Patricia Prendergast, River Reflection
On Display Now
current exhibits
Marsha Schindler, Marking Time
Biophilia:
Our Longing for Nature
April 11 – June 4, 2025
Reception: April 11, 6-9 PM
Artists for millennia have reflected upon nature as the inspiration and subject of their work. Our affiliation with animals, plants, and the wild spaces of our world is defined as ‘biophilia,’ or love for living things. Twentieth century naturalist E.O. Wilson offered the theory that humans are ‘hard-wired’ to build a complex relationship with the natural world in his book Biophilia (1984). In our Twenty-first century world, the question is how do we build relationships with a natural world that is under threat from climate change, habitat destruction, and other forces?
Participating artists in Biophilia look to scenes both intimate and overarching for an understanding of the elemental forces beyond man’s knowledge. They point to the power of the earth’s resources, and our need to comprehend their use and power. Other artists in Biophilia turn to animals for their symbolic and cultural resonance. The simple practice of painting en plein air, directly in natural environments, offers a continuing record of our need to capture the ephemeral beauty of landscapes that skirt our largely urban existence.
Participating Artists: Elaine Bowers, Patrick Cosgrove, Mark Goudy, William Ishmael, Carol Jenkins, Linda Clark Johnson, Qinqin Liu, Liza Riddle, and Marsha Schindler.
The exhibit is sponsored by Tom Doyle & Kathy Joseph.
Assorted Flavors:
The Member Show
May 1 – June 6, 2025
Reception: May 9, 6-9 PM
Assorted Flavors is the Pence’s first annual exhibit solely dedicated to the artwork of Pence Gallery members. It arose from conversations with members about the need to recognize and share the creative talent of the artists who support our organization It includes work by both emerging artists and those who have participated in many exhibits. Visitors will view the diversity in the show as a wonderful sign of how ‘assorted’ we are in how we view the world and make art to reflect that view.
Participating Artists: Pam Avery, Bev Barnett, Maryellen Bauer, Brett Billingsley, Steve Ceccato, Nancy Chadwick, LeeAnne Chappell, Dayton Claudio, Anne Cunningham, Joe DePietro, Marieke De Waard, Kate Dowling, Karen Fess, Betsy Gill, Misuk Goltz, Laville Logan, Nikki Longfish, Natalie MacKenzie, Dori Marshall, Cynthia Martin Kroener, Louise McGowan Bezark, Brenda Mohr, Tim Motika, David Nasater, Kayoko Nishi-Schnier, Kim Ohlson, William Peterson, Jane Rivar, Yael Rosenberg, Elsa Ruiz-Duran, Joachim Schnier, Deziree Seidner, Carole Slief Dowling, Barbara Smithson, Susan Von Borstel, Loraine Watson-Fox, Ellen Weinstein, Catherine Wilcox-Titus, Jessie Wright, and
Regina Zavodovskaya.
Kate Dowling, Theater (detail)
Kelley Mogilka, Cowgirl Blues
Tiny Show:
A Group Exhibit
May 2 – June 29, 2025
Reception: May 9, 6-9 PM
The Tiny Show returns to the Pence, celebrating local and regional artists who have created work at a smaller scale. Continuing in the spirit of our last Tiny Show, which was held in 2023, this exhibit highlights the enormous talent behind tiny works of art. From pocket-size paintings to delicate sculptures, every work of art encourages the viewer to take the time to look closer and discover the incredible details and imagination of small-scale artistry.
Participating Artists: Joseph Bellacera, Paula Bellacera, Jacqueline Boutin, Sue Bradford, Linda Bresnick, Karen Burns, Danilo Campos, Roshelle Carlson, Brigitte Chertok, Linda Clark Johnson, Raquel Cox, James Crandall, Magdalene Crivelli, Janet Crittenden, Richard Crozier, Julie Bernadeth Crumb, Jeff Downing, Jeff Faerber, Bill Foley, Misuk Goltz, Eileen Hendren, Sophie Jorcino, Maris Kaplan, Christina Kent, Jordan Hayes, Bianca Levan, Andrew Lincoln, Pauline Loades, Kelley Mogilka, Ro Mottsmith, Jazel Muñoz, Natalie Nelson, Sue Phelan, Sara Post, Kathy Canfield Shepard, Susan Silvester, Jill Allyn Stafford, Maryann Steinert-Foley, Amy Vidra, Emma Ware, and Mason Cole Williams.
Garden Tour Landscapes:
Stairway Exhibit
May 23 – June 27, 2025
Reception: June 13, 6-9 PM
As an essential part of our Garden Tour event on May 4th, six artists created distinct views of the selected gardens in Davis. Artists Raquel Cox, Barbara Smithson, Patrick Cosgrove, Marlene Lee, Leslie Allen, and Karen Fess painted outdoors in different media, from oil and acrylic paint to watercolors.
Visitors could see the artists as they developed their work onsite, as each artist chose a favorite area of their garden. From close-up views of a few plants to paintings that captured a wider panorama,
each artist created a unique vision of the homeowner’s garden. We are grateful to the artists who dedicated their time to paint during Garden Tour, and for the ability to display their completed paintings. We’d also like to thank Susan Stoll for the use of her photograph Swallowtail as our cover image for the Garden Tour event, which we are including for visitors to enjoy in person.
If you are interested in purchasing any of these works of art, please see our staff. Pence Members also receive 10% off of work in this exhibit.
Barbara Smithson, Angel Trumpets