The 62nd annual Catalina Art Festival is just one of the events that allows local artists to showcase their work. Probably the largest of the island’s art festivals, the Catalina Art Festival offers local talent a chance to be seen and recognized.
“It’s such a shame,” Lola Laura DiMiele, president of the Catalina Art Association, said. “All these artist finally had the time to be creative and have nowhere to showcase their work.”
This week’s artist spotlight is on jewelry artisan Kristy Throndson, a local artist who has called Catalina home for the past 16 years. Kristy shares her love of the island and its inspiring beauty with her 9-year-old daughter. They enjoy hiking kayaking, boating and photography of the island. She also works for The Catalina Islander newspaper.
Kristy Throndson grew up in central New Jersey and attended the Maryland Institute, College of Art, in Baltimore where she obtained a bachelor of fine arts with a specialty in oil painting. Despite the setbacks of the 2020 pandemic, Kristy said, artists will always find ways to persevere.
“Struggle and adaptation have always been fuel for creativity,” Kristy said. “Our local artists are finding ways to be seen and I’m sure we will be witnessing more in the days to come.”
The Catalina Art Association has been posting the artists on their Facebook page to highlight some of the fantastic artists who should have been participating in this year’s event.
The association has also been trying to show their different artists by coordinating on the artist of the week spotlight published in The Catalina Islander.
With COVID they have not been able to keep the gallery open and have been showing artwork by appointment only. With no funds coming in from booth and magazine sales, the art association has been relying on raffles and art sales to keep running.
This year three shows have been cancelled that are an important part of the island’s tradition and community. They are the Spring Arts and Craft Show, the Mermaid Festival and the Catalina Festival of Art.
For those who would like to help keep art alive in Avalon, check out the art they have in the gallery while waiting in line at US Bank, or go online to Facebook to Catalina Art and see some amazing artists.
If you would like to support the art association, you can make a donation to Catalina Art Association, P.O. Box 235, Avalon 90704. The art association thanks all for their support over the past 62 years. They hope to have their spring show in April.
