Check Out Virtual Art Exhibit From Manhattan Beach Arts Center

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — A look into the art of two pillars of the Manhattan Beach community officially launches tomorrow [Friday, Jan. 22] at 6 p.m. Rediscovered: The Life and Art of AC Conner and Eva Joseph Goldsheid is being presented virtually by the Manhattan Beach Arts Center. The online gallery and video presentation of the exhibition will be available on the City of Manhattan Beach’s website.

The work of Goldsheid and Conner spans more than 120 years of creativity between the two artists, illuminates their position within the context of art history and showcases their contributions to the City of Manhattan Beach.

AC Conner, a man of substance and first treasurer of the City of Manhattan Beach, was born in Indiana in 1848. He was inspired by Regionalism, an offshoot of Landscape Painting, who, as he made his way west, stopped along the way to paint western landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, in the Plein Aire style.

Conner eventually set roots in the then small town of Manhattan Beach to further pursue his love of painting and nature. He was a pivotal figure in the establishment of the city, helping to build the foundation of local government in place today. While certainly an artist and civic pioneer, Conner was also a musician and created clubs and opportunities for artists to gather and share their craft with one another.

As a well-established figure in the community, he exhibited his work throughout Los Angeles and provided persons an opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder of nature through his art.

Eva Joseph Goldsheid was a German born painter who narrowly escaped the Nazis in 1938 when she was 12. Once in the States, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a successful artist in a time and place that largely favored male artists.

While influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Goldsheid never fully adhered to the movement and stayed true to a tenant prescribed by mentor David Park, an American artist and leader of the Bay Area Figurative Movement during the 1950s, self-expression and originality above all else.

Goldsheid created throughout her life and was an influential instructor in the City of Manhattan Beach's Older Adults program. Influencing generations of artists, she was able to share her technique and artistic outlook with the Manhattan Beach community. She lived Redondo Beach and taught classes in Manhattan Beach until her passing in 2017.

She is remembered by her students as being dedicated and unwaveringly committed to her pursuits as an artist. She challenged her students to find their own path and enriched their practices through well thought out lesson plans and art history lectures.

The exhibition explores the work of each artist and their importance to Manhattan Beach culture, as well as the trials each artist experienced while staying true to their artistic endeavors.

The Rediscovered: The Life and Art of AC Conner and Eva Joseph Goldsheid exhibit continues through March 21. Details, as well as the online gallery, are available on a Parks & Recreation page on the City of Manhattan Beach website. The online gallery is available now.