You are invited to view an art exhibition/collection of floral and landscape paintings by Ione Citrin at Gardens of the World Center in Thousand Oaks California. Show opening February 19, 2008.

Los Angeles-based artist Ione Citrin spent many years of her life playing
the fool in front of the cameras for Hollywood Westerns, TV commercials
and a prime-time ABC morning show The Prize Movie with Ione from 1967 to
1975. Based in Chicago, Ione was the kooky presenter of a mix of comedy,
variety, game-show, fitness and phone call-in, spliced between heavily
edited versions of old movies - often dressed in appropriate costumes,
from Tarzan's Jane to surfer girl.

Anyone who visits her exhibition of Landscapes and Florals, on show at
Gardens of the World  from February 19th to March 31st, may be surprised
to find that a serious contemporary artist has arisen, phoenix-like, from
her entertainment career. Her background leaves one unprepared for the
inspirational and thoughtful art that she now produces. I asked her how
she made this transition.

"My husband died very tragically after a four month fight with lung
cancer," she recalls. "He was 48 years old. I became very depressed
and felt that a move to Los Angeles would help. It sure did! The sunshine,
warm weather and beautiful surroundings lifted my spirits and enthusiasm
for life."

No longer caring to perform, Ione tried her hand at everything, i.e.,
volunteering, doing docent work , but continued to feel unsettled.

"Then a girlfriend invited me to her house to paint. She suggested I
bring a picture from a magazine to copy. I found a lovely landscape
photograph, and after a few hours the painting I produced looked just like
the picture I copied. I couldn't believe it!"

A restless and searching artist, Ione explores as many different styles
and mediums as she can. Not content to repeat herself, or settle into a
personal practice, she uses a lifetime of travel and experience as an
endless source of inspiration. "I have constant visions and ideas for
projects that are never ending. If I live to be 300 years old, I'll
never complete my 'do' list".

Ione traveled the world, being particularly drawn to regions where lives
are lived differently than in the West. "The cultures of the world
fascinate me, especially the Third World countries. All human desires are
the same, they are just expressed in various ways from our particular
personal perspectives."

Working with the traditional materials of oil, acrylic, watercolor, and
pastel, she extends her art into wall and freestanding sculptures, made
from leaves, flowers, metal, handmade paper, fabric, and found objects,
all initiated from "dreams" and "visions". "I encourage creative
accidents to occur, as I am directed by instinct rather than by rules. I
make a giant leap of faith into the unknown with each piece. I think of
myself as a 'handmaiden' to my art."