Reflections
Newsletter
Living History at The Whaley House!
The Theatre at the Whaley House is getting a new "old" look! Celebrated Old Town banjoist Chris Ownby will be painting a 19th century stage backdrop for San Diego's oldest professional theatre, a scenic landscape, such as was documented on period stages. Wearing 19th century clothing, he will use traditional painting methods, first blocking in the painting using raw umber and white, and then adding the color in a glaze on top of this "underpainting." Some of the artists, whose work he will be using as influences, are American Thomas Cole (1801-1848), British Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), French artists Jean-Honor'e Fragonard (1732-1806) and Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (1796-1875).
Mr. Ownby's background is in art and music. He has worked both as a graphic artist and as a fine artist using oil on canvas, and was featured in American Artist Magazine in 1989. His paintings are owned by art collectors from California to New York. He also worked as a full time musician for 12 years, and has been a reenactor for more than 20 years. While living in the South, he portrayed a Civil War sketch artist for Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, and also did portraits in oil of other reenactors. In Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, he portrays a musician who came to California during the Gold Rush period.
During the months of April and May, Chris will be at the Whaley House as a volunteer, painting the stage backdrop and playing music of the 1860's, such as that performed by the Tanner Troupe. Please drop by for the free concerts and to see the work in process, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays, beginning at 10am.
More from this issue
- President's Message
By Erik Hanson- Executive Director Report
By Bruce Coons- Coronado Railroad Receives Historic Designation
- Red Roost and Red Rest Legal Campaign
By Barry Hager- Return of the West Arcade
By David Marshall- Theatre at the Whaley House
By Welton Jones- Daniel Slosberg is Pierre Cruzatte
- Living History at the Whaley House
- Redevelopment & Black Historic Preservation
By Karen L. Huff- SOHO Arts and Crafts Weekend 2002
By Ingrid Helton- Old House Fair
- Getting to Know Your San Diego
By Allen Hazard- Iron Road of the Californias
By María Castillo-Curry- Volunteer Profile: Ruth Martinson
- Events and Education
By Alana Coons- Thank You, Jessica McGee
- Efforts to Save SS Catalina Continue
By Phil Dockery- Ballpark Preservation Program Update
By David Swarens- Four Treatment Approaches for Historic Properties
- Proposition 40 Passes
- Thank You's
Copyright ©2008, Save Our Heritage Organisation. Copyright Warning
