Made in California: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation

Ronald Davis, Inside Light (1969); Joel Morrison, Untitled (2001); Laddie John Dill, Untitled (1975); Joel Morrison, Untitled (Pink) (2002); Edward and Nancy Kienholz, Pedicord Apts. (Drawing) (1985); Brian Wills, Untitled (2012); Peter Lodato, Nine No. 2 (Magenta and Gold) (2004); Charles Christopher Hill, Adelphia (2014); Jessica Rath, Killing Poses (Ground-Up) (2001)

Edward Ruscha, Please… (1985); De Wain Valentine, Open Diamond Diagonal (1983); Edward Ruscha, Garden of Paradise (1983); Edward Ruscha, Obligations (1985); Joe Goode, Untitled (Commissioned Work)[Blue] (1979); Edward Ruscha, End (1983); Joe Goode, Untitled (Staircase) (1971); Jeff Colson, Figure (2003); Billy Al Bengston, Klenator Draculas (1977); John McCraken, The Case for Fakery in Beauty (1967); Craig Kauffman, Yellow-Blue (1965); Joel Morrison, Untitled (2001); Tom Wudl, Untitled (2012); Ronald Davis, Inside Light (1969); Velizar Mihich Vasa, Column #3088 (2003); John Okulick, Queens Chamber (1986); Arnold Mesches, Frederick R. Weisman (1984); Channing Hansen, Algo (2015); Ed Moses, Untitled (1985); Ed Moses, Untitled (Red and Black) (1976-77); John Baldessair, Horizontal Men (1984); Paul Rusconi, Standard Issue (2014); Joel Morrison, Untitled (2001); Tom Wudl, Untitled (1973); Ronald Davis, Inside Light (1969); Velizar Mihich Vasa, Column #3088 (2003); John Okulick, Queens Chamber (1986); Joel Morrison, Untitled (Pink) (2002)

Edward Ruscha, LAX-Sunset-Malibu (1981); Edward Ruscha, Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska (1980)

Tom Wudl, Untitled (2012); Joel Morrison, Untitled (Pink) (2002); John Okulick, Queens Chamber (1986); Melanie Pullen, Blue (Water Series) (2005); Lita Albuquerque, Part of the Stellar Axis: Antarctica Installation (2006); Ruth Pastine, Blue-Orange No. 2, Interplay Series (2013); Laddie John Dill, Untitled (1975); Tim Hawkinson, Scribe (2001); Tim Hawkinson, The Fin Within (1998); Tim Hawkinson, Life-Size Mirror Self-Portrait (2000); Ned Evans, Curico (2009)

Date: December 1, 2015 – December 6, 2015

Curated By: Billie Milam Weisman
Venue: Mana Wyn
318 NW 23rd Street, Miami, Fl, 33127

https://www.manacontemporary.com/exhibition/2015-madeincalifornia/

Exhibited Artists:

Lita Albuquerque, Peter Alexander, John Altoon, David Amico, Robert Arneson, Charles Arnoldi, John Baldesarri, Larry Bell, Billy Al Bengston, Kelly Berg, Tony Berlant, Vija Celmins, Gisela Colon, Jeff Colson, Mary Corse, Ronald Davis, Laddie John Dill, Tim Ebner, Doug Edge, Peter Erskine, Ned Evans, Charles Fine, Sam Francis, Jimi Gleason, Jack Goldstein, Joe Goode, Robert Graham, Channing Hansen, Tim Hawkinson, James Hayward, Scot Heywood, Charles Christopher Hill, David Hockney, Robert Irwin, Jay Mark Johnson, Craig Kauffman, Edward and Nancy Kienholz, Gary Lang, Mimi Lauter, Peter Lodato, John McCracken, John McLaughlin, Arnold Mesches, John Millei, Joel Morrison, Andy Moses, Ed Moses, Manfred Müller, Evan Nesbit, John Okulick, Kaz Oshiro, Helen Pashgian, Ruth Pastine, Melanie Pullen, Mel Ramos, Jessica Rath, Edward Ruscha, Paul Rusconi, Allison Schulnik, Alexis Smith, Robert Therrien, Roy Thurston, De Wain Valentine, Velizar Mihich Vasa, Peter Voulkos, Frederick S. Wight, Brian Wills, and Tom Wudl.

Made in California: 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. He 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. In keeping with Frederick Weisman’s tradition of supporting local artists, under the direction of Mrs. Billie Milam Weisman, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation has continued to amass a substantial collection of Los Angeles and California art.

The art on view represents a number of exciting and diverse movements that played a decisive role in defining the visual arts in the Golden State.  So much of contemporary art traces its roots to the free spontaneity of 1950s Abstract Expressionism, a movement embodied in the improvisational color-field paintings of Sam Francis.  During the 1960s many artists adopted the impeccable smooth finishes of hot rods and surfboards which led to the Fetish Finish movement, as seen in works by Ron Davis and Craig Kauffman.  Possibly because of its connections to the entertainment industry, Southern California also spawned art infused with deadpan wit and humor, as seen in examples by Ed Ruscha and Joe Goode.  In the California Light and Space movement, artists created works that reflect the broad glow of our environment, represented in works by Larry Bell, Mary Corse, and Robert Irwin.  Newer movements—Postmodernism and beyond—can be found in the art of John Baldessari, Gisela Colon, and Tim Hawkinson.