Club Promotes Art, Benefits the Poor

Three members of the San Fernando Valley Art Club had little trouble Wednesday determining which of several paintings to offer as prizes at an art show this weekend.

The five paintings selected ranged from a flowery landscape featuring a gazebo to a sleek, pastel, New York skyline.

And with the prizes picked, plenty of time was left for those gathered at club member Donna Goldstein’s Porter Ranch home to compliment each other on their works and talk about paintings by other artists.

They also shared their enthusiasm about the club’s Summer Spectacular art exhibit and competition Saturday and Sunday in center court at the Promenade at Woodland Hills, 50 Promenade Mall.

The venue is an odd place to have a show, they said, but because there are so few local art houses in the Valley, they have had shows in bank lobbies and other unusual places.

“Our organization is running out of places to have shows,” said Duane Pickerell, coordinator of the show. “It’s hard to find a place. The mall has space to burn out there, so why not? When you do artwork you like to see it, and appreciate it and talk about it.”

The art to be exhibited includes landscape oils, watercolors and cloisonne work, as well as still-life and mixed-media pieces from 19 artists.

The five works chosen Wednesday will be given as prizes to winners of a free drawing at 5 p.m. Sunday, while others will be judged for ribbons and possibly priced to sell.

A percentage of any proceeds earned from the show will go to benefit Love Is Feeding Everyone, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to feed the poor.

The art club was formed in 1943 to promote art in the area, and give local artists a social atmosphere and venue to display their talents.