General Dynamics
On exhibit June 3 - June 29, 2025
"General Dynamics"
A portrait of personal and collective resistance, shaped by land, labor, and longing. Rooted in soil, story, and solitude—General Dynamics captures the lived poetry of rural California by San Diego artist, Weston Riffle
Weston Riffle is a native Californian born in La Mesa in 1970. He received his Bachelor's degree from San Diego State in 1993 and Masters from San Jose State in 1996. He is a mostly self-taught painter who describes himself as an anti-artist. His painting portrays the beauty and culture of California, specifically the southern and agricultural regions.
Riffle grew up on a farm in Ramona, CA. "I wish to express simple purity in desire, action, and hope, of the people and places I have known. Overall, themes, images and concepts reflect real and imagined memories of my experience growing up a rural Californian, traveling through the Central Valley, stories of prior generations and growing old myself. The general theme is the struggle of the individual against forces not clearly understood. Form, composition, and color develop around the individual or situation I attempt to resolve, or portray with each painting. Usually complex beginnings end in simple composition. A fatalistic view seems to be the result."
"I paint to avoid the gray. Like a song or a scent that awakens something. When I paint, I pay attention. Sometimes things I stopped seeing reappear and I am a fifteen year old again trying to find god, meaning and purpose; and thinking there is such a thing."
Riffle’s paintings have been exhibited in solo and group shows and permanent collections throughout California including, the National Steinbeck Museum in Salinas, William D. Cannon Art Gallery, Oceanside Museum of Art, Borrego Art Institute, Gotthelf Gallery in La Jolla and an upcoming solo exhibition in the Douglas Shively Gallery of the Santa Paula Art Museum in September 2028 through 2029.
Website: www.fatsip.com
Instagram: @westonriffle
Contact: contact@fatsip.com
Exhibit Viewing Hours (September 2024-June 2025)
There is no charge for viewing the art exhibit.
Tuesday – Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Friday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.*
Saturday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.*
*Viewing hours may be affected by performances. Closed during holidays. Call 858-668-4693 for more information.
Parking
While parking is free, please note Parking Passes are required on weekdays (Tuesday – Friday) and may be picked up in the Main Office within the PCPA lobby.
To obtain a parking pass: Please pull into the loading zone outside the glass lobby doors (on Titan Way), enter the lobby and proceed to the PCPA Office to the left. You will be issued a temporary pass to park in our lot behind the theatre for the duration of your visit.