STOCKTON – The iconic San Joaquin County Administration Building in downtown Stockton consolidates some 16 different support and service departments.

But in the lobby of the 250,000-square-foot, six-level office structure by Fentress Architects – the building was designed to symbolize open and transparent government while achieving a LEED gold rating – is the Tidewater Art Center & Gallery, featuring the “Sea Blue, Celadon and Amber Chandelier” by Dale Chihuly during the Aug. 21, 2009 dedication.

It’s here that a variety of local artists are able to showcase their efforts.

Included are those of Heidi J. Henry Paine and Richard McClure, who are displaying their work at the exhibit at 44 N. San Joaquin St., from now through the end of January.

Heidi J. is none other than Heidi Johnson, who is also a local art teacher. Born to a family of artists, she’s best known for working on canvas with acrylic paints, incorporating abstract and surrealistic styles. Johnson, in addition, does paintings to suit offices and home design needs.

Paine is the master of the vision and techniques of black and white photography. His work combines the values of fine art along with the photographic science to support his perception of the nuance of light, shape, texture and form.

McClure is a 1973 graduate of Stagg High. He began his career photographing live action rock bands in the 1970s, attending the University of the Pacific while studying under prominent local artists such as Gil Dellinger and Ron Pecchenino.

Tidewater is a cooperative art gallery that’s “turning the tide” towards a higher art and a higher life. The hope here is to keep local artists in the area while giving future artists a place to learn to meet and hang out with their fellow artists.

The mission statement is to “encourage awareness of and an appreciation for the arts, to sponsor education of the arts, and to facilitate creation, instruction, and display of the arts.”

The gallery exists thank to volunteers who provide support, conduct fundraisers and handle donations.



Haggin Museum

The Haggin Museum is an art and history museum located in Stockton’s Victory Park for about 80 years.

Sunset magazine called the museum housed in the impressive brick building as “one of the undersung gems of California” and for good reason.

Inside are dozens of actual paintings by renown 19th and 20th century American and European artists, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, George Inness, Jean-Leon Gerome, Jean Beraud, and William Bouguereau, to name a few.

But it’s the work of American painter Albert Bierstadt that unbeknownst to many was nationally recognized. The painting “Looking up the Yosemite Valley” at Haggin Museum was loaned out to the White House during President Ronald Reagan’s Administration.

Leyendecker’s work was inspired during the summer of 1863. That’s when he made the trip to Yosemite with journalists Fitz Hugh Ludlow and fellow artists Virgil Williams and Enoch Wood Perry.  The painting features some striking contrasts of shadow and sunshine to dramatize the scene consisting of El Capitan to the left opposite of Cathedral Rock.

Currently, the J.C. Leyendecker collection is on display at the newly refurbished gallery.

Before Norman Rockwell, he was the nation’s most popular and successful commercial artist for the better first half of the 20th century.

Leyendecker’s work was featured on the cover of Collier’s magazine and the Saturday Evening Post.

The Leyendecker collection at the Haggin Museum is part of the three-year tour across America.