In the summer of 1934, the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce
Women's Auxiliary celebrated its first Allied Arts Festival. The Whittier
Woman's Club also took part. A group of artists from the show joined
together, drew up a constitution and elected a board of directors for
what became the Whittier Art Association.
Their aim was to create and maintain a community art gallery that
would offer continuous exhibits of fine arts and crafts, to stimulate
and coordinate the expression of local artists, and to advance the
appreciation of fine art.
After five years of fund raising, the Association moved into its own
gallery. Mr. Fred Pease donated the land on Painter Avenue and
lent money for the building. Architect William Harrison donated
his design for the quaint, period style building. Raymond Hunicutt
supervised the construction for free and local businesses donated
materials at reduced prices. The Association made every payment
on time, and in 1945 the entire debt was paid off making the
Whittier Art Association one of the few artists' associations to
host its own full time gallery.
In 1959, the gallery was enlarged to include a stage, a kitchen,
restrooms and a paved parking lot. An Art Guild was organized
to provide financial aid. A membership of 30 to 40 women worked
with teas and special events to maintain the gallery, both inside
and out. Their help enabled the Association to become a totally
self-supporting nonprofit organization.
Women's Auxiliary celebrated its first Allied Arts Festival. The Whittier
Woman's Club also took part. A group of artists from the show joined
together, drew up a constitution and elected a board of directors for
what became the Whittier Art Association.
Their aim was to create and maintain a community art gallery that
would offer continuous exhibits of fine arts and crafts, to stimulate
and coordinate the expression of local artists, and to advance the
appreciation of fine art.
After five years of fund raising, the Association moved into its own
gallery. Mr. Fred Pease donated the land on Painter Avenue and
lent money for the building. Architect William Harrison donated
his design for the quaint, period style building. Raymond Hunicutt
supervised the construction for free and local businesses donated
materials at reduced prices. The Association made every payment
on time, and in 1945 the entire debt was paid off making the
Whittier Art Association one of the few artists' associations to
host its own full time gallery.
In 1959, the gallery was enlarged to include a stage, a kitchen,
restrooms and a paved parking lot. An Art Guild was organized
to provide financial aid. A membership of 30 to 40 women worked
with teas and special events to maintain the gallery, both inside
and out. Their help enabled the Association to become a totally
self-supporting nonprofit organization.
| Copyright 2003 Whittier Art Association |
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WHITTIER ART GALLERY
WHITTIER ART GALLERY
WHITTIER ART GALLERY
WHITTIER ART GALLERY
WHITTIER ART GALLERY
8035 SOUTH PAINTER AVENUE, WHITTIER CA 90602
(562) 698-8710 OPEN: WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY noon to 5 p.m.
(562) 698-8710 OPEN: WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY noon to 5 p.m.
HISTORY OF THE WHITTIER ART ASSOCIATION |
The Whittier Art Association believes that art is a necessity, rather than a luxury, and that it belongs not to an exclusive few,
but to everyone. The Association offers opportunities to amateurs, professional artists, students of all ages and discriminating
art lovers, as well as to the members themselves.
Such noted artists as Conrad Buff II, Milford Zornes, Taro Yashima, James Cooper Wright, Millard Sheets, Ralph Hulett and even Norman
Rockwell have exhibited, taught and demonstrated in the association's meetings and shows.
but to everyone. The Association offers opportunities to amateurs, professional artists, students of all ages and discriminating
art lovers, as well as to the members themselves.
Such noted artists as Conrad Buff II, Milford Zornes, Taro Yashima, James Cooper Wright, Millard Sheets, Ralph Hulett and even Norman
Rockwell have exhibited, taught and demonstrated in the association's meetings and shows.
| Present Gallery includes state of the art gallery lighting throughout, renovated restrooms, kitchen, Gift Gallery. and a contemporary entry ramp for easy access. |
As we were, circa 1934
CONRAD
BUFF II
Whittier Art Gallery
Exhibition of
Paintings,
Lithographs, Silk
Screen prints
OCTOBER 9
1934
BUFF II
Whittier Art Gallery
Exhibition of
Paintings,
Lithographs, Silk
Screen prints
OCTOBER 9
1934
1932 SELF PORTRAIT
On exhibit: Lithograph of the oil painting "BLACK CANYON"
a 1934 canvas (8' x 5') for the Fine Arts Collection, Public
Building Services, U.S. General Services Administration.
[Photograph courtesy of LACMA]
a 1934 canvas (8' x 5') for the Fine Arts Collection, Public
Building Services, U.S. General Services Administration.
[Photograph courtesy of LACMA]
ILLUSTRATION for Touring Topics,
a view of the Grand Canyon
a view of the Grand Canyon
Copy of the artworks brought for the exhibit, from our files.
Conrad Buff II, born in Switzerland in 1886, came to America and Los Angeles in 1907. His talent for painting,
murals and printmaking flourished in the America West. His monumental murals were a development of his
interest in combining art and architecture. In 1923 he painted a mural for the William Penn Hotel in Whittier.
(Sadly the hotel was destroyed by fire some time ago)
He and his wife Mary Marsh, also an artist, were very much involved in the support of most major art organizations
in California. Their son Conrad Buff III was an architect as part of the influential firm of Buff and Hensman.
murals and printmaking flourished in the America West. His monumental murals were a development of his
interest in combining art and architecture. In 1923 he painted a mural for the William Penn Hotel in Whittier.
(Sadly the hotel was destroyed by fire some time ago)
He and his wife Mary Marsh, also an artist, were very much involved in the support of most major art organizations
in California. Their son Conrad Buff III was an architect as part of the influential firm of Buff and Hensman.