MarisolGomez700

MarisolGomez700
Marisol Gomez. Photo by Sander Roscoe Wolff.

Tomorrow, Picture This Gallery & Custom Framing is hosting an artist reception for the opening of their fourth annual Open Media Exhibit. The reception runs from 4:00PM to 8:00PM and will feature light refreshments, poetry, and music.

Marisol Gomez, the proprietor and curator, developed a love of the arts in high school, inspired in no small measure by her art teacher, Mrs. Lynn Morgan. In fact, Morgan helped Gomez earn a scholarship to what was called the Southern California Art Institute, now known as the Laguna Arts Center. She continued studying at Orange Coast College and Long Beach City College, later graduating with a music and art degree from Whittier College.

In 1990, Gomez recognized a need for community exhibition spaces where new and emerging artists could share their work and, for a time, converted her home into a gallery space. She opened the framing shop in 1996, after finding success making frames for fellow students, and immediately began using it for regular exhibitions.

“Art is a kind of therapy for a lot of people, and once people are able to see and appreciate it they can look into themselves, as well,” said Gomez. 

In the last 20 years, her exhibitions have grown to include submissions from artists across the country, and around the world. Gomez credits this to the popularity of established themes for the monthly exhibitions.

March, for example, is an open themed show which accepts work in any media, while April calls for work inspired by the rich culture of New Orleans. May is a youth show, and June’s theme is animals. July features works of a political nature, while August seeks cigar-themed art.

September’s Frida Kahlo exhibit is the gallery’s most popular, followed closely by the Dia de los Muertos exhibition that spans October and November. The Blessed Virgin Mary inspires work for December’s exhibition. For nearly all exhibitions, some portion of sales go to support local charities connected to the theme.

Picture This Gallery & Custom Framing is located at 4130 Norse Way, just north of Carson Street and just East of Lakewood Boulevard. For more information about participating in future exhibitions, please call 562.233.3726, or contact Gomez via email at [email protected]. You can also check out the website, or follow the gallery on Facebook.

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