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Joe Baker, the Executive Director of the Palos Verdes Art Center, is an artist, curator and educator.  He grew up in Oklahoma (where he is a member of the Delaware Tribe) and graduated from the University of Tulsa with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Fine Arts.  He completed a Master of Development Practice from Harvard.  He has been involved in issues of health disparity, identity and global cultural equity through music, dance and art exhibitions.  He was Director for Community Engagement at Arizona State University and then Executive Director of Longue Vue House and Gardens in New Orleans, before coming to Palos Verdes.

He considers the PV Art Center the “best kept secret” in Palos Verdes, and is promoting outreach to the surrounding community.  It was founded in 1975 and is involved in many school-based and other programs to serve the South Bay area.  Each year there are 5 Art Center projects serving 7000 K-5 students for art education, served by 400 volunteers.  The cost is only $1/project/child, serving children from Harbor City, Watts, Hawthorne and other surrounding communities who otherwise have little opportunity for exposure to the arts.  Students are brought to the Art Center for classes and exhibits, free of charge to them.  This year they are also working with Intermediate School children in Palos Verdes.

 

 

Over 60 classes are being offered to the community this Fall at the PV Art Center, on a variety of art subjects at all levels from beginner to advanced, beginning September 16.  (Registration is online at www.PVArtCenter.org.)

A fashion tribute to Lilly Pulitzer, the “Palm Beach Queen” of whimsical pink and green shift dresses who died recently, will be open at the Art Center through September 29.  It features items from the Keni Valenti Collection, and was favorably reviewed in the Los Angeles Times.

On October 11, a new exhibit will open called “I Love My Dog”, featuring artists’ conceptions of people’s relationships to their pets including the history of domesticated dogs, indoor and show dogs and hunting dogs.  Dogs often substitute for humans, and 63% of American households have at least one pet, valued for both their companionship and as a motivation for healthful exercise.  Interesting stories of celebrities’ dogs will also be featured.

Joe Baker invites all to come to the PV Art Center at 5504 Crestridge Road in Rancho Palos Verdes to enjoy its many offerings.