WHO: Lompoc Valley Art Association
WHAT: Betsee Talavera Retrospective
WHERE: Cypress Gallery, 119 E. Cypress, Lompoc, CA 93436
WHEN: January 5 through January 29, 2023
The Lompoc Valley Art Association and Lompoc 10 painter’s group is organizing a retrospective of the work of local artist Betsee Talavera. It will be held from January 5 to January 29, 2023.
We are celebrating Betsee, who was a cherished member of both Lompoc Valley Art Association and a founding member of the Lompoc 10. She died quite suddenly in October of this year. Betsee was a painter of nature who relished its jewel tones of greens, golds, sapphires, and violets, which was her preferred palette. She loved to roam our local beaches, and back roads, collecting images of our hillsides and streams. She often traveled with friends while she explored our local landscapes absorbing nature’s sights, sounds, and fragrances. Betsee did not paint outside. She framed and gathered images with her camera.
It is here that Betsee's artistic process becomes so thoroughly Betsee; considered, intelligent and creative. Betsee distilled her compositions from the many images she collected. Using computer software, she blurred, edited, expanded subject matter, softened, or heightened colors, to get the effect she was after. She then printed the images in the size of canvas she planned to use, piecing together separate sheets if necessary. The compositions were saved and glued onto large sheets of blueprint paper. So along with Betsee's paintings, we have a complete set of these working images, rolled up and labeled. The artist's working process has been preserved.
Betsee was a well-learned alumna and graduate of UCSB, earning a teaching degree in bilingual education. Betsee taught throughout Southern California, before settling down in Lompoc.
Known to her Hapgood Elementary school students as "Mrs. T", Betsee quickly made many friends at Hapgood, faculty and students alike. After a long and productive teaching career, Betsee developed her artistic gifts and gathered additional friends throughout the Lompoc Valley art community.
An exhibition of selected paintings will be on view in the Cypress Gallery. The proceeds of all sales will be contributed to her granddaughter Arwan's college fund. The Cypress Gallery is at 119 East Cypress Avenue, Lompoc, across from the Museum.
The Lompoc Valley Arts Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, committed to expanding and supporting access and exposure to the arts in the Lompoc and Santa Ynez Valley. LVAA sponsors arts programs, events, communications, and other efforts that mutually benefit artists, businesses, residents and visitors to our Valley. To learn more about the arts in the Valley, visit our website www.lompocart.org and like our Facebook page “Cypress Gallery”
Photo Credits
“Along the Creek” by Vicki Andersen
“Socked In” by Vicki Andersen
“The Power of Water” by Vicki Andersen
“Betsee Talavera”