“A Walk with Nature” is a solo exhibition by local landscape artist Russell Hunziker. The exhibition features impressionistic landscape paintings inspired by Hunziker’s lifelong love of hiking in the local Santa Monica Mountains, beaches, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The exhibit combines the art with the poetical writings of John Muir. The opening reception is Saturday May 7 from 4PM to 7PM and the show continues weekends through May 22.
Hunziker comes from a family of artists, and yet spent the first 40 years of his working life as an aerospace engineer designing and building some of the most advanced aircraft and satellites in history. His mother had a degree in art and painted throughout her life, an aunt taught art at Santa Monica High school for 40 years, and a great aunt taught art at LA College in the 1930’s and was an accomplished watercolorist.
“When I tell people that I’m a painter and engineer, they get confused,” Hunziker states. “I think it makes perfect sense. There is beauty and art in engineering and a strong background in design applies to art as well as engineering”. In addition to being a former board member of the Topanga Canyon Gallery, Russell is a Board member of the Allied Artists of the Santa Monica Mountains, a 20-year-old organization dedicated to Painting and preserving the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Simultaneous to “A Walk with Nature” there will be an early look at the upcoming Topanga Artists’ Studio Tour in the South Gallery. Pieces from a selection of the artists participating in the Tour will be shown. The Studio Tour will be held the weekend of June 11 and 12. Tickets are on sale at the gallery and online now.
Topanga Canyon Gallery hours: Friday 2PM – 7PM, Saturday and Sunday noon – 5PM.
