Peterson Studios, owned by Lynn and Alan Peterson left, will make its debut next weekend with Let in the Light, an exhibition showcasing the talent of local artists.
Photo by Samie Hartley
Photo by Samie Hartley
Nancy Roberts’ “Sidewalk Blues,” an acrylic painting on canvas above, will be one of the many works on display for Let in the Light show at Peterson Studios.
Photo by Samie Hartley,/i>
Photo by Samie Hartley,/i>
The Petersons, who have lived in Oakley for more than 30 years, will open Peterson Studios next weekend with an art show entitled Let in the Light, which will feature colorful spring-themed artwork in the form of watercolor and acrylic paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and pastel drawings by local artists.
“We want all the art in the gallery to reflect positive imagery,” Lynn said. “I realize there is a place for political or violent artwork – I’m not opposed to it – but I want this gallery to be a representation of beauty. There are so many negative images thrown at us every day, so I want this place to be a refuge from that.”
Lynn hopes that the gallery will be a welcome addition to a downtown in need of an art gallery and the cultural enhancement it would provide.
“I’m so glad the City Council voted to approve the downtown plan,” Lynn said. “We’ve been waiting for it for so long, and I hope the city’s sincere about its vision because there is so much potential here, and we hope the gallery will give people an idea of what downtown can be like. We want to have a positive effect on the community and help bring people downtown.”
Lynn and Alan, who both earned degrees in art, have owned the Main Street studio since moving to Oakley in 1978. The studio has served as a dwelling for their own imaginative creations, but the couple has also opened the space to the public in the past. This will be the fourth time the Petersons have shared their studio with the public, but this time around, they want to open the studio not only to artists but to the entire community.
Let in the Light will feature the work of Sicily DeMiglio, Raji Ibrahim, Theresa Kuo, Nancy Roberts and Helen Roosli. Lynn will also feature some of her pastel work in the Let in the Light show. Although the show runs for only the one weekend, the studio has already lined up participation in the Artists’ Open Studio Tour in May.
Aside from art shows, Peterson Studios will also be home to two art classes. Lynn will teach Chakra Exploration & Artistic Representation, a seven-week course that will explore the seven energy centers of the body through pastel drawings. The course, which runs from March 29 to May 12, will be held on Wednesdays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The other course will be taught by a friend of the Petersons, Oakley artist Nancy Roberts, who will teach Introduction to Acrylic Painting on Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. beginning March 29. Each course costs $72.
The Petersons will also be renting studio space to local artists who need a place to work on their latest masterpieces. The studio has room for five “artists in residence” who may rent space for $150 a month. Lynn said it is ideal for artists who need space to create.
“Some people don’t have room in their homes, and even if they do, art gets messy sometimes, so we want to offer this space to artists looking for a peaceful place to focus on their craft,” Lynn said. “We also have great natural light, which artists love, so it’s a great place to spend a few hours where you can work without interruptions.” For more information about renting studio space, call Lynn at 925-625-0514.
Let in the Light will be held at Peterson Studios, 3637 Main St. in Oakley, on March 20 and 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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