1966 - 1967
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SWC ART
EVENTS
Oct 3 - 28, 1966
Faculty Exhibit
John Baldessari, John Dewitt Clark, Ron Lawson, Bob Matheny, Richard Robinson participated. The accompanying exhibition essay describes the Department being considered "the best in the San Diego area".
Nov 7 - Dec 2, 1966
Jim Hayward - Neon Sculpture
In his first solo exhibit ever, SDSC graduate Jim Hayward presented in the art gallery an assortment of sound, movement & light with his plexiglass and neon assemblages, which some students felt was more engineering than art.
It was a harrowing retrieval of the artwork for some SWC faculty, as Hayward's house caught fire, leading to the fire department's discovery of his marijuana cache and Hayward's arrest in front of them.
After the eventual installation, Hayward wrote a letter to Baldessari apologizing for "any concerns or problems" he caused.
Nov 10 - Dec 16, 1966
The Sculpture of Robert Cremean
The California Arts Commission (C.A.C.) was established, only a few years prior, in 1963, for the purpose of encouraging arts throughout the State. Their first sponsored touring exhibition featuring a single artist was this show of Robert Cremean sculptures.
Ohio native, independent & highly respected artist Robert Cremean found himself at odds with the emerging trends in Southern California. Having taught at UCLA and the La Jolla Museum, Cremean had recently moved north to Tomales, CA to better control his own creation and exhibition process.
The exhibition's twenty abstracted figural sculptures, completed from 1960 to 1965, were built from wood assemblages or constructed from bronze. They were displayed throughout the original Library building and received praise in reviews.
The exhibition catalog for the show is currently in the SWC library collection.
Dec 5 - 16, 1966
Southwestern College Collection
Containing approximately 36 artworks at this time, the Southwestern College Collection consisted of the contentious Purchase Award show works as well as acquisitions purchased throughout the year and gifts from artists and collectors.
Feb 14 - March 10, 1967
CLICK/CLICK
"Why should art and photography be separate categories?
So asks John Baldessari in his essay from this exhibition, the first invitational show from the Photo Department in conjunction with the Art Department and Gallery. Three artists were selected, Allan W. Miller, Pat O'Neill & Bruce Houston, who presented over 120 works, that were a blend of photographs, photo-paintings and photo sculptures.
March 13 - 20, 1966
Ladies' Powder Room
With scant records to be found in the archives, and only described in the campus newspaper as an "art display" created in the room 702 campus Art Gallery, little could be found to what one experienced upon entering, yet some of the pieces re-presented at the Open House would cause offense.
March 31 - April 28, 1967
Annual Purchase Award Exhibit: Outdoor Sculpture
Inspired by an exhibition at Foothill College, Matheny organized a show to acquire outdoor art for students to view across the campus.
Well known ceramicist and sculptor John Mason juried the competition of concept drawings and photographs, selecting the winning entry, David Elder's "Exit San Diego Freeway" which was criticized as an"abstract obscenity" which obliterated the campus's "architectural atmosphere."
The sculpture was installed in October 1967 in front of the old Technology building 540, however don't scour campus to locate it, as it was destroyed early the next decade.
May 8 - May 12, 1967
Wooden Foundry Patterns
In a process that was becoming obsolete by this time, wood boards were glued together and carved into shapes of gears, plugs, machine parts and more before being inserted into sand to create molds to cast with iron. These old wooden foundry forms from the collection of Jackson & Blanc were on display for their aesthetic appreciation and also were sold for practical use to hobby metal sandcasters.
May 15 - 19, 1967
The Development:
A Photographic Show with Overtones of Love - Paul Hawkins
Local photographer (having attended Art Center in LA, as well as contributed to the Athapascan school newspaper) Paul Hawkins and his wife moved to the area to attend classes at the increasingly respected SWC Art Department
May 22 - 26, 1967
Drawings and Prints
of San Diego State College Students
Then, as now, San Diego State College (later University) was the top transfer college for Southwestern College Students. The S.D.S.C. Art Department had a close relationship with Southwestern at the time, with their Faculty often participating in many SWC Art Gallery exhibitions.
June 2 - June 14, 1967
Annual Student Exhibition
A open call for all "artful submissions" went out to all students, as well top selections from classes. The show titled "Punk Kids" selected six winners.
Jan 6 - Feb 3, 1967
Dada Lives
Dada, the early 20th century anti-art movement formed in the nihilistic wake of WWI, had a resurgence of popularity at this time.
For this Exhibit, Matheny had his design exhibition class students re-create famous past Dada artworks as well as some from the more modern neo-Dada movement.
Accompanying the exhibit was "an evening of Dada entertainment" featuring unconventional films, Dada poetry reading, a band and music, projected slides, costumed parades and an avant garde art play to end. Peruse local artist & Dada participant Richard Allen Morris' own copy, with hand written notes, of the "Order of Events" of the evening here.
Unfolding from the opening, Dada fever swept the art department and a Dada Club called "DADA ETA MU PI" was formed for a brief time, long enough to award a Dada Prize.
May 21 - June 11,1967
OPEN HOUSE / ADMINISTRATION CONFLICT
"If I had my way, the doors of the art department would be bolted shut and never reopened"
(Frank Whittington, College School Board Trustee)
The freedom and very existence of the Art Department came under threat after their exhibits & activities at the SWC's annual Public Open House offended some political officials and the College Administration. Distributing flowers, face painting and playing music for the public stirred a debate over academic freedom and conforming to the will of tax payer funding.
The dispute was fought in the campus & local papers, school board meetings and across the college. Re-live the entire affair via the newspaper articles in the links to the side.
OPEN HOUSE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES