THE FINE ARTS FILM FESTIVAL The Art of Film; The Film of Art

Sunday, November 21, 10:30 am - 5 pm
and Friday, December 3, 1-3 pm

Bronfman Family Jewish Community Center
524 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Cost: $25 at the door. $20 in advance with reservation and payment.
RSVP online or call 805-957-1115
Seating is limited.

I'm very happy that the film was chosen to be presented in the first year of this prestigious film festival in Santa Barbara. Maynard Dixon has a large following there, many collectors and also friends and students of Ray Strong have contacted me. The Fine Arts Film Festival was founded in 2010 by Lynn Holley, a Santa Barbara writer, independent curator and art consultant, and by Kathleen Fairweather, a Los Angeles writer and documentary filmmaker. "Films about art, artists, collectors and those inspired by art are rarely shown at regular film festivals," says Holley. "Art is not just for galleries and museums; the stories of art should have their own film festival. There are plenty of good films on art that are rarely seen. We wanted to offer some to the community."

Co-sponsored by the
Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara
and the Santa Barbara Art Association.

Ray Strong at 100

I had the pleasure of getting to know artist Ray Strong over a period of several years, before he passed away at age 101. He was always a joy to spend time with at his studio in Santa Barbara, and at his daughter Barbara's hideaway in Three Rivers,Ca. He loved to be in nature, and painted it so beautifully. He delighted in visiting the dioramas that he painted at the museum of Natural History in Santa Barbara. They are really fantastic, if you ever get a chance, go check them out.

Ray always said what was on his mind. He whipped out his harmonica often and broke into song whenever and wherever he felt like it. Kids and adults alike adored Ray and his spirit of fun and his exuberant love of life.

His memories of working with Maynard Dixon were vivid, and he shared with me stories of camping out with Maynard Dixon, substitute teaching for Dixon at the Art Students League, (which Ray founded with his wife Betty). Would that we all could go back in time and attend classes with the incredible talent teaching those classes!



To watch video of Ray,visit my site at: http://raystrong.posterous.com/