Art Review: Walfrido Garcia and Steve Barton bring Aloha to their 19th Annual Anniversary Show

Art veterans Walfrido Garcia and Steve Barton celebrated their 19^th Annual Anniversary Show at EC Seaport Village Gallery. The artists have built a strong following for their masterful oil paintings in the Aloha style. Beautiful seascape paintings that provide deep feelings of summer beaches and crisp sky’s were on display over the weekend for public viewing. Seaport Village patrons frequented the free gallery throughout the day and soaked up some of San Diego’s cultural benefits.

Garcia and Barton have a natural love of the sea and sky and can blend colors to create masterpieces that express the essence of a moment. Garcia begins by painting layer upon layer in an effort to build up his painting to a final perceptual conclusion. He uses the Hawaiian theme to display a side of life that most mainlanders are not accustomed with.

Even though Barton has the same love for seascapes there is more of a three dimensional aspect to his work. Many of his paintings include a cottage or dwelling which helps provide a “lived in” image of coastal life. Using long brushstrokes to unify the picture he is capable of transforming plain canvas into something colorfully dynamic.

Professional art pieces can provide natural aesthetic benefits for homes and businesses. Art patrons purchase fine works of art to provide better space management of lobbies, living rooms and offices. Profound pieces can change the entire perception and genre of a room. Consider how a colorful surfboard over your fireplace or a picture of skyscrapers in your office changes the room’s impression to visitors.

Art also has an impact on the local economy as people view and appreciate the cultural benefits of artistic productions that build social capital. There are natural links between employment, government revenue, and tourism in the arts industry (Harper & Cohen, 2008). Local San Diegans and tourists enjoy the positive impressions offered by art shows, galleries and art sales that build their own art economy.

If you are looking to expand your cultural horizons or want to add a little spice to your house or office you may want to visit some of the offerings at Exclusive Collections Gallery in Seaport Village. You can browse their website and read their magazine to find out when the next exhibit is offered.

EC Seaport  Village Gallery

835 West Harbor Drive,

Suite AB

San Diego, CA 92101

http://www.ecgallery.com/

Harper, G. & Cohen, R. (2008). A summary of the Americans for the arts economic impact on America’s non-profit arts and cultural Industry. Creative Industries Journal, 1 (1).

The Poem "The Secret of the Sea"-A San Diego Boating Experience

Boats have been a fascination for a lot of people throughout history. The boat is the primary long-distance transportation vehicle since the beginning of society. The photographs of boats taken below were from Shelter Island which has a number of nice lookout spots, parks, and other activities. 




Perhaps a poem will help you understand the fascination people have with boats and the sea. 

The Secret of the Sea by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ah! what pleasant visions haunt me 
As I gaze upon the sea!
All the old romantic legends,
All my dreams, come back to me.

Sails of silk and ropes of sandal,
Such as gleam in ancient lore;
And the singing of the sailors,
And the answer from the shore!

Most of all, the Spanish ballad
Haunts me oft, and tarries long,
Of the noble Count Arnaldos
And the sailor's mystic song.

Like the long waves on a sea-beach,
Where the sand as silver shines,
With a soft, monotonous cadence,
Flow its unrhymed lyric lines:—

Telling how the Count Arnaldos,
With his hawk upon his hand,
Saw a fair and stately galley,
Steering onward to the land;—

How he heard the ancient helmsman
Chant a song so wild and clear,
That the sailing sea-bird slowly
Poised upon the mast to hear,

Till his soul was full of longing,
And he cried, with impulse strong,—
“Helmsman! for the love of heaven,
Teach me, too, that wondrous song!”

“Wouldst thou,”—so the helmsman answered,
“Learn the secret of the sea?
Only those who brave its dangers
Comprehend its mystery!”

In each sail that skims the horizon,
In each landward-blowing breeze,
I behold that stately galley,
Hear those mournful melodies;

Till my soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through.

The Free Outdoor Art Display in an Oceanside Business Community

Oceanside Museum of Art offers the juried exhibition for public display from February 7^th to May 11^th, 2014. OMA is an organization that fosters the appreciation and understanding of art in society. They provide exhibitions, a marketplace for local artists, and seek to raise awareness of art locally. They have a satellite outdoor display for the public to enjoyment at 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Del Mar, CA 92014. The types of work range from paintings to sculpture.

This outdoor display offers some opportunities for public exposure and greater art awareness. Businesses within the complex appreciate the artistic display that adds to the atmosphere and customers are exposed to pieces they may not have been motivated to see in the course of their daily lives. Likewise, the artists have a greater opportunity to sell their work to a wider group of foot traffic.

It can be beneficial to see how different businesses may be able to partner with artists to display work and draw more customers. For example, a service business with an unused window display may consider hosting some of the art free while attracting potential customers through eye catching displays. This may lead to increased sales for both types of entities through attraction and interest.

It is also possible to use art pieces to provide more context to their business. For example, a marketing media company may want flashy and bright art that highlights marketplaces, communication, and social interaction. A medical company may desire art that focuses on family, activity, and positive experiences to lower the negative context associated with doctor visits. A gym may want art that focuses on the body and sports to create greater enthusiasm.

As a mission OMA could expose their art to a wider group of people by partnering with these businesses. The average person focuses on family, work, and daily activities must expend a considerable amount of energy to make their way to a specific art show or program. Typically this is left to the art enthusiast. The average person may come to appreciate art in a new way through casual exposure.

Some interesting concepts such as the Retable for Numbers by Susan Osborn for $995 is made of spoons, numbers, and hockey sticks. She uses everyday items to build her masterpiece. This type of work would appeal to your everyday sports enthusiast.  Buga-Boo by Lola Juris for $950 is a watercolor painting that hosts a bug with shadowing. It is an interesting and simple work that may appeal to a naturalist.

Oceanside Museum of Art offers music, exhibitions, lectures, art classes and travel experiences.

http://oma-online.org/cms/index.php