Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art is presenting the exhibition “Echoes of Yosemite,” which celebrates the majestic landscapes of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Endowed with rugged cliffs, serene valleys, and abundant wildlife, these places have long been admired by artists. This innovative show compares and contrasts depictions from two eras: the renowned paintings of William Keith (1838–1911), and recent interpretations by current members of the California Art Club.
Keith was a Scottish-American landscapist famous for evocative scenes of the American West, particularly California. After immigrating to the U.S., he settled in San Francisco, where he became a central figure in the region’s art world. Keith’s earlier detailed manner reflects influences of the Hudson River School, while his later style embraces atmospheric tonal qualities borrowed from romanticism and the Barbizon School. He was a good friend of naturalist John Muir, with whom he shared a deep reverence for the wilderness. Their worldview is reflected in Keith’s dramatic scenes, which played a key role in shaping the visual identity of California and the American West.
Founded in 1909, the California Art Club is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes and supports contemporary-traditional fine art. The organizers of this exhibition received more than 500 submissions for just 45 spots. Among the talented CAC members selected are Cliff Barnes, Barbara Brown, Larry Cannon, Al Carlson, William Cone, Bonnie Joy Dedlak, Jessica de Jesus, Rick J. Delanty, Sandy Delehanty, Dennis Durrell, Mardilan Lee Georgio, Bradley W. Giles, Meisha Grichuhin, Carolyn Hesse-Low, Ellen Howard, Richard Humphrey, Roberto Jaramillo, Yifan Jia, Thomas Jefferson Kitts, Paul Kratter, Shirley Lehner-Rhoades, Richard Lindenberg, Carolyn Lord, Kim Lordier, JV Magoon, Adam Matano, James McGrew, Jim McVicker, Terry Miura, Olena Nabilsky, Susan Otten, Erika Perloff, Nadalena Radis-Cobbs, Radha Rao, Diane Rodriguez, Timon Sloane, Barbara Tapp, London Vale, Laura Wambsgans, Renae Wang, Nina Warner, and Karen Winters.
Echoes of Yosemite
Saint Mary’s College Museum of Art
Moraga, California
stmarys-ca.edu
through December 14, 2025
