There are many possibilities for a Saturday night in Bakersfield, for those who attended the Bakersfield Museum of Art on September 28 had the opportunity to view the exhibits of Errol Barron, and Wayne and Diana La Com.
Around 160 people attended, according to James Juarez, Bakersfield College student and employee of the art museum, “It was a good turn out,” said Juarez.
Regardless of where you stood, you could overhear the amusement and even a bit of criticism from many of the admirers who attended the exhibit.
Two of the artists were Wayne and Diana La Com, who have been married for 57 years.
They have very different, yet complementing painting styles.
Wayne La Com is a landscape artist who uses watercolor, and Diana paints a more figurative style using mostly acrylics.
La Com, 82, speaks about enjoying painting since he was a little boy.
He said him and his wife have painted in Maui, Hawaii quite often.
According to La Com her inspiration in painting comes from the places they go, such as Hawaii.
The other featured artist was Errol Barron, an architect and painter who has been exhibiting his work since 1985; however, he has been drawing since he was small.
Barron, who is from New Orleans, explains that hurricane Katrina affected his life, and his paintings.
“It has given me more of a sense of how fragile things are,” he said, “It’s made me appreciate the value of time.”
On Barron’s Website you can read about his many awards and accomplishments.
However, when asked how he felt about the 35 design awards he and his partner, Michael Toups, received for architecture designs, Barron simply shrugged with a smile and said, “I’m an architect, and we have a number of buildings.”
Barron also teaches architecture and drawing at Tulane University School of Architecture, and he explained how great the school was doing after the storm.
“Architecture is a big topic,” he said, “The school has never been in better shape. It’s thrilling, better than before the storm.”
Many of the exhibit paintings were sold and a portion of those sales were donated to the Bakersfield Museum of Art.
Paintings by Wayne La Com sold from $700 to $1600, bringing in $3,000. Diana La Com paintings ranged from $600 to $6,000.
Also at the museum, Barron’s book “Observations” was available for purchase.
The making of his book, at the beginning stages, was on display to show a “before-hand” look on what Barron had went through to make his book a success.
Barron’s three-piece painting, “Santa Monica Pier,” sold for $1,900.
The Barron and La Com exhibit will remain on display at the Bakersfield Museum of Art, 1930 “R” St., until January 2, 2007. The museum hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p. m., and Saturday and Sunday from 12 p. m. to 4 p. m.
For more information call 323-7219.