The Stockton Art League’s juried art competition returns to The Haggin Museum this summer with more than 100 new works by long-standing local artists and newcomers from around the country.
The original competition was conceived in 1951 to recognize, promote and reward excellence in Northern California art and was expanded in 2006 to include all of California, in addition to Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. It has grown since then to include artists from throughout the United States.
More than 700 works from 265 artists were submitted for the 57th exhibition, and more than $5,000 will be awarded across five categories:
- Acrylics and Oils
- Water Media
- Mixed Media & Graphics
- Sculpture
- Pastel
The works on display in the museum’s temporary exhibition galleries will be for sale through the Stockton Art League and a brochure with pricing information will be available in the galleries and at the front desk.
Laitinen-Rotoring Over Melones
Juror Dale Laitinen
This year’s juror is contemporary painter Dale Laitinen, who has served as a juror of many national and regional art exhibitions, including Watercolor West, Kentucky Watercolor Society, Utah Watercolor Society, Watercolor Society of Oregon and Red River Watermedia Show.
Although known as a watermedia painter, Laitinen works in other mediums. His work ranges from a highly-designed representational style to one that is dramatically abstracted.
Laitinen holds a degree in art from San Jose State University, but spent eight years as an independent trucker hauling freight across the country before turning to painting full-time in 1985. Taking visual cues from the landscape where he has spent most of his life, California’s Central Valley and Sierra foothills continue to inspire him from Mountain Ranch, where he currently lives and maintains his studio.
Laitinen is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society and Watercolor West. His work has been featured in several books, including The Splash Series, Painting with the White of your Paper, The Transparent Watercolor Wheel and more. He will give a presentation at the 1st Thursday event on September 4, 7:00 p.m.
The works on display in the museum’s temporary exhibition galleries will be for sale through the Stockton Art League and a brochure with pricing information will be available at the front desk.
