Mind's Eye

08 September, 2022


          
            Mind's Eye

THE MIND’S EYE: Featuring the historical paintings of Edith Valentine Tenbrink and selected work from MBCAC artists
On view: September 9th - September 25, 2022
Artists' Reception: Saturday September 10th, 6-8pm
Joshua Tree Art Gallery: 61607 29 Palms Hwy, Suite B, Joshua Tree, CA

The Joshua Tree Art Gallery (JTAG) will show a selection of the visionary paintings of the historical artist Edith Valentine Tenbrink (b.1883 - d.1957) in the show The Mind’s Eye from September 3rd – September 25th.

Edith Valentine Smith was born in Iowa on Valentine’s Day in 1883. She and her second husband, John Tenbrink were inspired by the proliferation of idiosyncratic religious movements that made Southern California a Mecca for spiritual seekers. Once established in LA, they founded the “Ancient Order of the Golden Precept.” and Edith’s paintings were used as visual and inspirational tools to accompany their lectures on the “Seven Keys of the Masters.”

On John’s salary as a high school custodian the Tenbrink’s traveled to India, Tibet and Egypt. They came to believe that an ancient group of mystics from the Himalayas were the originators of their faith. Edith was most prolific in the 1930’s and 1940’s and the body of The Mind’s Eye show comes from this era. This marvelous collection of paintings was saved from oblivion when they were dumped at the back door of an LA area thrift store, and later offered for sale at a Hollywood flea market. Joshua Tree’s own Bobby Furst purchased the collection and under his stewardship they were shown at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore. This is the first time the collection has been shown in Joshua Tree.

Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council (MBCAC) member artists have also included works to The Mind’s Eye that complement the Tenbrink collection, and explore the same metaphysical topics. MBCAC Artists in the show include:

Bonnie Brady, Rose Cefalu, Nona Marie Christensen, Julianne Elliott, Frederick Fulmer, Jennifer Grandi, Snake Jagger, Mary Jeys, Ed Keesling, Myra Kennedy, Marta Mendoza, Philip Miller, Suzanne Ross, Cybele Rowe, Victoria Sebanz, Joan Scott, Esther Shaw, Cesca, Tobias Tovera, Laura Windeknecht and Deanna Valdez.

An informative gallery talk on Tenbrink’s work is scheduled at JTAG during Second Saturday Gallery Walk on September 10th at 7:00pm and is open to the public. There are plans for selections from the The Mind’s Eye show to travel to The Joshua Tree Retreat Center in October.