James Hubbell and Ellen Salk at OMA

In Search Of Shadows: James Hubbell Sculpture with a reception: Sunday Feb 3 at 5pm shows until June 2 and Synesthesia: Manifestations Of Energy, Paintings by Ellen Salk and sound by Christopher Adler at the Oceanside Museum of Art (704 Pier View Way, Oceanside, 92054) More info: Danielle Susalla Deery 760.435.3721

James Hubbell is a regional treasure and has given so much to our arts community with his dedication to arts education across the border through the Ilan Lael Foundation.  His 1997 retrospective exhibition at OMA was followed in 2003 by a show of his and watercolor paintings from 1988-2004. I did not see the first two but have seen a few of his works in random shows. This brilliant show of sculptures is so well chosen and displayed that I believe it established him for all time as an artist of great merit. I discovered in my talk with the director and curator of the show Daniel Foster and Daniella Susalla Derry, that it was Hubbell’s idea to focus on the shadows of the mainly metal works on display and this brings the entire show to life and ties it together. The is a bus trip to Hubbell Compound in Santa Ysabel on Sat May 11 from 9 to 5.

This was my first experience of the paintings of Ellen Salk and yes, there is a relationship to the famous Salk family. The works are tied closely to a sound performance. I understand at the very popular opening this was hard to hear, but when I went I was able to see how the sound traveled a math similar to the work which progresses from a tightly controlled and shrouded core to a riot of line and form. There is a  panel discussion with Ellen Salk, Christopher Adler and Sally Yard on April 13 from 2-3:30.