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January 21, 2008
Grand Galleries and Tracy Art League to present Honored Painter
The Engineered Landscape: Paintings by Dale Laitinen
 City of Tracy Cultural Arts Division
News Release
Media Contact Only:
Matt Robinson
Public Affairs Officer
City of Tracy
(209) 831-6109
matt.robinson@ci.tracy.ca.us
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 21, 2008
Grand Galleries and Tracy Art League to present Honored Painter
The Engineered Landscape: Paintings by Dale Laitinen
Tracy, CA – The City of Tracy Cultural Arts Division in conjunction with the Tracy Art League will present new exhibition, The Engineered Landscape: Paintings by Dale Laitinen. The exhibition will take place at the Grand Galleries, Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, 715 Central Avenue in historic downtown Tracy, California. The Engineered Landscape will run from February 16 through March 22, 2008 in the Matthews and Souza Galleries.
An Opening Reception for the exhibition is planned for Saturday, February 16, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In addition, Mr. Laitinen will present a Gallery Talk on Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 1:00 pm in the Matthews Gallery. The reception, artist event, and exhibition are free and open to the public.
The Engineered Landscape features paintings on canvas and paper by artist, Dale Laitinen. Mr. Laitinen resides in Mountain Ranch, California and is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society, and Watercolor West. He is a graduate of Modesto Junior College and San Jose State University with a BA in Art with a painting concentration. Although a native of northern Minnesota, Dale has lived most of his life in the Central Valley and foothills of California. Having moved and traveled across the West this landscape figures prominently in his work. One of the signatures of a Laitinen painting is the long view with the natural forms of the topography being one. His works extend to the interaction between structures such as roads, dams, canals, powerhouses, and the natural landscape.
Mr. Laitinen has been featured in numerous books and periodicals including The Splash Series, The Artist's Magazine, and Watercolor Magazine. In addition he has been the guest juror of many national and regional exhibitions and remains an active workshop instructor.
Dale Laitinen explains:
“Land-cuts, concrete structures, steel spans, asphalt, road markings are the target for my interest in the aesthetics of the natural landscape as it is re-sculpted and obscured by the engineered products of our modern lifestyle. These infrastructure subjects are hidden in plain sight and in some cases deleted from our collective image of the landscape by our rosy view of the past… Anchored in the geography of physical places I see them as a travelogue of sorts.”
The Grand Galleries and the Tracy Art League are pleased to co-present these events. Mr. Laitinen is serving as the 2008 Juror of Expressions!, Tracy’s annual regional juried exhibition produced by the Tracy Art League.
Gallery Supervisor, William F. Wilson II states:
“As the Exhibitions Program was being designed, there was always an intent to collaborate with local artists and arts organizations to create visual arts programming in the Galleries. I am thrilled to be able to partner with the Tracy Art League in our first season of operation to deepen the impact and experiences in our community. Together we celebrate this incredibly successful exhibit now in its’ 17th year, the artists of our region, and the honored Dale Laitinen.”
Tracy Art League President, Debby Ortega states:
“ We have long looked forward to a fruitful new partnership with the Grand Theatre Center. What an accomplishment for our community. We’re excited to bring Dale Laitinen’s fabulous work here for everyone to enjoy.”
About the Grand Galleries
The Grand Galleries Exhibitions Program offers combinations of professionally-produced exhibitions and arts-based events featuring local, regional, national, and international artists, as well as arts educators and organizations in all disciplines and genres. Often, exhibitions collaborate with the Arts Education and Presenting Programs to develop educational and interactive components such as demonstrations, gallery talks, receptions, residencies, and workshops.
Grand Galleries’ public hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and for one hour prior to all performances on the Grand Theatre stages. Free parking is available on nearby streets and public lots at 6th Street and Central Avenue. Tours are available and private and group gallery talks can be arranged. The Grand Galleries are accessible to persons with disabilities and patrons are asked to call ahead to address special requests and needs at (209) 831-6ART (6278).
Further information regarding the Exhibitions Program is available by calling 209.831.6ART (6278). To arrange a facility tour, visit online at www.atthegrand.org.
About the Tracy Art League and Expressions!
The Tracy Art League is a non-profit organization with its roots deep in the community. Chartered in 1980, its mission is to promote and preserve the visual arts as an enhancement to community life, to encourage artists in their individual work, and to promote educational opportunities in the arts for both adults and children. Its membership includes working artists, individuals and groups whose interest is in supporting the arts in Tracy. The arts benefit our city culturally, educationally, an economically. The Tracy Art League is an active participant in the effort to make our community a better place to live.
Expressions! is the Tracy Art League’s annual regional juried art exhibit. Expressions! brings the finest work of Northern California artists to the community every February. Open to the public, without charge, the exhibit is supported by a partnership between the Tracy Art League, City agencies, local businesses, and a staff of volunteers. Expressions! funds an annual scholarship program for high school students pursuing a degree in the arts. For over 30 years the Tracy Art League has been proud to help talented young people achieve their educational goals. Unique to Expressions! is its outreach to children. Expressions! Children’s Tour was adopted as part of the arts curriculum of Tracy’s schools, system-wide, augmenting classroom programs. Nearly 2,500 children participate every year. The tour uses art as a vehicle for developing critical thinking skills, and gives the children an in-depth introduction to the fine arts.
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Note to Editor: Additional information for the artist and presenters can be found online at www.dalelaitinen.com and www.tracyartleague.org. Grand Galleries Supervisor/Curator William F. Wilson II is available for interviews at (209) 831-6299.
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