With Whittier as inspiration for his work, Dennis McGonagle ’93 has led a successful career as an artist. He will be showing a selection of his paintings at the Whittier Museum from June 24 to July 29. Titled A Phone Call to the Past, the one-person exhibit will feature selected works from McGonagle’s 40-year painting career.
The show traces McGonagle’s artistic beginnings at Rio Hondo College in the 1970s to his time at Whittier, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in art. At the College, he held the student position of campus mural painter. Two of his murals remain on campus today, one at Wardman Hall and the other in the patio of Johnson House.
The show will feature Whittier street scenes, a subject McGonagle became well known for in the 1980s and 1990s. Many of his creations were used to decorate the covers of Whittier telephone directories during that time. Other themes that will be showcased include the Huntington Library, forest scenes in Pennsylvania, and paintings from the Tyrone Guthrie Centre (TGC) in Ireland where he and his wife, Terry, were residents for six weeks.
McGonagle was selected to participate as part of an exclusive artist’s retreat and stayed in a cottage on the grounds of the TCG in Ireland. They were given the use of a large studio where they worked on completing a total of 27 landscapes, portraits, and interior paintings. “I was transported by the Irish landscape,” he said. “The cool blue light, the rich green color, the billowing clouds, the history, it was amazing.”
A free opening reception is slated from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, at the Whittier Museum. Along with cheese, crackers and light refreshments, enjoy live music from the eclectic Jess Converse.
For information call (562) 945-3871 or visit whittiermuseum.org
