Goodman, Puccinelli’s ‘Tug’ Opens Art Season

The Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art features well-known local artists Dane Goodman and Keith Puccinelli in its season-opening exhibition Sept. 2-Oct. 17. The museum will host a reception for “tug: Dane Goodman and Keith Puccinelli,” featuring the artists, Wednesday, Sept. 2, from 4:30-7 p.m. The artists will give a lecture about their work on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. in Westmont's Porter Theatre.  All events are free and open to the public.

The exhibition continues the ArtWatch series the museum launched last year to focus on different issues and themes that engage contemporary artists living on the West Coast.

Goodman has exhibited widely across the United States, and his artwork is housed in museum, corporate, and private collections, including the Santa Barbara Museum of Art; the Art, Design, and Architecture Museum at University of California, Santa Barbara; The Berkus Collection; the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission; and the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art. Goodman is the former director of the Atkinson Gallery at Santa Barbara City College.

Puccinelli founded the critically acclaimed design firm, Puccinelli Design, which he directed for over twenty years. In 1995, Puccinelli began to focus his full attention on his own visual art. His work has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout Southern California and is housed in the Santa Barbara Museum of Art; Santa Barbara County Arts Commission; Diane and Sandy Besser Collection; The Berkus Collection; and the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art.

“Goodman and Puccinelli’s art is often tough,” says Judy Larson, R. Anthony Askew professor of art history and museum director. “Their humor can be uncomfortable, but they use it as a tool for social commentary. The prints, drawings, sculptures and installation pieces in this exhibition address racial and gender stereotypes; war and violence; the environment; the consequences of poverty, and other issues from our times.  The works are charged with the artistic duo’s signature stinging punches. They ask us to ponder harsh realities, which we often prefer to ignore. Both men are gifted artists and leaders in the Santa Barbara art scene.”

Goodman and Puccinelli have been making art together for about six years now, first working on trace monotypes together, which the museum will also display.

The highlight of the exhibition will be the installation of a large, colorful boat. “They are transforming the gallery,” says Chris Rupp, museum collection manager. “We have featured Goodman’s work before, which has been part of our permanent collection for a while now, and we recently acquired a piece by Puccinelli for our permanent collection that we haven’t shown before.”

The museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed Sundays and college holidays. For more information, please visit www.westmontmuseum.org or contact the museum at (805) 565-6162.