Susie has a background in retail management and 30 years of experience in conservation framing. She’s worked with artists and galleries in the Santa Ana’s artist village, Pomona’s arts colony, then opened Bunny Gunner Art services in 2007 in Pomona with her husband Juan where they featured and worked with contemporary artists from all over Southern California.
They also curated and juried shows throughout the region. They moved the business to the Claremont Village in 2013.
After visiting the Pioneertown and Joshua Tree area for years they decided to buy a home in Pioneertown. They eventually sold the Claremont business in December of 2019.
Susie opened a small art gallery during the pandemic in Yucca Valley called Desert Peach.
In October 2022 she joined the team at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center as bookstore manager and art curator for the cafe and gift shop.
Juan Thorp received his BA in Fine Art from Cal Poly Pomona. He currently is creating paintings, drawings and digital art at his Rimrock studio. Together with his wife, Susie, they have run an art gallery in one fashion or another for over 20 years. Now they each curate at their own space. Susie at "Elemental Treasures" in Joshua Tree and Juan at "Space Truckin Gallery" in Yucca Valley.
The Spring Judged Creative Art exhibit was on the walls at Rainbow Stew in Yucca Valley from April 13 to May 15 , 2024.
Our seasonal judged shows are open to the public and judged by an invited professional creator or instructor and they provide a fantastic glimpse of what our local creators have been focused on.
A total of thirty-four (34) entries were received that came in from fifteen (15) participants. Please pass along the word for upcoming judged exhibits! More participation increases variety. We are challenging one another to seek out new scenes. We are making note of new and renewed techniques. Participation in these judged shows hones our skills as we learn from one another.
The entries were sorted into a three category - Nature, Creatures, and Abstract, with first, second, third, honorable mention, best of show, and a president's award given out. Moneys received during intake go entirely toward prizes and material fees.
The Judge
Susie has a background in retail management and 30 years of experience in conservation framing. She’s worked with artists and galleries in the Santa Ana’s artist village, Pomona’s arts colony, then opened Bunny Gunner Art services in 2007 in Pomona with her husband Juan where they featured and worked with contemporary artists from all over Southern California.
They also curated and juried shows throughout the region. They moved the business to the Claremont Village in 2013.
After visiting the Pioneertown and Joshua Tree area for years they decided to buy a home in Pioneertown. They eventually sold the Claremont business in December of 2019.
Susie opened a small art gallery during the pandemic in Yucca Valley called Desert Peach.
In October 2022 she joined the team at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center as bookstore manager and art curator for the cafe and gift shop.
Juan Thorp received his BA in Fine Art from Cal Poly Pomona. He currently is creating paintings, drawings and digital art at his Rimrock studio. Together with his wife, Susie, they have run an art gallery in one fashion or another for over 20 years. Now they each curate at their own space. Susie at "Elemental Treasures" in Joshua Tree and Juan at "Space Truckin Gallery" in Yucca Valley.
Nature's Kaleidoscope
First-place
"Ancient Calling"
Victoria Sebanz
"Nice use of color and shading. Great anatomy and skill in transparency. Shows a story or narrative, interesting."
Second-place
"Alien Joshua Tree Sunscape"
Tami Wood
"Imaginative and originality. Great use of design and color."
Third-place
"Serenity"
Sharon Nieters
"Shows skill and medium. Great shading and use of color."
Honorable Mention
"Springtime Awakening"
Krista Wargo
"Excellent use of shading and shadows and highlights on flowers. Really stands out. Good top-down View."
Beautiful Creatures
First-place
"Blue Bunny"
Audrey Green
"Fun Whimsical subject, with fun bright colors. Good loose technique that flows well across the art."
Second-place
"Keeping an Eye Out"
Raini Armstrong
"Shows Mastery of the medium, nice contrasting colors. Strong gesture by the bird."
Third-place
"David's Jack"
Sharon George
"Fine use of tools. Attention to detail. Captured backlit highlights."
Honorable Mention
"Mrs Big Red"
Sharon George
"Skilled work, beautiful details, nice use of color."
Abstract
Abstract
First-place
"Looking East"
Joan scott
"Nice use of multiple mediums. Excellent composition."
Second-place
"When God was a Woman"
Victoria Sebanz
"Impressed with the amount of meticulous work. Very well crafted. Interesting multimedia and fine presentation."
Third-place
"Our lady on Grandma's chair seat"
Audrey green
" Love the use of materials. Fun and Whimsical idea, nice use of color."
Honorable Mention
"North winds"
Victoria Sebanz
"Shows skill in drawing. Creative use of Cut out canvas. Love idea portrayed, mixing figure and abstract."
Best of Show
"Twilight Musing"
Victoria Sabanz
"This piece feels very ethereal, dreamlike. Shows skill and technique and portraiture. This art gives of a mysterious, cool vibe."
President's Award of Merit
"Prickly Quail"
Myrtle Cassell
Thanks go to the participating creators that shared their work with us. To Rainbow Stew and all visitors that make these shows possible. And congratulations to the creators that placed!
If you find yourself out and about, make sure to stop by Rainbow Stew and enjoy the Judged show. It will be displayed until May when we transition into the Judged, open to the public, Photography exhibit!
We all want to take advantage of this great space because it sees a constant stream of traffic throughout the week. Chaparral Artists see sales through this venue, so do not pass up the opportunity to hang your art with us when you can during these shows.
Stay safe and continue creating!