Having lived in Lompoc for nearly 30 years, Gil and Vicki Andersen know a thing or two about the area. That retro storefront in Lompoc’s Old Towne? They know it. The way the light creates shadows at La Purisima Mission? They’ve seen it. And given that they’re artists, they don’t just look at things—they examine them with a discerning eye.
Not content with just knowing all the “stuff” they know, they decided to combine their creative energies and produce a show, Local Stuff, which became Cypress Gallery’s featured show for June and runs through June 28.
“It dawned on me: We’ve lived here 30 years now. Maybe, maybe, maybe we can be considered locals,” Vicki said.
Local Stuff includes Vicki’s acrylic paintings and Gil’s ceramic tile works depicting local scenes, such as Jalama in the spring or the belltower at La Purisima Mission. Vicki said their subjects tend to be Lompoc based, but that’s still a broad category, boasting everything from flower fields to surfing to landscapes to fence posts to depict. And they’re scenes residents will recognize.
Vicki said she grew up an Air Force brat, never living in one place for more than three years. When she married Gil, his medical school and training forced them to move around quite a bit as well. Then they came to Lompoc and stayed put. They’ve lived in the same house for three decades, the same amount of time Gil has kept his medical practice in the same place.
The Andersens embraced the Lompoc Valley, with Vicki becoming an active participant in the local art scene. After serving 10 years as the chair of the Lompoc Mural Society, she’s currently serving as the project administrator. She’s also the vice president of the Lompoc Valley Art Association. And she was president of the Lompoc Valley Art Association during the years when the Cypress Gallery first came into being.
To prove she can work on a grand scale as eloquently as she does on a small canvas, she’s also been active with the Lompoc Mural Society. She’s painted several of Lompoc’s famed murals, including Mission Vieja and Flowers of the Valley. Returning to the spotlight sans her husband, she’ll be the featured artist in a November show at Gallery Los Olivos.
Though he’s newer to the art scene, Gil has been one of Vicki’s biggest supporters. In recent years, he’s begun creating his works of art in what Vicki calls his “so-called free time,” which is usually at night after he’s closed his medical office. All of Gil’s tiles are made by hand and then hand-painted.
In addition to his work in the Local Stuff show, Gil has accomplished two major projects for the new Lompoc Valley Medical Center, including two stained glass windows for the Meditation Room and a large mural for the hospital restaurant. Gil is currently the president of the Lompoc Valley Art Association.
Local Stuff is the second joint show for the couple, after a successful show last year.
“It’s been fun,” Vicki said. “He does his thing, and I do mine, and it works.”
Born and bred a Santa Marian, Arts Editor Shelly Cone knows all the local stuff—even the bad stuff. Get the scoop at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 18-25, 2009.
