The Great Park Gallery Draws Record Attendance

Great Picture Exhibition Draws 7,000 Visitors

IRVINE – In the seven months since it opened, the Great Park Gallery has become an important part of the Orange County arts scene, drawing large crowds and introducing visitors to significant local artists. The most recent exhibit, the wildly popular The Great Picture: World’s Largest Photograph and The Legacy Project exhibition drew a record 7,387 visitors over a 90-day period. The inaugural exhibition, Plane Air Power: Paintings and Sculptures by Jorg Dubin drew more than 6,000 visitors over a 50-day run. Thousands of additional visitors have attended Palm Court Arts Happenings, Artists-in-Residence performances and exhibitions and special events held in the Palm Court, many of which have been produced in partnership with Arts Orange County.

“When we planned the Great Park Gallery as part of the Palm Court Arts Complex, we embraced the opportunity to introduce art to the public through exhibition and performance,” said Beth Krom, Chair, Orange County Great Park Board Corporation. “With attendance numbers exceeding expectations, we are confident that the Great Park will see even greater public engagement in the arts in the months and years to come.”

The Great Park Gallery’s upcoming exhibition Marks on the Land – The View from Here, Aerial Photography by Tom Lamb will open on March 24 with a free public reception from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The exhibit showcases photographic artwork inspired by Southern California agricultural lands, abandoned industrial sites and former military bases, including the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. Attendees can meet Tom Lamb and pick up a signed copy of Marks on the Land – The View from Here, a fully illustrated exhibition catalog that also includes a critical essay by Kristine Thompson. The exhibition will run through June 17.

The Great Park Gallery is located in the Palm Court and Arts Complex, which also includes the Great Park Artists Studios, home of the Artists-in-Residence program.

The Great Park Gallery is open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org or call 949-724-OCGP.

About the Great Park
The Orange County Great Park, with its 1,347-acre master plan, is the focal point of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro. The Great Park features an iconic tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet in the air, providing an aerial view of Park development. Other features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244. The South Lawn lighted soccer fields and Community Garden will be added in 2012. For more information go to www.ocgp.org