Astrid Preston
21 - 29 Mar 2012
Astrid Preston
Small Forest
A Special GRACIE Pop-Up Studio and Benefit Art Sale
21 – 29 March, 2012
The Santa Monica Museum of Art’s popular gift shop GRACIE presents Astrid Preston: Small Forest, a special weeklong pop-up studio and benefit art sale of stunning new work by this internationally renowned local artist.
On view March 21 through March 29, 2012 in the Museum’s Project Room 1 and GRACIE shop, Small Forest will feature a unique and luminous collection of vibrant and detailed paintings of trees and birds created exclusively for this special occasion.
Small Forest will include more than 100 oil and gouache artistic gems painted on papyrus and wood veneers for sale starting at $200 each. This exceptional collection will be comprised of pieces that range in size from 3 x 4 inches to 8 1⁄2 x 11 inches. Also on view and for sale will be large wood panels 66 x 33 inches for $14,000 each. Preston’s highly sought-after pieces will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and will only be available at SMMoA during this special pop-up studio sale.
“There is a unique quality to trees, with each one having its own beauty and personality,” explains Preston. “Many cultures have myths about sacred trees. The Japanese tradition of planting trees as a possible dwelling space for good spirits inspired this project, as did my fascination with wood itself—playing with the idea of wood, wood grain, and using wood as a ‘canvas’.”
A long-time member and supporter of SMMoA, Preston will generously donate up to 70% of proceeds to support the Museum’s exhibition, education, and outreach programs.
Preston (b. 1945) was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and lives and works in Santa Monica. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Preston’s work has been presented in numerous solo exhibitions in museums and galleries, including Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach; Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art; Wichita Falls Museum & Art Center, Texas; Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, Michigan; Saginaw Art Museum, Michigan; Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica; Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach; Jan Turner Gallery, Los Angeles; Gallery Foret Noire, Takamatsu, Japan; and Lux Art Institute, Encinitas, California. Her work has been shown in group exhibitions at San Diego Museum of Art; Long Beach Museum of Art; Orange County Center for Contemporary Art; Design Center of Los Angeles; Schneider Museum of Art, Ashland, Oregon; Bakersfield Museum of Art; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas; Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans; New York Academy of Fine Arts; and Korea and Tong Art Museum, Taegu, Korea.
Small Forest
A Special GRACIE Pop-Up Studio and Benefit Art Sale
21 – 29 March, 2012
The Santa Monica Museum of Art’s popular gift shop GRACIE presents Astrid Preston: Small Forest, a special weeklong pop-up studio and benefit art sale of stunning new work by this internationally renowned local artist.
On view March 21 through March 29, 2012 in the Museum’s Project Room 1 and GRACIE shop, Small Forest will feature a unique and luminous collection of vibrant and detailed paintings of trees and birds created exclusively for this special occasion.
Small Forest will include more than 100 oil and gouache artistic gems painted on papyrus and wood veneers for sale starting at $200 each. This exceptional collection will be comprised of pieces that range in size from 3 x 4 inches to 8 1⁄2 x 11 inches. Also on view and for sale will be large wood panels 66 x 33 inches for $14,000 each. Preston’s highly sought-after pieces will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and will only be available at SMMoA during this special pop-up studio sale.
“There is a unique quality to trees, with each one having its own beauty and personality,” explains Preston. “Many cultures have myths about sacred trees. The Japanese tradition of planting trees as a possible dwelling space for good spirits inspired this project, as did my fascination with wood itself—playing with the idea of wood, wood grain, and using wood as a ‘canvas’.”
A long-time member and supporter of SMMoA, Preston will generously donate up to 70% of proceeds to support the Museum’s exhibition, education, and outreach programs.
Preston (b. 1945) was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and lives and works in Santa Monica. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Preston’s work has been presented in numerous solo exhibitions in museums and galleries, including Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach; Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art; Wichita Falls Museum & Art Center, Texas; Ella Sharp Museum, Jackson, Michigan; Saginaw Art Museum, Michigan; Craig Krull Gallery, Santa Monica; Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach; Jan Turner Gallery, Los Angeles; Gallery Foret Noire, Takamatsu, Japan; and Lux Art Institute, Encinitas, California. Her work has been shown in group exhibitions at San Diego Museum of Art; Long Beach Museum of Art; Orange County Center for Contemporary Art; Design Center of Los Angeles; Schneider Museum of Art, Ashland, Oregon; Bakersfield Museum of Art; McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, Texas; Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans; New York Academy of Fine Arts; and Korea and Tong Art Museum, Taegu, Korea.