Exhibitions 1950-1951

1950-1951

September 10-28 1950
ALICE JEAN SMALL
October 1-15
OREGON SOCIETY OF ARTISTS
November 5-16
PRINTS FROM THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART-NEW YORK
AMBROSE PATTERSON, PAINTINGS
November 16 – Dec 3
VOLA TOLMAN & CLIFFORD A PLATZ
Dec 17-19
STUART HOFFMAN CHURCH
Jan 31-Feb 15 1951
IF YOU WANT TO BUILD A HOUSE
February 4
SOAP SCULPTURES
February 18
30 AMERICANS SINCE 1860
March 11
36th ANNUAL EXHIBIT OF NORTHWEST ARTISTS
April 8-19
LITTLE GALLERY OF NORTHWEST PAINTINGS AT FREDERICK & NELSON FROM SEATTLE
April 22
ARTHUR A SELANDER and son MENALKAS
May 13
HOBBIHUNT CLUB – CHINA AND GLASSWARE (simultaneous photos exhibit?)
May 22
WOMEN PAINTERS OF WASHINGTON
Aug 1
CLOSED

The Larson Museum and Gallery opened the 1950-51 school year with an exhibit of work by Alice Jean Small. Small was known for her watercolors of the Northwest, Hawaii, Bahamas and Florida.

From October 1 through the 15th, the Larson Gallery worked again in conjunction with the Yakima Valley Art Association held and exhibit of The Oregon Society of Artists. Originally formed as the Society of Oregon Artists in 1927, they incorporated as the Oregon Society of Artists. 35 works were on exhibit including Barn by the president of the society, Frank Boynton.

On November 5, and exhibit of prints from the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exhibit was held in partnership with the Yakima Valley Art Association and included prints of works by Salvador Dali, Joan Miro, Grant Wood, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, Paul Cezanne, and Auguste Renoir. Also on display were 10 paintings by Ambrose Patterson, professor emeritus of the University of Washington art department. The exhibit closed November 16.

Invitation to Alice Small Exhibition
Courtesy of Yakima Valley Museum

For two days in December, the 17-19, 33 oil paintings by 18 year old Oregon artist Stuart Hoffman Church were shown. He had just returned from two years study at the Academia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy. He was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1932. Although he initially studied with his mother, Fay Hoffman Church, Stuart Church began his formal study at the Boston Museum School. His family having moved to the West Coast, he enrolled in 1947 at the Santa Barbara Art Center.

Of February 4, one of the traveling exhibits of soap sculptures, sent by the National Soap Sculpture committee in New York was made available. The sculptures were the result of the 23rd Soap Sculpture Competition. In the 1920s, Procter & Gamble begin to sponsor a soap sculpture competition to encourage children to use it. By the time of the Great Depression, it was easy to take cheap bar of soap, a pen knife, or anything available and you could make a carving. Procter & Gamble even offered cash prizes.

Still Life with Fruit Bowl by Werner Drewes Courtesy of Yakima Herald Republic

Opening on February 18, 1951, a collection of paintings entitled 30 Americans Since 1860 went on display, co-sponsored by the Yakima Valley Art Association. The paintings demonstrated a trend from expressionism to early modernism. The collection included samples of American art at the end of the 19th century with artists such as Werner Drewes, N. C. Wyeth, Joseph Hirsch, and Maurice Brazil Prendergast.

The 36th Annual Exhibition of Northwest Artists opened March 11. June McFee, a local artist told the Yakima Herald about the Northwest annual, “If you think there is nothing in modern art, it is only because it speaks a language you do not understand. When the language is learned, you will enjoy it and profit by that enjoyment, both artistically and intellectually.”

Conan E. Mathews, Dean at Yakima Valley Junior College held a show of paintings in April at the Larson Gallery.

From April 8-19, the Little Gallery of Northwest Paintings from Seattle’s Frederick & Nelson department store loaned artwork. This exhibit was also co-sponsored by the Yakima Valley Art Association. Theodora Lawrenson Harrison served as a president of Women Painters of Washington, and a founder of the art gallery at Frederick and Nelson department store. Harrison’s own artwork was included in the exhibit.

Watercolorist Tekla Aagaard Hagist examined works displayed at the Women Painters of Washington’s Christmas Exhibit at the Little Gallery of Frederick & Nelson.
Photo by Peter Liddelle, Courtesy of The Seattle Times

Menalkas Selander, left, and Arthur Selander right. Percy L. Manser in the background. April 29, 1951.
Courtesy of the Yakima Herald-Republic

Arthur A. Selander and his son Menalkas gave an oil painting demonstration during the opening of a combined exhibit of their works on April 22. In 1907, Arthur had taken a position at the Oregonian as a cartoonist, but then worked as an appraisal engineer for the Oregon State Tax commission. During this time art was only a hobby. He exhibited frequently and was president of the Oregon Society of Artists. His son Menalkas was a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago and exhibited throughout Oregon and at the Maryhill Museum. The exhibit concluded May 6.

The Hobbihunt Club was up next on May 13 with an exhibit of china and glassware. The items from local collectors were shown in cases while a travelling photograph exhibit lined the walls.

Women Painters of Washington opened May 22. This exhibit, which ran until June 10 was co-sponsored by the Yakima Valley Art Association. The four aims of the organization is to promote fellowship and good will among the members; to stimulate each member to an ever-advancing standard fo artistic achievement, to bring the work of the members before the public, adn to foster ar appreciation in the community

The gallery was closed August 1 for painting.

Partnership

The partnership between Yakima Valley College and the Larson Gallery Guild creates an environment where ideas flourish.

The Larson Gallery Guild supports the mission of the Larson Gallery to foster curiosity and appreciation for the visual arts in our diverse community.

Your financial donations fund Larson Gallery Guild programming which includes staffing, publications and materials, special events, lectures, workshops, visiting artists, and jurors.

Yakima Valley College supports the Larson Gallery through the maintenance of the building, providing the director’s salary and benefits, technology, security, and work-study students.

Hours

During Exhibitions:
Tuesday – Friday 10 AM-5:00 PM
Saturday 12 PM-5:00 PM
(note that this schedule varies during opening reception days)

Mission

Fostering curiosity and appreciation for the visual arts in our diverse community.

Contact Us

Vision

Cultivating a Love of Art