Local artist Bill Weber has been named Artist of the Year by the Brentwood Art Society, and will be honored at the Art Wine and Jazz Festival on Aug. 29. “Bill has done more than anyone else to bring art to Brentwood,” said Brentwood Art Society President Jan Melloni. “Through his connections in the art world, he has brought to our city the works of such notables as Diego Rivera, Frank Lloyd Wright, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Stanley Mouse and many others.”

Weber, a former Brentwood Arts commissioner, was the curator of the city’s art gallery at the Technology Center on Sand Creek Road. When the city closed the center and the gallery, Weber opened his own gallery, the MCM Framing and Weber Art Gallery at 700 Harvest Park Road in Brentwood. Here he intends to operate an art center, teaching fine art painting, sculpting, pencil drawing, pottery making and a host of other artistic endeavors.

In addition to his leadership in bringing art and artists to Brentwood, Weber has been actively involved donating his time and energy staging the annual Brentwood Student Art Show. Initially it was held at the city’s art gallery, but more recently at spaces donated by local developers, such as the one recently donated by the builders of Sunset Plaza. He frames, hangs and juries approximately 120 student creations from K-8. Each grade is awarded first, second and third prizes by a panel of professional artists selected and headed by Weber.

“The student art show is a highlight of the year for students,” said Mary Black, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum for Brentwood’s elementary school district. “To see their creations framed and hanging in a professional art gallery is a source of immense pride and encourages the students to develop their artistic skills.”

Weber was also involved in the development of the art docent program in the public schools and gave personal instructions to students on the art of mural painting. The art docent program now has more than 140 members teaching art to the children in the Brentwood school system.

“Bill is not only an accomplished artist whose works include the entire façade of a building at 606 Broadway in San Francisco – a notable landmark – he is also an accomplished sculptor,” said Art Society member Ron Beatty. “Bill was commissioned by the city to create a bronze statue of a farmer sowing seeds, depicting the origins of Brentwood. The statue has been in storage, pending the construction of the new civic center.”

Weber is also a premier architect and has designed wineries for local vintners, including the Azzulina Vineyard Estate in Livermore. “In all, Bill Weber is Brentwood’s Renaissance man: an artist, sculptor, architect, muralist, teacher and community art ambassador,” said Brentwood Art Society Treasurer Joe Trebino. “He is most deserving of this honor.”