Fredric Hope: Silent Storytellers at William D. Cannon Art Gallery

by Patricia Frischer

On a day I was glad for the rain as it reduced my fear of fires, I got a special treat. I braved the weather to see the new  Fredric Hope: Silent Storytellers exhibition at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery  and I found HOPE.. That is what really good art can do for you.

I knew nothing about this artist, but found out that his influences were Giorgio Morandi and  Wayne Thiebaud, two of my favorites. You can clearly see these artists in works that are well-crafted and studiously observed. Hope has a unique perspective. They are southern California shorescapes, but there is a surreal element to the works and some very modern twists. 

Although he was a commercial designer for Disney and Universal, he shifted to teaching and that gloss that results from the commercial world is not interfering with a sort of purity of vision you see in these compositions. There is a area for creation in the new layout of the Cannon Gallery to honor this artists dedication to his teaching. 

Fredric Hope: Silent Storytellers at William D. Cannon Art Gallery
February 7 through June 28
Reception Feb 22, 3 to 6 pm
Opening Times: Tues - Sat 12 - 5 p.m.