October 7 – February 2, 2023

Valencia Library BRANCH
23743 West Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

These pieces created with photography & watercolor painted on wood and reformed together in the digital realm are prints representative of his own redecorated view of the world. The key to this work is the layers. Layering of time, material, in thought, nostalgia, pulling from dissatisfaction or sourcing feelings explored through stories, some expressing playfulness, some reaching for hope.  And then the notion to put together imagery in multiple mediums that create an unseen place that could be traveled to. Each created part is a unique process developed with the idea of making a different place. The wooden pieces chosen are mostly discarded and damaged, some left over, not used or beyond purpose.

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 September 16 – December 9, 2022

First Floor Gallery at City Hall
23920 Valencia Blvd #120, Valencia, CA 91355

Art in Image by AnnLi Tico

Surrealism by definition means, “a 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature which sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, for example by the irrational juxtaposition of images.” Famous artists, for example include Salvador Dali, René Magritte, Frida Kahlo, Andre Breton, Man Ray, and others. This group show exhibits an array of surrealist inspired artworks.

Virtual Gallery: Coming Soon

 September 9 – December 16, 2022

Canyon Country Community Center
18410 Sierra Hwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91351

Ocean Abstractions: Wet and Watery a collection of abstract acrylic paintings reflecting the colors and feel of the sea by Nancy Eckels

Nancy has had a lifelong interest in the ocean, and in nature in general.  Eckels loves to snorkel and scuba dive.  The colors of the beach, the tropical ocean, and the fish and corals that live below influence her when she paints.

Since her work is totally abstract, it comes entirely from her head, heart, and imagination.  Anything that has contributed to her sense of color, texture and composition, becomes the basis of what eventually comes from her hands and brushes.  Her visits with nature through visiting national parks during her childhood were, she is sure, a very big part of what comes from her brain when she’s painting. Her mother, a traditional watercolorist, once jokingly stated she would be interested in seeing the inside of that brain.

Virtual Gallery Here 

The Santa Clarita Valley Photographers Association is a group of dedicated photographers both amateur and professional that meets monthly to learn about photography and share images. Members are from Santa Clarita and adjoining communities. Print and digital image competitions are held at least twice a year. The majority of the members are amateurs at all skill levels of photography, however, some members belong to the Professional Photographers of America, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, and other organizations. This exhibit showcases the winners of the November 2021 and May 2022 Image Competitions. Categories ranging from architecture, portraits, nature, photojournalism, and more showcase the diverse talent of the group.
Whether you are just starting out with your first camera or are a seasoned professional, SCVPA has much to offer. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:45 pm until 9:00 pm.

Reception: 6 pm – 8pm, July 29th, 2022

Virtual Gallery Here

This group show brings a wild variety of texture to the walls of First Floor Gallery. All works are made from fibers and textiles, including woven portraits, abstract inspired nature hangings, and threaded images. The idea behind this show is to bring a new and unique setting to City Hall by inviting the viewer to get lost in the process of creation for each piece. While unconventional, textiles and fibers are fascinating mediums for creatively rendering into art or a story. There is a wide variety of talent seen through this show, check it out and find your favorite!

Reception: Friday, July 15, 2022 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at First Floor Gallery

Virtual Gallery Here

My name is Caroline Chung Takeda, I am a late-in-life artist with no formal training.  I am a California native, and have lived in Southern California for most of my life. I grew up in Porter Ranch and moved to Woodland Hills in 1997 where my husband and I raised our mirror image twins.

We moved in 2019 to Santa Clarita, downsizing from our home in Woodland Hills during our kid’s last year of high school where I was the PTA president and Percussion Band Mom. When our twins left for collage at U.C. Berkeley, I was left with an empty nest and nothing to do. I started watching videos of acrylic flow artists on YouTube and one day, bought some materials and had a crack at painting. It was so satisfying and fun, I just kept painting!

From my empty nest, an artist emerged! I paint as I am inspired. Some weeks go by without me mixing and painting and other days, I am painting piece after piece. It depends on my mood and what inspiration I see or feel. Art, like beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To me, it is an expression of emotion. Sometimes I paint to music, other times I transfer a mood onto canvas. I have to “feel” the piece. If I don’t like the piece I am working on, I will scrape it off and start again. When I feel it is complete, I stop. What I do is trust my natural sense of color combinations and the movement of the paint across a canvas. Sometimes, the movement is so perfect, it’s like magic. I step back and am often surprised at the finished piece.

In 2021, I was honored by the non-profit group Million Little, who did an Artist Spotlight on me. I have also been selected to have four pieces on display in The Santa Clarita City Hall during the World of Color and Moment of Zen exhibitions.

I feel so fortunate to live in a city that values local artists and artisans. Santa Clarita is rich in this regard.

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Josué Silva is a photographer whose work is primarily influenced by the painting medium. As a child, his father taught him how to paint while always encouraging creativity and individuality. Visiting galleries, museums and traveling became key foundations which later helped create his style.

Josué initially pursued a career in filmmaking. After graduating from film school, he began working in media production for an aeronautics company. This field introduced him to an entirely new perspective of shooting photography. He saw the unique artistic potential and was inspired to transition from film and experiment with a new medium of self-expression. In his venture, he has developed a reinvented approach to photography which harkens back to his childhood memories.

While abstract in appearance, Josué maintains the authenticity and essence of each captured subject. His work encourages viewers to uniquely interpret the abstraction using their individual experiences. The simplistic patterns, shapes and textures reflect the natural beauty of the world in new and compelling ways.

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