In the Gallery - The Grand Theatre Center for the Arts

2024-25 EXHIBITION SEASON:

Influence & Inspiration: from the Studios of Artists is a unique and rare exploration into the things that provide influence and inspiration within the creative process. Five artists were invited, representing three generations and working in a variety of media. They were challenged to let us see their work in an entirely new way. The results range in emotion, perspective and reference; compelling, deeply personal, surprising and funny!

Ilena Finocchi (Stockton, CA) is a celebrated multidisciplinary artist, educator and curator. Ms. Finocchi holds an M.F.A. in Ceramic Sculpture from Rochester Institute of Technology (NY) and a B.F.A. in Studio Art and Graphic Design from Youngstown State University (OH). She works in numerous media and outlets including illustration, sculpture, public art, animation and filmmaking, and has exhibited nationally for over 30 years.

“With over three decades of creative exploration, I weave together threads of memory, nature, and the shifting tides of technology into my work. Rooted in the echoes of childhood and the enduring memories of family, my art serves as a way to process and express the world I inhabit. The work aims to create a bridge between inner reflection and the collective resonance.” – Ilena Finocchi

Mark Knize (Tracy, CA) is a full-time artist after a career as a research scientist. Mr. Knize works primarily in wood, but also in clay, metal and concrete. His geometric work is available in galleries, online and privately, and has been featured in juried exhibitions nationally. In addition, Mark has been published articles in American Woodturner magazine in 2010, 2012 and 2016.

“I enjoy trying to achieve the perfect form with a beautiful material, like wood. I see my work functioning as a key visual point within a room, inviting a look and a touch. Preparing for this show has been a mildly painful exercise in examining my art and motivation. Digging through my documents and objects is like seeing old friends, but some were lost in bouts of de-cluttering.” – Mark Knize

Cory Morrison (Manteca, CA) is a mixed-media artist and high school educator from California’s Central Valley. At San Joaquin Delta College, Mr. Morrison developed an appreciation for education, studying anthropology and botany alongside drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture. He became influenced by artists of the Minimalist, Land Art, Process Art, and Conceptual Art movements while studying at California State University, Stanislaus. Natural processes and Earth-human relationships inform his creative practice, which includes exploring local ecosystems, foraging for organic materials and experimenting with unconventional techniques.

“The exhibit’s concept made me reflect not only on what inspires and influences me, but also on what truly drives me to create. In response, my work won’t be about the final product, but a visual representation of my creative process. I hadn’t fully realized until now how important it is for me to have a tactile, hands-on relationship with texture. Nature offers a unique, multi-sensory experience that keeps me curious and engaged – something I hope the viewer feels as well.” – Cory Morrison

Susan Richardson (Tracy, CA) is an educator, poet and mixed-media artist working in calligraphy, letterform, printmaking and artist’s books. Ms. Richardson holds a B.A. from Simmons College (MA), M.A in English Education from Boise State University (ID) and Ph.D. in Education in Language and Literacy from U.C. Berkeley (CA). She curated the exhibition Transforming the Written Word presented at the Grand in 2014, and has been exhibiting professionally for over 20 years.

“After 40 years of artmaking, I want it to be fun again. I had let a desire to succeed in ‘the art world’ cause me to focus on results and recognition. What a mistake! I’m now reconnecting with the joy that comes from creating without expectations.” – Susan Richardson

Henrietta Sparkman (Modesto, CA) is an artist, educator and arts administrator. Ms. Sparkman holds a B.A. and Lifetime Teaching Credential from Fresno State University (CA). Across mediums including painting, printmaking and sculpture, she is celebrated for en plein air, monotypes, figurative and abstract works alike. Henrietta has exhibited extensively and is a well-known arts advocate in our region.

“Participating in this exhibit opened the door to take a serious look at my creative life, and how I’ve evolved as a person and an artist. I’ve realized how early the importance of the arts became an integral ingredient in my life’s work. Eclectic in subject matter and mediums, this allowed me to develop deeper insights into my humanity. As a toddler to schooling and career, each step along the way with casual and pronounced influences have developed my visual voice for who I am today.” – Henrietta Sparkman

William Wilson is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, arts administrator, consultant and curator with 35 years of experience working in the arts, education, entertainment and government. Mr. Wilson holds a B.F.A. in Studio Art and Graphic Design from Youngstown State University (OH), and has collaborated with
thousands of artists in hundreds of exhibitions and events. He has served the City of Tracy – Cultural Arts Division as Cultural Arts Manager/Supervisor since 2006.

“To ask an artist to share what’s most important, absolutely personal and perhaps even secretive, in their creative process is challenging and uncommon. These five collaborators accepted my invitation to evaluate their influences and inspirations publicly. The result is a time-based project, one-of-a-kind exhibition, and giving engagement about the act of making.” – William Wilson, Curator

Emergence features energetic, abstract paintings in acrylic and resin. The exhibition is the result of the George’s unique life story and his unrelenting desire to be a professional artist and musician. These fluid works carry a lineage of experimentation and expressionism, while simultaneously engaging our senses of imagination and wonder.

George M. Winder (Tracy, CA) is a visual artist and jazz musician. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, Mr. Winder was inspired by working creatives as a young teenager. Self-taught as an illustrator and painter in the late 1960’s, he began to play music in high school as a percussionist in the orchestra and drummer in the marching and jazz/dance bands. At age 21 George enlisted in the U.S. Army with goals to finish high school, and to eventually study at the Philadelphia College of Art.

After two years of college, the economic challenges of big city life derailed his dream. In the years that followed George discovered a new career in the nuclear industry. This work required to coast to coast travel, with no ability to pursue his creative goals. Only upon relocation to California, George reconnected to art and music. Over the past six years he has built a body of work that is featured in Emergence. This exhibition is the first of his life.

“Creating after 40 years of not being able to practice my love of art and music, I am now free. My work, as a painter and drummer, is about energy and emotion… the colors must pop, things must move! I’m questioning and experimenting with ideas from the past and the future.” – George Winder

Reflections of Casey Goodall: Self-Portraits 2022-24 features 24 photographs offering a visual journey into reflection. The exhibition presents the artist’s attempts to discover or resolve some of the great mystery emanating from the universe. Themes of mirrored reflection, self-understanding and enlightenment compel us to consider how we find meaning and order in the chaos of our life experiences.

Casey Goodall (Tracy, CA) began to work in photography at age 62, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. He enrolled in online classes, joined the Tracy Camera Club in 2021 and professionally exhibited his work for the first time in 2023. Reflections of Casey Goodall is his first solo exhibition.

Mr. Goodall holds a BS in English and MBA from Utah State University, and an EdD in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne. He is well known in the community, serving as Associate Superintendent for Business Services in the Tracy Unified School District from 1994 to 2020. In addition, he has 15 years of teaching experience in higher education, and is US Navy veteran, serving from 1985 to 1993.

“Creating these self-portraits over the past three years, while reflecting on my own thoughts and values, has been a very rewarding and thought-provoking experience. This process has allowed me to explore different conceptions of reflection and variations of visual storytelling. I am thrilled to share this project with the community, and to engage in a larger dialogue about ourselves.” – Casey Goodall

The Grand Theatre Center for the Arts presents the Co-Op Holiday Invitational Exhibition featuring over 20 artists across the Grand Galleries. The exhibition is on display from November 15 through December 21, 2024. An Opening Reception will be held on Friday, November 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. The exhibition and Opening Reception are free and open to the public.

Local-area, celebrated Artists and makers offer a diverse selection of functional, decorative and fine quality works at very reasonable prices. Many of these handmade, one-of-kind items are only available for a limited time during this show. Consider unique gifts for your friends and family, or build your own collection this holiday season!

The View in Front of Us: Four Interpretations presents an on-location and plein air painting project by Chella Gonsalves, Chad Hunter, Rick Ingraham and Vince Walsh. The collective collaborated to select locations across the region for an exploration of creative interpretation, including the use of different mediums and unique painting processes. The result is a comparative body of work which coveys a unified grandeur.

As a collaborative project, the artists challenged themselves to seek both well-known and undiscovered locations within an hour’s drive from Tracy. While the selected sites offered scenes of interest, they were also chosen for qualities that would present challenges. Often working side by side, each artist was intent on contributing their best work, working in a variety of mediums including acrylic, oil, watercolor and mixed-media.

Chella Gonsalves (Modesto, CA) has painted extensively throughout her life. Ms. Gonsalves taught art in the Modesto City School District for 27 years. As an accomplished artist, she has worked in a variety of mediums and styles. Chella is drawn to the familiar scenes of the Central Valley including homesteads, farming and landmarks, striving to immortalize what is disappearing.

“I find many different and unusual details of the buildings, alleys and downtown structures. Along with the paintings come pieces of the sounds, sights, and smells of the surroundings. I hope the viewer feels some of the same soul-searching vibes.” – Chella

Chad Hunter (Manteca, CA) is a graphic designer, muralist, illustrator and plein air painter. Mr. Hunter grew up in the East Bay area feeding a love of nature, Star Wars and art. He holds a BFA in Illustration from BYU (Brigham Young University), and an MFA in Visual Arts from MU (Marywood University). Chad has received numerous awards in exhibitions throughout California.

“I strive to paint what cannot be painted: the energy, the poetry, or the interpretation rather than a literal representation. To me, plein air painting must be more than a simple copy of a scene. Yes, it should capture the light, shadow, texture and color, but in the end, it must be an emotional response by the artist.” – Chad Hunter

Rick Ingraham (Carmel, CA) is a plein air and studio artist who was first introduced to plein air painting in an intensive, on-location painting course while attending the University of the Pacific. Throughout Mr. Ingraham’s professional career as a clinical psychologist, he continued his arts education. Rick is a member of the American Society of Marine Artists, The Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters Association and The Valley Sun Catchers.

“I look for subjects with interesting design elements and stories that resonate with me. My motivation goes beyond simply documenting subjects at different locations. Capturing the general atmosphere and mood is always a welcome challenge. Using a loose painting style, I leave some elements vague and undefined, prompting viewers to draw from their own life experiences to complete the story.” – Rick Ingraham

Vince Walsh (Tracy, CA) has painted and exhibited across the region for over 40 years, working in a style that blends realism and impressionism. As an arts educator, Mr. Walsh teaches acrylic and oil painting at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts, and for the We Heart Art Academy in Central California Correctional Facilities. Vince is a member and past-president of the Tracy Art League, and a member of several regional plein air painting groups including The Valley Sun Catchers, Friday Painters and Da Group.

“My goal in painting has never been to merely reproduce what I see, but to interpret what I see in a personal way. Exhilaration comes from the act of painting. Creative expression is magic.” – Vince Walsh

Art Co-Opted in the South Gallery

Special, curated exhibits of original artwork, limited editions, and artist-designed products from dozens of local, regional and national artists are featured in the South Gallery. These exclusive artworks and products are available at low price points ($500 and under) for a limited time in this unique venue. Over 2,500 items have been sold since 2009!

Rotating displays in the Co-Op run concurrent with feature exhibitions. Artists, designers, collectors & gallerists interested in participating in the Co-Op can find more information about on-going exhibition opportunities here.