Many artistic movements characterized the American art scene in the period from 1960 to 1985. But the dominant one was probably pop art with Abstract Expressionism running a close second.

Note that because this period is so recent it is rich with art. Time has not yet sorted out the wheat from the chaff; nor more importantly, has it found the rubies buried in the mine of contemporary prejudice -- so that the artists represented are some who are currently viewed as important, and some are just included because of personal whimsy and appreciation.

The fortunes and 'importance' of past artists have made major changes as art critics and historians have reevaluated particular artists. Much as the art hype affects the reputation of contemporary artists today.

Examples of these changing fortunes from the past abound. The classic example is Vermeer who would have remained unappreciated if Théophile Thoré, a French art critic, didn't bother to resurrect Vermeer's art reputation in the middle of the 19th century. He is now considered by many as one of the great painters of his period. This process of historical selection (and hype) is wildly random and generally only the taste of relatively few critics and museum curators affect reputations.

Occasionally the people have a say in the process -- for example Norman Rockwell who critics and museums shunned for decades has continued to have what appears to be a genuine appreciation from the public. Now museums and art critics have begun to follow with what appears to be an appreciation for Rockwell's artistic talent and story telling ability. Or perhaps it is only museum directors giving in to Rockwell's massive public appeal which may be partially or even fully motivated by Mammon.

What this says about the collection in this museum is that it is as biased as any other museum and it will be as short sighted as well.

Paul Cadmus

born: New York, NY, US; 17 December 1904
died: Weston, CT, US; 12 December 1999

  George Claire Tooker

born: Brooklyn, NY, US; 5 August 1920
lives in: Hartland, Vermont, US

Jan Stussy
Frederick Grant Stussy

born: Benton County, MO, US; 1921
died: Los Angeles, CA, US; 31 July 1990

Untitled
1985
Tigertail Associates
Los Angeles, CA, US

Richard Diebenkorn

born: Portland, OR, US; 1922
died: Portland, Or, US; 1993

Trained at the University of Southern California, and the University of California Berkeley. Spent most of his life living in California.

Blue
1984

Studio Corner

Oceanpark 67
1973

  Charles Garabedian

born: Detroit, MI, US; 1923
lives: Santa Monica, CA, US

Charles Garabedian is a Los Angeles artist who has hammered out a style of figurative abstraction revolving around symbols and themes drawn from Greek mythology.

Able was I ere I saw elbA
1985