Pasadena Society of Artists
Encyclopedia
The Pasadena Society of Artists, founded in 1925, is one of the longest-running, nonprofit arts organizations in the state of California, USA.
During its formative years, the Pasadena Society of Artists was associated with the Pasadena Arts Institute. As a result, its membership had close ties with the Pasadena Museum of Art (which later became the Norton Simon Museum
) and the Pacific Asia Museum
.
Pasadena Society of Artists continues to hold frequent juried
exhibitions of its members works, and its Annual Exhibitions have taken place without interruption since 1925.
and Marion Wachtel
, and the noted adherent of the Arts and Crafts movement
Ernest A. Batchelder
,
From the 1920's into the 1950's, Pasadena Society of Artists was given an office and exhibit space in the Grace Nicholson Galleries, located at 46 North Los Robles Avenue. However, the society eventually lost the space when the Nicholson gallery became the Pacific Asia Museum
.
Today the Society continues to be operated entirely by the voluntary efforts of its artist members.
Overview
Pasadena Society of Artists, from its founding, attracted practitioners of a variety of artistic styles, including impressionists, modernists, abstract artists and traditionalists.During its formative years, the Pasadena Society of Artists was associated with the Pasadena Arts Institute. As a result, its membership had close ties with the Pasadena Museum of Art (which later became the Norton Simon Museum
Norton Simon Museum
The Norton Simon Museum is an Art Museum located in Pasadena, California, United States. It was previously known by the names: the Pasadena Art Institute and the Pasadena Art Museum.-Overview:...
) and the Pacific Asia Museum
Pacific Asia Museum
The Pacific Asia Museum is an Asian art museum located at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California, United States.The museum was founded in 1971 by the Pacificulture Foundation, which purchased “The Grace Nicholson Treasure House of Oriental Art” from the City of Pasadena...
.
Pasadena Society of Artists continues to hold frequent juried
Juried (competition)
A juried competition is a competition in which participants' work is judged by a person or panel of persons convened specifically to judge the participants' efforts, either by the competition's stated rubric or by a subjective set of criteria dependent upon the nature of the competition or the...
exhibitions of its members works, and its Annual Exhibitions have taken place without interruption since 1925.
1920s to 1950s
PSA's formation closely followed the founding of the Pasadena Arts Institute, and many of its first members were involved in the creation of both institutions. Its first president was landscape artist Edward B. Butler, a successful businessman who retired to pursue his career as an oil painter. Early members of the Society included nationally-renownded arstists, including California impressionists Alson S. ClarkAlson S. Clark
Alson S. Clark was an American Impressionist painter best remembered for his impressionist landscapes. Born in Chicago, Illinois, his art education included training at the Art Institute of Chicago , the Art Students League of New York, and in the atelier of William Merritt Chase...
and Marion Wachtel
Marion Wachtel
Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel was a plein air painter in watercolors and oils that lived and worked with her artist husband Elmer Wachtel in the Arroyo Seco near Pasadena, California, in the early 20th century...
, and the noted adherent of the Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
Ernest A. Batchelder
Ernest A. Batchelder
Ernest A. Batchelder was an artist and educator who made Southern California his home in the early 20th century. He is famous as a maker of art tiles and as a leader in the American Arts and Crafts Movement....
,
From the 1920's into the 1950's, Pasadena Society of Artists was given an office and exhibit space in the Grace Nicholson Galleries, located at 46 North Los Robles Avenue. However, the society eventually lost the space when the Nicholson gallery became the Pacific Asia Museum
Pacific Asia Museum
The Pacific Asia Museum is an Asian art museum located at 46 N. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California, United States.The museum was founded in 1971 by the Pacificulture Foundation, which purchased “The Grace Nicholson Treasure House of Oriental Art” from the City of Pasadena...
.
1960s to Present
Despite the lack of a permanent exhibition space, the Society continued to attract professional artists, and to hold juried shows of its members works, often in venues outside the Pasadena city limits.Today the Society continues to be operated entirely by the voluntary efforts of its artist members.