Premieres Saturday, July 14, 2018, from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Santa Paula Art Museum. Admission to the premiere party is $10.00 for museum members and $15.00 for non-members.
“Spun” by Cheryl Ann Thomas, 2015, colored porcelain, Collection of the artist. Courtesy photo.
SANTA PAULA – The Santa Paula Art Museum’s upcoming exhibition, “Local Clay,” pairs two of Ventura County’s most unconventional female sculptors, Marianne McGrath and Cheryl Ann Thomas. Both women are local artists working predominantly in clay, but in very distinct ways. McGrath, an assistant professor of art at California State University Channel Islands, juxtaposes the earthen medium of clay with industrial materials like reclaimed wood to create works that speak of rural landscapes lost to suburban sprawl. Thomas, who began her ceramic practice at age 60 in her garage with a small kiln, embraces the nature of accident and allows her clay to collapse and create chance forms during firing. The dual exhibition opens with a premiere party on Saturday, July 14, 2018, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission to the premiere is $10.00 for museum members and $15.00 for non-members. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
McGrath and Thomas chose individual sub-themes for their respective artworks featured in the show. This exhibit is important to Marianne because it is the first time that she is showing her work in her home county after nearly 20 years away. The majority of her art has always been about “home.” Cheryl thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to look back “in retrospect” at the evolution of her work over the past 30 years and to gather together the people who have supported her along the way. Ultimately, both women are considering concepts of home, memory, and loss. “Local Clay” will be on view through November 4, 2018.
The Santa Paula Art Museum is located at 117 N 10th Street in historic downtown Santa Paula. The Museum features rotating exhibitions of vintage and contemporary art, community events, artist talks and demonstrations, a gift shop, and more. The Museum’s regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Regular admission is $4.00 for adults, $3.00 for seniors, and is free for students and museum members. The Museum’s new Cole Creativity Center is located at 123 N 10th Street. The space offers a wide variety of creative programming for children, teens and adults. Hours for the Cole Creativity Center vary according to the current class schedule. For more information, please contact the Museum at (805) 525-5554.