Painting World War II: The California Style Watercolor Artists April 18, 2010

Painting World War II is an historic first examination of paintings by California Style watercolor artists on the subject of WWII. 55 paintings depicting scenes of California mobilizing for the war as well as images of the war overseas will be on view. Featured artists include Arthur Beaumont, Rex Brandt, Hardie Gramatky, Dong Kingman, Barse Miller, Phil Paradise, Charles Payzant, Ed Reep, Millard Sheets, and Milford Zornes. The exhibition will be on view April 18 through October 3, 2010.

Forged in the Great Depression, California Style watercolors form an important West Coast chapter of American Scene and American Regionalist art. As a group these artists examine a broad survey of everyday life in California and create memorable artistic accounts of the unfolding local history of California from 1930 through the 1970’s. Each painting in the exhibition tells an intimate and dramatic story offering viewers an opportunity to experience WWII from the artist’s perspective. Many aspects of WWII are examined in this exhibition. War efforts on the home front by private citizens and the Red Cross are profiled. Regionalist images of the military presence in California gearing up for the Pacific Theatre will be on view, as well as paintings of soldiers on leave, soldiers guarding military installations and the delivery of tanks on trains.

Oceanside Museum of Art is located at 704 Pier View Way in downtown Oceanside, California within walking distance from the Oceanside Transit Center with Amtrak, Sprinter and NCTD Coaster stops. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $8; seniors 65 and over $5; students, active military and their families are free. For information about current exhibitions or other museum programs call 760-435-3720 or visit the web site www.oma-online.org.

Official Website: http://oma-online.org