National Sculpture Society NSS California exhibition

Mark Edward Adams ” Young Bear Walking”

FEBRUARY 5 – MARCH 18, 2022

Reception: Saturday, Feb. 5 4:30PM – 7:30PM

The Bonita Museum & Cultural Center announces the National Sculpture Society (NSS) California exhibition in February and March of 2022.   The exhibition features thirty-eight artworks by master California sculptors, members of the prestigious National Sculpture Society based in New York city.  The NSS was founded in 1893 and is the oldest sculpture society in the United States, promoting the work of sculptors and architects who specialize in highlighting our natural world.

The exhibition documents moments in time during the last two years with thoughtful works including a portrait of our first female Vice President Kamala Harris by San Marcos artist Marsha Brook.  The spirit of California is exemplified by San Diego artist Mark Edward Adams Young Bear Walking and Encinitas sculptor James Nelson presents Carlos, a portrait of a young person lost in thought and contemplation.  The diversity of material and subject matter includes artworks in bronze, clay, ceramic, wood and resin, featuring animal and human portraiture as well as fantasy and sea based subject matter.

It should come as no surprise that California is home to so many talented sculptors — but the incredible range of artworks in terms of medium, style and subject matter is also impressive: ceramic, bronze, wood, abstracts, humorous, haunting, bright, dark, light, fun, serene, colorful — just a huge range. 

Come and see this show! You’ll see animals full of life, soulful portraits, socially expressive works, beautiful figures, pop commentary not to mention a super cute baby hippo and a flying monkey. 

— Exhibition juror and master sculptor, Richard Becker NSS

ARTISTS IN THE EXHIBITION:

Marsha Brook from San Marcos with two pieces entitled Kamala Harris and Spirit of Hope; Oceana Rain Stuart from Sausalito with Guessing Game;  William Pupa from Redondo Beach with Icarus;  Jacquelyn Giuffré from San Rafael with Lucy, Edward and 3 panels of Verdigris; Mark Simpson from Olympic Valley with Leda, Flying Monkey Portrait and Portrait of Zamiro; Robert Cantor from San Francisco with In the Moment #1 and In the Moment #3;  Maidy Morhous from Del Mar with Blowing in the Wind;  Karen Coburn from Chatsworth with Reaching;  Lance Glasser from Saratoga with David;   James Nelson from Encinitas with Carlos; Paul Reiber from Mendocino with Judy;  Deanna Rae C. Montero from Palo Alto with The Itch;  Claudette Bleijenberg from San Francisco with Pandemic I;  Cynthia Siegel from Santa Cruz with Kavita;  Karina Furhman from San Pablo with Torrey;  Manuelita Brown from Encinitas with America’s Son and It’s Hard Work;  Julia C R Gray from Cardiff by the Sea with Jellyfish/NOT & SHE Shell-Sea Wisdom;  Tony Gangitano from San Diego with Azteca;  Jim Callahan from Sonoma with Almost, Ravens Awakens and Royal Flush;  Patricia Palenschat from San Diego with Neighborhood Rascals;  Ruth Green from Santa Barbara with Cookie Please and Mountain Lion Study; Mark Edward Adams from San Diego with Young Bear Walking;  Gina Cohen from Los Angeles with Dark Night of the Soul;  Terry Chacon from Redlands with Full Circle;  Edward Holecko from South San Francisco with Contemplation and Confidence; Louis Quaintance from Nevada City with Narcissist.

Jurors for the exhibition were NSS members Richard Becker and Nilda Comas, along with the director of the Bonita Museum, Wendy Wilson-Gibson.

Oceana Rain Stuart “Guessing Game” in bronze

Manuelita Brown “America’s Son”

Oceana Rain Stuart “Guessing Game” in bronzeEncinitas artist Manuelita Brown started sculpting at a young age by re-imagining and re-crafting her dolls.  By high school, she had already moved onto bronze sculpting.  A math major in college, Manuelita came back to art while working as a math educator.  Now a full-time sculptor living and working in Encinitas, Manuelita’s two works in the exhibition explore themes of multi-culturalism in America as well as the daily activity of hard work.  The bronze sculpture America’s Son is a portrait of her son, who she was visiting in Paris when he commented that “He had never felt so American as when he was living abroad.”  For Manuelita, America’s multiculturalism is part of the beauty and power that emanates from her sculpture.  Hard Work, also a bronze, was inspired by the artist’s feelings about not trying to solve the world’s problems, but dealing with today, and the daily hard work that people do. Sweat is visible on the face of “Hard Work” and it reflects Manuelita’s ability through her art, to express how people feel.

Marsha Brook “Kamala Harris”

San Marcos sculptor Marsha Brook has artworks in the exhibition including Kamala Harris, a bas relief, which is part of a larger series Inspired Social Conscious.  Marsha, who has been a part of the NSS for over 30 years, invites the viewer to delve into a deeper understanding of the diversity that makes up our collective humanity.   Locally Marsha Brook has public works at the Jackie Robinson YMCA as well as the Fallbrook Library.

The Bonita Museum & Cultural Center is open Wednesday thru Saturday from 10am to 4pm.  Information about the exhibition and programming can be found on the CALENDAR page

Jacquelyn Giuffré “Edward”

NSS press release

SF artist Edward Holecko “Confidence”