America’s wilderness is the theme for the Wildling Art Museum’s winter exhibition opening Jan. 16.

Works of art from members’ private collections will be shown through Mar. 30 at the Museum, 2329 Jonata St., Los Olivos.

“Members Collect III” marks the third time the Museum has turned to its members to share their personal treasures, said Curator Alissa Anderson. An opening reception for members and their guests will be Jan. 13, from 3-5 p.m.

Anderson, in the illustrated brochure that accompanies the exhibition, explained, “Although the traditional subject matter of the paintings, photographs, and sculptures cannot be classified as specifically modern, many of the pieces have a modernist sensibility in terms of composition, color, or style.”

 

Paintings included in the exhibition are by nationally known artists, such as Fernand Lungren, Edgar Payne, Carl Sammons, Ludmilla Welch, James Swinnerton, Channing Peake, Milford Zornes, Ray Strong, and Millard Sheets. In addition, paintings also on display are by lesser known, but exceptionally talented artists such as Bill Atkinson, Clarence Hinkle, Richmond Kelsey, Frank Kleinholz, Judy Lindley, Peter McIntyre and the Pillsbury Picture Co. The show includes sculpture by John Cody and an unidentified Japanese artist.

 

Most of the images in the exhibition were created during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, when early California landscape painting celebrated the natural beauty of the American landscape through a European-influenced Impressionist style.

However, this exhibition also shows the work of artists who used an alternative, post-Impressionist style to explore the American landscape.

Edgar Payne’s “Evening Sky, Arizona” is an example of an attempt to capture realistic scenes using striking colors and shapes.

 

The exhibition runs Wednesdays through Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A donation of $2 per person is requested.

Members and children 12 and under are free. For more information, call 688-1082.