Capturing the excitement of the West
Artist Cliff Barnes, a long-time resident of Burbank, received two national art awards this summer and attended both juried out-of-state exhibits.
The American Plains Artists selected Barnes’ watercolor “Riding Proud” as Best of Show at its 28th annual Juried Exhibit & Sale, continuing at the Museum of the Southwest in Midland, Texas. The show ends Sunday.
Sculptor and Cowboy Artist of America John Coleman judged the 98 paintings and drawings and 15 sculptures. To see the exhibit online, go to www.americanplainsartists.com.
Barnes also received the Animals Honorable Mention Award in the Associate and Signature Division at the 22nd annual Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oil. The show was held in June at the Evergreen Fine Art Gallery in Evergreen, Colo.
Barnes’ oil painting, “The Team”, was one of 196 paintings selected for the exhibition from more than 2,100 artists from the United States, Canada and Mexico. The prize was a $500 merchandise certificate from Vasari Classic Artists Oil Colors.
After graduating from Burbank High School, Barnes received an award to attend the Art Center College of Design. Upon completion of his degree, he worked as an architectural illustrator during the day and came home to paint afterward.
A trip to Europe inspired him to paint places he had seen and he started selling his work. Then he and his wife, Betty, traveled to Indian reservations, rodeos, Yellowstone National Park and the Tetons, and he discovered he really loved to paint the West. He realized that the painting he did for himself was exciting and rewarding, and so he started working at it fulltime. He has painted faces, scenes and wildlife for more than 30 years, and has won a number of awards locally and out of state.
To view the artist’s work, visit www.cliffbarnesart.com.
Opera Gala at Methodist church
The Friends of Music at Burbank First United Methodist Church present an opera gala, “Mezzo’s and More!” at 3 p.m. Oct. 14 in the sanctuary, 700 N. Glenoaks Blvd.
It is presented in collaboration with the Independent Opera Company and will feature selections from Georges Bizet’s “Carmen,” “La Traviata” and “Rigoletto” by Giuseppe Verdi, “Marriage of Figaro” and “Abduction from the Seraglio” by W.A. Mozart, “Lucia Di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti, and more.
They will be performed by artists Elizabeth Ackerman, Misha Barsky, Steve Chavez, Kyrian Corona, Angie Engelbart, Erica Lazerow, Cynthia Leigh, Jessica Mamey, Natalie Mann, Michelle Matsumune, Sarah Moor, Rachel Needleman, Tu Nguen, Tamora Pellikka, James Salazar, Mark Sauter, Katherine Trimble, Sharon Valdez and Terry Welborn.
The Friends of Music are presenting this concert, organized under the artistic and music direction of Galina Barskya, creator of the Independent Opera Company. The company is committed to presenting quality performances at affordable prices and to creating pleasurable experiences to opera lovers, as well as introducing opera to newcomers.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The Friends of Music mission is to bring quality music performances to the community. For more information, call the church at (818) 845-1531, Ext. 109 or email at dmichel@bfumc.net.
The performance begins at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary at Burbank First United Methodist Church at 700 N. Glenoaks Blvd. A reception for all guests will follow in Trever Hall. Free childcare is available.
Luncheon benefits college scholarships
Save the date for the upcoming Fashion Show and Luncheon of the Patrons’ Club of Glendale Community College Foundation on Nov. 2 at the Castaway Restaurant. The organization will be celebrating the college’s 85th anniversary in conjunction with the Patrons’ Club’s 65th anniversary.
This event is to provide scholarships to students. Last year, the foundation distributed 60 scholarships and grants-in-aid.
There will be live and silent auctions, a $1,000 cash prize and many opportunity prizes. Price of the luncheon and fashion show is $45. Contact Marianne Jennings, chairwoman, for tickets and reservations at (818) 249-5443.
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.