Orinda Art Scene: Art Gallery at the Orinda Library and Wilder – February 2024

    The Lamorinda Arts Council presents the Bay Area Studio Artists (BASA) group show in the Art Gallery at the Orinda Library entitled, “The BASA Invitational: As We See It.”
    This show reflects the diverse work of longtime BASA artists Suzun Almquist, Jeanette Baird, Lassie Colebourn, Ellen Reintjes, Ruth Stanton, Sharon Tama, Joanne Taeuffer and Marcy Wheeler.
    Five local artists were also invited: Flora Baumann, Nicole Reader, Cecelia Wambach, April Ward and Lynn Whitson. Meet the artists at a reception on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. with light refreshments.
    Exhibit and organizer Sharon Tama said BASA artists see the world through their own eyes.
    “They all seek painting ideas which move, challenge or connect,” she added. “Their painting styles differ, but similarly reflect their individuality and temperament.”
    Wheeler, an art teacher and one of the founders of the group, decided to add the additional five artists to the exhibit for a reason.
    “We chose them to add variety to the spices already in our stew,” she said, “and because they are good artists who deserve to be seen. We are good at hanging wonderful shows with gorgeous art that has meaning.”
    This reminds me of the words by New York Times writer Deb Amlen. In her Aug. 4, 2017, article titled, We Do Not See Things As They Are, she writes, “The quote that is normally attributed to the writer Anaïs Nin, ‘We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are’ is also a Talmudic idea about dream analysis: People can only dream about things they have encountered or thought about, and so their dreams consist not of reality – whatever that is – but is instead a version filtered through the lens of the dreamer’s 
experiences.”
    BASA’s “As We See It” theme describes the ability to communicate something unique and special by each artist, yet engaging to us, the viewers. Isn’t that what creating art is all about?
    Almquist’s Accordion Player, a 24” x 24” acrylic on canvas, challenges us to feel the musician’s nimble execution of a jaunty tune. Detailed information about the musician and location is at a minimum, but there is a great deal of information about the accordion and the musician’s ability to joyfully rock it.
    Wheeler’s Kansas GPS 40” x 60” acrylic on canvas brings drama to the clouds because of the silvery edge that is further reflected in the pool in the foreground. The grass, leaves and branches of the trees are tossed about by high winds, adding more movement to the 
piece.
    She challenges us to enter Kansas GPS, which is in transition from being comfortable to being wild and dramatic. Notice the calm, unmoving tufts of grass in the immediate foreground. Compare them to the windswept branches and leaves of the trees in mid-ground and the high drama of the sky at the horizon.
    Stop by to view an entire gallery filled with BASA’s striking compositions and bold use of color. The show runs from Saturday, Jan. 27 to Saturday, Mar. 2. Visit the gallery at 26 Orinda Way from Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed Sundays, and Monday Feb. 19, Presidents’ Day. Call 925.254.2184 for more information or visit ccclib.org/. View and purchase artwork at lamorindaarts.org/online-galleries/. For more information, call 925.359.9940 or email gallery@LamorindaArts.org.