RAM Off the Wall

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." ~Henry Ward Beecher

I love the arts and human expression of any kind. Sadly, however, over the past 7 years, education has stripped the arts out of it's curriculum. If we parents want our children educated in the arts, we better do it. Luckily,

human expression will never be squelched--we were born to create and as long as we are living humanity will make its mark.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to attend the opening of the Off The Wall sale and exhibit at the Riverside Art Museum (RAM). The museum offers it's walls to aspiring artists or anyone wanting to share their talents with the world. All you have to do is frame your piece so it can be hung and it can be shown and perhaps sold to those who appreciate

it. Prices are affordable for art enthusiasts ranging from $50 - $300. The RAM is a beautiful setting for the show. Once the old YMCA of Riverside it is Spanish Colonial Architecture and full of wrought iron and paned windows. It is just as enjoyable to be in the building as it is to view the art.

I have always liked Riverside for it beauty and for it's support of the arts. The Off the Wall show is an example of this.

My freind Lucile, a happily retired teacher, introduced the event to me at lunch. The happy event of Lucile's retirement opened the door for me to get a job at the high school in which I teach. Since working there, I've noticed that people who retire from my school don't actually leave. They come back to the site for sub jobs or just to visit for lunch. It gives you a good idea about the environment in which I work and the caliber of people who work there. So now that I work away my day in Rm 6, Lucile spends her days having lunch with friends at the Bridge Club, volunteering for charities: The Jr League that support women's causes and improving communities and The Riverside Art Museum. She is a grand lady for sure.

I got to the RAM early the day of the opening because I spied a small oil that I liked. It is a california landscape and have a passion for those and it was only $50. Lucile met me at the door and we waited for them to give out tickets that would designate the order in which you can enter at the opening of the show. I had heard that once those doors open, it is pandemonium. We met our good friend Doug and his son there as well, Doug is the art teacher at our school and a gifted artist, together we planned our method of attack: The show is in two rooms and four of our paintings were in one room and the other two were in another.

We had decided that Cody, who is six foot six inches would go for my painting since it is about 7 feet high on the wall, and I would go for his, since it is on the bottom half of the wall. Doug would go straight for Lucille's two paintings that were in the opposite room and his own favorite, an original illustration from a children's book which was created by one of his students. It was agreed that we would show good decorum and not knock anyone over in our attempts to retrieve our prized paintings. Getting there early and securing the first spot to enter just behind the sponsors of the exhibit allowed for a successful retrieval of all the paintings. Where was Lucile you ask? She was behind the table taking money and assisting the happy customers.

Some of my kids favorites: Lily loves the horse photograph. Will's favorite is actually very similar to the painting that Doug purchased for his son. Very similar painting in size and style. Owen was attracted to the color and the geometry of his abstract painting. Emma didn't seem to have a favorite, but isn't she beautiful? And in fact, aren't they all? Notice will giving the artwork from the Off the Wall Jr. a discerning look. Youth up to age 17 can submit work to be sold from $10 - $30 dollars. He admired some of the work and is confident that he will submit some of his work there next year.