Looking for inspiration as yet another busy year comes to a close?
I recommend going to the Riverside Art Museum to view “52”, an exhibition about an artist’s exploration of the 52 Montezuma Bald Cypress trees at Fairmount Park in downtown Riverside.
Artist Sue Mitchell spent the 52 weeks between October 2012 and October 2013 studying these trees and creating solar etchings that capture their strong and elegant structure and beautifully textured bark. Her 52 etchings are presented in the Bobbie Powell Gallery. In the space next to her finished work, Sue shares her whirlwind year with museum visitors. She saved every piece of paper, rough sketch and many other mementos from her one-year sabbatical and posted them to the walls in chronological order. She even moved her home studio into this space and is working there during museum hours through November 22, 2013.
Sue refers to her sabbatical as her “Third Act” and says she began this journey to satisfy a growing need for a deeper sense of fulfillment and personal exploration, a need she shares with many Baby Boomers. Did you know that about 10,000 people a day will turn 65 during the next 19 years?
If you are looking for your own artistic outlet, visit “52” and talk with Sue about her artistic journey. Then visit the other exhibitions at the museum and be inspired even more.
And if you would like to learn more about the Montezuma Bald Cypress trees and study the beauty of their bark, here is a workshop that might be of interest to you:
Botanical Drawing Workshop
Saturday, November 16
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Instructor: Tania Marien
Workshop fee: $30
Learn more about the Montezuma Bald Cypress trees in Fairmount Park and observe their elegant structure and texture as presented by Sue Mitchell in the exhibition “52″. Transform your observations into a delicate bark drawing to serve as a reminder of Sue’s inspirational 52-week journey. Open to all who would like to take those first steps on a journey of their own.
Please bring the following supplies with you:
2-3 sheets of Strathmore Bristol Plate (paper)
4B, 2B, H, 2H, and 4H drawing pencils
Drawing Workshop hosted by the Riverside Art Museum.
Please register for this workshop by calling RAM at 951-684-7111.
Registration deadline is Wednesday, November 13.
ArtPlantae Today 