1964 - 1965
SWC ART
EVENTS
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October 1964
Teenie Weenie Art
Besides having the distinction of being the first exhibition on the new campus, in the new Art Gallery (and without any archived materials) Matheny's only recollection of this show was that it "must have been a group show of a tiny kind".
Nov 23 - Dec 18, 1964
Relief Painting – Sculpture
Painting or Sculpture?
It's hard to believe that an artwork which broke free of these rigid categorizations was considered so controversial, but it's also hard to believe there was an SWC dress code where women couldn't wear pants, yet somehow, both were true.
For the first invitational group show in the new campus Gallery, sixteen California artists were selected (many reoccurring local artists from previous and future exhibitions were joined this time by Bay Area artists Daly & Webb) Together they challenged art conventions and the public by blurring the lines between painting and sculpture.
Jan 8 - Feb 19, 1965
Polychrome Sculpture
Polychome ("many colors") is an ancient practice of painting architecture or sculptures with multiple colors to achieve a more life-like appearance. The technique was reinterpreted by these artists with more outlandish colors covering all manner of found objects and forms.
Respecting the intrinsic beauty of materials was the dominating practice in sculpture at the time. John Baldessari (now a part-time SWC faculty member) participated in and wrote the essay for this exhibition which promoted sculptures move to the multi-color world paintings already enjoyed.
Another showcase of a wide variety of local and LA area artists, this was the first use of the Student Union foyer as an exhibition venue, (soon to be a contentious subject). The unauthorized temporary moving of the artworks for a school dance led Lloyd Hamrol 's sculpture to be damaged and Matheny writing a statement for the insurance company.
Feb 27 - Apr 9, 1965
BB a Disgusted Student
An anonymous SWC Student pens a letter to the Art Department criticizing them for labeling critics of their controversial Art Shows as "uninformed". The letter is published in the school newspaper to which Matheny later replies with a call for personal contact or an open panel discussion.
March 1 - 26, 1965
Color in Printmaking
April 5 - May 7, 1965
Bill Copley - Paintings & Flags
William "Bill" Copley, estranged adopted heir to the Copley Press Estate, nonconformist painter, writer and surrealist gallerist, was (to this point) the best known "San Diego-reared" artist, despite his move to New York.
23 provocative paintings were displayed at the Art Gallery and were protested for their cartoonish sexual depictions and parody of American mythologies.
Exhibition Essay with Catalog Listing
April 5 - May 7, 1965
Annual Purchase Award Show
The past four years of controversies and disputes all came to head with these simultaneous exhibitions.
Thirty artworks (from local professional artists), selected by faculty members Matheny & Robinson, were displayed in the Student Union foyer for this fourth Annual Purchase Award Show.
Matheny's accompanying Exhibition Essay in defense of contemporary art, was most likely ignored, as nearly all of the artworks drew criticism, not only for their Pop and neo-dada aesthetics, but also for their prominent display in a common area. Two artworks in particular caused the most ire.
The winning selection, Phil Kirkland's "Madddog's Last Gig" (see image) caught special attention for money spent on what was perceived to be a low skill obscenity and for its presumed promotion of inter-racial coupling.
People sought to censor Dan Longueuiel's "Oh Say Can You See" (see image) as "anti-American" and "flouting decency". The artwork was called a "gross disrespect" by the VFW and lambasted in newspapers to the point that Longueuiel's life was repeatedly threatened, leading him to write a letter decrying the misinterpretation of his work. An article in San Diego magazine covers the concerning events.
Criticism
"It is depraved adults who foist these objectives on the young people in the name of 'art',"
Fifteen female members of the Chula Vista Art Guild signed a protest letter to the School Board over these exhibitions. The printed responses from Art Faculty fueled a debate ranging from art,censorship, academic freedoms and democracy, to the decline of the American civilization. As the fight spilled forth onto the campus, the community, and the school board, the very existence of the Art Gallery program was threatened.
April - May 1965
Administration Conflict
Despite garnering acclaim from art critics and praise from local artists for the previous four years, Matheny received little support or appreciation from administration or faculty, outside of the Art department.
Now, as outside pressures demanded censorship of the art displayed, the "Film as Art" programing removed from his control, frustrations & conflicts over the space needed for his ambitious exhibition plans, and the lack of funding or time to assist with them, Bob Matheny resigned as Art Gallery Director, making front page headlines of the local paper and seemingly dooming the Art Gallery program.
After weeks of protests & negotiations, Matheny was eventually lured, by the promise of a newly constructed dedicated large Gallery Exhibition space, to return to the position.
All of the other old frustrations and new restrictions would remain.
"The Rise & Fall of SWC Art Dept. Gallery"
Matheny's notes from 1965 chronicling the events
May 17 - June 11,1965
Annual Student Show
Sept 14, 1964
Class begins on new campus
5400 Otay Lakes Road
The move away from the shared facilities at Chula Vista High School and into a permanent campus occurs, but the promise of a permanent, dedicated Art Gallery space to replace the dark hallway Gallery of the past three years does not materialize. The Faculty scramble to transform their proposed office space into another long and narrow "temporary" Art Gallery (room 702), while accepting a storage room for their shared office area.
(This references SWC's current campus- the address differs as
H Street did not yet connect through to Otay Lakes Rd.)
Get a film tour of the campus under construction