Two new exhibitions at Pasadena Museum of History in Spring/Summer 2017 take a look at art from different perspectives. Art in the Street: 25 Years of the Pasadena Chalk Festival celebrates the silver anniversary of one of the area’s most popular art attractions. The Art of Getting There: Railroad Inspired Artistry explores how railroads, the apex of the Industrial Revolution’s might and power, have inspired artists since their introduction.
Reception: The public is invited to view the exhibits free of charge on Sunday, April 9, 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Remarks by the curators will take place at 2:00 pm.
Exhibit Hours: The exhibits will be on view from Wednesday, March 29 through Sunday, August 13 in the Museum’s History Center galleries, 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena. Hours are 12:00 to 5:00 pm Wednesdays through Sundays, unless otherwise noted on the PMH website. Admission is $7 General; $6 Students & Seniors; Free for Museum Members and Children under 12. Updated information about the exhibitions and related programming is available online at www.pasadenahistory.org.
Art in the Street: 25 Years of the Pasadena Chalk Festival
The Pasadena Chalk Festival, one of the area’s most popular arts attractions, will celebrate its silver anniversary in 2017. From its humble launch in front of Pasadena City Hall in 1993, when this medium was just beginning to be known outside of Europe, the unique event incorporates approximately 600 visual artists a year and attracts tens of thousands of visitors to Paseo Colorado shopping center over the two-day festival weekend. Tom Coston and Patricia Hurley of Light Bringer Project, founders and organizers of the Pasadena Chalk Festival, joined with PMH to produce this exhibit, which explores the history and impact of the festival’s centuries-old medium of street painting.
This style of street art, also known as pavement art and street painting, can also be viewed as a type of performance art. Artists use impermanent materials such as pastel chalk to render a variety of images and designs on streets and boulevards, sidewalks, plazas, and public spaces. For the past twenty-five years, the Pasadena Chalk Festival has celebrated this medium, attracting artists and design teams from many regions of the country, across Southern California, and virtually every Los Angeles-area community. Leading art schools, museums and cultural centers are also represented in the annual event.
The exhibit features the creation and installation of chalk murals, some of which are site specific, as well as photos and videos of exceptional artwork spanning twenty-four years of Festival history. A special “tools of the trade” display will give visitors an inside look at the art form’s process and techniques. Artists will demonstrate chalk drawing, and the public of all ages will be encouraged to join in (chalk materials provided) on specific dates throughout the run of the exhibition.
The Art of Getting There: Railroad Inspired Artistry
Ever since the debut of railroads, whether for passenger or freight service, many have been “romanced by the rails.” Hobbyists, artists, photographers and countless others have tried their hands at making their own rendition of how it was, could be, or should have been. Curators Michael Patris and Steve Crise of the Mount Lowe Preservation Society celebrate the history and beauty of railroads through this exhibit of railroad art.
The Art of Getting There: Railroad Inspired Artistry includes paintings, photography, lithography, carvings and sculpture which were created from steel rail stimuli. Objects from the extensive archives of the Mount Lowe Preservation Society Collection are on display, in addition to several unique and amazing artworks from private collections. Nineteenth century to contemporary art in the exhibit includes a few pieces created specifically for this show. This will be a memorable visit for all age groups who love the sight of motion depicted by some amazing artists.
From traditional art, such as paintings and photographs, to advertising art, to sculpture and carvings, the technical innovation and artistry of railroads is celebrated in this exhibit.
For additional information visit www.pasadenahistory.org or call (626) 577-1660.
