Art Event

Celebrate Tax Day Sunday, April 15th (really the 16th this year), by going to the Opening Day festivities at the new Claremont Museum of Art. Among the inaugural perks are live music and fee admission.

The museum's collection includes works by a number of well-known Claremont artists, including:

• Millard Sheets
• Aldo Casanova
• Albert Stewart
• Harrison Macintosh
• Norm Hines
• Jean Ames
• Betty Davenport Ford
• Milford Zornes

Woodworker Sam Maloof isn't listed, but one of his rockers is shown in the slideshow on the museum's website. Maloof, who is originally from Chino, now makes his home in Rancho Cucamonga, where his workshop and foundation are located. Maloof is certainly an important, world-renowned artist, so you'd expect his work to be represented in the new museum's collection as well.

Rocking Chair, Sam Maloof
Photo: Courtesy of Jonathan Pollock, Renwick Gallery

The inaugural exhibition features the work of Karl Benjamin, an artist who began painting while working as a public school teacher in Chino. Benjamin is an abstract classicist, and his paintings are full of geometric shapes and rhythmic colors that seem to have an almost musical harmony to them. Check out the video interview with Benjamin on the museum's website for a little insight into his work.

#9 (1966), Karl Benjamin

The Claremont Museum of Art is located in the former College Heights Citrus Packing House, and will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. Admission will be $3.00, and kids under 18 will get in free. There is no charge through the end of May.

Claremont Museum of Art
536 W. 1st St.
Claremont, CA 91711
(909) 624-3591