Hilbert Museum of California Art in Orange 05-11-18

Blogger wouldn't post this last evening, so I am trying again.  Del

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today I met two friends in Orange and had a lovely brunch and a visit to a museum I had never heard of .  And it is very near where my doctor's office is, so I should have been aware.  My two friends and I met at The Filling Station a restaurant that is just off the circle of old town Orange.  It was at one time a real filling station, but has been a restaurant for quite a few years.  The extensive patio is where the pumps used to be and there is also dining inside the old building.  They have delicious Mexican food and serve both breakfast and lunch.  It is very popular, but we didn't have to wait very long for a table.  The Huevos Rancheros were scrumptious and went well with hot lattes. 

Then we found our way to the museum which is just a few blocks away and across the street from the Orange Train Station (which also houses a Ruby's restaurant).  The Hilbert Museum of California Art is part of Chapman College and, although not large, is spacious and well lit.  The Hilberts are a couple who support Chapman and have collected California paintings (oil, watercolor, pencil, ink, pastel, etc.) for quite a few years.  They donated at least part of their collection along with the building to Chapman a couple years ago.

Currently there are about six small exhibits: Westways (Automobile Club of SCalifornia) Cover art from the 20's and 30's, Magical Visions from Eyvind Earle who worked for Disney for many years and continued his own art at the same time,  pen/pencil drawings of the original Star Wars trilogy by Robert Bailey, selections from the permanent collection, and paintings donated by collectors Jim and Lynne Doti depicting California scenes.  It is a lovely variety of works and there is, I think, something that anyone could enjoy.    

I didn't record the artist on this one, but it is a charming depiction in oil of Angel's Flight in downtown LA.  

These fantastical horses are part of the "Magical Visions" of Eyvind Earle.

There were artist's names I recognized and a number of paintings that I have seen in print, along with a few actual magazine showing how the works appeared in print.  

It was a very pleasant day and I felt I had learned something from the signage and labels in the museum.  I know I will go back again and probably take a friend.. or two. 

#   #   #