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With a commercial art career dating back to 1960, Chuck Caplinger, a native Texan of German and Cherokee Indian lineage, relocated from Houston, Texas, to California in 1980, where he operated Caplinger Studio in
Hollywood. In 1997 he moved to Twentynine Palms, CA, where he established his world headquarters--Desert Art Studio & Gallery. Here, on the edge of the Mojave Desert, next to Joshua Tree National Park,
he concentrates on oil portraits, paintings and murals of the Southwest.
PAINTINGS AND GALLERY AFFILIATIONS:
Chuck Caplinger’s paintings and portraits have been represented in public and private collections, group and one-man gallery exhibitions, murals throughout Southern
California and Texas, and paintings featured in Southwest Art Magazine. “Tribute to Marilyn,” a 3’6” x 8’ oil painting of the life of Marilyn
Monroe, was featured in the Hollywood Entertainment Museum in Los Angeles (2001-2006).
JUDGED EXHIBITION AWARDS:
* Fall into Winter Juried Exhibition, Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council - 1st Place award for “Winter Storm Passing” (36x18 oil), Nov. 2008.
* City of Norco 9th annual “Art of the American West” show, 3rd Place, Premier Division, March 2005.
* Morongo Valley Art Colony 40th Anniversary Art Show, 1st Place ribbon for “Magic
Thumb” (oil) from Desert Dreaming series, Oct. 2004.
* City of Norco 8th annual “Art of the American West” show, 1st Place, Premier Division, for
“Drygulched” (oil), March 2004.
* 29 Palms Art Gallery Members Show, 1st Place Under Glass Award, for “Long Way Home” (watercolor), Spring 2004.
* 29 Palms Art Gallery Members Show, People’s Choice Award, for
“Ancient Ones” (oil), Spring 2003.
* The Southland Show, 29 Palms Art Gallery, 1st Place and People’s Choice Award, for “Old Friend” (oil), Fall 2001.
* The Southland Show, 29 Palms Art Gallery, 1st Place
award, for “Courtin’ the School Marm” (oil), Fall 1998.
* The Southland Show, 29 Palms Art Gallery, 1st Place award, for “Bill Key’s Car” (oil), Fall 1997.
* Hollywood Arts Council and Hollywood Chamber’s
“Hollywood Arts Affair” group showing, voted Most Popular Artist for series of oils “Hollywood Faces,” Spring 1996.
GALLERY & FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS:
* Joshua Tree National Park Art Festival (April 2009 & 2010)
* Twentynine Palms City Hall, Art in Public Places, “Desert Images” (Oct./Nov. 2009)
* “Fall into Winter” juried exhibition, Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council (Nov. 2008)
* 29 Palms Art Gallery, CA, “Eclectic Mix” solo show (Sept./Oct. 2007)
* Hi-Desert Water District, Yucca Valley, CA, “Desert Rainstorms” (Sept. 2007)
* M. Hale Gallery, Palm Springs, CA, “Hollywood Faces” exhibit (Dec. 2006-2007)
* A Roadside Attraction, 29 Palms, CA, “Marilyn Visits...” retrospective paintings of Marilyn Monroe (Oct./Nov./Dec. 2006)
* Water Canyon, Yucca Valley, CA, solo exhibition (April/May 2006)
* 29 Palms Art Gallery, MBCAC “Heads” exhibition (May 2006)
* Morongo Valley Art Colony Annual Spring Show, judged (April 2006)
* 29 Palms Artists’ Guild Members Show, judged (April 2006).
* City of Norco 10th annual “Art of the American West” juried exhibition, Norco, CA (2006)
* Open Studio Art Tours, “The Mystical
Desert” duo exhibit with internationally renowned night sky photographer Wally Pacholka (three-time winner Time-Life Picture of the Year award), at Caplinger’s Desert Art Studio & Gallery, 29 Palms, CA (Nov. 2005 & 2006)
* 29 Palms Inn, “Desert Dreaming” exhibition, 29 Palms, CA (Spring 2005)
* Joshua Tree National Park 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Gallery 62 at A Roadside
Attraction, 29 Palms, CA. (Nov. 2004-Jan. 2005)
* 29 Palms Art Gallery, “The Southland Show” judged exhibition (Nov. 2004)
* Arts on 5th Gallery, San Bernardino, CA, Arts Council of San Bernardino County
Members Exhibition, judged. (Nov./Dec. 2004)
* Morongo Valley Art Colony 40th Annual Art Show, Morongo Valley, CA. (Oct. 2004)
* Gallery 62, 29 Palms, CA, “Open Studio Art Tours Review Show” (Oct./Nov. 2004)
* Arts on 5th Gallery, San Bernardino, CA, Desert Arts Festival preview show. (2004)
* Water Canyon, Yucca Valley, CA, solo show “Southwest Images” oils & prints (2003)
* A Roadside Attraction Gallery, 29 Palms, CA, solo show “Oasis” (2002)
* Open Studio Art Tours, Morongo Basin Desert Arts Festival (2002, 2003, 2004)
* Edward Dean Museum & Gardens, Cherry Valley, CA, “From the Reservation to the Range - A Retrospective” solo exhibition (shown with Charlie Russell and
Frederick Remington bronzes) of oils on canvas (2001)
* Hollywood Entertainment Museum, Hollywood, CA, “Tribute to Marilyn” portrait mural by Caplinger
featured in Happy Birthday, Marilyn (in honor of the late star’s 75th birthday celebration), (June 2001)
* 29 Palms Artists’ Guild, one man show of oils and assemblages.
* Mt. San Jacinto College, San
Jacinto, CA, “Autumn Gathering” group showing of Native American arts, curator Lucinda Luvaas.
* The Furniture Cafe Gallery, Burbank, CA, solo showing of desert oils.
* The Art Factory, Las Vegas, Nevada, solo showing of desert oils.
* Gallery 5770, 29 Palms, CA, group showings.
* Desert Iron Gallery, 29 Palms, CA, group showings.
* “Unity Through The Arts” group exhibit
at the Celebrity Center in Hollywood sponsored by Los Angeles Visual Artists.
* Playhouse Gallery, Long Beach, CA, solo showing, “Desert Gothic.”
* Hartog Fine Arts Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, “Paradigm of Ten”
group show “Desert Gothic.”
* American Film Market Gala, theme: “Hollywood’s First 100 Years,” Art Director Jim Saunders.
* Century Gallery, Los Angeles, CA, group showing “Realism: Photo & Surreal,”
Curator Lee Musgrave.
* Annenburg Gallery, Palm Desert, CA, Group show.
COMMISSIONED MURALS:
* Norco, California - “Galloping Herd” 30’ x 8’ ranch fence mural for Donna Smith, Tonalli Capayo Ranch (2007)
* Twentynine Palms, California - Smoketree Building murals, 60’x15’ Lizard and 60’x15’ Roadrunner, east/west exterior walls (2007)
* Shafter, California - “Shafter Drug Store circa 1920” 18-8’ x 9’ mural on Rite Aid building for City of Shafter, Community Enhancement Director (2007)
* Norco, California - “Mediterranean Island” 57’ x 8’ pool-patio mural for Tyson family (2006)
* Norco, California - “A Celebration of Riding” 39’ x 16’ first historical mural, City of Norco Beautification Committee (2004)
* Weatherford, Texas - “History of Weatherford, TX” from 1800 to present, over 1300 sq.ft. of indoor murals, seven scenes, acrylic on canvas (2003)
* Santa Paula, California - “Farming & Ranching History” 60’ x 12’ historical mural #6, Murals of Santa Paula (2002)
* Yucaipa, California - “The Yucaipa Apple Show 1912” 14’ x 45’ first historical mural, Yucaipa Renaissance Committee (2001)
* Exeter, California - “The Monarch Grape Industry” 25’ x 20’ mural #14 Festival of Arts Mural Committee and Exeter Chamber of Commerce (2000)
* Twentynine Palms, California - Series of nine indoor murals (oils on canvas) for Desert Ranch Market (2000)
* Twentynine Palms, California - “Desert Wildlife” 12’x 60’ mural #14, Oasis of Murals, Action Council for 29 Palms Inc. (1999)
* Indio, California - “History of the Date Growing Industry in the Coachella Valley” 18’ x 77’ mural #3, Indio Chamber of Commerce Historic Mural Project and Old Town Indio Business Assn. (1998)
* El Segundo, California - “Aviation History” 14’ x 72' mural #6, Heritage Walk Mural Program (1997)
* Montebello, California - “Famous Places in Montebello’s History” 10’ x 30’ mural, Metro Rail Station (1997)
* Waterworld Company - Sound wall mural 18’ x 15’
* Los Angeles, California - Riveria theme (stylized) 68’ mural for Barbara Mudge residence
* Twentynine Palms, California - “Desert Storm Homecoming & Victory Parade” 18’ x 101’ historical mural #5, Oasis of Murals, Action Council for 29 Palms, Inc. (1995)
* Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas - Sheraton Hotel, 8’ x 18’ mural in dinner showroom.
* Odessa, Texas - “History of Oil Exploration” 6’ x 28’ mural, O.I.L. Co.
* Houston, Texas - The Confederate House Restaurant, 14’ x 8’ mural in oils.
* Houston, Texas - Bogart’s Club Restaurant, eight 6’ x 12’ portrait vignettes, in acrylics.
* Houston, Texas - “The Paper Industry” 12’ x 18’ mural in acrylics, Moore Paper Co.
* Houston, Texas - Finger Contract Furniture Co., murals for six Ramada Inns
* Miami Beach, Florida - The Ocean Club, 20’ x
60’ mural and three 8’ x 10’ vignettes in acrylics.
* Atlanta, Georgia - The Gold Club, two oils on canvas: 4’6” x 8’6” and 4’6” x 6’6”
COMMISSIONED PORTRAITS (partial list):
MajGen Les Palm, USMC; Dr. Hogue, Hogue Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach, CA; Sammy Davis, Jr.; Tom Ewell; Willie Nelson; Rich Little; James Bacon; Judge Roy
Hofheinze; Coach Sid Gillman; Film producer Caruth C. Byrd; Sal Mineo; Ben Johnson; Dan Pastorini; Dr. Wernher Von Braun; Lisa Hartman; Mitzi Gaynor; June Wilkerson; Dawn Wells; Mercedes McCambridge; Dr. Hermann
Oberth (Germany’s “Father of Rocketry”) featured in Time Magazine, now permanently exhibited in Germany.
OTHER CREATIVE WORK HISTORY:
* Art Director/Illustrator for RCA Service Co., contracted to NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville,
Alabama (1961-1964).
* Design and construction contracts for Anheuser Busch, “Busch Gardens, Houston,” creative signage, including the main theme park entry treatment. Design and fabrication of bird show arena set; portable and permanent food and snack bars; and other park features.
* Caplinger/Nations Gallery, The Galleria (Houston Oaks), Houston, Texas. Co-owner, Gallery Director. Negotiated for and purchased prints and original art, coordinated gallery functions and showings.
(1970s)
* Designed and illustrated movie posters and ad campaigns for more than 20 feature films from Lone Star Pictures International (Hollywood, CA) and other film distribution companies.
OTHER AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:
* May 4, 2003, “Together We Can! Award” 2003 presented to Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, Inc., Chuck Caplinger, Chair; given in appreciation for community cultural
efforts and basin-wide event, Desert Arts Festival 2002.
* May 4, 2003, “Certificate of Recognition in Honor of Service to Communities” presented by State Senator James L. Brulte.
* 2000 City of Twentynine
Palms Mayor’s Recognition Award presented to the Global Mural Conference 2000 Executive Committee. (Chuck Caplinger, Chairman)
* 1999 City of Twentynine Palms Mayor’s Recognition Award presented to Chuck
Caplinger for “Person who most embodies the spirit of Twentynine Palms, CA.”
AFFILIATIONS:
City of Twentynine Palms Public Arts Advisory Committee (Chair 2005 & 2009-10)
City of Twentynine Palms Planning Commission (Chair 2001, 2003, 2009)
Morongo Basin Cultural Arts Council, Inc.(Co-Founder, Chair 2001-2004)
Morongo Basin Desert Arts Festival (Exec. Director 2002, 2003, 2004)
Global Mural Arts & Cultural Tourism Association (Chair: Global
Mural Conference 2000, Twentynine Palms, CA)
Member: Twentynine Palms Artists’ Guild
Member: Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce
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