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Published on 05/26/1999 All articles from this issue

'California dream' defined in Stanford exhibition

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By Agnes Derbin

On The Arts

"Pacific Arcadia: Images of California, 1600-1915," currently at the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts, Stanford University, is a powerful exhibition that defines the artistic and historic concept of the California dream. The exhibition explores myth and reality through approximately 250 objects- maps, photographs, prints, paintings, and other printed material.

The exhibition is organized around six themes: Terrestrial Paradise, The Golden Dream, Cornucopia of the World, Rush for the Wilderness, Spanish Arcadia, and Urban Visions

The exhibit begins with 17th-century maps and printed literature.

These images support the dream of vast wilderness and unlimited resources. The final galleries contain paintings and photographs of 20th-century California reshaped by urban life.

"Pacific Arcadia: Images of California, 1600-1915" continues through June 27. Call 723-9362 for more information.

"Paint the Town" is an art activity promising to be historical, participatory, and fun. The event, sponsored by the Town Crier, takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 5. Local artists will paint Los Altos as it is now, at the turn of the 20th century (See the list of artists and buildings accompanying this article). The public is invited to watch artists paint various buildings around town. The finished paintings will be exhibited at a later date.

Artists have responded with enthusiasm for their respective subjects. A participating artist, Michael Wood, is painting ZYT Galerie, 923 N. San Antonio Road. "I generally do not paint architectural subjects," Wood said. "I consider this project similar to a portrait painting. The building has a fascinating history. Part of the gallery was formerly a house, and another part, an appliance store. My painting will preserve the building as it is today."

Art bits: An exhibition of oil paintings by Jian Wang continues at Sunbird Gallery, 333 First St., through May 29. Call 941-1561 for more details.

An exhibition featuring work by Sue DeLong, Miyoko Mizuno, Robert Schick, and Bonnie Epstein continues through May 30 at Gallery 9, 143 Main St. Call 941-7969 for more information.

An exhibition of work by Anna Wu Weakland and Kirsten Stein continues through May 28 at Los Altos Hills Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road.

"The Color of Light," a new exhibition featuring watercolors by Betty Dennis, opens June 1 and continues through July 2 at Viewpoints Gallery, 315 State St. There will be a reception for the artist on Sunday, June 6, from 3-6 p.m. Call 941- 5789 for more information.

"Etchings by Herta Czoernig" continues through May 29 at ZYT Galerie, 923 N. San Antonio Road. Call 948-6700 for more information.

"The Narrative Thread," featuring embroidered quilts from rural Bihur in Eastern India, continues through July 11 at the Palo Alto Art Center, 1313 Newell Road, Palo Alto. Call 329-2366.

Derbin is a Los Altos artist and resident.