Fresno International Airport
2023 Art Exhibit
Richard Gregory Freitas
Richard Gregory Freitas grew-up on Nunes dairy farm outside Los Banos California, at age 11 he was taught to drive a tractor and work the land with his father on the farm. Freitas would wake in the morning and venture out to the fields and find himself admiring the foothills the fields and farms until the age of 23. Freitas moved away to Santa Cruz, attended Cabrillo College in Aptos California, moved back to Los Banos at 25 Freitas met and fell in love with now wife Nancy Vajretti. Freitas discovered his artistic path through Ken Owens art history and sculpture classes who encouraged and nurtured Freitas and awoke in him a fascination with the great classical painters. In 2000, discovered the exquisite art of 16th century reproduction. Studied under Master painter Sr. Franco Covino using oil paints on wood panel replicates the Classical Academic Style of the High Italian Renaissance. Freitas' paintings are deeply influenced by the farming community of the San Joaquin Valley. With a delicate hand and exquisite technique, he renders the fields, the farm workers, and the buildings that populate the landscape.
Carrot Bundler
Field of Greens
Fire Sky
Garlic Field
Hoers
Melon Picker
No Agua
Onion Picker
Jesus Sepulveda
Jesus Sepulveda is a native of Sanger, California, who currently lives in Fresno. Most of his early experiences were farm work in the fields of the Central Valley. Each day was long, hard, and filled with a poetry of colors and images. It was in elementary school and Jesus discovered that Education would be his future calling.
After graduation from Cal State University, Fresno, he began his 30 year career as an elementary teacher. His career began as a Head Start teacher, followed by 15 years as a 6th grade teacher. After moving to middle school he taught US History, life science and art for the rest of his career.
Jesus’ art reflects his interest in the music and culture of the Central Valley, primarily with Chicano and Mexican influences. He paints elements of reality using mostly pastels or oils. His compositions capture a moment of time, emotions, or life events.
Currently Jesus combines his love for Art and Education as he serves as the President of the Society of West Coast Artists (SWA) in the valley. Through the combined memberships of SWA in San Francisco and the Fresno area, the groups offer workshops by highly recognized artists. The organization arranges for 4 to 5 juried shows for members each year. They also have demonstrations by local artists at many of their monthly meetings.
SWA is dedicated to encouraging the development of young and working artists. They hope to influence and have a positive effect on the journey of these artists.
Pensive Moment, 16 x 18
Professor Cuellar, AKA Dr. Loco, 24 x 36 Pastel on Tempera
Chicano Batman, 24 x 30, Oil
View of the Mariachi, 24 x 36, Pastel on Tempera
The Mentor, 24 x 30
Holding Tight, 24 x 30
Moving Light, 22 x 30
Celebration, 24 x 30
Sisters, 24 x 30
ANNE WHITEHURST
Growing up in a mortuary shaded Anne’s perspective. Her work can be dark, but she is not. Born and raised in Los Banos in California’s Central San Joaquin Valley, Anne received her Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts at Santa Clara University and completed graduate studies at San Francisco Art Institute.
Anne produced her 25-piece Lindemann Series featuring cutting-edge Agriculture between 1978 and 1981, landing the artist her first show at Santa Clara University.
She lived and worked as a muralist in Cabo San Lucas for six years, changing her palette to neon. She sang for the band “Si, Como No?”, the first house band at Sammy Hagar’s legendary Cabo Wabo.
Teaching Spanish and Art at Merced College and state prisons, Anne hired inmates to paint an 8’x100’ mural for The City of Sacramento, installed on Capitol Mall. Mural clients include cities, and tens of schools including Santa Clara University.
At 17, Anne started her ongoing Veritas Series, with backwards writing as the content. With hand mirrors, viewers stand, backs to the wall, reading the paintings. This evolving series elevates viewers into participants in a performance piece.
Anne’s CD, “Castle of Hearts” is available on most music platforms. “Edge of the Country”, Nashville-produced, has yet to be released. A third CD, “Great Valley Suite” will be completed in Spring of 2024. Anne wrote all these songs and plays guitar on the recordings.
Her one-person shows include include “My Town” and “Ag Art” at the Freight Door Gallery at Santa Clara University, “Obras Nuevas” at Terra Sol in Cabo, “The First 40 Years” at the KJewel Gallery, “Music and the Musician” at Tower Record Gallery, “How To Know If You’re Rich” and “Brilliant Palette” at Galeria Tonantzin in San Juan Bautista, and “Veritas” at 1821 Gallery. Upcoming in 2023 are Fresno Pacific University, Fresno City Hall, and Fresno Arts Council Gallery.
Publisher Janet Alleyn is compiling a book featuring Anne’s art and memoirs. Anne loves her studio and her husband Robert, too, with whom she lives and plays music in Fresno, California. Please check out her website, annewhitehurstart.com.
Dulceria San Lucas, 50 x 64, Mixed Media
Edxon: unique hand embellished orig (UHEO) 24 x 30
How to Know If You’re Rich UHEO 24 x 30
Luz de la Puerta , 5' x 4', mixed media
Laying Concrete, 64 x 32 , Oil ORIG
May Day Parade
Spectators at the Palenque, 49 x 60, Acrylic, ORIG
Still Life With Instruments, 36 x 48, UHEO
Taxco, UHEO, 24x30
Trumpeter’s Wife, 60 x 48, Original, mixed media
Tomato Field - Red Rock Ranch, 32 x 64