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13/6/2007

Urbanscapes and Landscapes

M.J. Higgins, Los Angeles

Jamie Ennen, Dick Heimbold, Star Higgins and William Wray

Although these remarkable plein air artists come from distinctly different and varied backgrounds they all share the compelling passion of discovering a captivating view and capturing a moment in time.

This will be an evolving six week plus exhibition due to the fact that the City of Los Angeles has begun eminent domain proceedings to take over our beloved 1896 building for the purpose of creating a five story Police parking structure complete with a fueling station, maintenance center and car wash for 1,000 cars. Last spring our “Eminent Domain” exhibition shed light on the City’s short sighted plan to do away with the only green space public park slated for the developing downtown and instead build the new Police headquarters on the site, the block south of City Hall.

In light of these developments we are calling this exhibition a “Cash & Carry” style show where art works will be allowed to be taken when purchased (credit & checks accepted). Works sold will be replaced by work by the same artist or another landscape artist we currently represent, perhaps through September 8th!

Jamie Ennen, originally from Pennsylvania, was raised with the freedom to explore nature and began painting in 1984 at Cal State Long Beach. She has since gathered training over many years as a student and through various workshops. Ennen is a member of the Oil Painters of America, Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, California Art Club and the Plein Air Painters Association.

Dick Heimbold, originally from New Jersey, began painting as a teenager and continued training in Milwaukee and later in Los Angeles in the 80’s. An avid painter, Heimbold paints views from all over Southern California. Heimbold particularly enjoys traveling to the Colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico where he paints and often exhibits his work.

Star Higgins, a Southern California native, began her painting career in the theater and as a scenic artist for film and television. Higgins began painting in earnest 15 years ago inspired by a watercolor class and further training from 1995 to 1997 with impressionist artist Charles Knecht.

William Wray, an Army brat, moved often during his childhood years and eventually settled in Southern California. Being mostly self-taught City Hall and shunning California’s conceptual oriented art schools, he eventually enrolled in The Art Students League located in New York to reinforce his spotty art foundation. Wray went on to work in writing and drawing comic books, animation and illustration. He is mostly known for his painting style on the Ren and Stimpy Show and his monthly strip in Mad Magazine.

In his own words…

“The highest compliment I ever received was when a great painter told me my paintings look old. I love the early 2Oth century’s art and architecture and work hard to invoke comparisons to that period in my work. I love the idea of capturing what's left of a bygone era; recording it before it’s gone, replaced by a new strip mall. I’ve spent my life studying the artists of that era, reaching for a level of skill and feeling that the modern art world has long dismissed as dull-witted craft.

I hope my paintings of these old structures has become less an invocation of nostalgia than an important race to record what is fast disappearing. Every time you find an old factory, a rundown dock or an old shack, a developer is sure to be there trying to convince the city it’s time to renovate. Good for the economy, they say, but bad for the painter looking for interesting subjects to paint. California’s urban pockets of age are disappearing at a record pace, so I have to paint as fast as I can.”

Opening: Thursday, June 14, 6-9pm

M.J. HIGGINS fine art & furnishings
244 South Main Street, Los Angeles

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