California Dreaming: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
Date: August 29, 2017 – December 10, 2017
Curated By: Billie Milam Weisman
Venue: Pepperdine University, Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90263
(310) 506-4851
https://arts.pepperdine.edu/museum/2017-2018/california-art.htm
Exhibited Artists:
Lita Albuquerque, Peter Alexander, Charles Arnoldi, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Kelly Berg, Tony Berlant, Gisela Colon, Mary Corse, Ronald Davis, Guy Dill, Laddie John Dill, Tim Ebner, Doug Edge, Jim Evans, Ned Evans, Sam Francis, Jimi Gleason, Jack Goldstein, Joe Goode, Tim Hawkinson, Scot Heywood, Charles Christopher Hill, Craig Kauffman, Gary Lang, Peter Lodato, John McCracken, John McLaughlin, John Millei, Joel Morrison, Andy Moses, Ed Moses, Evan Nesbit, John Okulick, Kaz Oshiro, Helen Pashgian, Ruth Pastine, Edward Ruscha, Robert Therrien, Roy Thurston, DeWain Valentine, and Tom Wudl.
California Dreaming: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
In celebration of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art's 25th Anniversary, we are pleased to present California Dreaming: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation. The exhibition's title is taken from the pop song first made famous by The Mamas & the Papas 1965 hit, and later covered by the Beach Boys, who came to epitomize the California Sound. It reflected the optimism of the late 1950s and early 1960s in its focus on beach culture—sunny skies, surfing, skateboards and fast cars. Artists of the day were also picking up on these cultural cues by using innovative materials to create a new aesthetic based on sensory experience. Frederick Weisman began collecting art during this time, and strongly believed in supporting artists in his own community. In doing so, he became a part of establishing California's first original style in contemporary art.
The art on view represents a number of different approaches to express the influence of the California environment. Artists such as Ron Davis, Craig Kaufman, John McCracken, Helen Pashgian, and Vasa all used resins and acrylics to create surfaces much like those used in making surfboards. Today, Gisela Colon uses molded acrylic to create a surface that changes as the viewer passes by.
Several artists have created artworks directly on surfboards, such as Jim Evans, Ned Evans, Ed Moses, and Andy Moses, as well as Alejandro Gehry painting directly on a skateboard. This was done for fundraising for the Venice Family Clinic's annual Art Walk, which helps those in need of medical care. In fact, the generosity of California artists are a part of the reason for the success of the clinic.
Psychiatrist Melton Wexler was influential in his day for hosting round tables or think tanks for artists to speak to him and other artists. His mission was to have a look into how the creative mind worked. What he accomplished was communication, self awareness and friendship, which led to expanded creativity and exchange of ideas among the artists of the 1960s.
Artists such as Larry Bell, Peter Erskine, DeWain Valentine, and Mary Corse were very much influenced by light in creating their works. Others persuade by the simplicity of form, such as John McLaughlin, Ed Moses, Peter Lodato, Scott Heywood, and Charles Christopher Hill.