February 28, 2012
For Immediate Release
Art Meets History In Oak Glen
Oak Glen, California – Parrish Pioneer Ranch announces an informal gathering for the Visual Art – “Art Meets History” with local and nationally recognized artists, Fariad and Jennifer Ali, owners of The Wildland Images Gallery located on the historic Parrish Pioneer Ranch Saturday, March 10 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Artists Fariad and Jennifer, residents of the Oak Glen area, have been capturing the essence of Oak Glen scenery and wildlife for more than 16 years, creating more than 3000 paintings and drawings of the area, each using their own unique style to communicate stories of the people and the beauty of the landscape surrounding them. Both artists will be present and discuss their paintings of Oak Glen and the historic Parrish Ranch. They are proud to introduce their son, Shamir, and one of his paintings at this once in a lifetime exhibit.
Born on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad, Fariad says, “I have been documenting this poetry in life for some 40 years now. I currently live in the United States, and my paintings have expanded beyond wildlife to include landscapes and Western art in a California Impressionist Style. I try to expose the image with deliberate and rhythmic brushwork and a mesh of thick and thin paint to try and capture the life and feeling of what I am looking at.”
Fariad’s wife, Jennifer, whom he met at Pasadena City College, has her own distinctive style. “I paint subjects that are important to me. I love to paint dream like watercolors on paper, or oil on canvas, choosing to start sometimes with a light compositional sketch which takes into account the negative as well as the positive space of the subject. My paintings are a combination of planned wet on wet glazes transitioning to raw “one shot” dry brush leaving the viewer with a painting which has enough depth and movement to provide sustenance and entertain the eye.”
At 3:00 p.m., the crowd will hear from James Ramos, San Bernardino County Supervisor candidate, and current Chairman of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. Mr. Ramos will be speaking about “the importance of art in the culture of the community and how it becomes part of history.” Ramos, MBA, has been a member of the San Bernardino Community College Board of Trustees since 2005 and is the past president and first Native American to be elected to the board. In 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Ramos to the California State Native American Heritage Commission for which he currently serves as chairman.
The public will also be able to meet Betty Burkle, owner of Parrish Pioneer Ranch, to hear and learn some of the history of the ranch itself. Parrish Pioneer Ranch was established in 1866 when Enoch Kidder Parrish arrived in Oak Glen and traded four mules and a wagon for 160 acres of land. By 1867, he had planted the first full-scale apple orchard in Oak Glen, just over an acre of mainly Rome Beauty trees. By 1900 he had just over 22 acres and Oak Glen was rapidly becoming a thriving commercial apple growing area. The oldest all-timber home in San Bernardino County still stands on the property, which is home not only to The Wildland Images Gallery, but also a restaurant, shops and a variety of wildlife.
Limited editions of the artists’ prints will be given out to the first 25 families attending the event. (*1 print per family.) Refreshments will also be served.
For More Information call:
The Wildland Images Gallery @ 909-790-5632
Nina Foster – Promotions & Events Coordinator
Oak Glen Apple Growers Association Board of Directors
909-797-0253