Free Sunday of Art at OMA

Each first Sunday of the month, Oceanside Museum of Art waves its entrance fee and opens its collections to anyone who would like to appreciate amazing talent. What a very cool gift to the community!


We chose to come today because of the offer to do Puzzle Decorating At Art For All. "Join us Sunday, August 6 from 12:00-2:00pm for free collaborative puzzle decorating! Uniquely design individual puzzle pieces with various materials, and watch as we assemble them into a beautiful symbol of the Oceanside community. Supplies and snacks are first come first serve and all ages are welcome!" Again, everything was FREE!
I was surprised at how into it Steve got and I must admit, his puzzle piece was the cutest!


We arrived when the activity began while Brady's family arrived towards the end, after we had left.
Everyone loved this project.
Brady was able to document the final "symbol of the Oceanside community". Such talent.
We were also there to see the results of OMA's second biennial Oceanside Plein Air Festival.
This is where artists of all skill levels had an opportunity to celebrate creativity and the natural environment. The Festival was not only about the artists who joined in the creative process, it was also for friends, neighbors, visitors, and art lovers of all ages that have connections to this beautiful beach city. Everyone was invited to share curiosity, wonder, and joy as we watched scenes of the ocean and beaches, landscapes, and cityscapes come to life on canvas and paper by artists of all levels.

Each festival participant completed multiple artworks en plein air, during the course of the week, from which the jurors selected for this exhibition.



I would say the star of the show was the Star Theatre (1956). No one subject was captured as often and as creatively as this famous Oceanside landmark. I love this very cool midcentury architectural masterpiece and to see it so wonderfully captured by various artists was a highlight.


Steve enjoyed Makenna Karp's Oceanside Pier and its unique lighting.
I felt the same way about Ryan Jensen's Sunset in Oceanside. Wow.
I fell in love with Parker Franco's Oceanside Harbor Beach and upon learning more about him, I realized he was actually there today and I'm bummed I didn't know. He's a native O'sider and has had his work showcased in the previous exhibition The Art of Autism.
For most, this image by Dunya Holland might seem out of place in a beach town but these Tomato Fields are spectacular and are something we both comment on every time we travel west to Oceanside. "Growing for three generations, the Singh family is the last remaining pole tomato producer in California. Since 1939, they have tended vine-ripened tomatoes on the same land with the knowledge and expertise that can only come with time. Grown on an idyllic property near the historic Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, the Singh family has a calm, almost spiritual approach to growing their produce. The fresh, salty air and bright sunshine makes it seem like a calling—only with such a deep sense of care and determination can exceptional produce be harvested time and again." When the hills are green, there is nowhere like it. Wow.
Geoff Allen's Tom's Place took First Place in this competition. It is pretty idyllic and captures the vibe of this seaside perfectly.
And let's not forget the talented kids. Reese Tarman took the Main Street Oceanside Student award with Boardwalk. I am so impressed with any artistic talent and there certainly was an abundance of it on display at OMA. Wow.

"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts -
such is the duty of the artist."
-Robert Schumann

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1 comments:

Four Points Bulletin said...

I love free days at the OMA! They make an effort to open access to art to all.
Although I miss music Friday's Sunday art days are fun too. Our Little loved it.

August 7, 2023 at 7:57 AM

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