Victory Park
1201 N. Pershing Ave.
Stockton, CA  95203
(209) 940-6300   
info@hagginmuseum.org

JUROR OF AWARDS

Margot Schulzke, 2008 Juror of Awards and PSWC Founder

Margot Schulzke's name and her work are well known coast to coast. A longtime columnist for The Pastel Journal, she is widely regarded as an authority on the subject of composition and design. Her recent book, A Painter’s Guide to Design and Composition (Northlight) was released, to rave reviews, February 2006. The highly respected Pastel Society of the West Coast has ranked her as a Distinguished Pastelist since 1988, an honor extended to only 26 of PSWC’s approximately 400 members. In April, 2006, the society added another signal honor, that of the PSWC Pastel LaureateTM Award. She the fourth artist to be so honored. (The award is not given annually.)

Believing as she does that fine traditional paintings must be able to stand on their own as abstract compositions, Schulzke’s primary interest is in shapes and proportion, making cityscapes her signature theme. Her love of color is a close second. She notes, however, that design concept and subjective content are necessarily interwoven; one supports the other. Intrigued as she is by the history associated with ancient cities and buildings, she finds those associations bring added layers of meaning. The resulting richness provides what she describes as “a texture of thought,” which become effectively braided into the work’s design quality.

So the fact that she has always thirsted to immerse herself in what was on the far shore comes as no surprise. She goes where few travelers do, such as Israel in the spring of 2004, the tiny nation of Moldova (a former Soviet Republic) one month after Gorbachev’s resignation, and troubled Guatemala in May of 2003. Traveling independently, she takes advantage of every opportunity to get close to the culture of the area. She has hired translators specifically to interview them for more insight into local history, taking extensive notes. The result is that the sense of place in her work is particularly strong.

JURY OF SELECTION

Marbo Barnard is an accomplished artist experienced in all mediums of painting and has been painting professionally for more than thirty years. Marbo’s work has been featured in national/international magazines and books such as The Pastel Journal, American Artists, Artists Magazine, Pastel Artists International, as well as Rockport Publishers, “Best of Pastels” and “Floral Inspirations” She was also included in the North Light Books publication “A Painters Guide to Design and Composition” by Margot Schulzke.

Marbo served as President, Vice President and Director of Exhibits for the Pastel Society of The West Coast for twenty years before retiring from the Board of Directors. She taught pastel painting and conducted workshops for many years and continues to serves as a Juror in Sacramento and adjacent cities.

STEVE MEMERING
Having grown up in Sacramento, Steve Memering is proud to be a River City native. He received his education at CSUS, Berkeley and Carnegie-Mellon. He, then, returned to Sacramento to live and work. Steve has had a long career as a teacher and artist. Today, he divides his time between painting several hours in the morning and working full-time as a middle school art teacher. During the summer, he also teaches adult painting workshops both here and abroad. For years, Steve had developed a reputation as an accomplished watercolor artist. Steve’s work can be found in galleries, businesses and homes all over the state. Steve entered the Crocker Kingsley Exhibition and won the People’s Choice award. Steve Memering considers Smith Gallery - on 11th and K Street – his “home base” where his originals and limited editions can be seen, enjoyed and purchased.

Dan Petersen received a Master of Arts degree in watercolor from San Jose State University in 1962. Following graduation, he began teaching art on the high school level in Manteca, California. In 1963, Dan accepted a position as watercolor instructor at Modesto Junior College and thus began a 40 year career teaching watercolor and drawing at the college level.

Participation in countless competitive shows, exceeding 150 awards; 25 Best of Show, 40 First Place, and over 30 top statewide awards such as at the California State Fair and Northern California Arts show. He has additionally earned several top National Awards at Watercolor USA

Dan married Carole Ann in 1958, has 4 children and 10 grand children. Retiring in April of 2003, Dan now enjoys more time with his family, in his garden, in the studio and traveling.