For most of us, going to the market has always meant a trip to our
favorite grocer. They are usually big, cold boxy buildings. Except for the produce department and seasonal displays we see nationally advertised brands and the suspect “sale” signs each time we go to the market.

In California, we are blessed with
great weather and fertile soil. Most
of us have access to a farmers’ market which are marked by temporary shades and display
tables. The markets dazzle our senses with the rich colors of the season's produce.

One of my favorites is the open air fish market in Ensenada. The catches of the day are always displayed in a colorful manner. The Wednesday
Farmers Market in Santa Monica is my other favorite. Chefs from all over Los Angeles hit this one every week. The colors of the buildings, the produce and the clothes the vendors and shoppers wear create an open air kaleidoscope that begs to be photographed and painted.

We are fortunate to have a group of artists at The Gallery On Glassell who have captured some great marketplace scenes in their paintings. Neil Jacobe has painted some great markets in Mexico. Ernest Lacy has painted market scenes in Mexico, Italy and Portugal. Annette Fussell, in her travels to Spain, Mexico and Morocco has recorded some great moments on canvas. Hyatt Moore has done the same and has just finished a great painting of a Peruvian marketplace.

From March 20 through April 18, you can travel with these artists to some of their favorite places by viewing their paintings at Art of the Marketplace. We will host an opening reception, Sat., March 20, 6-9 p.m. You can enjoy samples of our expanded variety of gourmet foods from California, Latin America, Spain and Italy.

Jim Hathcock