Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, a nonprofit southern California cultural center, presents a new exhibition of artwork by historic California painter Sam Hyde Harris (1889-1977) and related events, from November 19, 2021, through February 2022. Sam Hyde Harris, Seeing the Unusual sheds light on the career of this noted twentieth-century California artist. The exhibition recognizes the contributions of his plein air paintings in the California Impressionism style, but -- in a turn away from prevailing historic exhibitions of California artists -- it focuses primarily on his bold, exciting, and relatively unknown commercial advertising work.

Sam Hyde Harris, Seeing the Unusual is curated by Maurine St. Gaudens and Joseph Morsman, returning to Casa Romantica after the success of 2020’s historic exhibition Who was Nellie Gail Moulton? Pioneer, Artist and so much more, featuring plein air paintings from Orange County pioneer Nellie Gail Moulton (1878-1972).

“Sam Hyde Harris is probably one of the only artists whose work has not been fully re-discovered since the California Impressionists gained critical recognition in the early 1980s,” says Executive Director Amy Behrens. “Winning over 100 awards in his career, this exhibition gives long-deserved attention to Harris. In addition, it presents a startlingly fresh context to his life and the lives of many of his contemporaries: how they made their living, and how their commercial work settled the West.”

Throughout the better part of the twentieth century, Harris' commercial designs shaped the consciousness of early to mid-twentieth century consumers and travelers. This is most often seen in the colorful iconic designs he created from the 1920s to the 1950s for the railroads; Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific. Of particular interest, the exhibition includes a very rare collection of Gilmore Red Lion Gasoline advertising material.

“In today's social media world; with our lives bombarded by visual messages in communicating ideas, we have a tendency to forget that in the past the ability to present commercial advertising to the masses was limited,” says Maurine St. Gaudens. “Although Harris is widely known for the fine art en plein air paintings he created during the course of his long career, few people realize the extent of Harris' work in the commercial advertising field. In Sam Hyde Harris, Seeing the Unusual, we present historical images of early The exhibition also includes a collection of historically important depictions of early Chavez Ravine, the controversial area that was destroyed in the 1950s in order to build today's Dodger Stadium. Additionally, being shown are a number of scenes of the Sunset Beach and Laguna Beach area.

The opening reception for Sam Hyde Harris, Seeing the Unusual will take place on November 19, 2021 from 6-8 PM. The opening reception is free to the public, but reservations are suggested. In addition to the opening reception, this exhibition also will have related events including an exclusive preview night on November 18, 2021 during Casa Romantica’s Living History Night, where guests are transported to the 1920s and invited to experience Casa Romantica the way the Hanson family would have in 1927, free podcast episodes featuring subjects about plein air painting, and a multi-week painting class in the style of Sam Hyde Harris with local San Clemente-based artist and educator Kelly Gallaher.

Reservations for the opening reception in San Clemente, Calif., and tickets for other events are available at CasaRomantica.org/Calendar or by calling (949) 498-2139.