The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University is playing host to the 113th Gold Medal Exhibition of the California Art Club.
This year 163 artists were chosen to participate, out of more than 500 entrants, museum officials said.
The Gold Medal Exhibition is a showcase for artists demonstrating traits of California Impressionism, an artistic style the California Art Club helped popularize in the early 1900s. It is notable for being the first artistic movement based in California.
If you go
Hours: The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays
Where: 167 N. Atchison St., Orange
Cost: Admission is free, but online reservations are encouraged
Information: hilbertmuseum.org
Works in the exhibition also reflect problems found beyond the state, including environmental issues, social interests and cultural views. It is unthemed, according to the organization, to encourage artists to create their best work.
“The California Art Club is the nucleus of traditional fine art in the United States, and the celebrated group of painters and sculptors selected for the 113th annual Gold Medal Exhibition spend most of the year working in anticipation of this event,” said art historian, competition juror, and California Impressionism expert Jean Stern in a statement. “The jurying process for the Gold Medal Exhibition is rigorous and only the very best works are accepted,” Stern also states.
The exhibition awards gold medallions for best painting, sculpture and advancement of art as well as the Edward Payne Award For Best Landscape and the Guy Rose Award for Best Multi-Figurative Composition.
This year’s iteration is the first time the Hilbert Museum has hosted the presentation in person. When the Orange museum played host to the 109th and 110th editions of the exhibition, the coronavirus pandemic forced organizers to move to a digital format.
Calvin Liang’s “Learning Sail in Newport Beach,” an oil on canvas, is part of the 113th Gold Medal Exhibition of the California Art Club on display at the Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University through Oct. 26. (Courtesy of the California Art Club)
The Hilbert Museum completed an expansion earlier this year that enlarged its floor space from 7,500 square feet to 22,000 square feet.
“We’re delighted to host the California Art Club’s Gold Medal Exhibition at the expanded Hilbert Museum,” Museum Director Mary Platt said in a statement. “Our beautifully reimagined galleries provide the perfect setting to show off the work of these extraordinary artists. When combined with the oils, watercolors, illustrations, drawings and other world-class works on view from the 5,000-piece permanent Hilbert Collection, the result is a rare visual treat for the California art connoisseur.”
The museum will host several related events throughout the exhibition’s run, including opportunities to meet the artists and discover more about the art techniques used.
Stern will offer a California Impressionism lecture on Aug. 24; there are “Artists in the Gallery” meet and greets planned each weekend and a family-friendly “Paint/Sculpt Out” on Oct. 26.
The 113th Gold Medal Exhibition will run through Oct. 26. To find out more, visit hilbertmuseum.org.
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