September 2025 “A Walk Through the Cypress”
by Elizabeth Monks Hack
Enter the Cypress Gallery this month, and you will come upon a storehouse of rich local treasure. Our featured show is “Impressions of La Purisima,” an exhibit by the Lompoc 10 painting group. Its ten members have contributed forty works of art inspired by our remarkable mission, La Purisma Concepcion. It is an impressive display.
Neil Andersson “La Purisima Mission - Shops and Quarters Bldg.” Oil on linen
Founded ten years ago, the Lompoc 10 artists meet monthly to share their work and discuss specific painting issues in a social setting. The meetings take place in each other’s studios or on excursions, where friendship and art go hand in hand. The meetings serve as inspiration for the artists and an impetus to stay actively creative. “Impressions of La Purisima” is Lompoc 10’s fourth show.
La Purisima Concepcion, as a subject, was chosen for its beauty, history, and relevance to the Lompoc community. The paintings on the wall attest to the artists’ sensitivity to its magic and to the profound role it played in the story of California. The painters apply their brushes to the visual aspects most appealing to their sensibility and style.
Chris Jeszeck “Sunlit Sentinel”
We see the mission in sunlight and shade, in moonlight, candlelight, and twilight, from daybreak to sunset. The facade of the mission church proved irresistible in color and shape. Silhouetted against the sky, or tucked behind tiles or trees, it looms as a symbol of colonial interaction with the original people of California.
Look for the marvelous landscapes found on mission property rendered in oil and pastel. Find your favorite arches, windows, and walkways of the humble yet elegant architecture lovingly portrayed. Rest in the shade, in view of sunlit paths, as you contemplate a sparrow or quail. Enjoy our local mission as seen through the eyes of ten local artists. This rare opportunity is on view through September 28.
In the rear gallery, new member Jose Bustos presents us with a thrilling art form, an exciting complement to the front gallery show. Bustos is a muralist who has recently returned to Lompoc after working for an artist in Los Angeles. His “canvases” are black guitar-shaped wood panels, covered with symbolic imagery in a kaleidoscope of brilliant color. One of the most striking is “Blooming Rose,” from which the words “May the Rose Bloom Upon Your Cross” emerge.
In contrast, “Adrift on Calm Water” is a peaceful watercolor by Claudette Carlton, where the simple reflection of a rowboat brings the utmost satisfaction. And tucked away in a corner of the gallery, you will discover a respite from the world’s madness; “Great Day” by Michael Corob. The artist’s emblematic motif, a dove, quietly flies between two trees.
Fused glass painter Kristine Kelly won the “People’s Choice Award” this month, for her gorgeous “My Mother’s Garden.” And of course, there is so much more. The Cypress Gallery is a place to buy cards and gifts, join workshops, and participate in community-wide shows, such as the upcoming “Square Perspectives.”
Visit us at the gallery or online to find out what we have to offer. A gift of art is one that never ceases to give. Why not gift it to yourself?
The Lompoc Ten is a group of local painters who are Vicki Andersen, Neil Andersson, Diane Atturio, Jon Arnold, Deborah Breedon, Elizabeth Monks Hack, Chris Jeszeck, Linda Gooch, Ann Thompson, Carol Wood. Meet them at the artist’s reception on Saturday, September 6, 1 – 3:00 pm, Cypress Gallery.
The Cypress Gallery is a 501c(3) non-profit organization operated by the members of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, committed to supporting and expanding access to the arts in Lompoc and the Santa Ynez Valley. Open Thursday – Sunday, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. 119 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc, (805) 737-1129 <lompocart.org> @cypressgallerylompoc