for arts and culture in San Diego’s North County, offering a broad range of exhibitions, school and family programs, gallery tours, lectures and publications to the community. It is located at 1775 Dove Lane off El Camino Real and is open to the public Tuesdays through Sundays. For information on all Gallery programs, contact the Carlsbad Arts Info Line (760) 434-2904 or the Cannon Art Gallery (760) 602-2021 or the City of Carlsbad website, www.carlsbadca.gov/arts.