California Art: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
Date: March 3, 2012 – May 20, 2012
Curated By: Billie Milam Weisman
Venue: Carnegie Art Museum
424 South C Street, Oxnard, CA, 93030
Exhibited Artists:
Jason Adkins, John Altoon, Charles Arnoldi, Larry Bell, Kelly Berg, Tony Berlant, Huguette Caland, Mary Corse, Ronald Davis, Davy Woods, Laddie John Dill, Tim Ebner, Doug Edge, Peter Erskine, Ned Evans, Sam Francis, Joe Goode, Iva Gueorguieva, Shane Guffogg, James Hayward, Roger Herman, Scott Heywood, Charles Christopher Hill, David Hockney, Robert Irwin, Jay Mark Johnson, Gegam Kacherian, Marina Kappos, Diana Kohne, Andrew Lewicki, Kim Mac Connel, John McLaughlin, Blue McRight, John Millei, Joel Morrison, Andy Moses, Ed Moses, Ryu Okabayashi, John Okulick, Kaz Oshiro, Jessica Rath, Edward Ruscha, Alexis Smith, Ali Smith, Macha Suzuki, Christopher Taggart, Kamol Tassananchalee, Roy Thurston, DeWain Valentine, Alison Van Pelt, Vasa, Tyler Valhovich, Wayne White, Brian Wills, and Tom Wudl.
California Art: Selections 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.