IMAGINE II, VIP Reception, dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA

At the IMAGINE II exhibit, underneath my art from A Day and Night in the Desert

On Saturday evening I attended the gala VIP reception for illustrators and librarians at the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona. As I arrived, the gallery was full of people looking at the illustrations on the wall, browsing books by the illustrators that were displayed on tables, munching appetizers, and getting ready for a presentation by local school children and later a puppet show.

Books by participating illustrators including my Day and Night Habitat series Lisze Bechtold's Buster the dog books

More than thirty Southern California children’s book illustrators are represented in the exhibit, but as I looked around the room, I couldn’t find the art that I had submitted. It turned out that it been tucked away after I delivered it and overlooked when the exhibit was hung. Luckily, the two pieces were found and are now hanging on the wall along with the other pieces of art. The show will be up until September 23. I encourage you to stop by and take a look.

Illustrators Joe Cepeda and Gina Capaldi

I thank Gina Capaldi of the SCBWI for all the hard work of putting the show together and to Margaret Aichele at the dA Center for the Arts for coordinating the exhibit. It was also great to see Judy Nelson of Mrs. Nelson's Books, who provided the books for sale at the event.

Lisze Bechtold and her illustrations

Where to see the exhibit (until September 23):
dA Center for the Arts
252 South Main Street
Pomona, CA 91766
Phone: 909-397-9716

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 12pm to 4pm (til 9pm on Thursday)

Judy Nelson with her door, autographed by dozens of children's book writers and illustrators

IMAGINE: The Art of Children’s Book Illustration at the dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA

Illustrations from A Day and Night in the Rain Forest

Last Friday evening was the gala opening of IMAGINE: The Art of Children’s Book Illustration at the dA Center for the Arts, Pomona, California. It was a special event with lots of people, great art, delicious food, an art table for kids, and a book sale table so guests could buy the artists’ books and have them autographed at the reception. It was a wonderful opportunity to see old friends, meet new ones, and talk about art.

Opening Reception of IMAGINE and Lisze Bechtold, whose new book is Buster Finds a Kitten

I am proud that two of my illustrations from my book A Day and Night in the Rain Forest are part of the show. I thank Gina Capaldi and the other members of the SCBWI OC/IE Gallery Committee, QL Pierce, Priscilla Burris, and Francesca Rusackas, and Margaret Aichele, Executive Director of the dA Center for the Arts, for all the hard work that went into organizing this wonderful show. It is not often that so much children’s book art is on view in one place!

Mary Anne Fraser and art from her book Heebie-Jeebie Jamboree

I am one of twenty-one illustrators participating in the show: Caroline Arnold, David Barneda, Lisze Bechtold, Diane Browning, Priscilla Burris, Gina Capaldi, Cliff Cramp, Mary Anne Fraser, Diane Greenseid, Soma Han, Naomi Howland, Max Kornell, Irina Mirskaya, Lori Mitchell, Rodolfo Montalvo, Jennifer Gray-Olsen, Atilio Pernisco, Carla Roque, Beth Spiegel, Frans Vischer and Marianne D. Wallace. Joe Cepeda, winner of the Caldecott Medal and a Special Guest Illustrator in this exhibit, gave a short but inspiring talk at the opening. I encourage you to make a trip to Pomona to see this terrific show!

Diane Browning, author and illustrator of Signed, Abiah Rose

IMAGINE will be on view June 13-July 18, 2015.
Gallery hours: Wednesday, Friday, Noon - 4pm; Thursday, Noon - 9 pm.

Author/Illustrator Gina Capaldi