Made in California: Contemporary Art from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
Date: August 27, 2019 – December 6, 2019
Curated By: Billie Milam Weisman
Venue: Santa Monica College, Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery
1310 11th Street, Santa Monica, CA, 90401
(310) 434-3434
https://www.smc.edu/news/2019/2019-08-27-smc-barrett-gallery-presents-made-in-ca.php
Exhibited Artists:
Lita Albuquerque, Peter Alexander, Charles Arnoldi, Billy Al Bengston, Kelly Berg, Tony Berlant, Gisela Colon, Ron Davis, Michael Dee, Laddie John Dill, Doug Edge, Sam Francis, Joe Goode, James Hayward, Scot Heywood, David Hockney, Edward and Nancy Kienholz, Gary Lang, Blue McRight, Joel Morrison, Andy Moses, Ed Moses, Ruth Pastine, Edward Ruscha, Robert Therrien, De Wain Valentine, and Tom Wudl.
Made in California: Contemporary Art from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
Since the 1960s California has emerged as a center for contemporary art that rivals New York in its accomplishments and innovation. Frederick R. Weisman was a pioneering collector whose rise as an important patron of the arts paralleled the emergence of the contemporary art scene in Los Angeles. He began collecting both international art and art from Los Angeles in the mid-1950s, and counted many of the city's top artists as his close friends, building a collection that reflects these personal relationships.
Frederick Weisman was an early supporter of many of the artists that rose to prominence under the legendary Ferus Gallery, established by Walter Hopps, Ed Kienholz and later, Irving Blum. At the time Hopps was an innovative young curator who was tuned in to the idiosyncratic styles of Los Angeles artists, which had developed from isolation during the post-war period. As a result, LA artists were inspired by their daily lives and surroundings—the local terrain, vibrant sun, beautiful sunsets, blue skies, surfboards, and fast, flashy cars. Soon new art movements were created (such as Light and Space, and Finish Fetish), and the Cool School was born. But it would be decades later before the rest of the world recognized the importance of these artists and movements. The art on view represents a number of these diverse movements that have and continue to play a decisive role in defining the visual arts in the Golden State, either by California or visiting artists.
Artwork from the 1960s to the present included in the exhibition is by: Peter Alexander, John Altoon, Charles Arnoldi, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Kelly Berg, Tony Berlant, Mary Corse, Ronald Davis, Laddie John Dill, Tim Ebner, Ned Evans, Sam Francis, Joe Goode, David Hockney, Jay Mark Johnson, Gegam Kacherian, Craig Kauffman, Peter Lodato, John McCracken, John McLaughlin, John Millei, Andy Moses, Ed Moses, Ed Ruscha, Alexis Smith, Macha Suzuki, De Wain Valentine, Alison Van Pelt, Velizar Mihich Vasa, Tom Wudl and many others.
Frederick R. Weisman held an uncompromising belief in the cultural value of art and the importance of the creative process. He thought of art as an international language that could unite all cultures and societies and transcend all linguistic barriers. In carrying out Mr. Weisman's intentions, the Foundation continues to collect and make publicly accessible significant works of modern and contemporary art as a means to contribute to the creative and intellectual life of the community. As Director of the Foundation, Billie Milam Weisman strives to keep his legacy and passion for the arts active and alive by continuing to support and to collect works of art by contemporary artists from both California and the wider international community.