Recent Press

Art show, book capture beauty of west Marin
The Press Democrat
Sunday, March 30, 2008

The beauty of the rural landscapes and ranchlands of western Marin County elegantly unfold in a lovely new art book, "Ranches & Rolling Hills: Art of West Marin -- A Land in Trust" (Windgate Press, $50). Written by west Marin resident Elisabeth Ptak, the new publication features more than 135 full-color works of art. More than 50 artists are represented, including Art Rogers, Marty Knapp and Nancy Stein.

"What the art of Ranches & Rolling Hill artists and others who are part of this conservation movement reminds us is that something valuable can be preserved, not just as a painting, not just as a memory, but also in real life -- if we set our minds, our hands and hearts to it," writes Ptak, associate director of Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT).

Ptak, with MALT since 1996, previously wrote the column "Homeward Bound" for the Point Reyes Light newspaper. Not too long ago, I got a chance to ask Ptak about "Ranches & Rolling Hills."

Question: What made you decide on producing this book?

Answer: The book was inspired by MALT's annual landscape art show, also entitled Ranches & Rolling Hills. The art show features paintings, prints and photographs of natural and working landscapes in west Marin. Some are farms protected by MALT easements; others are ranches located on other private farmlands and in Point Reyes National Seashore. All of them reflect the human and natural history that make west Marin such a special and beloved place.

"Ranches & Rolling Hills" is a compilation of fine contemporary works in the great tradition of the plein-air art created during the mid-19th century period of American westward expansion. But the images also stand on their own as representative of an emerging tradition: that of the artist as conservationist.

Q: Tell us a little about your job. How did the idea of the art show arise?

A: I'm responsible for all of MALT's outreach, including publications, so shepherding the book was a natural. Cindy Jordan, my assistant, played a big role in getting the book ready for publication. I also have coordinated the art show every year.

Michael Whitt, now the show's curator, co-founded it in 1998, along with the late Ray Strong, dean of Santa Barbara's highly respected Oak Group of painters.

Q: Tell me more about the process of creating this book.

A: We have been dreaming of the book ever since the first show took place in 1998. We began photographing a selection of the art each year, and ultimately had about 400 beautiful 4-by-5 transparencies of artwork from which to choose. Michael Whitt helped make the first selection of images for the book with me.

Finding the balance between subject matter, style and format were design decisions made by the publisher, though there was a lot of collaboration. The hardest part was not being able to include every single image we had.

The book also features essays by Jean Stern, executive director of the Irvine Museum, and by the show's co-founder and curator Michael Whitt. These essays add context to the visuals.

Q: Aren't there a lot of similar art books out there?

A: Our book will be an important record of California history, captured through art. In the simplest of terms, it will illustrate what has changed and what has been preserved in the modern history of western Marin County, which is bounded on one side by the Pacific Ocean and on all other sides by suburban development. In a broader sense, it will chronicle the efforts of a small group of committed artists who want to raise awareness of the area's diminishing natural and cultural resources as represented by agricultural open space and the heritage of family farming in Marin.

Q: I don't think I've seen so many paintings of cows in one book. Do you have a favorite image or artist?

A: I wouldn't pick out a single "art star." While not all of the artists in the show have national reputations, they are extremely talented and seem to find themselves enriched in each other's company and inspired to grow as artists. Each and every artist in the book (and it includes every artist who has participated in the show since it was first held) has added to the strength of the show as a whole.

Q: Was it difficult to persuade artists to donate 50 percent of their income from the show?

A: In a sense, we act like an art gallery for one weekend. We sell the art, then split the price with the artist. The artists not only support this, they also put in many hours helping to set up the art panels and hang the art for the three days prior to the show itself. They staff the sales table during the event and help take everything down at the end. There is a great spirit of camaraderie during the show week.

Q: Have the art show and now your new book been instrumental in helping Marin country residents who aren't artists appreciate the land around them?

A: As only one example, one person who became a MALT supporter because of the art show ultimately left an extraordinary bequest (a total of about $6 million) that will have a significant impact on our continued ability to preserve Marin County farmland.

A book launch party for "Ranches & Rolling Hills: The Art of West Marin -- A Land in Trust" takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. April 13 at Toby's Feed Barn, Main Street, Point Reyes Station. Local food and wine reception follows.

MALT's annual landscape art show and sale takes place from 2-5 p.m. May 17 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 18 at the Druid's Hall in Nicasio. For details, visit www.malt.org.

Sara Peyton is an Occidental freelance writer. E-mail her at sara.peyton@gmail.com.

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