For hundreds of years before the arrival of the Spanish, the Los Angeles River provided water and food for the Gabrielino Indians. In 1769, the members of the Gaspar de Portolà expedition settled on the banks of the river and named it El Río de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula: The River of Our Lady Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula. It was known as the Porciuncula River. Today, after a change of course or two, the Los Angeles River runs 51 miles from the west end of the San Fernando Valley to its mouth in Long Beach, mostly encased in concrete because of the river's tendency to flood. In recent years there has been a movement to safely remove the concrete and to restore the vegetation, and hence the wildlife, to a more natural environment.
Saturday evening BG and I attended the opening reception for Carole Garland's exhibit at TAG (The Artists' Gallery 2903 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404) with the Los Angeles River as her theme.
As a member of the Culver City Art Group, I have watched the development of Carole's art for some time. She just keeps on getting better and better, and I feel like now she has really hit her stride. I believe the point at which somebody crosses over from being merely a painter to an artist in their own right is when a distinguishable style emerges—and that point has definitely been reached by Carole. I like her soft, impressionistic style immensely.
The painting above (although not strictly the LA River, as its subject is the Wetlands) is a beautiful example of her style. The colors and layout are perfectly harmonious.The exhibit runs through August 15. Swim on over there.
(Photos copyright roslyn m wilkins.)
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