GIFTS TO ALL OF US... Reflections on a visit to the Hilbert Museum to see "Gifted" - The art collection from Gardena High School
GIFTED
I had heard about this exhibit from several sources, some through word of mouth as I worked in LAUSD. A former colleague who knew I liked art wrote me a long note about his visit to the collection and encouraged me to see it a couple of months ago. I also read about it in several magazine articles. One of the best articles came from the August, 2019 edition of American Art Review.
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| Class of 1921 Edgar Payne Rockbound |
But I didn't take the time to drive down to Orange, CA to see it until yesterday. My friends, Sharon Weaver and Laura Wambsgan and I wanted to see it before the exhibit closed in mid-October.
I urge you not to miss it if you can go!!
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| Class of 1922 Hanson Duvall Puthuff Morning In Montrose |
Starting in 1919 the senior class of Gardena High School, which primarily cam from a small farming community in southwest Los Angeles County with low population density, a diverse populace and not a lot of money compared to other parts of the county began selecting, purchasing and donating works of art to the high school as class gifts.
Despite changing times - the depression, World War I, Japanese internments, each year until 1956, the students added to the collection.
Most of the work prior to the depression era were those of the California Impressionists. These are the ones I loved best, but the entire collection is magnificent.
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| Class of 1924 Orrin A. White The High Sierras |
Starting in 1919, the Principal, John H. Whitely and his teaching staff encouraged the students to visit artists' studios in small groups with a teacher. They learned about art from the artists themselves. Many of these artists of the time lived in and around the Arroyo Seco area of Pasadena.
Principal Whitely described the artworks as "silent teachers".
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Class of 1925
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Many of the artists whose work is included in the collection worked en plein air or outdoors, finishing their canvases in the field or in their studios working from outdoor studies.
They came from all over the country and the world and enjoyed Southern California's beauty and mild climate.
They came from all over the country and the world and enjoyed Southern California's beauty and mild climate.
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| Class of 1924 William Wendt Along the Arroyo Seco |
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| Class of Winter 1946 Marion Kavanagh Wachtel Mt. Moran, Teton National Park |
Imagine, if you will, a high school where senior students had a class called Senior Problems that was a requirement of graduation. Students voted on the Class Gifts after weeks of study and discussion. Ten paintings were chosen for extended examination giving students, teachers and visiting artists time to discuss their essential qualities. Heated debates about the merits of the paintings were common and encouraged.
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| Class of 1928 John Frost Desert Twilight |
In 1928 the high school began to invite one hundred regional artists to submit paintings to an annual invitational Purchase Prize Exhibit. Students organized the exhibits and hosted the gala special teas, receptions and events. The general public and other students from other schools were invited. This became a primary venue for Southern California artists and was closely watched by the art critics from the LA Times, the Art Digest, The Christian Science Monitor and other media of the times. It was considered the cultural event of the year in 1930!
These events continued even through the tough depression years, WWII and when Gardena HS lost about 1/3 of their student body to the internments.
In the thirties, the Public Works of Art Program, part of the New Deal arts program donated several paintings and works on paper from the PWAP.
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| Class of Summer 1943 Jessie Arms Botke Cranes Under a Giant Fern |
There are seventy-two works of art in the Gardena High School Art Collection. During the early years, works were exhibited in the school library. Later, in 1923 Gardena High School designed its new auditorium to properly house the permanent collection. It was the first public gallery in Southern California for regional art. When the high school moved to a new campus in 1956, the collection largely went into storage and became unavailable for viewing by the public.
At the end of the school year in 1956 with the expansion of the student population and less room to display artwork, the principal announced the end of the program.
At the end of the school year in 1956 with the expansion of the student population and less room to display artwork, the principal announced the end of the program.
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| Class of Summer 1944 Maynard Dixon Men of the Red Earth |
I will include a few more examples from the collection below, but really, to see them in person is absolutely inspiring!! - ENJOY the gifts from these artists, students and educators.
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| Class of Summer 1947 Loren Roberta Barton Day's End |
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| Class of Summer 1934 Dean Cornwell Weeping Over Jerusalem |
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| Class of Summer 1938 Carl Clemens Moritz Rungius Along the Slope |
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| Class of Summer 1945 Sam Hyde Harris Desert Design |
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