dA exhibit in Pomona shows the work of artists inspired by other artists

POMONA - In art, inspiration can come from different sources.

The artists participating in "In Front of the Real Thing" were inspired by
the work of other artists.

What they were inspired to create goes on display today at The
dACenter for the Arts, 252 S. Main St., Pomona.

An opening reception will take place at the center from 6 to 10 p.m.

In Front of the Real Thing" features the works of 15 local artists who had
a chance visit the recently remodeled collection study room of the Pomona
College Museum of Art in Claremont.

The museum is trying to create greater ties with the community and let
people know it's a resource they can enjoy, said Steve Comba, assistant
director of the museum. This project was one way of reaching out to the
community and local artists.

The completion of the study room provided an opportunity to carry out the
project, he said.

"I knew it would be an interesting test case," Comba said. "It ended up
being a really interesting process."

The artists visited the museum and were
given access to one or more of the works in its highly regarded collection
including the Samuel H. Kress collection and a series of etchings by Spanish
artist Francisco de Goya.

The local artists took notes, drew sketches or took photographs and then
headed to work and the result has produced art in various media.

Kate Thornton, a Pomona resident, was inspired by two works. One is a 14th
century "Madonna and child" icon from the Samuel H. Kress Collection.

The icon was created with the use of deep blues and reds and gold colors.

The second piece Thornton used for inspiration is an untitled lithograph
created by Sam Francis in 1971 that was a gift to the museum from the C.E.
Merrill Trust.

The abstract piece also uses reds and blues.

Thornton's final product, "A Second Look" is an abstract work that seems to
have the feel of both the icon and the contemporary piece.

Thornton said when she saw the icon and the Sam Francis "they looked alike
to me."

Participating in such a project allowed Thornton to access great works of
art but also did something for her development as an artist.

"It took me out of my previous comfort zone but to a much better place," she
said. "It was a big turning point for me as an artist."

Rev. Bill Moore, a priest and Pomona artist, was inspired to create "Raiding
One's Past."

He was inspired by a jacket that's part of the museum's important collection
of Native American artifacts.

The late 19th century Lakota Sioux jacket is made of leather and decorated
with bead work.

"I was drawn to an icon in the collection but as I was leaving the museum,
my eye caught this jacket," Moore said.

Aside for the bead work, the worn leather garment is decorated with
images of horses.

That prompted Moore to go through the belongings of his recently deceased
mother.

Among her belonging Moore found beads which his mother enjoyed collecting
and a small toy horse made of felt.

His mother's belongings were incorporated into his painting.

"Raiding One's Past" is inspired by the unknown, he said.

"It's more about what I don't know about (my mother) than what I know,"
Moore said. "The jacket was worn with great pride by a Native American and
we'll never know what it meant to him."

The jacket, the beads and the toy horse "are the remnants of lives we'll
never really know," he said.

Terry Taylor Castillo, the dA gallery director, said a project such as this one
allowed some artists to break out of their comfort zones and for others it
"gives them an excuse to do something different."

Comba said the success of the project has him and others brain storming.

"Now we're trying to figure out how to do this again," Comba said.

In the future, depending on the gallery, it may be possible to exhibit the
new art works along side the museum's pieces that inspired the new
creations, he said.

This project, Comba said, may serve to inspire younger generations to visit
an art museum to discover old and new artists and along the way gain an
appreciation for art.