BETTER ANGELS & BONAFIDE HEROES: A Solo Art EXHIBITION curated by Jules Smith was held under tents at the Santa Paula, California’s Rose Garden amidst Dave’s Christmas Tree Lot across the tracks from the Train Depot December 313, 2021. “I thank everyone who believed in this project of presenting the collection of more than 40 paintings I created during the pandemic starting in March 2020 titled; BETTER ANGELS and BONAFIDE HEROES to honor our essential workers and tell a story of this past year and a half. What a pleasure it was to watch and listen to the response to the portraits of everyday heroes and landscapes by the visitors to the gallery. My hearltelt thanks to the people of my hometown Santa Paula and all over Ventura County and especially family who drove up from Venice and El Segundo. So many took time to visit and walk through the semioutdoor tent gallery studying the paintings recalling their own memories of the lockdown, expressing emotions and encouraging me. Thanks to Susan Bell Walker, Danny and Tammy Flack, and D’Etta and Ken for their special support making this show possible. Thanks to Paul Belgum and his ukulele group, my brother Santa: Gary Gordon Goff and Sheila and so many other musicians serenading us at the opening and at the daily bonfires. Thanks to my son Nathan who took photos, brother James who lent his tools and other family members and friends for your support. Thank You Marianne and the Santa Paula Times for their timely article. Thanks to Dave Wills for commissioning me to paint the mural on his 1970 trailer that he positioned at the entrance to the Art Exhibition at his tree lot during December until Christmas Eve. So grateful to Dave for sharing his space for the ART EXHIBITION and craft tables where everyone was encouraged to paint on a wood disc, and join in collaboratve paint sessions and singalongs. Let us never forget to gather together and spur one another on.” (click to see video/slide show)
— Jules Smith
