Lost + Found: The Prodigal Son in Art May 3, 2009

Join the San Diego Fine Art Society's Collectors Club and lecturer Betty Anne Hoehn of the Timken Museum as we delve into images from 15th Italian and Northern European Renaissance to to 20th century Europe - from Colonial America to contemporary African, Indian, and British images to illuminate how artists have portrayed the parable across time and across cultures.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son:
In Christian tradition, during Lent, the Parable of the Return of the
Prodigal Son is typically read on the third Sunday. It is Christ's most beloved parable, a parable of God's mercy and human mercy, as relevant today as 2000 years ago. Artists through the centuries have depicted various aspects of it for various reasons, as simply a commission, or for cultural and personal reasons.

About the Exhibition:
While the lecture and exhibition are ostensibly about the Christian parable, it is, more importantly, an opportunity to explore the emotional issues of filial love, jealousy, forgiveness, loyalty, fairness and unfairness... universal themes that transcend religion and are truly about the human experience. Join us and see how Contemporary San Diego artists deal with these powerful and universal themes.

About our lecturer:
Betty Anne Hoehn is a member of the San Diego Fine Art Society and an esteemed art historian. She has served for five years as Adjunct Art History Professor at University of San Diego and two years as Curator of Education at the Timken Museum. She has been involved in various aspects of museum field in San Diego for 20 years, and is now guest lecturer throughout the San Diego community on Art and the Church, as well as guest lecturer for Cathedral High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College and her Masters degrees from the University of Memphis, both in Art History.

About the Jurors:
Peter Frank is the Senior Curator at the Riverside Art Museum and an art critic for Angeleno Magazine and editor of L.A.'s new The Magazine. He continues as long-time critic for LA Weekly. He was a past editor of Visions Art Quarterly, and was an art critic for The Village Voice and The SoHo Weekly News in New York. Frank contributes articles to numerous publications and has written many monographs and catalogs for one person and group exhibitions. He has organized many theme and survey shows for placement at institutions throughout the world. He has taught at colleges and universities and he has lectured all over North America and Europe. Frank received his B.A. and M.A. in art history from Columbia University.

April Game is the founder and Executive Director of the San Diego Fine Art Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the fine art community of San Diego County. She has ten years experience as an art consultant, gallery director and fine art researcher for Sotheby's. She studied Art History and English Literature at Connecticut College and holds an Appraisal Studies Certificate in Fine & Decorative Art from the University of California, Irvine in association with the American Society of Appraisers.

Larry Stein is a professional printer and photographer. Owner of Warp-9 Imaging, in El Cajon, Stein creates fine-art prints for artists, photographers, and himself. He offers personalized training for photography and “Photoshopfor Photographers.” He specializes in art and landscape photography utilizing digital and film, DSLR to view camera. Stein is a long-time supporter of the arts in San Diego and we are proud to include him on the jury panel.

About the Gallery:
Planet Rooth Gallery is located in San Diego, California in the heart of North Park's Arts and Culture District, the studio/gallery is on well known Ray Street. Ray Street is home to many artisan studios as well as architect and interior design firms. Once a month, the arts and cultural event "Ray at Night" founded by Gustaf of Planet Rooth and Ken Callaway of North Park Studios, draws an estimated 1,200 people to the open house event. Hosted the second Saturday of every month, the event took root in September 2001, and is continuing. Planet Rooth houses a fine arts gallery, music studio, as well as the studios where Gustaf Rooth, master craftsman/owner, and Anjela Piccard, gallery manager, spend their days providing and hosting fine arts for the community.

About San Diego Fine Art Society
The San Diego Fine Art Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the fine art community of San Diego County.

We envision a San Diego with a sense of its own cultural identity, with collectors, curators and citizens who seek out art by San Diegan artists, and a business community that looks for ways to embrace and reflect the visual arts culture of the community that keeps it thriving. We envision San Diego as one of the countries top-ten destinations for arts and culture.

SDFAS: "Helping to inspire a creative community"

Official Website: http://www.sdfas.org/events