Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University

09/03/2021

Now open: the new exhibition "Henrietta Berk: In Living Color" at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. Come discover the vibrant, color-saturated oil paintings of this bold California artist, whose career flourished in the 1960s.

Henrietta Berk, "Picnic," c. 1962-'64, oil on canvas. The Hilbert Collection.

Kansas-born Henrietta Berk (1919-1990) attended the California College of Art in Oakland, where she studied with Richard Diebenkorn and Henry Krell. Berk became well-known for her use of muscular, textured swathes of color and modernist, expressionistic brushwork, and was a respected figure in the Bay Area Figurative movement.

Her subject matter ranged from floral still lifes to sweeping, colorful landscapes, and her work was exhibited in major galleries in the U.S. and abroad, as well as in the Oakland Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Art, De Young Museum and several others. Berk’s work was also collected by many celebrities, including Julie Andrews, Kim Novak and Edward G. Robinson. One of her paintings (which now hangs in the U.S. Embassy in Peru) appeared in the 1967 hit movie "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner."

In her later years, Berk suffered from encroaching blindness due to diabetes, and this once-acclaimed artist fell into semi-obscurity after her death in 1990.

Some have speculated that this painting may depict a youthful Jackie and John F. Kennedy enjoying a picnic. Certainly the timeframe (early 1960s) is right, although no documentary evidence has been found to prove that was Berk’s intention. What do you think?

Now open: the new exhibition "Henrietta Berk: In Living Color" at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University. Come discover the vibrant, color-saturated oil paintings of this bold California artist, whose career flourished in the 1960s.

Henrietta Berk, "Picnic," c. 1962-'64, oil on canvas. The Hilbert Collection.

Kansas-born Henrietta Berk (1919-1990) attended the California College of Art in Oakland, where she studied with Richard Diebenkorn and Henry Krell. Berk became well-known for her use of muscular, textured swathes of color and modernist, expressionistic brushwork, and was a respected figure in the Bay Area Figurative movement.

Her subject matter ranged from floral still lifes to sweeping, colorful landscapes, and her work was exhibited in major galleries in the U.S. and abroad, as well as in the Oakland Art Museum, San Francisco Museum of Art, De Young Museum and several others. Berk’s work was also collected by many celebrities, including Julie Andrews, Kim Novak and Edward G. Robinson. One of her paintings (which now hangs in the U.S. Embassy in Peru) appeared in the 1967 hit movie "Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner."

In her later years, Berk suffered from encroaching blindness due to diabetes, and this once-acclaimed artist fell into semi-obscurity after her death in 1990.

Some have speculated that this painting may depict a youthful Jackie and John F. Kennedy enjoying a picnic. Certainly the timeframe (early 1960s) is right, although no documentary evidence has been found to prove that was Berk’s intention. What do you think?

08/19/2021

Coming up at the Hilbert Museum: this painting will be part of the new exhibition “Henrietta Berk: In Living Color,” opening Saturday, Aug 28. (The museum is currently closed for the exhibition changeover.)

Alive with dazzling colors and virtuoso handling of the brush and paint, Berk’s paintings will astonish you, we believe! Come re-discover the work of this unjustly forgotten California artist who flourished in the 1960s.

Henrietta Berk, “Landscape in Orange and Yellow,” c. 1965, oil on canvas. Collection of Michael and Heather Klass.

Coming up at the Hilbert Museum: this painting will be part of the new exhibition “Henrietta Berk: In Living Color,” opening Saturday, Aug 28. (The museum is currently closed for the exhibition changeover.)

Alive with dazzling colors and virtuoso handling of the brush and paint, Berk’s paintings will astonish you, we believe! Come re-discover the work of this unjustly forgotten California artist who flourished in the 1960s.

Henrietta Berk, “Landscape in Orange and Yellow,” c. 1965, oil on canvas. Collection of Michael and Heather Klass.

08/17/2021

The Hilbert Museum will be CLOSED August 17-27 for installation of the new exhibitions “Henrietta Berk: In Living Color” and “Our Golden State: Landscapes from The Hilbert Collection.”

Here’s what was happening at the Hilbert earlier today, as our installers brought the new paintings in, and curator Gordon McClelland worked on the Henrietta Berk show.

The museum re-opens Saturday, August 28 with the new exhibitions! (“The Disney Superstars” and “Dressed to Thrill: Fashion in American Illustration” are ongoing.)

08/14/2021

The California Art Club's live Paint-Out is currently going strong in Depot Park in Orange, across from the Hilbert Museum! Lots of terrific artists out painting under the shady trees, with models depicting 1940s characters. There’s even a grand old Packard!

Come out to see the fun — the Paint-Out goes till 3pm — and then drop into the air-conditioned coolness of the Hilbert Museum to enjoy the final day of the California Art Club’s 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition! (Museum is open until 5pm.)

#hilbertmuseum #californiaartclub #art #artmuseum #museum #chapmanuniversity

08/14/2021

Today (Saturday, August 14) is the final day of the California Art Club’s 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the Hilbert Museum - and your final day to purchase artworks from the show! So don’t miss the excitement - hurry to the Hilbert!

AND there will be a live Paint-Out from 11am to 3pm in Depot Park across the street from the museum, with many of the CA Art Club members painting en plein air under the magnificent trees - it’s a 1940s theme, so there will be models in period attire and even a period automobile. You’re welcome to stroll over and watch the artists at work!

The Hilbert Museum is open today 11am to 5pm. Free admission. We recommend parking in the city structure (it’s free!) right behind the museum (entrances on Maple and Lemon Streets) as parking in front of the museum is likely to be limited (there will be a tent and tables set up in the lot).

Today (Saturday, August 14) is the final day of the California Art Club’s 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the Hilbert Museum - and your final day to purchase artworks from the show! So don’t miss the excitement - hurry to the Hilbert!

AND there will be a live Paint-Out from 11am to 3pm in Depot Park across the street from the museum, with many of the CA Art Club members painting en plein air under the magnificent trees - it’s a 1940s theme, so there will be models in period attire and even a period automobile. You’re welcome to stroll over and watch the artists at work!

The Hilbert Museum is open today 11am to 5pm. Free admission. We recommend parking in the city structure (it’s free!) right behind the museum (entrances on Maple and Lemon Streets) as parking in front of the museum is likely to be limited (there will be a tent and tables set up in the lot).

08/12/2021

Dressed to Thrill Glams Up the Hilbert Museum - LA Weekly

Dressed to Thrill Glams Up the Hilbert Museum - LA Weekly

Evoking a time when fashion was about romance and style.

08/05/2021

From the current "California Art Club 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition," on view at the Hilbert Museum now through August 14:

Gerald Rahm, "Griffith Park," pastel on museum board, 20" x 24".

Artist's statement: "The Griffith Observatory sits high above Los Angeles, surveying the great metropolis. An imposing citadel dedicated to the study of the heavens, its iconic stature in L.A. inspired me to render its prominence in pastel."

Come see this work, and paintings and sculptures by more than 160 other top California artists in this exhibition -- the first time in 110 years that it has been held in Orange County! All artwork in the CAC Gold Medal Exhibition is for sale through the club, with purchase information available at the museum.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Gerald Rahm was interested in art from a young age. He was copying Time Magazine covers by age 7 and won a scholarship to attend the Columbus School of Art and Design after high school. Declining the scholarship to follow other pursuits, it was ten years before Gerald turned his focus exclusively toward art, enrolling in the South Florida Art Institute. There he passionately studied figure drawing and painting, art theory and still-life.

While Gerald works in both oils and pastels, he is committed to helping bring the medium of pastel to the height of respect that it held in the 18th Century. Gerald is a consummate plein air artist. He works at a single site at the same time every day ensuring that the light and shadows are consistent. Working in this manner, it may take as much as 3 to 4 weeks to finish a single piece, if the weather cooperates.

Light of day is the most important quality that Gerald seeks to capture in his paintings. He says, "The way the sunshine turns golden in the California fall afternoon, the heavy mist that invades the Santa Monica mountains at unpredictable times during the summer, the peaceful solitude of an ordinary backyard: these are the masterpieces of nature. As great as the influences that have propelled me to this point, none is as great as nature herself."

A multiple award winner, Gerald exhibits thoughout Southern California and his work can be found in many important corporate collections. He is a member of the California Art Club and Signature member of the Pastel Society of America.

From the current "California Art Club 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition," on view at the Hilbert Museum now through August 14:

Gerald Rahm, "Griffith Park," pastel on museum board, 20" x 24".

Artist's statement: "The Griffith Observatory sits high above Los Angeles, surveying the great metropolis. An imposing citadel dedicated to the study of the heavens, its iconic stature in L.A. inspired me to render its prominence in pastel."

Come see this work, and paintings and sculptures by more than 160 other top California artists in this exhibition -- the first time in 110 years that it has been held in Orange County! All artwork in the CAC Gold Medal Exhibition is for sale through the club, with purchase information available at the museum.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Gerald Rahm was interested in art from a young age. He was copying Time Magazine covers by age 7 and won a scholarship to attend the Columbus School of Art and Design after high school. Declining the scholarship to follow other pursuits, it was ten years before Gerald turned his focus exclusively toward art, enrolling in the South Florida Art Institute. There he passionately studied figure drawing and painting, art theory and still-life.

While Gerald works in both oils and pastels, he is committed to helping bring the medium of pastel to the height of respect that it held in the 18th Century. Gerald is a consummate plein air artist. He works at a single site at the same time every day ensuring that the light and shadows are consistent. Working in this manner, it may take as much as 3 to 4 weeks to finish a single piece, if the weather cooperates.

Light of day is the most important quality that Gerald seeks to capture in his paintings. He says, "The way the sunshine turns golden in the California fall afternoon, the heavy mist that invades the Santa Monica mountains at unpredictable times during the summer, the peaceful solitude of an ordinary backyard: these are the masterpieces of nature. As great as the influences that have propelled me to this point, none is as great as nature herself."

A multiple award winner, Gerald exhibits thoughout Southern California and his work can be found in many important corporate collections. He is a member of the California Art Club and Signature member of the Pastel Society of America.

08/02/2021

Just two more weeks left of the California Art Club 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the Hilbert Museum! Don't miss out -- the last day is Saturday, Aug. 14! All the pieces in the CAC show are for sale through the club. The Hilbert Museum is located at 167 N. Atchison Street in Orange, Calif. -- admission and parking are free!

Michael Situ, "Springtime in Laguna Canyon," oil on canvas, 24" x 36."

Artist's statement: "I wanted to capture this magical moment -- springtime in the canyon is so beautiful with the yellow flowers blooming all over the hills. This painting location is Laguna Canyon in Laguna Beach."

Michael Situ, a nationally recognized and award-winning artist, is a Master Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, and Signature Member of the California Art Club. Signature Member of Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. He is known for his vivid, luminous and richly colored landscapes of the coasts, mountains and various other scenes that capture his imagination. Powerful compositions, strong brushwork and sense of color all come together in perfect harmony, marking him as a master plein air painter.

Situ grew up in China and studied at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, developing a deep appreciation for nature and a passion for art. He immigrated to in the America in 1989 and now lives in California. He is a full time professional artist whose artwork has been exhibited in numerous prestigious national museums, major plein air competitions, and national juried exhibitions such as the Arts for the Parks Top 100 International Competition, the Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, the American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition, the California Art Club’s Golden Medal National Juried Exhibition and the Masters of Fine Art Salon International Juried Exhibition. He has been an exhibiting artist every year since 2002 at the Festival of Arts, California’s premier fine art show in Laguna Beach.

Just two more weeks left of the California Art Club 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition at the Hilbert Museum! Don't miss out -- the last day is Saturday, Aug. 14! All the pieces in the CAC show are for sale through the club. The Hilbert Museum is located at 167 N. Atchison Street in Orange, Calif. -- admission and parking are free!

Michael Situ, "Springtime in Laguna Canyon," oil on canvas, 24" x 36."

Artist's statement: "I wanted to capture this magical moment -- springtime in the canyon is so beautiful with the yellow flowers blooming all over the hills. This painting location is Laguna Canyon in Laguna Beach."

Michael Situ, a nationally recognized and award-winning artist, is a Master Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, and Signature Member of the California Art Club. Signature Member of Laguna Plein Air Painters Association. He is known for his vivid, luminous and richly colored landscapes of the coasts, mountains and various other scenes that capture his imagination. Powerful compositions, strong brushwork and sense of color all come together in perfect harmony, marking him as a master plein air painter.

Situ grew up in China and studied at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, developing a deep appreciation for nature and a passion for art. He immigrated to in the America in 1989 and now lives in California. He is a full time professional artist whose artwork has been exhibited in numerous prestigious national museums, major plein air competitions, and national juried exhibitions such as the Arts for the Parks Top 100 International Competition, the Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, the American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition, the California Art Club’s Golden Medal National Juried Exhibition and the Masters of Fine Art Salon International Juried Exhibition. He has been an exhibiting artist every year since 2002 at the Festival of Arts, California’s premier fine art show in Laguna Beach.

07/28/2021

Dressed to Thrill: Evoking a Time When Fashion Was About Glamor and Style - Irvine Weekly

Enjoy this great review of the current exhibition "Dressed to Thrill: Fashion in American Illustration" at the Hilbert Museum!

And then come on over and see the exhibition for yourself (along with the California Art Club 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, a new Disney art display, and new works in the Permanent Collection galleries)!

My mother was a fashionista decades before the term was first used. She trolled the aisles of Lord & Taylor department store in New Jersey, looking at the latest styles. She read fashion magazines and newspaper columnists (especially Eugenia Sheppard) who personalized fashion by writing about the pe...