The Catalina Art Gallery recently opened.
Surrounded by the sea and the blessed by an abundance of natural beauty, Santa Catalina Island has been a muse for artists for thousands of years. Native islanders carved totems, plein air artists captured natural vistas and photographers pushed the digital envelope thanks to the inspiration of Catalina.
For more than half a century, one organization has worked to bring artists living on and inspired by Santa Catalina together. The Catalina Art Association, best known for organizing the Catalina Art Festival, also works year round to promote art, support artists and contribute to art education. The Catalina Art Festival, held each year in September, brings thousands of art aficionados to the island and in April, the Catalina Art Fair and Exhibition is becoming another must-do art event on Catalina Island.
In January, CAA took another big step in promoting art on Catalina Island by opening the Catalina Art Gallery. Made possible through the collaboration of USBank of Avalon, the new gallery space showcases a variety of local artists, creating in a variety of mediums. Local artists show up to four items each and also volunteer as docents. The Catalina Art Gallery is located in the foyer of USBank on Crescent Avenue.