Moulton Museum Welcomes Barbara Hendricks’ “Squeezed Out” Collage Art Show
It all started in Minnesota, when a young Barbara Hendricks and her father would go fishing. There, she discovered her affinity for nature. That passion stayed with her for the rest of her life and shaped her career.
Barbara Hendricks’ collage art show “Squeezed Out” invites contemplation. The title is a play on words, using oranges as both the subject and a symbol of Orange County’s agricultural history, illustrating the story of the county’s growth through housing tracts.
Hendricks’ wit shines in her clever titles and choice of materials. Even when addressing difficult topics like balancing California’s housing crisis with environmental responsibility, she remains playful.
“I have a killer sense of humor,” said Hendricks. “And I think that shines in my work.”
Hendricks first loved jewelry as a child, often exploring her grandma’s overflowing jewelry box. She later deepened that interest in high school, when a new teacher created a jewelry studio for students. After 50 years as a jeweler, though, she was drawn to a new medium: collage art.
“I’m another product of the pandemic,” said Hendricks. “I had been doing jewelry for so many years; it was getting to be so expensive, and I was looking for another creative outlet… one day, I needed some cards, went through my whole house, pulled out all kinds of paper I had, and just started making stuff with it. And then it kept going from there.”
Through collage, she reconnected with her “wild-child” and decided to pay homage to Orange County, the place that won her heart, with an entire series rather than a single work.
“When I moved here it was like ‘Oh my God,” said Hendricks. “The seasons here are so mild that you hardly notice them. I couldn’t believe how much you could grow year-round, what grew, and how large!”
Hendricks’ focus on oranges goes beyond finding them a cute subject. She notes that oranges were once considered California’s gold before gold; the retired goldsmith says it made sense to swap one for the other—pitting agriculture against houses in a battle for space, both on her canvas and in the state.
Voted best artist in high school, Hendricks has always chased the “I remember when…” feeling. She hopes to evoke that feeling in viewers, and after three years of work, believes she has finally captured it in “Squeezed Out,” opening Oct. 15th at the Moulton Museum.
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