Marta Chaffee will present drawings and paintings in a new exhibit, “Southern California Light,” through May 11 at Gallery 169, 169 W. Channel Rd. The opening reception is Saturday, April 6 from 5 to 8 p.m.
In her work, Chaffee strikes a balance between representation and abstraction, taking the literal out of the landscape, thereby transcending the subject matter and focusing on its essence. Drawn to unbroken stretches of highway, desert and beach, as well as the tangled undergrowth of Rustic Canyon’s creeks and meadows, the artist creates carefully observed images that are at once serene and suggestive, calming and contemplative, capturing images of nature that are so familiar.
She began capturing these windswept landscapes with soft-pencil drawings, but soon moved to oils to better depict the rich color and texture of the broad sky and rolling hills. Working within the expressionist tradition, Chaffee presents not the specific site, but rather what she sees in the landscape.
Born, raised and educated in Southern California, Chaffee focuses on California landscape images. Her paintings and drawings have been exhibited throughout the western United States, as well as New York, Florida, and Seoul, Korea. Chaffee, who lives and works in Rustic Canyon, will be in the gallery on Friday afternoons between noon and 3 p.m.
Complimentary valet parking is available the night of the opening. Contact: (310) 963-3891.
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