The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University hosts the California Art Club’s 113th Gold Medal Exhibition.
This year, 163 artists were selected to participate from more than 500 applicants, museum officials said.
The Gold Medal Exhibition is a show for artists displaying characteristics of California Impressionism, an art style popularized by the California Art Club in the early 20th century. It is notable for being the first art movement based in California.
The works in the exhibition also reflect issues that go beyond the state, including environmental problems, social interests and cultural views. The exhibition is themeless, according to the organization, and is intended to encourage artists to do their best.
“The California Art Club is the nucleus of traditional fine art in the United States, and the celebrated group of painters and sculptors selected for the 113th annual Gold Medal Exhibition spend most of the year working in anticipation of this event,” said art historian, competition judge and expert on California Impressionism Jean Stern in a statement. “The selection process for the Gold Medal Exhibition is rigorous and only the very best works are accepted,” Stern continued.
The exhibition will award gold medals for best painting, best sculpture and best promotion of art, as well as the Edward Payne Award for best landscape and the Guy Rose Award for best multi-figure composition.
This year’s edition is the first time that the Hilbert Museum is hosting the presentation in person. When the Orange Museum hosted the 109th and 110th editions of the exhibition, the coronavirus pandemic forced the organizers to switch to a digital format.
The Hilbert Museum completed an expansion at the beginning of the year, increasing the floor space from 7,500 square meters to 22,000 square meters.
“We are delighted to host the California Art Club’s Gold Medal exhibition in the expanded Hilbert Museum,” said museum director Mary Platt in a statement. “Our beautifully redesigned galleries provide the perfect setting to showcase the work of these extraordinary artists. Combined with the oil paintings, watercolors, illustrations, drawings and other world-class works from the 5,000-piece permanent Hilbert collection, the result is a rare visual treat for the California art connoisseur.”
Throughout the exhibition, the museum will host several related events, including the opportunity to meet the artists and learn more about the art techniques used.
Stern will give a lecture on California Impressionism on August 24; “Artists in the Gallery” meet-and-greet events are planned each weekend and a family-friendly “Paint/Sculpt Out” on October 26.
The 113th Gold Medal Exhibition runs through October 26. For more information, visit hilbertmuseum.org.
