Chico, CA, is an art-loving town, no doubt about it. From private galleries and coffee shops to public art to offerings at Chico State, art abounds! I recently came across this KCHO News YouTube video interview with James Snidle (2011-12 Turner Prize recipient)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbNHc56BHsk&feature=related
wherein he discusses how he came to own art galleries in both San Francisco and our little Chicotown. He also talks about his early years as an artist and his relationship with the renowned Janet Turner (who bequeathed her prints and beloved collected works of art to Chico State) and Ken Morrow (view a lovely 3 minute video of several of his ethereal works here).
Current buzz in the local art world is “monCA” (Museum of Northern California Art), which boasts over 350 works of art by over 96 Northern California artists. (Read the E-R article here and the CN&R article here.)
While the dedicated volunteers at monCA search for a permanent home for this amazing collection (which was donated to the museum by collector and monCA board member Reed Applegate), they are helping to put art education back into local schools with their “mobile museum.” Kudos to them! (Check out the monCA web site for more info or to become a member or make a donation.)
Christopher Trian, artist - Charles Barth, artist