Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles Special Bulletin:
This rare opportunity is the brainchild of SILA members Mark Pestana and Scott Gandell. The adventure was conceived one afternoon over conversation about each of their previous “mission” experiences with the United States Air Force Art Program through the USAFAPO in the Pentagon. Mark is a long time professional member of SILA; is retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of colonel, and was a research pilot & project manager at NASA’s Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center in Edwards, CA. Scott is a long time professional member, past President and currently VP Development of SILA; owns and operates Pop Secret Gallery and continues to freelance worldwide.
Joining them on the trip were 3 more professional members of SILA. All three are Board members and they are Cathleen Abalos, Joe Cepeda and Tony Wong. Cathleen will be a second year Board member holding office as Secretary; travels through southern California sketching urban settings and painting murals on her days off from teaching young students drawing and sculpting. Joe is our illustrious President and holds the distinction of being our longest running consecutive office holder; is a sought-after public speaker and award-winning illustrator of more than two dozen books for children. Tony is our Membership chair; a teachers assistant in Printmaking at Pasadena City College and often a guest curator of gallery shows in Los Angeles.
What we hope to do is reinvigorate interest in the Air Force Art Program, which is chaired by long time member Ben Benson. Ben and Scott have worked together in the past sending SILA professional members on memorable trips, such as the 2012 trip to March Air Force base in Riverside, CA and the (gulp, watch out for that dive!) flight in the Boeing C-17 Transport Plane. In recent years these trips have become very few and very far between due to cutbacks in Washington, DC and the lack of interest of professional illustrators on the West Coast to participate.
“The Air Force Art Program documents the story of the Air Force through the universal language of art.”
“The Art Program has built a substantial collection over the decades – estimated at nearly 20,000 works of art to the Air Force. In the early 1950’s, the Air Force began sponsoring civilian artists on official trips to installations worldwide, where they were inspired by the dedication of Air Force men and women working with the latest technologies.”
The Air Force Art Program works closely with five prestigious artists groups which includes The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles. Artists are nominated for Air Force-sponsored trips to witness and experience first-hand Air Force events and missions worldwide. Upon return and completion the artists donate finished art to the collection.
“The result is a diverse collection of fine art that reflects the full scope of the Service’s history, current operations and priorities for the future.”
**Santosh Oomenn had planned to be part of this project. Santosh is our Marketing & Communications chair and plays a huge part in the successes of our most recent endeavors; never one to rest on his laurels he consistently applies his skills to projects in animation, publishing, web, and teaching all the while honing his craft as a storyteller.