1967 - 1968
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SWC ART
EVENTS
Sept 22 - Oct 13, 1967
Smithsonian's The American Flag Show
Produced by the Smithsonian Institution and assembled from Library of Congress historical objects containing the stars and stripes, this traveling exhibition held 58 pieces of "lithographs, posters, tobacco labels, campaign banners and other assorted items."
The Matheny & student designed exhibition poster was appreciated by the Smithsonian Institution who requested additional copies.
An adjoining contemporary invitational exhibition of local artists flag based work was planned but negotiating with the administration for the use of space outside of the art gallery proved contentious.
Oct 20 - Nov 3, 1967
Sheldon Kirby & George Nicolaidis
For the Art Gallery's first exhibition of Part-Time Faculty, abstract paintings by Sheldon Kirby and the early conceptual works of George Nicoladis were shown.
George Nicolaidis was a close friend and collaborator of John Baldessari. His hand and pointing finger appear in Baldessari's work "The Commisioned Paintings".
Nov 10 - 20, 1967
A.F.A. Multiples
The American Federation of Arts (A.F.A.), is a non profit organization that assembles traveling exhibitions to promote the public's experience and understanding of the visual arts.
Their 1966 exhibition titled "MULTIPLES, Art for Everyman" featured works from Multiples Inc., a gallery promoting a new concept in selling art, one that focused entirely on multiples (art objects made in limited editions under the supervision of established artists).
Fifty items by well known artists were assembled. The exhibition included graphics, jewel cloisonne, banners, constructions, collages, silkscreens and other art objects.
Dec 1 - 15, 1967
Poster Show
By 1967, posters were becoming extremely popular as an affordable method of displaying art in one's surroundings. The Exhibition Essays for this show consisted of a historical survey of posters by Leo W. Farland, founder of Posters Original, Ltd., as well as an essay by Dugald Stermer introducing the recent trend and excitement surrounding San Francisco area Rock Posters, Stermer was an influential illustrator, and then art Director for Ramparts magazine (a precursor to Rolling Stone magazine).
The display of Rock Posters at an Art Gallery at this time, was early in the trend. The concert venue promotional posters mentioned in the exhibition had just been created in the previous year,1966.
Jan 15 - 19, 1968
Student Show
Feb 5 - 9, 1968
Student Loan Collection
Purchase Award Show
What started as purchases to adorn Student occupied spaces around campus, quickly morphed into a lending library for art, where students or departments could borrow a painting, sculpture, or fine print to be returned the following month. What could possibly go wrong? At this time the Student Loan Collection consisted of 27 artworks including those by Andy Warhol (see image), Man Ray and Robert Rauschenburg.
Feb 9 - March 1, 1968
Some L.A. Cats
John Baldessari's first official curated art exhibition (having assisted Matheny with some prior) was organized to give this group of disparate LA artists more recognition. Mostly hard-edged geometric & non-objective paintings and sculptures were displayed, a contrast to the text based conceptual paintings that Baldessari was currently creating himself. Artist Roger Zimmerman's sculpture had to be removed from the exhibition as part of the assmeblage was stolen.
March 8 -29, 1968
Otay Mesa Atomic Fruit & Holding Company Ltd.
March 15, 1968
Good Morning Teaspoon Censorship
The satirical underground newspaper Good Morning Teaspoon is removed from the bookstore by the President of the College, Chester DeVore, due to profanity and perceived nudity, causing outrage amongst students who decried it as censorship. The Art Dept stepped into the fray to protest the action as large portions of Faculty defend the President. The debate over censorship spills into the campus and local newspapers.
April 19 - May 10, 1968
Annual Purchase Award Exhibit: Outdoor Sculpture
"a 4’ by 4’ by 4” thick solid steel slab with the word “DARK” written on the underside”
This submission proposal by a young Bruce Nauman (today a world renowned conceptual artist)
was selected as the winner by the show’s juror, rock star UCLA Art History professor, Dr. Kurt Von Meier.
The prize would award Nauman $1,900 from student body organization funds, but the announcement stirred outrage among students, faculty and the
community over the sculpture’s cost and its aesthetics.
The debate played out in newspaper
editorials and letters, culminating in a petition to refuse payment to the artist. A special Student Council meeting was called, and after many vote attempts, a tie was finally broken and the sculpture was purchased. No more funds from the A.S.O. were ever provided, and 1968 was the last Purchase Award Show.
May 24 - June 7, 1968
Annual Student Show