Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary

This weekend marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and the Marin headlands. The bridge can rightfully be called an icon with its lovely Art Moderne design and striking "international Orange" color that reflects the western sunset. Living in Marin County for close to thirty-five years, I've driven across it, walked across it to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, and used it as my lifeline to "The City". I never fail to be thrilled after driving through the Waldo Tunnel and seeing the bridge and San Francisco appear. Every trip across the bridge is unique - sometimes The City glows in the twilight, many days in June only the tops of the towers are visible through the fog hugging the roadway. The bridge symbolizes many things to people; to me, it's the recognition that this is home and will be for the rest of my life. I never cease to be surprised and delighted by the Golden Gate Bridge - it is awe-inspiring and comforting at the same time. The accompanying print was created in honor of the Bridge's birthday with the hope that many more will come.

Reminder - Artist's Talk Tomorrow

Join us tomorrow at McEvoy Fine Art, Suite 152, Showplace Design Center, San Francisco for an informal conversation with the artist from 4 to 5pm and refreshments to follow. RSVP to john@mcevoyfineart.com or call 415. 864 2645. We hope to see you there!

Artist's Talk, McEvoy Fine Art, Wednesday April 25

Join us for an artist's informal presentation and conversation on Wednesday, April 25th at 4pm at McEvoy Fine Art, Suite 152, Showplace Design Center, 2 Henry Adams Street, San Francisco. I'll be talking about my travels and discoveries on the back roads of North America, photographing vernacular buildings and settlements, and how I create mixed media art based on my photographs. I'll also relate some of the fascinating back stories of the images, and how they came to be created. Come prepared to make comments, ask questions, and be engaged. Refreshments will follow at 5 pm. I hope to see you there!

The Altered Book April 21 - May 26, 2012

THE ALTERED BOOK Book Arts Show / Silent Auction at Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Novato, CA April 21 through May 26. 150 artists have created art using old or discarded books with proceeds to MarinMOCA. Opening Saturday, April 21st - Talk by Donna Seager, Seager-Gray Gallery at 4 pm; Artists' Reception 5 to 7 pm. Live auction / show closing party May 26, 5-7 pm
Pictured:
ARROWS - Between Olema and Tocaloma, West Marin by Eric Engstrom - dimensional mixed media 8.5" x 8.5" x 11", 2012.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING: New Exhibit

California Dreaming, an exhibit of new mixed media art by Eric Engstrom runs through April 27th at McEvoy Fine Art, Suite 152, Showplace Design Center, 2 Henry Adams Street, San Francisco. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Featuring the Northern California Wine Country and rural vernacular buildings, the art captures the beauty in the California landscape. Several of the pieces have not been shown before. Watch this blog for the date and time of an upcoming Artist's presentation in late April.

Top Image: Carneros Vineyard Barn, Napa Valley, California
Bottom Image: Fresh Eggs/Red Barn, west of Petaluma, Sonoma County, California

Artists' Salon Sunday April 1st at GRO

"Every Picture Tells A Story" is the subject of an informal conversation with exhibiting artists Myong-Ah Rawitscher, Vickisa, and Eric Engstrom on Sunday April 1st. An exhibition closing party will begin at 3pm, and the Salon will begin at 4pm. All are welcome to attend and share ideas about the subject or any insights into the role of art in society. Please join is for an interesting and illuminating afternoon. It's supposed to be a lovely Spring day in Point Reyes Station, so take a leisurely drive to the country and enjoy nature, art and refreshments.

RETROSPECTIVE Update

The retrospective show of my work is currently being exhibited in the Center Gallery of Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station through April 1st. The gallery is open daily from 11am to 5pm except Tuesday. Other exhibits include Myong-Ah Rawitscher in the Project Space Gallery and Vickisa in the Annex.

The new exhibit includes art by my late parents and showcases my work going back over forty years. In addition, several new mixed media pieces are being exhibited for the first time.

I will be at the gallery, all day tomorrow March 5th (Monday), March 15th (Thursday), March 18th (Sunday), March 24th (Saturday) and on April 1st (Sunday), the last day of the show. It would be wonderful to see friends and guide you through the exhibit while I'm working at the gallery.

Now that the show has been installed, I've had a chance to review my efforts. Putting together the exhibit brought back so many memories of my past lives as a young graphic designer, poster artist and photographer. Showing artwork by my late parents, W. J. and Victoria Engstrom, has helped me rediscover my roots. Since so many of my mixed-media pieces are based on photographs on the two-lane "Blue Highways" of North America, I get to revisit the sites whenever I create a new image.

We will be having a closing party at 3pm and and will host an artists’ SALON "Every Picture Tells A Story" from 4 to 5pm on Sunday, April 1st. Please Join us!

RETROSPECTIVE/EVOLUTION Opening

We had a wonderful opening reception for RETROSPECTIVE / EVOLUTION at Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station last Sunday afternoon. Many friends and art lovers stopped by to enjoy the art of Eric Engstrom, Myong-Ah Rawitscher, and Vickisa.

The exhibition continues at GRO through April 1st, when we will have an Artists' Salon with an open discussion with the theme "Every Picture Tells a Story".

Eric Engstrom's exhibit in the Main Gallery features a survey of art by his parents as well as forty years of his artwork leading up to recent and images. Myong-Ah Rawitscher's exhibition in the Project Space Gallery spotlights her evocative photo-collages, and Vickisa shows works in the Annex in honor of the late Warren Hellman, founder of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival.

Gallery Route One is open daily 11am - 5pm except Tuesdays. Visit our web site at www.galleryrouteone.org.

Art: Eric Engstrom, Log Barn, Helmville, Montana, 28" x 40", mixed media, 2012

RETROSPECTIVE / EVOLUTION

The opening reception for RETROSPECTIVE / EVOLUTION is this Sunday February 26 from 3-5pm at Gallery Route One, Point Reyes Station, California. The exhibit contains art created by my parents W.J. Engstrom (1900-1989) and Victoria Engstrom (1915-1999).
Abandoned or underutilized buildings have been a major theme of my work since the late 1980s. My new work includes several roadside landscapes featuring vernacular commercial and agricultural buildings. Please join us, and visit the exhibit often - Gallery Route One is open daily except Tuesday from 11am to 5pm. There will be an Artists' Salon on Sunday, April 1 from 4-5pm. The discussion will reference the topic "Every Picture Tells A Story" and all are welcome to join in.

Photos (from top):
1. New art by Eric Engstrom
2. White Barn, Gotham, Wisconsin #2, mixed media, 24" x 24" x 3" - 2012
3. Evolution, art by W.J. Engstrom (1900-1989) and Victoria Brewer Engstrom (1915-1999)
4. Exhibition poster 13" x 19"

RETROSPECTIVE / EVOLUTION at Gallery Route One

A new solo show, RETROSPECTIVE / EVOLUTION will featured be in the Center Gallery, Gallery Route One, 11101 State Highway One, Point Reyes Station, California from February 24 through April 1, 2012.

Featuring a variety of art created over fifty years by Eric Engstrom, the exhibition traces the development of his work from the 1960s to the present. Included in the retrospective are pieces by his late parents W.J. Engstrom and Victoria Engstrom as well as Eric's posters, paintings, collages and prints.

Also running concurrently at Gallery Route One will be Far From Home, photographs by Myong-Ah Rawitscher in the Project Space Gallery and new work by Vickisa in the Annex Gallery.

A reception for the exhibit will be on Sunday, February 26th from 3-5 pm, and an Artists' Salon with a conversation exploring the theme "Every Picture Tells A Story" will be featured from 4-5 pm on Sunday, April 1st, the final day of the exhibit.

Gallery Route One is open every day except Tuesday from 11 am to 5 pm. Visit the gallery's web site at .

Top: Bodie, California, mixed media 18 x 24, 2012
Middle: Forks, Washington, mixed media, 18 x 24, 2012
Bottom: Cuervo, New Mexico, mixed media, 18 x 24, 2012