The birth of the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild; Reception for next show is March 7
The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild’s next show, ‘Journey Into Nature,’ will open with a reception March 7, from 5-7 p.m. Workshop instructors from five workshops held last year will be featured.
The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild is celebrating its 15th year since its founder Marianne Champlin brought local artists together to form this group.
In the beginning there was no public art in Rancho Santa Fe.
In 1989, Bill Schlosser and other Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club members, realizing how much talent existed in the small Rancho Santa Fe village, planned the first of four Art’s Discovery events at the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club, which caused great excitement and enthusiasm among residents and brought artists together.
During this time, founder Marianne Champlin had invited a number of artists and other interested people to a meeting to discuss the possibility of forming an Art Guild. Also, during this time Dori Starkey had been arranging monthly shows with the library to show art from local artists and got involved.
Marianne and Marileigh Schulte acted as co-presidents for the first year to create the foundation for the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild. Other charter members who deserve credit for getting involved are Pat Beck, Ilene Perry, Patricia Watkins and John Glendanning.
Then, in 1998, the Union Bank gave office space for the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation to do business in office space at the rear of the bank. Christy Wilson, the executive director of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, invited the newly forming nonprofit Art Guild to share the space, hang art and bring together talented people who share the love of art and through them invite the community to art events.
The Rancho Santa Fe Association also generously offered its board room for meetings and educational programs which are open to the public. The Association graciously allowed painters to display their work throughout the open space and approved new awnings and signage.
A patron member donated a pair of topiaries for the patio entrance and the Rancho Santa Fe Nursery provided red geraniums to decorate the front entrance.
The Union Bank and the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation have made it possible to bring art to the community. The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild is grateful for its gallery space and the support they have provided. This organization sprung from a small group of Rancho Santa Fe artists in 1999 and has flourished to a group of 80 artisans from all over the county. It serves the community to have a focus on art for the enjoyment of all who come here.
Art Guild Mission Statement: The purpose of the Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild is to embrace the visual arts, provide exhibit space, enhance community awareness and foster artistic skills.
Every two months the gallery show is totally re-hung by a committee of members and invites the public for a wine and food reception with live music. The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild invites residents, designers, realtors, landscape architects and builders to the possibilities of using art from local artists to decorate their spaces.
Any interested artisans are invited to apply for membership. Patrons are also invited to donate or simply to volunteer at the gallery and be a part of its success.
Simply go to
to download an application then drop off or mail to Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild P.O. Box 773 Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067. The Rancho Santa Fe Art Guild is located at 6004 Paseo Delicias Rancho Santa Fe, 92091; (858) 759-3545.