The Phil Joy Boatyard, located between C and D streets, is the subject of a new art exhibition and poetry showcase at Plein Air Gallery on display through Sept. 3. (Photo by Nick Sestanovich)

One of the most eye-catching sights in Benicia is the old Joe Garske Boatyard, located between C and D streets. When it opened in the 1950s, it specialized in marine services and oil spill cleanup in the Carquinez Strait. Now, the shipyard is a cluster of old fishing and utility boats, cranes and other nautical vehicles and equipment. Some residents do not find the boatyard to be attractive, but many others view it as a fascinating piece of history. Count the artists and poets of Benicia as those who see beauty in Garske’s old property— now being maintained by renovator Phil Joy—, especially since they have come together to make the yard the focus of the new Plein Air Gallery exhibition, simply titled “Phil Joy’s Boatyard.”

Typically, the Plein Air Gallery showcases one of its artists each month. However, gallery facilitator Susan Street said the exception is August because competition from the Peddler’s Fair tends to overshadow the work of a single artist. As a result, the gallery tends to utilize all of its artists in a group show where they paint scenes of iconic locations in Benicia. Last year, the artists painted the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot. This year, they have chosen to do paintings of Joy’s boatyard at the suggestion of Street.

“Can’t resist the ‘joy’ of being in there with all that stuff,” she joked.

The property has had a bit of an interesting history in recent years. Joy, who also moved a Victorian house from Napa to Benicia in 2006 and then refurbished it, purchased the boatyard from Garske in the early 2000s and has been working to clean it up and transform the property into a functional shipyard with a bed and breakfast.

“I believe he has high hopes for making it into a viable, workable boatyard,” Street said. “The boatyard is either a visual treat or an eyesore, depending on who you talk to.”

Street said the boatyard is already a common spot for painters, especially a yellow crane that was used in the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937 and a fishing boat called the Red Baron. With Joy also serving as the landlord of Plein Air Gallery, Street said it would be a natural fit and she hopes he and his wife Celeste are present at the reception.

In addition to featuring works by all the member artists, the paintings will be paired with poems by some of Benicia’s finest wordsmiths. For instance, Beth Grimm has a poem inspired by Samantha McNally’s painting of the Red Baron, Myra Nissen has two poems based on Dixie Mohan’s painting of a rusty barge and Poet Laureate Johanna Ely has a poem to coincide with Rolando Barrero’s depiction of the boatyard at night. Other featured poets include Suzanne Bruce, Dan Ryken, Peter Bray, Kathy Monroe, Merrilee Cavencia, Tom Stanton and Lois Requist. Featured artists include Stephen Berry, Mary Lou Correia, Michael Dadasovich, Catherine Fasciato, Judith Feins, Susan Johnson, JoAnn McMahon and Iris Sabre. A reception will be held Saturday, Aug. 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. with a poetry reading at 4.

“The goal of the show is to highlight one of the iconic views of Benicia, see it interpreted it in each artists’ way and then join with the poets to create a multi-level and joyous experience,” Street said.

“Phil Joy’s Boatyard” will be on display through Sept. 3 at Plein Air Gallery, located at 307 First St. The gallery is open Thursdays through Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, go to beniciapleinair.com.

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