May 12, 2009

McGroarty Arts Center in Tujunga will host its 6th annual ceramics exhibit and benefit. This year’s curator selected a showcase of over 250 unique, handmade cups. Plan to be inspired as you consider the many varieties of shapes, sizes, colors, techniques and styles of the cups to be displayed. There will be a seemingly endless variety of cups  – from the traditional to the more whimsical, utilitarian and abstract, wall hung as well as pedestal displayed.

And the best part is, you can take one of the amazing sculptures home with you! Curator, artist and instructor Ray Yocum has selected the work of these 37 featured artists from all over Southern California. The show will be located in the McGroarty Arts Center’s historic main gallery while two studios upstairs will highlight the work of McGroarty students, both adults and children.  All items will be available for purchase. Proceeds from the exhibit support McGroarty Arts Center’s scholarship program and its Ceramics Guild.

The opening reception is on Saturday, June 13 from 5-9 pm and will include entertainment and refreshments. The exhibit runs from June 15-27, Monday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm and is FREE and open to the public.

“It’s a pleasure to bring this level of professional art exhibition to the Foothills Communities where access to the arts, and especially museum quality art and artists, is limited,” says Executive Director of McGroarty Arts Center, Claire Knowlton. 
For those history and architecture buffs, the exhibition provides a great opportunity to explore the beauty of the Center itself.  McGroarty Arts Center, nestled on 12 acres in the Verdugo Hills, is a beautiful setting in its own right.  As a gallery, it is breathtaking and worth the trip.

McGroarty Arts Center is a little-known gem located in the Sunland-Tujunga community, just off of the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Plainview Avenue.  The McGroarty house, built in 1923, was first put into operation as an arts center in 1974 by the City of Los Angeles.  The Center is now run by McGroarty Arts Center in partnership with the City of Los Angeles.  Aside from shows and exhibits, the Center offers affordable art instruction for children and adults in music and performing arts, creative writing and a variety of visual arts, including ceramics.  Programs at McGroarty Arts Center are funded in part by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, the California Community Foundation, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, and the Annenberg Foundation.

For further information contact McGroarty Arts Center at (818) 352-5285 or visit their website www.mcgroartyartscenter.org.