Palo Alto Art Center
{{Short description|Multi-purpose center open to the public in Palo Alto, California}}
{{Distinguish|Pacific Art League}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Palo Alto Art Center
| image =
| alt = Palo Alto Art Center
| formation = {{start date and age|1971}}
| type = governmental organization
| purpose = arts, visual art education
| location = 1313 Newell Road,
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|37.4441|-122.1389 |format=dms |type:landmark_region:US-CA |display=inline, title}}
| key_people = Karen Kienzle (director, 2009)
| website =
| formerly = Palo Alto Community Cultural Center
}}
File:Palo Alto Art Center - February 2019.jpg
File:PAAC Visitors in the lawn sculpture.jpg
The Palo Alto Art Center is a multi-purpose center open to the public for art activities for all ages, located at 1313 Newell Road in Palo Alto, California. It is managed by the City of Palo Alto, California and supported by the non-profit Palo Alto Art Center Foundation (PAACF).{{Cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/08/05/palo-alto-art-center-foundation-strives-for-more-funding-engagement|title=Palo Alto Art Center Foundation aims for more funding, engagement|last=Sheyner|first=Gennady|date=2019-08-05|website=www.paloaltoonline.com|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-05}} The center is located adjacent to Rinconada Park and the Rinconada Public Library.
History
The Palo Alto Art Center was originally named the Palo Alto Community Cultural Center when it was founded in 1971.{{Cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2010/08/20/art-center-to-undergo-7-million-renovation-|title=Art Center to undergo $7 million renovation|last=Kane|first=Karla|date=2010-08-20|website=Palo Alto Online|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-05}} Hayward Ellis King served as a consultant curator in 1972.{{Cite news |date=1972-09-13 |title=New curator for center |pages=23 |work=Palo Alto Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-new-curator/125002769/ |access-date=2023-05-20 |via=Newspapers.com}}
The building which occupies Palo Alto Art Center was built in 1953 by architect Leslie Nichols and used to be the location for Palo Alto's City Hall.{{Cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2012/08/27/palo-alto-art-center-preps-for-opening-day|title=Palo Alto Art Center preps for opening day|last=Wallace|first=Rebecca|date=2012-08-27|website=www.paloaltoonline.com|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-03-05|quote=While Kienzle has been director only since 2009,}} From 2010 until 2012, the building underwent major renovations which included adding additional classrooms and a new children's wing. In 2016, after the death of local art collector and printshop and press owner, Paula Kirkeby, her printshop and studio equipment was donated to the Palo Alto Art Center.{{Cite web|date=2017-09-27|title=Palo Alto Art Center gifted with Paula Kirkeby Press|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/09/27/palo-alto-art-center-gifted-with-paula-kirkeby-press/|access-date=2021-07-24|website=The Mercury News|language=en-US}}
Karen Kienzle has been the director of Palo Alto Art Center, since 2009.
About
= Arts education =
The Art Center has art classes for both adults and children, workshops, summer camps, and drop-in programs that take place in the Center's studios and classrooms. Courses include painting, drawing, mixed-media, ceramics, and jewelry. School outreach programs include offering schools with Project Look field trips and the Cultural Kaleidoscope program that pairs students from the Palo Alto Unified School District and Ravenswood City School District for art activities.{{cite web |title=Cultural Kaleidoscope |url=https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/artcenter/education/kaleidoscope.asp |website=Palo Alto Art Center |publisher=City of Palo Alto |accessdate=13 February 2019}}{{Primary source inline|date=March 2020}}
= Exhibitions and events =
Visitors can view free exhibitions with artwork in a wide range of media, and participate in free events. Events include Friday Night at the Art Center,{{cite web |title=Colorful Friday Night at the Art Center - Palo Alto |url=https://sf.funcheap.com/join-colorful-friday-night-art-center/ |website=Funcheap SF |accessdate=4 March 2019}} Family Days, The Great Glass Pumpkin Patch, and the Clay and Glass Festival.
The City of Palo Alto maintains a list of past exhibitions. Some highlights are:
- 1980 exhibition, Contemporary Trends in Presentation Drawings, curated by Roberta Loach, Linda Langston; including J.J. Aasen, Walter Askin, Gary Brown, Eleanor Dickinson, Bob Anderson, Harry Lynn Krizan, Judith Linhares, Roy DeForest, Robert Freimark, Sylvia Lark, Roberta Loach, Norman Lundin, Shane Weare, Vince Perez, Mary Snowden{{Cite web|date=13 January 1980|title=Group Shows: Palo Alto Art Center|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/460849185/|url-access=subscription|access-date=2022-02-03|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The San Francisco Examiner|page=283|language=en}}
- 2017 exhibition, Play! contained a range of pieces exploring the power of play.{{cite web|url=https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/installation/the-palo-alto-arts-center-explores-the-concept-of-play-in-new-exhibit/|title=The Palo Alto Arts Center Explores the Concept of Play in New Exhibit|last=|first=|date=2017|website=Juxtapoz magazine|publisher=Juxtapoz|archive-url=|archive-date=|accessdate=14 February 2019}}
- 2018 exhibition, Through That Which Is Seen shared the art of dioramas.{{cite web |title=Art exhibit explores the tiny, detailed worlds of dioramas |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/art/article/Art-exhibit-explores-the-tiny-detailed-worlds-of-12751290.php |website=San Francisco Chronicle |publisher=SF Chronicle |accessdate=31 March 2019}}
- 2019 exhibition, The Sheltering Sky features 18 artists on sky-related themes, such as the 2-story photo "Sky Front" by Sukey Bryan.{{cite web |last1=Whiting |first1=Sam |title=Sukey Bryan hangs the sky at Palo Alto Art Center |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/art-exhibits/sukey-bryan-hangs-the-sky-at-palo-alto-art-center |website=Datebook |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=31 March 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Karla |title=Art from above |url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/01/30/art-from-above |website=Palo Alto Online |publisher=Palo Alto Weekly |accessdate=10 March 2019}}
A Patrick Dougherty temporary installation called Whiplash (2016), which was a woven structure of willow branches forming a series of shelters was on display the lawn on Embarcadero Road and was a popular place where many people took photographs.{{cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2016/11/30/worth-a-look|title=A&E: Worth a Look|website=Palo Alto Online|accessdate=10 March 2019}}{{cite web |title=The Top Ten Most Instagram-Worthy Spots in Palo Alto |url=http://betweenballoons.com/the-top-ten-most-instagram-worthy-spots-in-palo-alto/ |publisher=Between Balloons (Solo Pine) |accessdate=13 February 2019}} Dougherty's sculpture was created in part by a team of volunteers and a crowdfunding campaign of $15,000.{{Cite web|date=|title=Around Town: Students build replica of Ohlone Elementary on Minecraft|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2020/06/14/around-town-students-build-replica-of-ohlone-elementary-on-minecraft|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-07-20|website=Palo Alto Weekly|language=en}} In June 2020, the Dougherty sculpture was removed.
The center has produced solo exhibitions for many artists including: Christopher Brown, Jim Campbell, Joseph Cornell, Stephen De Staebler, Richard Diebienkorn, Marjorie Eaton, Keith Haring, Julie Heffernan, Mildred Howard, Jess, Carlos Loarca, Manuel Neri, Beverly Mayeri, David Park, Picasso, Alan Rath, Judith Selby Lang, Elizabeth Sher, Masami Teraoka, Ruth Terrill, Beth van Hoesen among others.{{Cite web |title=Palo Alto Art Center Exhibition Archive, 1971-2021 |url=https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/files/assets/public/v/1/community-services/art-center/exhibitions/palo-alto-art-center-exhibition-archive-1971-2021_2.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=February 13, 2025}}{{Primary source inline|date=September 2022}}
The artists-in-residence program also provide opportunities for artists to engage with the public.{{cite web |title=Artists in Residence |url=https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/artcenter/exhibitions/artists_in_residence.asp |website=Palo Alto Art Center |publisher=City of Palo Alto |accessdate=13 February 2019}}
Gallery
Great_Glass_Pumpkin_Patch_2018.jpg|Great Glass Pumpkin Patch 2018
Circus_Family_Day_2018.jpg |Art Activities at Circus Family Day 2018
Circus_Family_Day_2018_-_The_Nook.jpg|Circus Family Day 2018 - Nook Activity
FNAC Paper Cuts Large-Scale Collage 2018.jpg |Friday Night at the Art Center - Nook Activity
Ceramics_and_Jewelry_Studio_Holiday_Sale_2018.jpg|Ceramics and jewelry studio creations (2018 Holiday Sale)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Palo Alto Art Center}}
- [http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/csd/artcenter/default.asp Palo Alto Art Center - main site]
- [https://www.paacf.org Palo Alto Art Center Foundation]
{{Bay Area Arts Organizations|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Educational buildings in Palo Alto, California
Category:Art museums and galleries in California
Category:Arts centers in California
Category:Tourist attractions in Santa Clara County, California
Category:1971 establishments in California