Santa Cruz County Bank Announces 50th Exhibition

Santa Cruz County Bank Arts Collaborative is pleased to announce the opening of Native Son :: Ed Penniman, marking its 50th art exhibition since February 2004. The opening reception will be held Thursday, April 19 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Bank’s Santa Cruz office, 720 Front Street.

Native Son is a solo exhibition of the work of Ed Penniman, a Santa Cruz native, whose paintings are on display in five countywide locations. Penniman’s familiarity with the coastal landscape of Santa Cruz inspired his first oil painting at the age of twelve. He was mentored by his grandmother, Lenora N. Penniman, who was one of the “Santa Cruz Three” famed women landscape painters of the 1920-40s.

He is a dedicated outdoor and studio painter who has followed the painting trail of Winslow Homer throughout the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. His artistic journey has found him in the West Indies, the California Coast, Italy, France, Hawaii, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Mexico, the Southwest & Midwest, the Canadian border, and following Gaugin’s path to Tahiti, Moorea and Rarotonga.

Penniman states, “One of the greatest things about being an artist is to immerse myself in nature or foreign culture. I love how nature comes alive after I have been painting for a while. The same thing happens with people who see me painting quietly. Art provides a wonderful cross-cultural experience that allows me to penetrate deeper into different cultures and affirm my belief that the family of man is one. From an unpopulated view of a tropical island to the crowded streets of Manhattan, people are interested in the artist and his art making process.

“I have painted with watercolors and oils for most of my life. After traveling so far physically, geographically, and artistically, I feel comfortable painting any subject including the human figure.

I especially love the drawing aspect of my artistry, use my innate design sense, and have my artwork reflect my love of life.”

Native Son, curated by Mary Anne Carson, Director of the Santa Cruz County Bank Arts Collaborative, and Janet Silverglate, includes 66 contemporary landscape paintings installed in five banking branches across the county, in Aptos, Capitola Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley and Watsonville. Artwork on display is for sale with 100% of sales going directly to the artist.

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Exhibition Calendar and Event Dates
Opening Art Reception: April 19
Santa Cruz County Bank • 720 Front Street, Santa Cruz • 5–7 p.m.

• Exhibition Locations & Hours: Santa Cruz County Bank • Aptos – 7775 Soquel Drive • Capitola – 819 Bay Avenue • Santa Cruz – 720 Front Street • Scotts Valley – 4604 Scotts Valley Drive • Watsonville – 595 Auto Center Drive
• Hours: Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. excluding holidays