President’s Message & Short PSA History

President’s Message

On behalf of all members of the Pasadena Society of Artists, I welcome you to our 95th Annual Juried Exhibition at Whites Fine Art Gallery and online. Since 1925, we have had our annual juried exhibition in local reputable galleries. Due to the pandemic, we are creating exhibitions with the help of members who master the digital technologies needed for virtual exhibitions and publications.

Our founders called for a membership based on a high standard, with only art “of real merit” accepted. To this day, PSA maintains that same standard, along with an increase in membership cultural diversity. A variety of artistic expression and media is seen in the fine art of approximately 125 members. PSA thrives with the leadership of an elected Board of Directors, committee chairs, and an impressive list of dedicated volunteers.

We are beginning our plans for our centennial celebration in April 2025, which will be a major exhibition plus satellite exhibitions and art programs in and around Pasadena. I invite you to visit our website often to stay in touch with our activities and become acquainted with our member artists.

Victor Picou President 2013-2020

The Pasadena Society of Artists wishes to acknowledge and thank the Jeanne Ward Foundation for its continuing support.

The Pasadena Society of Artists wishes to acknowledge and thank the Pasadena Arts League for its support.

A Short History of the Pasadena Society of Artists and the Annual Juried Exhibition

The Pasadena Society of Artists came into being in early 1925. Benjamin C. Brown, the “dean of Pasadena painters,” sent out a notice to local painters to discuss the formation of a society for local artists. The consensus was that the Pasadena Society of Artists should be formed. Attending this meeting were Benjamin C. Brown, Edward B. Butler, Maud Daggett, Antoinette De Forest Merwin, Louis Hovey Sharp, F. Carl Smith, Orrin A. White, Wallace LeRoy De Wolff, and Frederick A. Zimmerman. Seven more artists then joined PSA to form the founding charter members. They were Herbert V. B. Acker, F. Tolles Chamberlin, Alson S. Clark, John “Jack” Frost, Jean Mannheim, Katherine B. Stetson and Marion Wachtel.

It has been suggested that PSA was formed out of the desire of the founders to exhibit their contemporary work, which was not acceptable in exhibitions of the California Art Club. The first Annual Juried Exhibition was presented in April 1925 at the Pasadena Art Institute located in Carmelita Park, now the site of the Norton Simon Art Museum. The PSA founders stated that “the standard will be high and only work of real merit will be accepted.” Every year since 1925 PSA has presented an Annual Juried Exhibition, this year being the 95th Annual. For more than 50 years PSA exhibited at the Pasadena Art Institute/Pasadena Art Museum in addition to presenting Annuals at various institutions throughout southern California. PSA continues to adhere to the guiding statement of the founders by accepting new members by juried submission. 2