Art Makes the Spirits Soar:
Our 2025 Show

Welcome to

The Beacon Art Show

OUR HISTORY

On Easter Sunday 2008 we celebrated the first San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church (SLO UMC) Beacon Art Show as part of the Grand Opening of the church’s newly rebuilt structure. History leading up to this inaugural event began on Easter Sunday 2001 when a 5:00 am fire — the work of an arsonist – consumed the former 39-year-old church building.

The 2008 bell tower rising at the top of Fredericks Street hill (reminiscent of the 1911 church bell tower design pictured) was the inspiration for naming the art exhibit “Beacon Art Show”. This annual show attracts visual artists from the Central Coast as well as statewide – showcasing their drawings, paintings and fabric art as well as three dimensional crafts and sculpture. To further its commitment to artistic creation, the show committee decided early on to connect purchasers directly with artists with the church receiving absolutely no gallery commission (which can often amount to more than 50% of the purchase price). Beacon Art Show is indeed SLO UMC’s gift to the community.

The 17th Beacon Art Show will open on Friday evening February 28, 2025 with a reception and presentation of awards. Welcome to the return of the in-person annual Beacon Art Show.

“Artwork helps me retain the good times and to unravel and understand the not-so-great times.”

Glynis Tinglof, Two time BEACON Best in Show Artist

2025 Judges

Bob Burridge, Dr. Ruta Saliklis and Rev. Mark Sturgess are the Beacon Art Show’s 2025 jurors. Bob, Ruta and Mark have awarded seven merit prizes to the best show entries: one each at $400, $350, $250, and four at $150.

Bob BurridgeWatercolor Artist

Robert Burridge, an award-winning Industrial Designer who, after twenty-five years in the corporate world, focused his life to painting. He is a well-known instructor and juror for many organizations, including the National Watercolor Society, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, San Diego Watercolor Society, and the Philadelphia Watercolor Society. Bob has also juried SLO county’s prestigious Brushstrokes and Aquarius shows. : : Burridge attributes his success to his education from the Philadelphia College of Art, his stint as an adjunct professor at Cooper Union in New York City, and in 1966, his Fluxus art performances with Yoko Ono, Nam June Paik, Jim McWilliams and Charlotte Moorman. : : Bob’s work hangs in permanent collections of embassies, corporate galleries and art colleges. His museum exhibitions received positive attention, so he was invited to exhibit his paintings at the Smithsonian Folklife Circus Arts Festival in Washington, DC.

Dr. Ruta SaliklisArtist + Teacher

Dr. Ruta Saliklis was born and raised in Chicago, where she started making art at a young age and was profoundly influenced by school field trips to the Art Institute of Chicago. She is currently teaching in the Fine Arts Departments of Cuesta College and Allan Hancock College. Prior to that, Ruta worked at the SLO Botanical Garden, San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Cal Poly, San Diego Zoo, Ball State University, and the Allentown Art Museum. She has curated numerous exhibitions. She received her Ph.D. in Textiles and Design at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an MFA in Museum Studies from Syracuse University, and a BA in Comprehensive Studio Art with a minor in Art History from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Saliklis lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband, Ed, and a labradoodle named Frankie.

Rev. Mark SturgessPastor + Musician

Mark Sturgess’s gifts and passions for ministry include preaching, teaching and worship; coaching traditional congregations to spiritual health and vitality; post-modern biblical interpretation; and advocacy for full inclusion of LGBT Christians in the life the church. Mark is also an accomplished musician with a degree in Pipe Organ Performance from Northwestern University.
He has recently published essays in Connections: a Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship from Westminster John Knox Press, and reflections on the relationship of beauty and ministry in the Austin Seminary Faculty Journal, Insights. Mark also happily serves as household staff for his two cats: Buddy and Molly.

Beacon Art Show 2025

Virtual Gallery

Thank you for helping us celebrate visual art on the Central Coast!

This year, the Beacon Art Show received more than 147 entries, from which our jurors selected these 84 show finalists. We are proud to present this virtual exhibit that includes exceptional creative expressions across the ART MAKES THE SPIRITS SOAR theme.

An on-site exhibit ran from March 1 through March 30, open for public viewing Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. pm at the San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church.

Even though the in-person show is over, you can still purchase these works of art! If you’re interested in purchasing an artwork, contact us and we will connect you with the artist as soon as possible. Please include the title and the artist’s name in your message.

What a wonderful show is this year’s Beacon. You and the team have once again created a fine exhibition of local art in all its variety. Thanks so much for all you did to make it happen. The online show is especially welcome for those who are unable to see it in person.

Since SLOMA rejected local art, there is no other place in San Luis Obispo for artists to show their work in a full-bodied, supported and advertised exhibition. Thank goodness for Beacon and the hard work of people like you.

Congratulations on another great year!

Charlotte B.

2025 AWARD WINNERS

BEST IN SHOW

Flo Bartell :: Sarah

BEST IN SHOW :: Encaustic with mixed media, NFS

SECOND PLACE

Blaire Kilbey :: “Life Shrinks or Expands in Proportion to One’s Courage” Anais Nin

SECOND PLACE :: Acrylic & ink, $1,800.00

THIRD PLACE

Linda Detwiler Burner :: Running Free

THIRD PLACE :: Photography - Infra Red Connected to Black and white, $350.00

MERIT AWARD

L Tracy Paz :: Mandala of My Heart; Heritage

MERIT AWARD :: Oil on Canvas, $875.00

MERIT AWARD

Carl Berney :: In Pursuit

MERIT AWARD :: Bronze on Marble Base, $6,500.00

MERIT AWARD

Drew Davis :: Sunflower Field

MERIT AWARD :: Oil, $5,500.00

MERIT AWARD

Kathryn Bay :: Internal Space ** SOLD **

MERIT AWARD :: Digital Collage, $110.00 ** SOLD **

2025 SHOW

click on any image to launch the gallery

Bill Rumbler :: Nature’s Sacred Place

Framed photo, $195.00

Kathryn Bay :: Plane Space

Digital Collage, $110.00

Bill Rumbler :: Storm A’Comin’

Framed photo on metal, $325.00

Linda DeRosa :: The Moonless Sky

Acrylic, $795.00

Andrea (Andi) Perejda :: Moon Over Tidepools

Fabrics, thickened dye, acrylic paint, thread, $1,400.00

Gail Lapins :: And The Music Played On

Mixed, NFS

Gail Lapins :: She Who Waits

Mixed, NFS

Debra Piazza :: FiestaTime ** SOLD **

Acrylic, $500.00 ** SOLD **

Debra Piazza :: Untethered Joy ** SOLD **

Acrylic, $325.00 ** SOLD **

Debra Piazza :: Dreamscape I

Acrylic, $750

Paula Delay :: Twilight Afterglow

Oil, $1,629.00

Paula Delay :: Rocky Cove #3

Oil, $1,629.00

Joan Brown :: Santa Cruizin

Watercolor, $795.00

Joan Brown :: Sunlit

Oil, $1,200

James Dietz :: Giuseppe’s Alleyway, Downtown San Luis Obispo

Colored Pencil on Paper, $750.00

James Dietz :: Cerro San Luis hike / Bishops Peak backdrop

Colored Pencil on Paper, $1,000.00

James Dietz :: Cerro San Luis Mountain Eucalyptus Tree

Colored Pencil on Paper, $750.00

James Dietz :: Yellow Green Pond Reeds – Off Lake Natoma

Colored Pencil on Paper, $2,000.00

Charlotte Daigle :: This Perfect Day

Oil on Canvas, $250.00

Charlotte Daigle :: Along the Path

Oil on Canvas, $175.00

Janie Holland :: Evening Out :: SOLD ::

Photography, $150.00 :: SOLD ::

Janie Holland :: Point of Light : : SOLD

Photography :: SOLD :: $150.00

Janie Holland :: Blazing Sunset ** SOLD **

Photography, $150.00 ** SOLD **

Laurel Sherrie :: Big Sur’s Lucia, Pure Joy

Oil on Canvas, $1,800.00

Sheree Gardner Cogan :: Clouds on the Horizon

Pastel, $450.00

Christie Coyes :: DewDrops

Photography printed on metal, $450.00

Christie Coyes :: Nasturtiums I

Photography printed on metal, $450.00

Christie Coyes :: Spiral

Photography printed on metal, $475.00

Alane Whitmore :: Crimson

Digital photography framed, $180.00

Alane Whitmore :: El Morro

Digital photography on canvas, $270.00

Blaire Kilbey :: Journey of a Raindrop

Acrylic & ink, $595.00

Cheryl Strahl :: Chimney Rock Cowboys

Photography on canvas, $250.00

Cheryl Strahl :: Sunset Silhouette

Photography on canvas, $210.00

Cheryl Strahl :: Kicking Up Dust at Sunset

Photography on canvas, $250.00

Cheryl Strahl :: Early Morning Reflections

Photography on canvas, $250.00

Dianne Draze :: Geometry Class

Glass, $435.00

Kathi Battles :: You Are Not a Drop… :: SOLD

Mixed media/textiles, $100.00 :: SOLD ::

Kathi Battles :: When You Wish Upon a Star ** SOLD **

Mixed media/textiles, $85.00 ** SOLD **

Kathi Battles :: The Mountains Are Calling…

Mixed media/textiles, $85.00

Rachael Wahl :: The Sea Nymph and Satyr

Oil on Panel, $300.00

Sabrina Ross :: Tiger Lily

Watercolor, $250.00

Susanna Lindsey :: Wiggle Wonder

Ink & Felt Tip Pens, $250.00

Susanna Lindsey :: Effervescent Bliss

Ink & Felt Tip Pens, $250.00

Susanna Lindsey :: Nomad

Ink & Felt Tip Pens on Canvas, $250.00

Roz Phillips :: Pentagon Fanfare

Pen & Ink, $550.00

Roz Phillips :: Hexagon Fanfare

Pen & Ink, $400

Gisele Thompson :: Terroir 2

Acrylic on canvas, $1,800.00

Daniel Jones :: After the Rain

Oil, NFS

Dianne Ravin :: California Dreamin’

Oil, $250.00

Dianne Ravin :: Hollister

Oil, $300.00

Dianne Ravin :: Gifts from the Sea

Oil, $275.00

Janet Yu :: Dancing With the Waves

Acrylic, $490.00

Janet Yu :: Dancing Skies

Oil, $490.00

Jan French :: North from Sand Dollar Beach

Watercolor, $450.00

Phil Loarie :: The Baptism Of Refraction

Digital Image printed on ChromaLuxe Aluminum, $359.00

Phil Loarie :: Release Tropic Of Eos From Wavestudy

Digital Image printed on ChromaLuxe Aluminum, $699.00

David Butz :: Almond Blossoms

Hand-colored Etching, $407.81

Paula Landis :: Linkages :: SOLD

Fabric collage, $150.00 :: SOLD ::

Paula Landis :: Small Pineneedle Creation

Coiled pine needles, gourd, waxed linen, $50.00

Kathleen Bosch :: “That Perches In the Soul”

Photography, $225.00

Kathleen Bosch :: “And Never Stops at All”

Photography, $275.00

Kathleen Bosch :: “And on the Strangest Sea”

Photography, $325.00

Patricia Martin :: Avila Pier

Lithograph with location collected pigment applied, $175.00

Anna Easter : : Raven Lady : : SOLD

Acrylic, :: SOLD :: $600.00

Jay Stieler :: Ambient Descent

Watercolor, $275.00

Jay Stieler :: Cayucos Point

Watercolor, $275.00

Linda Detwiler Burner :: African Love Birds

Mosaic - glass, NFS

Linda Detwiler Burner :: Joshua Tree NP at Sunset – God’s Inspiring Works

Photography, $350.00

Randy Stromsoe :: Soul Purpose

Pewter, $1,700./00

Jeanie K. Smith :: Monet Morning :: SOLD

Watercolor :: SOLD :: $95.00

Larry LeBrane :: You Made My Broken Heart Sing Again

Clarinet, fused & formed glass, LED lights, bike chain, leather stitches, wood, metal, $925.00

Larry LeBrane :: You Made My Broken Heart Sing Again-detail

Clarinet, fused & formed glass, LED lights, bike chain, leather stitches, wood, metal, $925.00

Larry LeBrane :: Everything is Broken

Fused & formed glass, $165.00

Larry LeBrane :: Green Jelly

Hand-painted fused glass, custom metal stand, $490.00

Larry LeBrane :: Kintsugi Getas (view 2)

Fused glass, gold leaf, epoxy resin, hand-stitched leather, Russian birch, $600.00

Larry LeBrane :: Kintsugi Getas (view 1)

Fused glass, gold leaf, epoxy resin, hand-stitched leather, Russian birch, $600.00

Marina Marsh :: Castles and Bubbles

Acrylic, $2,000.00

Marina Marsh :: Spotted in the Tulips

Acrylic, $1,400.00

Thom Brajkovich :: Fall Aspens ** SOLD **

Oil, $250.00 ** SOLD **

Thom Brajkovich :: Mellow Cow

Oil, $175.00

2024 AWARD WINNERS