One of the many things I miss right now are Gallery Openings. There’s nothing like walking through a crowd of people all gathered with one common purpose – to view beautiful artwork!
Every season, Pastimes would host a Student Gallery Opening at a local business (like the lovely M Street Coffee!)Â With the world gone virtual right now, my boss, Linda Wehrli, dug in deep, researching how to host a student art showcase on an online gallery, just like our favorite Arcadia Contemporary does.
Her diligent research unearthed the website, Kunstmatrix.com. They specialize in helping artists promote their work in a realistic 3D gallery. [Lightbulb goes off in Linda’s mind] She immediately reached out to their team inquiring if a special school rate might be available. What luck! They graciously offered an affordable monthly fee, (cheaper than renting a gallery space, with no set up, clean up, patching nail holes in walls or trying to find a parking space).
We decided to give the website a test drive with a 2021 Winter Student Art Showcase. The rest is history! Welcome to our Kunstmatrix Gallery!
In keeping with tradition, Pastimes invited the student exhibitors to a Gallery Opening Party – on Zoom! The online Party was held on Sunday, February 24th from 7 PM – 8 PM PST. Students attended from as far away as New York, Washington State, Santa Barbara and myself, in North Carolina in addition to those in the neighborhood! It was such a joy to see all the students together on Zoom, complimenting and admiring each other’s artwork. Some students opted to have their camera turned off, so sadly we could not get everyone’s photo. Below are some screen shots from the Gallery Opening Party.
-
- Gallery Opening
-
- Adela M.
-
- David F.
-
- Debra F.
-
- Erika B.
-
- Estela L.
-
- Helen M.
-
- Jazmine L.
-
- Julie M.
-
- Luda S.
-
- Luis Andrés M.
-
- Melise G.
-
- Michelle B.
-
- Michelle F.
-
- Nihal D
-
- Rachel A.
-
- Sumeet V.
-
- Victor H.
-
- Xi W.
Pastimes’ inaugural student art showcase featured works in Oils, Acrylics, Watercolor, Oil Pastel, Charcoal and Graphite by 22 students ages 8 – adult.
Kids: Alex V • Michelle B. • Victor H.
Teens: Adela M. • Anahit S • Andrés Luis M. • Ariel S. • Barrie K. • Erika B. • Jazmine L.
Adults: David F. • Debra F. • Estela L. • Helen M. • Julie M. • Luda S. • Melise G. •
Michelle F. • Nihal D. • Rachel A. • Sumeet V. • Xi W.
-
- Adela M., Bowl of Lemons, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
-
- Alex V., Portrait Study, Water-Soluble Oil on Canvas Paper
-
- Anahit S., Glassware Study, Water-soluble Oils on Canvas Paper
-
- Barrie K., Cityscape, Graphite on Sketchpaper
-
- Andrés Luis Andres M., Sneakers, Acrylics on Canvas Paper
-
- Ariel S., Panda Study, Oil Pastel on Sketch Paper
-
- David F., Landscape, Oil Pastel on Sketch Paper
-
- Debra F., Poppy Study, Oil pastel on Sketch Paper
-
- Erika B., Architecture Study, Water-soluble Oils on Canvas Paper
-
- Estela L., Vase Still Life, Oil Pastel on Sketch Paper
-
- Helen M., Vase Still Life, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
-
- Jazmine L., Lotus Study, Oil Pastel on Sketch Paper
-
- Julie M., Pink Tulips, Watercolor on Cold Press Watercolor Paper
-
- Luda S., Turtle Study, Acrylics on Canvas Paper
-
- Melise G., Pine Trees, Chalk Pastel on Sketch Paper
-
- Michelle B., Tulips, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
-
- Michelle F., Flower Box Study, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
-
- Nihal D., Sunflower Study, Acrylics on Canvas Paper
-
- Rachel A., Tea Pot, Water-soluble Oils on Canvas Board
-
- Sumeet V., Two Pears, Water-soluble Oils on Canvas Paper
-
- Victor H., Landscape, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
-
- Xi W., Seascape, Watercolor on Watercolor Paper
In lieu of the traditional sign-in Guest Book per our usual Student Art Shows, we saved the lovely chat compliments via Zoom. See below. 🙂
From debiarditi to Everyone : Beautiful
From Kaila Catania to Everyone : Gorgeous. Makes me wish I was at the beach right now. [reference Xi W.’s Seascape]
From Kaila Catania to Everyone : Victor, your painting is beautiful.
From Victor to Everyone : Thanks.
From Linda to Everyone: Victor, please remind me how old your are?
From Victor to Everyone : I’m 11 years old
From Joseluis Morales to Everyone : Hello I’m here:)
From Debra Fink to Everyone : amazing
From Rachel Arditi to Everyone : Adorable! [reference Ariel S.’ Panda]
From Debra Fink to Everyone : Beautiful
From Kaila Catania to Everyone : I love your work Sumeet.
From Adela Maslerova to Everyone : Looks absolutely incredible!
From Elizabeth Leiva to Everyone : Beautiful turtle!
From Kaila Catania to Everyone : Looks so realistic.
From Rachel Arditi to Everyone : I want to swim with that turtle. Looks friendly.
From Rachel Arditi to Everyone : Beautiful!
From Ariel to Everyone : Was that watercolor? [reference Melise G.’s Pine Trees]
From Ariel to Everyone : It looks amazing!
From Debra Fink to Everyone : Beautiful, Helen
From Ariel to Everyone : The vases. they looked like a photograph!
From Ariel to Everyone : Bye guys! All the artwork was amazing!
From Debra Fink to Everyone : These lemons are amazing
From debiarditi to Everyone : Bye linda quite amazing. Thank you
From Debra Fink to Everyone : Everyone is so very talented! Bye bye!
From Anahit to Everyone : Thank you Linda! Bye everyone
From Adela Maslerova to Everyone : Bye everyone! thank you 🙂
From Peggy Ash to Everyone : Beautiful artwork from everyone!
Congratulations on your art talent. It is like being in an art museum. Thank you Linda. Thank you Jessica. This was a great art show.
From Andres M to Everyone : Bye Linda see you thursday
From Luda’s iPad to Everyone : Thank you Linda and Jessica for this great work. Beautiful artwork. That was fun and pleasure 👍🥰🎉 Bye everybody.
From Carmen Flores to Everyone : Thank you Linda, I checked the online gallery…it is beautiful!!!
From Carmen Flores to Everyone : Congratulations 👏👏
From Nihal to Everyone : Thank you so much Linda! Thank you Jessica
So cool! Congratulations to our students!!
Missed the Zoom Gallery Opening Party? No worries. Artwork is available for 24/7 online viewing until March 20, 2021.
. . . . . . . . . .
Art Scene covers eclectic art events and locales.
If you enjoyed this story, please feel free to share on your favorite social media to get the word out about this great organization! Thank you for your support.
Want first notice on more upcoming student art and cultural events? Subscribe now!
Pastimes For a Lifetime Art and Piano School is located in Valley Glen, California. 818-766-0614. School is open Tuesday – Saturday year round, except major holidays.
You can learn more about Pastimes for a Lifetime’s Art Curriculum and founder/instructor Linda Wehrli by clicking the links or feel free to explore the website.
Ready to learn to draw or paint? Set up a free consultation with founder/instructor Linda Wehrli or book a Trial Art Class.
Join the fun: Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Jessica Lee Sanders on Instagram and Facebook.
I’ve been committed to continuing lifelong learning and inspiring creative thinking through art and music since 1989. I’d love to meet you! You’re welcome to chat with me on Zoom or stop by the studio. Just shoot me an email at Linda@pastimesinc.com and I’ll be glad to set up a mutually convenient time.
Congrats on the recent virtual gallery opening and the blog itself.
Thank you!
Glad to see these students participating in this this neat virtual tour of their work!
Indeed! Thanks for your support. 🙂
The word “Kunstmatrix” has a German connotation, namely that the word “Kunst” is the German word for “Art.” I think that this is an ingenious terminology, very sophisticated: “Art Matrix.”
Very descriptive and appropriate.
Very cool! Thanks for the translation and kind words.
I enjoyed every painting. So much great talent. Wonderful exhibit.
Thank you! We appreciate it. 🙂