Get Up, Stand Up - Honoring Black History Month

This show features a private Black History collection of Raynetta James of Forestville, as well as original contemporary art by local artists.

Raynetta James lived through the Civil Rights movement that grew out of the 1940s into the 1950s, 60s and 70s, and was inspired to collect examples of the influence black people have on the history of the United States. From oppression through resistance using political and social will, the movement to end racial segregation and discrimination changed laws and practices for decades. This show enlightens, educates, and emotionally moves viewers with its impact. Raynetta has been a member of OCA for over a decade and volunteers as one of our fundraising champions. We’re honored to display her collection at this exhibit.

“Owls” Exhibit September 2 - October 15, 2023

Don’t miss this special exhibit entitled “Owls” presented by local artists The Sonoma 5 Artist Collective! Featuring artists Omar Mueller, Charlie Pendergast, Tamsin Smith, Walt Morton and Jane Manning. Exhibit is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays 12-4 PM, and to audiences during OCA events.

BELOW is a sample of artists’ creations.

OCA Members Exhibit - August 5 - 27, 2023

OCA members share their creations in a variety of media. Our community is absolutely bursting with talent and creative expression - come enjoy what they have to share in our Annual Members’ Exhibit!

A reception with the artists was held on Saturday, August 19th from 2-4 PM, where visitors to the gallery voted for our the People's Choice Awards. SEE BELOW. Please visit the gallery to see all 59 works of art in a broad spectrum of media and genres.

To enter the exhibit, click here.

Pointless Sisters Quilt Exhibit June 4 - July 30, 2023

The Pointless Sisters Art Quilt Group returns for their annual exhibit of exquisite creations. The exhibit opens on Sunday, June 4th and runs through Sunday, July 30th. Our Gallery is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4 PM, and during intermission at our events. A reception with the artists will be held on Saturday, June 24th from 2-4 PM.

Silver Linings II is an art exhibit of active senior’s creative art works of all media. Most of these have been made in the older adult program classes through the Santa Rosa JC. There are artists of all levels in this group, from professionals to beginners including works of the instructors. The show runs from April 1 through April 30 with a reception with the artists April 15, 2-4pm. For more information about these art classes see https://older-adults.santarosa.edu/.

JOIN US for Reception with the artists Saturday, April 15, 2-4 PM. People’s Choice Awards will be presented to the winning artists. Snacks & Beverages served.

OCA is proud to present an all media exhibition of works by Sonoma County artists honoring women’s struggles, perseverance and achievements throughout time.

A reception with the artists will be held on Saturday, March 18th from 2-4 PM. People’s Choice Awards will be presented during the reception.

Artists in this exhibit:

Ceylan Crow

Saroj Heron

John James

Sharon Cahn

Nancy Kees Dunn

Judith Kinsey

Di Starr

Vesta Copestakes

Jessica Morell

OCA is proud to present an all new exhibition of Figure Drawings!

This exhibit includes a variety of media from our incredibly talented Sonoma County artists.

A reception with the artists will be held on Saturday February 18th from 2-4 PM. People’s Choice Award will be presented at that time. Visit our gallery on Saturdays or Sundays 12-4 PM and during event intermissions to cast your vote for the winning entry!

“Glitter, Glitz and Glamour” Exhibition

Get ready for a sparkly, glamorous exhibit of works by Sonoma County artists!

This is an all-media exhibit. Our gallery is open from 12-4 on Saturdays and Sundays. This exhibition runs December 10, 2022 through Jan. 29. 2023.

Congratulations to Omar Mueller, Winner of the People’s Choice Award! Pictured below is his painting, “Valentina”, with the model.

Members, show us your artwork!

OCA members present a diverse exhibit with a variety of media.

To enter this exhibit, you must be an OCA Member. Read more about becoming a member or complete our application online.

A reception with the artists will be held on Saturday August 20th from 2-4 PM. People’s Choice Award winners will be announced during the reception. Visit the gallery before August 20th to vote for your favorite entry!

 OCA Gallery Proudly Presents

Pointless Sisters ~ Quilt Exhibition

June 4 - July 31, 2022

Open Sat/Sun 12-4 PM and during events

Open Reception Saturday June 25th 2-4 PM

Once again, a spectacular collection of contemporary art quilts! This renowned Sonoma County-based group, uses traditional and novel techniques to lovingly create one-of-a-kind fabric art masterpieces.  The colors, the designs, the impact are unforgettable. This year’s challenges: ‘Music’ and ‘Bugs’. Plus more!

Win this quilt! Learn about our raffle fundraiser.

OCA’s Figure Drawing artists share their latest works in this diverse exhibit! Enjoy work in a variety of media presented by our Figure Drawing Groups.

The art gallery is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 4 pm, and during intermission at OCA events.

A reception with the artists will be held on Saturday, May 14th from 2-4 PM. People’s Choice Awards will be presented at 3:30 PM on 5/14/22. Visit the gallery before then to cast your vote!

Artists in this exhibit:

Andy Rangel

David R. Brown

Robin Allison

John James

David Waslh

Sonia Betts

Christopher Newhard

Saroj Heron

Rebecca Rubin

Kathy McKnight

Rob Cooper

Gerald Dixon

Diane Knopf

Gail Foulkes

Laura Williams

Phil Salyer

Deborah Cushman

Amy Levine

Stanley Mouse

Branka Harris

Connie Bowen

Richard Wisinski

Additional details will be posted soon.

Students from Salmon Creek Charter School in Occidental share their latest artwork with the community. Visit our gallery on Saturdays and Sundays between Noon and 4 pm, and cast your vote for the People’s Choice Award! Winners announced during the artists reception on Saturday April 16th, 2-4 PM.

Additional details about this exhibit will be posted soon.

OCA Gallery presents works by multi-talented OCA member, musician and artist Daniel Celidore. The gallery is open on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 4 pm.

In addition to creating fine art, Daniel is an accomplished oboist and will be performing on Sunday March 20th as part of the “Winterlude” benefit concert at OCA.

This art exhibit includes works that inspired some of the music that will be performed during “Winterlude”. Two of the musical compositions written by Mazdak Khamda that will be performed during “Winterlude” were inspired by art pieces in this exhibit, “Andromeda Eyes”, and “Icon”.

Click here to read more about Winterlude or get tickets.

Artist Statement:

Much of my art work was inspired by Islamic Art, its patterns and geometry.

Cathedrals were another inspiration, and the wallpaper of William Morris. I also adopted symbols in my art like the enneagram, representing process in time; the cross, representing the place where spirit and material meet, that is: humans, animals, plants, the dimension in which we live. There are leaf patterns and colors, masks representing human emotion, and patterns of abstracted wildlife such as paper cranes. There are other emergent geometrical shapes. I have translated my art into laser cut steel, paper, and aluminum prints, silk scarves and wall hangings, and designed sculptures that feature the patterns I have created.

Poet Neal Grace reflects on Daniel Celidore’s Artwork:

Daniel’s eclectic artistic styles are an experience to behold. Using various media, he captures a cosmic mystery and energy through a dazzling palette of colors and assorted sculptures that mirror the beauty in Nature. His profound works demand contemplation. They evoke emotions buried deep inside. The more we gaze up

OCA is proud to present an all-media exhibit by Sonoma County artists, along with artwork created by the students of Salmon Creek School and a special private collection of artifacts and memorabilia.

A reception with the artists will be held on Saturday, February 19th from 2-4 PM. The “People’s Choice Awards” for best in show will be presented at 3:30 PM during the reception.

Visit our gallery before 3PM on 2/19 to cast your vote for best artwork!

Contact us with any questions.

Exhibit extended to January 30th!

Spirit has existed since the beginning of time, transcending all barriers and uniting everything. Manifesting itself in many ways, Spirit has commonly been defined as the force within a person or non-material essence that is believed to give the body life, energy, and power. Spirit is everywhere. Enjoy this exhibition of local artists’ expression of spirit!

This exhibit is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4 PM (closed for the holidays December 25, 26th and Jan 1,2 ). You can also visit the gallery during the intermission of our auditorium concerts.

Join us for the artists’ reception on Saturday, November 27th from 2-4 PM.

Artists in this exhibit:

Jenny Helbraun Abramson

Robin Allison

Beth Anderson

K. Albert Bellucci

Ariana Bloom

Gretchen Butler

Sharon Cahn

Vesta Copestakes

Nancy Kees Dunn

Lorelei Everhart

Patrick Fanning

Jemma Foster

Saroj Heron

Fred Jacobs

Judith Kinsey

Gail Mardfin

Diane Masura

Su McMurtry

Emilie Munsch

Chris Norberg

Tarah Nutter

Lesley Pickford

Phil Salyer

Eve Sheehan

Aaron Shook

Tim Stires

Rakshika Thakor

Occidental Center for the Arts Gallery presents the work of Sonoma County Artist Chris Cheek.

TRANSIENT PAINTINGS

SIGHT POEMS & OTHER WORKS

BY CHRIS CHEEK

Years ago I was in Erongaricuaro Mexico, on a warm humid night, where colors have spiritual meaning passed down from the Aztecs, where plows are carved from tree branches in the field with machetes, where moths the size of birds fly after dark. I was listening to my professor, Ron Dahl read Garcia Lorca’s essay on the duende, and the duende spoke to me.

Garcia Lorca used the folkloric images of the angel, the muse, and the duende to explain the forces that compel the artist to create great work. The closest translation that I can come up with to the spirit of duende is an undefinable sense of “soul”.

Now, I still chase the duende as I work. It hides in common objects and dark corners, where it is easily dismissed as people go about their lives. I feed it metaphores and memories, and sometimes it chases me.

Very early on, I used unrelated images to create metaphore and symbolism. Later I began to add word imagery as I worked. I called these works “ sight poems”, in reference to the unexpected “twists” and surprises in sight gag cartoons.

The five “Transient Paintings” in the show are the most recent version of this. Initially, seemingly ordinary images, of rusting machinery are exposed by the ravings of the Transient, a madman and self-ordained prophet, to represent dismissal of truth, the distruction of our society. and the end of life as we know it. Further on, we follow stragglers, through nearly empty landscape, to a final ghost dance and an uncertain end in the final painting.

More so than other pieces in the show, these paintings insist upon the patient involvement of the viewer, as the full meaning of the tale is told in stamped copper, and references are carried back and forth from one painting to another.

You will find the rest of the gallery full of more “sight poems,’ pictures that tell stories and a tall tale or two from “Studio Large “S”. Enjoy the show!!

CHRIS CHEEK

Thirty Sonoma County artists presented works in a variety of media based on the theme “A Place In The Woods” for this exhibition. Gallery visitors were asked to vote in our People’s Choice Awards program to select the best in 2D and 3D submissions.

Nearly 200 gallery visitors participated in this exhibit’s People’s Choice Awards selection process to determine the winners shown above! Be sure to submit your vote next time you visit one of our themed exhibits in our gallery! Scroll down to see more amazing artwork from this exhibit.

Artists in this exhibit:

Susan Amalia

Ken Bellucci

Gretchen Butler

Sharon Cahn

Christopher Cheek

Andrea Cleall

Vesta Copestakes

Ceylon Crow

Suzanne Deveuve

Roger Dixon

Linda Dunnivant

Debbie Ebling

Patrick Fanning

Elaine Greenwood

Jenny Helbraun Abramson

Carroll Hirsch

OCA is pleased to host the annual invitational art quilt exhibit by the unique Sonoma County fiber art group known as The Pointless Sisters (www.pointless-sisters.com). The artist members use a variety of quilting techniques to produce innovative, often whimsical and beautiful non-traditional art quilts. There are more than 50 art quilts available for sale. OCA's Art Gallery is open Sat/Sun. from 12 noon - 4 pm. Private viewings can be arranged by request.