See captivating exhibit by award-winning artist at our Community Center

The next time you drop by the Norman P. Murray Community Center, check out the impressive artwork on display.

The vivid creations are by Joyce Pekala, an award-winning artist who paints "en plein air" or "in the open air," a term first used by French impressionists.  She frequently travels to gain fresh subject matter while participating in some of the most respected art festivals.  Traveling to France gave her an opportunity to paint in the garden of impressionist artist Claude Monet, which was an artistic experience of a lifetime.

Joyce's work is modern and known for its strong composition, purposeful brushstrokes and vivid color palette.  Her oil paintings evoke moods and capture a fleeting moment on canvas.  You can often find Joyce painting at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean or capturing the immense grandeur of Yosemite National Park.  Joyce was selected as Artist-in-Residence at Yosemite National Park by the Yosemite Renaissance board.  Her work has been exhibited at the Palm Springs Art Museum and Yosemite Museum.

Joyce also recently donated her time and talent by demonstrating the art of open-air painting during a Heritage House event.  Her exhibit is on display at 24932 Veterans Way through October 15.