Westmont Magazine Artfully Adapting Museum Exhibits

Without opening its doors to the public, the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art has continued to present significant and creative exhibits. Shifting almost entirely to posting work online, museum staff have used social media and original videos to connect with art lovers worldwide. The videos have proved particularly effective. Some interpret art on display in the museum, and others offer a short history of an artistic practice and provide directions about creating a project related to that practice. Explore this content and more at westmont.edu/museum.

For much of the spring 2021 semester, the museum featured contemporary selections from its permanent collection (pictured), many donated by private collectors and Santa Barbara artists. On April 8, “Untold: the Westmont Senior Graduate Exhibition” opened. The annual show includes 13 talented artists who graduated from Westmont in May with degrees in art. Their pieces reflect a range of media, including printmaking, stop-frame animation, painting and sculpture.

The Annual Tri-County Juried exhibition opened May 20 and celebrates the theme At the Edges. Marcos Ramirez ERRE, a Tijuana-based artist whose work addresses issues of identity, race and immigration, serves as the juror.

An exhibition this summer, “Towards a 21st Century Abstraction,” features Santa Barbara artist Connie Connally as one of seven artists who work in abstraction.

“Once COVID-19 is in check, we’re eager to host openings, organize art lectures, invite special groups for gallery talks and welcome visitors again,” says Judy Larson, R. Anthony Askew professor of art history and director of Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. “But we also recognize that our virtual exhibitions and programming have allowed a wider audience to engage with our work. Although we’re ready to offer programming and exhibitions in person again, we’ll certainly explore what virtual options we can continue.”