Carrie GrahamIn the first art show of the semester, scenic watercolor paintings depict views of Mexico during the mid-20th century.
“Views of Mexico” pulls from the collection of Diane and E. Gene Crain, which includes thousands of pieces, spanning multiple artists, mediums and decades. The selections reveal a tasteful assembly of viewing windows into the past.
What makes the Crain collection unique is the personal friendships between the patrons and the artists.
Comprised mainly of works by members of the California Water Color Society, they are representative of some of the earliest California scene style paintings. These representational works are vibrant and convey a rich, detailed view of Mexico’s natural beauty.
Featured artists, like well-known muralist Millard Sheets (1907-1989), Rex Brandt (1914-2000), Milford Zornes (1908-2008) and Academy Award-winner Emil J. Cosa, Jr. (1903-1968), vacationed in Mexico from the 1930s through ’90s as an exotic-yet-accessible locale.
The gallery is located in the C building and is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. “Views of Mexico” is on display through Nov. 19.
