Saddle Up Santa Clarita Exhibition
March 6, 2025 – May 14, 2025
City of Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd #120, Valencia, CA 91355
The City of Santa Clarita is excited to announce a new exhibition “Saddle Up Santa Clarita Exhibition” which will be on view March 6, 2025 – May 14, 2025, located at the City of Santa Clarita City Hall. This exhibition features artwork that celebrates Santa Clarita’s rich Western heritage, capturing the spirit, adventure and legacy of the Old West. From rugged landscapes and cowboy culture to historic landmarks and Western-inspired storytelling, this exhibit will honor the vibrant history that defines our community.
The exhibiting artists include Advay Mengle, Anthony Forzaglia, Arthur Anderson, Chayliel Quintanilla Flores, Christopher Veselich, Claudia Koch Godinez, Coty Schack, Dakota Zumsteg, Don Vernon, Eileen Chong, Felicia Tausig, Georgette Arison, Isabella Gonzalez, Jasper Martinez, Jayme Sun Thomas, Josh Anderson, Kerry Clark, Laurie Morgan, Laura Ledesma, Meghann Flaherty, Meryl Goudey, Nicholas Jeffries, Nick Kahn, Rachel Patterson, Scott Parker, Silvestre “Sal” Vasquez, Tabetha Herr, Taylor Thomas, and Teri Garcia.
Q&A with Josh Anderson and Arthur Anderson
How does your piece reflect Santa Clarita’s Western heritage?
Arthur: “To me, my piece reflects the women of the West – “Pioneer Woman” is my title. It’s really about the fact that women were underappreciated. I feel like they weren’t major decision makers except in the family and it’s important to highlight them.”
Josh: “My piece reflects the horses in the Old West. I use my street art technique which is a more modern technique to reflect something old and tried like the horse.”
If you can describe your artwork in 3 words, what would they be?
Arthur: “I’ll just say two, unsung heroes. Again, I feel as though women were the ones holding up the family and the home. It’s close to my heart.”
Josh: “Bold, fast and adventurous.”
How do you hope viewers connect with your artwork?
Arthur: “I want people to connect with the past. The idea that this is not as far in the past as people may think. My grandparents were born in the 1870’s and that’s the setting of the painting.”
Josh: “There’s a connection with the past and the present. Horses are still a part of our world today. Although we’re a modern city, there’s still a place for the old and antiquity in our daily lives.”
Have you ever worked on a piece together, or do you both have distinct artistic styles?
Arthur: “We haven’t. I work more with traditional oil paint, which is a different world in many ways. We’re both creating graphic arts but mine is the old and you could say my sons is the new.”
Josh: “We haven’t worked on a piece together, but we do discuss each other’s work a lot, hopefully inspiring each other but we have such different medians we paint in. I don’t know if its necessarily different styles, but I do spray paint and most of my work takes place digitally, which I turn into a painting with spray paint afterwards. If I’m using a brush, my dad is the first person I call because I’m not as experienced with that.”
What is it like seeing each other’s work in the same exhibit?
Arthur: “Well as the senior of the two, I couldn’t be prouder of my son, I can’t even start on that. But the fact that we’re both being exhibited and our work is right across from each other is just the luck of the draw. I’m very very proud and very happy. This probably won’t be the last time we’re in the same exhibit.”
Josh: “It’s incredible. I’ve been at this for a much shorter time than my dad so to just be here and be next to each other is a dream come true.”
What advice would you give to artists starting out?
Arthur: “You should find a good teacher and don’t be afraid to start at the very beginning. If you jump in too quickly, you could develop bad habits.”
Josh: “I still consider myself someone who is just starting out. The advice I would give to someone is to just do it. You can figure out a whole list of reasons why not to do something, why not to try something new or be afraid – but don’t be. Make the mistakes. I try to finish every painting I start, even if it’s not turning out how I want it to. Find a median that suits you. I’m much more comfortable working on a computer for my initial images before I start. I’ve figured out how I can grow without skills that I don’t have.”
If you could create a joint piece in the future, what would it be about?
Arthur: “For me, it would be family. The artistic nature started with my grandparents who were artists in New York back in the 1920’s. The only photo I have of Josh and my grandmother, is Josh coloring in her lap. It’s very special. Or I would choose baseball.”
Josh: “Maybe baseball, we’re east coasters so we connect over the New York Mets all the time.”
How did each of you get into art? Did one of you influence the other?
Arthur: “I never had anyone push me to be an artist, although with my grandparents being artists and my father being an illustrator, it was just a natural thing for me to pick up. It was something you’d do when you wanted to express yourself and when you had time on your hands. I just started very early.”
Josh: “I’ve been watching my dad do artwork since I was younger than my own kids. That’s always influenced me whether that was doing art or other things. I learned to be brave, try something new and found ways to express my creativity. Certainly, I’ve been inspired by watching my dad over the years. I got started painting a few years ago and now my entire garage is an art studio filled with 200-300 cans of spray paint.”
Do you give each other feedback or critiques?
Arthur: “Aside from my wonderful wife, Josh is the first person I show anything to. I get his feedback, gut feeling, thoughts on if I succeeded or not – any suggestions he might have helps.”
Josh: “My dad is the first person I send my work to. I text him every time I have a new idea for a painting, or I finish one. I just ask, “what do you think?””
