Art in the frame

From the cool, dim dens of jazz clubs to bright flower fields and a rock in the middle of an immense ocean, the winning paintings on display at the Burbank Art Assn. Spring Show transport viewers out of the Olive Avenue gallery.

Since its formation in 1950, the Burbank Art Assn. has held annual spring and fall shows. This year, entries ran the gamut from watercolors, acrylics and oils to pencil and pastel. The categories represented include landscape, still life, marine and even a special category titled "Memories."

The competition fielded around 60 works from the association's members, who range from age 17 to 80. While all entrants are required to be members of the art association, the gallery is open to the public. Many pieces at the gallery are available for purchase.

For the Open Division, Gustavo Osorio's "Blue Winged Angel" received the Best in Show prize. Osorio's pencil drawing depicts a lone, blue-winged figure standing on a rock, with his back toward the viewer, completely surrounded by water. Osorio, who will attend Pasadena City College in the fall, settled on the idea because he was interested in experimenting with illustrating wings, he said. The scene is supposed to illustrate and bring a sense of peace to the viewer, he said.

Ellene Grim was one of two judges for the competition.

"[Osorio's] was very individualistic," she said. "[He] entered [his] heart and soul and expressed [his] feelings about the angel." Bonice Collins-Turner, the second judge for the competition, was equally impressed with the work.

"It was obviously quite a personal, original work. I think that's important, so that you find the artist offering something of himself," she said.

Osorio decided to join the art association after receiving third place two years ago and second place last year in the organization's competition for high school students. While Osorio was a first-time entrant, seasoned artists were also well represented, albeit in the Honors Division.

The Honors Division is designated for artists who have won ribbons in the past and accrued enough competition points to be promoted to the category, said Program Chairwoman Karen Bauman.