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"On Location in Malibu 2009" at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum Closes Aug. 9

Since May 23, the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University has exhibited "On Location in Malibu 2009: Paintings by the California Art Club," bringing the beauty of the Malibu, California to the canvas. The heralded showcase, which reflects changes in Malibu since the fall 2007 wildfires and provides a message of hope and renewal, will come to an end on Sunday, Aug. 9.

"On Location in Malibu 2009" is the fourth in a series that began in 1999, and includes over 80 paintings of Malibu created by artist-members of the California Art Club. These works were all produced in the last year especially for this exhibition. "Over the years, artists have begun to look more at how people live in Malibu," says Michael Zakian, director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art. "Paintings in this exhibition address timely issues of homelessness as well as paparazzi. Of course you still have painters moved by the sheer beauty of the place and their paintings convey that magnificence."

The theme of this year's exhibition is continuity and change. Many of the works are in the style of California Impressionism or plein air ("open air") painting. Although the style is a century old, these painters continue to create fresh, new images and compositions. Other artists choose to push the boundaries of realism, producing novel images that show that the realist tradition is able to keep pace with the times.

This year's exhibit also marks the 100th anniversary of the California Art Club, the oldest continuously operating art association in the state. "The fact that the California Art Club has lasted 10 decades says much about the persistent appeal of its aesthetic vision," Zakian says. "Since its inception, the group has been dedicated to naturalist painting, and has used its talents to reflect the beauty and wonder of the world around us."

The 60 artists whose works are represented in On Location in Malibu 2009 come from throughout the state. The list includes Peter Adams, Lisa Bloomingdale Bell, Gerald Brommer, John Brunnick, John Budicin, Marcia Burtt, Cathey Cadieux, Larry Cannon, Ron Chesley, David Damm, Karl Dempwolf, Don Durborow, Esther Engelman, David Gallup, Timothy Geisen, Lynn Gertenbach, Daniel Goozee, Dick Heimbold, Carolyn Hesse-Low, Wendy Hultquist, Ignat Ignatov, Virginia Johnstone, Sharon Burkett Kaiser, Glen Knowles, Peggi Kroll-Roberts, Frank Lennartz, Margot Lennartz, Calvin Liang, Jeremy Lipking, Joseph Mendez, Eric Merrell, Stephen Mirich, Bobbie Moline-Kramer, Michael Obermeyer, Paul Panossian, Scott Prior, Julio Pro, Tony Pro, Robin Purcell, Gerald Rahm, Jeffrey Richards, Vic Riesau, Rodolfo Rivademar, Ray Roberts, Junn Roca, Gayle Roski, Sergio Sanchez, Frank Serrano, Herb Seymour, Liliana Simanton, Michael Situ, Roxanne Skene, Alexey Steele, William Stout, Isabel Wadsworth, Yisun Wei, Jeffrey Yeomans, Joan Horsfall Young, Joseph Yuhasz, and Charles Zlatkoff.

This exhibition is accompanied by a color catalog featuring paintings from the exhibition and an essay by Zakian, the curator. Art in the exhibition is available for purchase.

Located on Pepperdine's Malibu campus, the Weisman is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Mondays, and major holidays. The public is welcome to attend and there is no admission charge.

For more information, call (310) 506-4851, or visit the Frederick R. Weisman Museum Web site.