Mr. Piggy Welcomes Visitors to the KVIE Gallery. Photo: Sandy Thomas
Visitors viewing Sandy Lindblad’s horse portraits. Photo: Sandy Thomas
BY TRINA DROTAR
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
One of the best-kept secrets in Natomas is possibly The KVIE Gallery, now entering its second year.
Exhibits rotate every two months, said D. Oldham Neath, KVIE Art Curator, and Heath L. Buckmaster, Director of On-Air Fundraising and Special Events.
Currently on exhibit are ceramic sculptures by California master sculptor Eric Dahlin and paintings by Grass Valley artist Sandy Lindblad. The exhibit, Animal Kingdom, opened November 16, 2015 and runs through January 12, 2016. It is also the first to feature two artists.
“We’re trying to do some interesting things and mix it up just a little bit because, as I said, it’s always been one artist that’s been featured,” said Buckmaster.
Dahlin’s works are humorous, vibrant and often come from well-known popular culture figures like Wimpy (“Tuesday”), Bob’s Big Boy or Gumby (“Bob and Gumby”). Other pieces take familiar elements and flip them around. “Magic,” which captured the attention of a recent gallery visitor, has the rabbit pulling the magician out of the hat.
Lindblad specializes in pet portraiture and her painting, “I’m Not a Camel” (not in this exhibit) was included in the 2015 KVIE Art Auction. Her pieces are brightly colored and capture the spirit of the animal in pastel or acrylic. “Mr. Piggy” welcomes visitors to the gallery.
KVIE has a long history in Sacramento as a supporter of the arts. Its program, “KVIE Arts Showcase,” has featured the works of many fine Sacramento artists, including David Lobenberg, whose paintings of PBS celebrities like Charlie Rose, Rob Stewart and Huell Howser can be seen in the lobby.
“Rob on the Road,” “Arts Alive,” and the annual KVIE Art Auction regularly feature regional artists. It was, said Oldham Neath, out of the annual auction that the idea for the gallery emerged.
“We do the KVIE Art Auction every year and it’s kind of a way for us to showcase the people who are both the California masters, which is pretty self-explanatory, as well as people who have won awards. They give us a piece once a year and it’s really nice that we do something else for the artist too,” said Oldham Neath.
Past exhibits have included David Best’s recent exhibit of photographs of Yosemite and Mono Lake, mosaic mirrors by Mariellen Layne, collages by Maureen Hood and portraits by DL Thomas. Works from each exhibit are also showcased online at KVIE Art Gallery.
While most exhibits are chosen from California masters and past award winners of the KVIE Art Auction, there are also opportunities for others to exhibit, including the recent call for art for the juried “The Fine Art of Public Television Group Show.”
The KVIE Gallery is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during special events and is underwritten by Murphy Austin Attorneys. The KVIE Gallery is located at 2030 West El Camino Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95833.
The KVIE Gallery featuring works of Sandy Lindblad and Eric Dahlin. Photo: Sandy Thomas
KVIE lobby showcases works by David Lobenberg. / Photo: Sandy Thomas
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