news Brandnews is a publication of Brand Associates
WINTER/SPRING 2018
Photos: Arlene Vidor
Brand Associates and Glendale Community College create an inspiring collaboration
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unique collaboration between the Associates and Glendale Community College (GCC), nine months in the making, was unveiled in September of 2017. The GCC Library had been undergoing a long anticipated 2-year rehabilitation including replacement of old fixtures, furniture, outmoded seating configurations and the much-despised popcorn ceiling. The dated, dark framed prints that had served as decoration for many years were retired and the bright, freshly painted walls needed some new art. Enter Associates Board member Debra Thompson who is also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Art History at GCC and serves on the college Library and Information Committee. Working with the head Librarian, Eric Hanson, and Visual and Performing Arts department chairperson, David Attyah, a plan was devised to utilize art work from the Associates’ Robert Brown, Jane Friend Purchase, and Mary Owens Collections to hang in the main study area of the GCC Library. It was agreed that student input was crucial to the success of the project, so students were given an opportunity to vote on line for their favorite 10 artworks from a group of 20 preselected pieces chosen based on visual appeal of content, composition and potential to work well in the expansive library space. The final ten artworks included several brightly
Left: GCC students study under an enlarged reproduction of Jeff Owens’ watercolor “Orange Crates” a past Jane Friend Purchase Award winner. Right: GCC President David Viar, Deb Thompson and GCC Visual & Performing Arts Chair, David Attyah are thrilled with our collaboration – as we all are!
colored serigraphs, two black and white and boldly graphic artworks and naturalistic compositions of cakes, musicians and other subjects. The chosen artworks were removed from their frames, professionally photographed in high resolution, and then digitally printed on wrapped canvases with a uniform size. This work was funded by a generous grant of $5,000 from the Glendale College Foundation. The resulting enlivened space of bold reproductions created a welcome addition to the study area and has been warmly received by students, staff and faculty alike. Please drop in to the GCC library to view the results of the Associates collaboration with the greater Glendale community. Visit the GCC website www.glendale.edu for parking information and Library hours. Collaborations coming up: Artwork from the Associates collections will be placed in offices and conference rooms at the Glendale Central Library and for sale in the Friends of the Library book store. Our next newsletter will present more information.
A HAPPY ART-FILLED 2018 TO EVERYONE!
MESSAGE
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et’s start the year from ARLENE VIDOR with a big shout out to the Brand Library & Art Center staff. Caley Cannon, Blair Whittington, Shannon Currie Holmes and their teams have raised the caliber of offerings at Brand to a level being noticed by our entire region and other parts of the country. A heartfelt thanks to the Brand Associates Board Members for their dedication and hard work as well as each and every member of our organization for enriching our community.
President,
Brand Associates
BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT
Arlene Vidor VICE PRESIDENT
Simon Wright SECRETARY
Debra Thompson TREASURER
Mary Jamora
As a newly appointed Arts & Culture Commissioner I’m excited to be involved in development of the City of Glendale’s Public Arts Master Plan (PAMP).
MEMBERSHIP CHAIR & FUNDRAISING
What is the PAMP? It’s a defined program to be implemented by the City of Glendale to realize art in public places all over Glendale, utilizing both the City’s Urban Art Fund and other supplemental funding sources.
Jean Simon
What is the Urban Art Fund? The UAF is an accumulation of monies representing 1% of the valuation of new large scale development projects. The money in this fund must be carefully allocated to public art projects by the Commission to ensure long term benefit to the City. The fund contains almost 7 million dollars as of this writing. The PAMP is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2018. In the meantime, ideas from the public are being collected via the “Courbanize.com” website. Visit that site to share your ideas and read what people are saying. The final public meeting will occur on February 1, 2018. See boxed announcement. Remember….In Glendale ART CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE!
Debra Burchett-Lere DIRECTOR
EX OFFICIO
Caley Cannon Acting Library Supervisor ADVISORY
Nina Crowe Glendale Arts
Joy Feuer
Art From the Ashes
Jamie Nichols Celebrate Dance
Hilary Thomas
Lineage Dance Company NEWSLETTER LAYOUT
Judy Walker
The City of Glendale invites you to help shape the future of public art in our city!
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Scott Lasken
What kinds of public art would you like to see in your neighborhood in Glendale? Share your ideas and comments on how to beautify our public spaces and help make our city a more enjoyable place to live, work and play. Join in the lively conversation about common themes and recommendations that will be included in the Public Art Master Plan as the Arts & Culture Commission and their consultant team, Community Arts Resources (CARS) and Barbara Goldstein share next steps in the development of a successful public art program in Glendale! WHEN AND WHERE
EL MIRADERO SPONSOR Pogosyan Care Foundation LESLIE COOMBS BRAND SPONSOR Arlene Vidor Estate of Mary Owens
Thursday, February 1, 2018 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Glendale Adult Recreation Center 201 E Colorado St, 91205 Free & open to all. Light refreshments will be provided. Free parking validation provided for the Marketplace Parking Structure (120 S Maryland Ave).
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NATHANIEL DRYDEN PATRONS Sally Currie Mary Jamora Debra Thompson and Lawrence Riff David and Jane Viar Glendale Adventist Medical Center
Tour the Brand Library & Art Center
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ou’ll discover fascinating things about the architecture, history and current cultural offerings of Brand Library by taking one of our monthly tours. All tours are an hour long, free, and open to the public. Our docents are Joemy Wilson and Jackie Davis, two great local history and Brand Library enthusiasts. They’ve both put on serious mileage as tour guides and are looking forward to showing you around.
Meet our Tour Docents address to Caley Canon at ccannnon@GlendaleCA.gov. You can also RSVP directly to info@brandlibrary.org or call 818-548-2051. TOUR DATES Saturdays, 9:30 - 10:30 am, Wear comfortable shoes
Tours are limited to 25 people so you must sign up in advance through the Brand Library Meet Up App. If you want to be notified and are not already receiving notices via Meet Up, send your email
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Oct. 20
Joemy Wilson
Jackie Davis
Joemy guides tours at the Doctors House Museum and other Glendale Historical Society tours. She also develops narratives for the house’s exhibits. She was previously an international tour guide and wrote a popular guide book specifically for professional guides entitled “Coming up on Your Left”. Joemy, in the past year, has expanded the Brand Library tour narrative to include many formerly undiscovered facts.
Jackie Davis is currently a docent for The Glendale Historical Society ands and Pasadena Heritage tours. She also has docented for Edmands House, a 1917 National Register home in Pasadena as well as for the Doctors House Museum. In 2015, Jackie coordinated a series of neighborhood walks for TGHS, including the stone houses in the Highway Highlands area of north Glendale.
Brand Associates Holiday Reception at Tufenkian Fine Arts
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ur winter holiday event on December 6 afforded Brand Associates members a look at Glendale’s fine art gallery, Tufenkian Fine Arts. Gallery owner Caroline Tufenkian walked us through the 4,500 square foot gallery with our refreshments in hand, and explained the works on view created by Hagop Hagopian (1923 - 2013). Hagopian’s minimal landscapes in muted palette of soft, somber colors often include symbolic objects that defy explanation. We were mesmerized by this unusual artist. The main gallery features exhibitions, talks and the writings of both local and internationally based artists. The smaller 2nd floor space features a ‘project space’ for artists working across a diverse range of mediums. All Glendalians should be proud to have a gallery of such high caliber in our midst. Thank you Caroline for allowing us to host a special event with you. Debra Burchett-Lere examines a Hagopian monograph in the reading area of the gallery while Caroline Tufenkian looks on.
A new gallery: Tufenkian Fine Arts at 216 N. Louise St. is a significant addition to Glendale’s art scene.
Photo: Byron Taylor
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News from the Robert Brown Collection
Two copies of the Robert Brown’s “Harbor Theme” Mural Discovered! displaying it in their homes. And now we know where the Beverly Hilton edition of Brown’s mural ended up.
Photo Nicole Lebby
Unbelievably, the same week George Helms contacted us, Nicole Lebby of the Washington, D.C. area also reached out. She was searching for information on her Harbor Theme mural. Nicole inherited her mural from her grandmother-in-law, Harriet Lebby, upon her passing in 2016. She believes Harriet, an artist, musician and civic leader, acquired the mural while living in Cleveland. In an inventory of Harriet’s possessions there appeared “Harbor Theme, Robert Brown” in a list of artworks.
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he most significant artwork in our Robert Brown collection is 1 copy of the 50 print limited edition run of “Harbor Theme”, an 8 foot mural of extraordinary serigraphic complexity. Brown created this mural in 1955 for the newly built Beverly Hilton Hotel. Other than our copy (which has a piece missing) and knowledge we have of the Beverly Hilton mural (which had disappeared), we knew of no other existing copies. Until now. George Helms III of Benton, CA, contacted us in late 2017 to inform us that he has the mural from the Beverly Hilton Hotel, passed down from his grandmother Carolyn Helms, who acquired it sometimes in the 1960s. It was later passed to his parents and then ultimately to him. Therefore, three generations of their family have enjoyed
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Robert Brown’s Harbor Theme mural graces the wall of Nicole Lebby’s living room in Rockville, Maryland.
Both George and Nicole display their murals proudly in their homes and are very curious to know more about them. Many questions remain and we hope to reach out via the internet to discover if anyone else is in possession of one of the 48 unaccounted for prints. Thank you George Helms and Nicole Lebby for contacting us!
George Helms of Benton, California and daughter Alexandrea-Silver Helms pose proudly in front of the Robert Brown Mural acquired by their family from the Beverly Hilton Hotel many decades ago.
California Chapter of the Art Libraries Society.
Congratulations Caley Cannon, newly appointed Supervisor of the Brand Library.
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aley Cannon has been promoted to the position of Senior Library, Arts & Culture Supervisor at Brand Library & Art Center, replacing Cathy Billings. Caley joined the Glendale team in 2014 as the Librarian Specialist for Art at Brand Library. From the start, she began to develop many innovative programs for Brand Library, including Make It! family craft program, BookSmaARTS author talks, the Book to Art Club and the newly reconfigured Dance Series. Prior to joining the City of Glendale she held positions as research librarian for the arts at Florida State University and Savannah College of Art and Design. Caley received Master’s degrees in Art History and Library & Information Science from Pratt Institute in New York. She is an active member of the Art Libraries Society of North America, currently serving as Chair of their Public Policy Committee working to monitor governmental activities affecting art libraries. She is also serving as Secretary of the Southern
Caley is a regular speaker at conferences and community groups to increase outreach and awareness of Brand Library and the importance of the arts. In her new role, Caley plans to continue to grow the many excellent programs, services and collections that Brand offers. Plans are already underway for the 2018 Dance Series. This year, Caley received an additional $14,000 funding from Glendale for collection development which was utilized to expand the popular children’s art book collection as well as resources for adults. Caley’s passion for the arts and familiarity with Brand are a perfect match in her new position.
Caley Cannon helped to expand the children’s “Make It” program and bring the dance series outside, with Invertigo Dance Theatre.
Meet Nikki Winslow, Assistant Director for the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Department.
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ikki Winslow, Library, Arts & Culture Assistant Director, oversees Public Service for the entire library system, as well as Technical Services and Library Information Services. She came to Glendale in March 2017 from Nevada, where she was Branch Manager at the Spring Valley Library of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District. Nikki graduated from The University of Las Vegas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 2001 and from the University of North Texas with a Master’s of Library and Information Science in 2005. Her background also includes working with a diverse library patronage and immigrants focused on ESL and Citizenship training. She enjoys championing the countless varied resources a 21st century library system has to offer including the ever-increasing online resources. Coincidentally, Nikki arrived in Glendale six weeks before the re-opening of the Central Library. She helped
prepare the library with a new staffing model and implemented new services, such as the MakerSpace and SoundSpace. She has also enjoyed overseeing Brand Library & Art Center, including hiring and working with the newly appointed Senior Library Supervisor, Caley Cannon. Say’s Nikki, “When I have out of town visitors, a tour of Brand Library is always at the top of the list – the setting, the architecture, the restoration, the activities and exhibits are all breathtaking.” She looks forward to helping Brand build more community partnerships; in fact, she recently attended a meeting with Brand Staff, Brand Associates directors and Glendale art teachers to start planning coordinated activities. Nikki and her husband of over 20 years have three children, Alyssa, 18, a Freshman at Boise State University, Caitlynn, 16, and Landon, 11. She also LOVES the local weather in her enthusiastic pursuit of a year-round tennis hobby.
The Plaza series is always a big hit and here the audience dances to the swinging sounds of The California Feetwarmers
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A few highlights from a great 2017 Thank you, Irene Yesley, for your kind words about taking part in our Brand 45 Works on Paper Exhibition! Irene is from Washington State and exhibits her work extensively throughout the United States. Visit iyesley.com
Cindy Jackson’s sculpure from the exibition Man Made Exhibition.
Viver Brasil gets the crowd into rhythm.
Holiday open house was a three ring circus of revelry, live music, and art-making. The U.S. Air Force Band Of the Golden West is a favorite at Brand.
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The Exhibition “One Year: Politics in LA had critical acclaim and a large viewing audience.
Brand Associates Members ~ Thank You So Much!
ARTS PATRON - $1,000+ Mary Jamora Pogosyan Care Foundation David & Jane Viar
BRAND PATRON $500 - $1000
Anonymous Jack Chicca & May Kwan Greg Grammer & Simon Wright Arlene Vidor
PATRON - $250 - $500
Sigrid Burton & Max Brennan Sam Francis Foundation Alan Gelman Catherine Jurca Keith Knueven Elvira Munoz & Bob Geoghegan
SUPPORTER $100 - $249
Jeri Anderson John Ballou & Elizabeth Vitanza Irene Bourdon - Glendale Adventist Gerald Brommer Carol & Ron Brusha Debra Burchett-Lere Gina Caradonna Randy & Janice Carter Kirk & Stella Cartozian Steven Chapman Cindy & William Cleary Jordan & Elizabeth Cohen Greg & Teri Colley [California Art Company] Craig Cragnotti Gerri & Art Cragnotti Arlette Der Hovanessian Peggy Dionne Rosamund Felsen Joy & Roland Feuer Marie Fish Carolyn & Arthur Flemming Jonathan Grayson Marcia Hanford Brian Haworth Kathleen Henkel Fawaz Kaba Barbara Kaleta Diane Lambillotte Scott & Victoria Lasken Paul Lombardi Patricia McNamara Donald McPoland Mark & Susan Meliander Hector Montejano Tamara O’Connor Joan Palmer Mr. & Mrs. Norman Perry Janet Peterson Irena Raulinaitis Leanne Reynolds Bill Shepherd Patty Silversher Jean Simone
Samuel R. & Kay B. Snodgrass Byron Taylor & Cindy Dugger Debra Thompson Caroline & Greg Tufenkian Elaine Wilkerson Joemy Wilson
SUSTAINING - $50 - $99
Laurel Lee Anderson Patrice Atiee Dr. & Mrs. Stanley Block Stuart & Stella Blond Sharla & Mark Bohman Caley Cannon Nina Crowe Sally Currie Dr. Hasmik Danielian Joyce Dean Sophie Feldman Kathy & Steve Fogel Laurie & John Friend Carol Gaspar Gary Hart & Jane Brown Erik Hentell Ann Howitt Stephen Jerrome Edith & Apostol Livitsanos Dr. & Mrs. Magallon Roberta Medford Louise Peebles Melody Peterson Jim & Julie Richards Gloria Williams Sander Gigi & Jim Schlueter Luchus Smith Bill Steeber & Barbara Greenlaw Kathleen Takakuwa Bonese Collins Turner Benita Bike Wallraff Lucy Wang & Tom Halpern Rondi Werner Mark Woods Philip Young
INDIVIDUAL, SENIOR & STUDENT - $20 - $49
Srboohie Abajian Gilbert Acuna Linda Johnstone Allen Jill Andreoni Mary Anton Mania Badmagzian Mary Baldwin Valerie Bassett Sean Bersell & Heather Norris Marie Bezjian Cathy Billings Thelma Borman Ken Bryant - Art and Uncommon Design Joanne Burger Ana Maria Caillet-Bois Sonia Calleja Marjorie Camusi Christine Casaus Rosemary Chiaverini Vincent Cicone
Russell Cinque, Jr. Richard Conti Ariane David Teri Deaver Patricia Donnellan Nancy Call Dowey Peter Duckles Louise Farr Elena Feldman Robert Felker Mark Frankel - Arroyo Design Laura Friedman Claire Frith Nare Garibyan Janna & Craig Gosselin Carol Grosz Dr. Armine Hacopian Linda & Joel Hahn Rachel Halsey Lori Hartwell Joanne Hedge Angela Hernandez Catherine Hrenda Connie Humberger Mary Hylan Ivar Johnson Joanna Johnson Ratna Jones Wendy Juleff Janet & Chris Jung Elise Kalfayan Jackie Karvas Diane Kightlinger Paul Klees Hendy Klinger Liselotte Koerner Nancy Kupka Nancy Lahey Nachama Larsen John Lee Patricia Lee Tiffany Lewis Judd Lieberman Alan Linnemeyer Rosanne & Don Longtain Sumiko Loughran Lise Loy Shawn & Kat Lyon Nick Macierz & Gary Freeman Marie Mazei David & Rosemary McNutt Judith Melton Nancy Michael Rodica Mondocea Grant Mudford Kathy Musial Keren Ness Jamie Nichols Deanne O’Brien Yumi Oshima Jeanne Marie Ostro Louise Phelan Frances Ramirez-Needle in a Haystack Lois Ramirez Jackie Raskin Rebecca Rees Leni Richardson
Shant Sahakian Jamel Saibi Concepion Maria Sanford Laura Sarley Stephanie Schus & Joe Russin Elizabeth Setton Jenkins Shannon Mary Sharp Ronnie Swire-Siegel Scott Smissen Don Snyder Christine Spayth Mary Strenn Kara Tome & Gail Walker Kris Torres Brit Trydal Patricia Turner Melinda Utalo-Martinez Lorna Vartanian Joylene Wagner Joan Westgate Lincoln Wheeler Barbara Wilks Clarli Wilson Steven Woodruff Katherine Yamada Kathy Yoshimi Ralph Ziegler Roswitha Zunder Isabella Zuralski-Yeager
ELECTED HONORARY MEMBERS Pat Zeider - Former Brand Library Supervisor Laurel Patric - Former Director of Libraries Jan Reilly - Robert Brown Collection Donor
PAST PRESIDENTS
1969-70 1970-71 1971-73 1973-75 1975-77 1975-79 1979-80 1980-82 1982-84 1984-86 1986-89 1989-91 1991-03 1993-98 1998-01 2001-04 2004-05 2005-07 2007-08 2008-10
Jeanette Hunter Newton (d) Elliott House Kathryn Hull Bill Wolfe (d) Betty Crosby Duane Hagen Beverly Duncan Ursula Gleason Edie Debney Mary Lee Higgins Robert Seelos (d) Howard Jacobson (d) Marge Marston Cathy Morrison Robert W. Seelos (d) Jane Friend (d) Sally MacAller Steve Hedrick Ripsime Maraashian Barbara Thorne-Otto
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NONPROFIT ORG U.S.POSTAGE PAID GLENDALE, CA PERMIT NO. 503 1601 W. Mountain St. Glendale, CA 91201-1209 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
A 501(c)3 all-volunteer, nonprofit organization whose mission is to sponsor and promote the Brand Library & Art Center as an arts, cultural, educational, and historic resource for the region.
How do we accomplish our mission? We sponsor free arts and cultural programming. We support special programs, permanent collections, and library infrastructure. We develop a strong base of members and donors. Get involved and join the Brand Associates. You can read more about our goals and activities and join online at www.associatesofbrand.org Like us on Facebook
Szalt Dances performs with the Natural Selections gallery exhibition.