President’s Message On behalf of all members of the Pasadena Society of Artists, I welcome you to our 96th Annual Juried Exhibition at Whites Fine Art Gallery with a beautiful online display eliminating the geographic constraints to viewing. Since 1925 we have had our annual juried exhibition in local reputable galleries. It is exciting to now also include a virtual gallery of our work. PSA, as ever, maintains a high standard among its membership and continues its purpose to provide a place for Pasadena artists to exhibit. Throughout the year the Exhibitions Committee of the Society offers members multiple opportunities to share their work; however, the annual show remains the centerpiece of quality and diverse work. During these strange times, and any time really, I wholeheartedly appreciate the beautiful, thought-provoking, and intriguing work being created, as it makes life more meaningful. I encourage you to stay connected with our exhibitions, website and members to keep the magic close. Shaney Watters President
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 96th 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.
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