OAK GROUP ARTISTS

OAK GROUP ARTISTS est. 1986

The Oak Group was first inspired by conversations between Arturo Tello and Ray Strong back in December, 1985, after they read "Depths of Glory," a historical novel about Pissarro and his painting comrades. The two friends said, "Why couldn't we have such a group?" "Well, why not!" That was the start. Using the example of the Canadian Group of Seven, the OAK Group began with seven members, with OAK standing for "Open Airing Club."

The first meeting was held January 29, 1986. That same year the group had their first three exhibitions in Santa Barbara, adding seven more members. Santa Barbara, with its physical beauty and enlightened population, has a long tradition of attracting and supporting landscape painters. It is this shared spirit of love and concern for the land that gives meaning and purpose to the work of The Oak Group and our role as artists in the community.

After more than thirty-five years, The Oak Group now has about twenty-five active members and over 100 exhibitions that have benefited more than twenty non-profit conservation organizations.

* [OAK ARTISTS]. The Easton Gallery. Fifteen Year Anniversary 1990-2005. Santa Barbara, California. Santa Barbara: Haagen Printing, 2005. Wraps.

[original in SCIF archives]

The following OAK Group artists are represented in the Santa Cruz Island Foundation collection:

ABBOTT, Meredith Brooks (b. 1938)