Citywide celebrations for Niki de Saint Phalle will start on Friday, January 12th (5:00pm - 8:00pm) with opening receptions at the CCAE Museum. Celebrations continue into Saturday at Queen Califia's Magical Circle (9am - 2pm) and at the CCAE Museum(10am - 5pm) and Escondido Municipal Gallery (11am - 8pm).
Below are more details about exhibitions and venues:
2018 marks the 15-year anniversary of the making of Queen Califia's Magical Circle sculpture garden by the 20th Century Franco-American artist Niki de Saint Phalle. To celebrate the occasion, multiple art venues in the city of Escondido will present exhibitions about the life of Niki de Saint Phalle from January to March of 2018. Exhibitions are in cooperation with the Niki Charitable Art Foundation. San Diego County is home to the largest collection of Niki de Saint Phalle artwork in the United States.
The California Center for the Arts Museum presents the exhibition NIKI DE SAINT PHALLE: Mythical California from January 13 to March 4, 2018. The exhibition highlights the monumental sculptures created by the artist from 1993 until her death in 2002. Over 45 works by the artist showcase her California inspirations including models, drawings, furniture, film and photography from her only American sculpture park, Queen Califia's Magical Circle. Models and prints from Noah's Ark Sculpture Park (1995-2000) in collaboration with Swiss architect Mario Botta, and a model of Gila (1996), a private residence commission, will also be on display. The exhibition includes Saint Phalle's Californian Diary (1994) series documenting the artist’s personal thoughts during her first year living in California. Visitors to the museum can also see the Grande Step Totem (2001) installed on the art center campus. Concurrent exhibitions: Eva Struble: Cover Crop and Inspired featuring California mosaic artists. The California Center for the Arts Museum is located at 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025, 760 839-4138 (artcenter.org). Exhibition dates: January 13 - March 4, 2018.
Opening reception: Friday, January 12, 2018.
Hours: Thursday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm, Sunday: 1pm – 5pm.
Niki de Saint Phalle, ALTAR O.A.S.
The Escondido Arts Partnership presents ALTAR O.A.S. (1962-1995) in a private gallery dedicated to Saint Phalle. In May 1962, for her second solo exhibition in Paris at Galerie Rive Droite, Niki de Saint Phalle presents to the public ALTAR O.A.S: a large gold-painted triptych, made out of wood with various objects attached to it. The owner of the gallery, Jean Larcade, greatly impressed by this piece’s controversy and expressed violence, choses to exhibit it in the front window of his gallery, situated on the very central and chic rue du Faubourg Saint-Honorez close by the Elysée Palace, the residence of the French President.
Concurrent exhibitions include: WOOD, A Furniture Show.
The EAP Municipal Gallery is located at 262 E. Grand Ave. Escondido, Ca. 92025 (escondidoarts.org). Exhibition dates: January - April, 2018.
Opening receptions: 2nd Saturday of every month 5pm - 8pm.
Hours: Tues. 11 - 5pm, Thurs. - Sat. 11 - 4pm.
Panache Art Auctions
In the month of March the Escondido Municipal Gallery celebrates Niki de Saint Phalle and local artists during silent and live auctions. The live auction event will take place Saturday, March 24th from 5-8pm. A select artwork by Niki de Saint Phalle is the cornerstone of the auction. (escondidoarts.org/panache)
Queen Califia's Magical Circle
Queen Califia's Magical Circle is located in the Iris Sankey Arboretum in Kit Carson Park, 3333 Bear Valley Parkway, Escondido, California. The park's entrance is five minutes from the Via Rancho Parkway exit of the 15 fwy. at the intersection of Bear Valley Parkway and Mary Lane. Admission is free. The park is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to noon weather permitting. Also open the 2nd Saturday of each month to the public 9am to 2pm and by appointment at 760 839-4000, (queencalifia.org.)