The above version of events may be more myth than history.
According to Joe Vangsness, who followed Richard as President, a group of members, including himself, actively campaigned to elect
Diana Farran as President in 1980, unseating the old guard led by Al Muenzenthaler. Farran, along with Don Llanuza who followed her as President, reached out and opened up the club to many new members - doubling the membership rolls.
Which is not to say that Richard's presidency was not important - especially for me!
I had always assumed that the club was a stuffy group of old guys who painted by numbers.
Then, while relaxing in front of the television one Sunday evening, I happened to see a program about art in Chicago on WTTW --- and it featured a bunch of young painters gathered around an old master named Richard Schmid. Their enthusiasm was contagious.
A few months later I was a member - and monitoring a sculpture workshop in the coach house that I still monitor today.
On his gallery label in this show, Clayton Beck notes that he also studied with Ted Smuskiewicz at the American Academy - while Ted's website notes that all of the other artists in this show studied with him as well.
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CLAYTON BECK III
SCOTT BURDICK
ROSE FRANTZEN
NANCY GUZIK
SUSAN LYON
ROMEL DE LA TORRE
Lovely! This one feels so much like the classical recreations of Alma-Tadema
RICHARD SCHMID
This landscape, as well as the nude posted above it, were loaned to this show by its organizer,
Val Yachik.
Val has been dreaming of making a Schmid and students exhibition happen ever since he became President, almost fifteen years ago.
He has finally succeeded.
Congratulations!
The 2007 version is just a workshop demo, but this is still a fascinating opportunity to view two portraits of Clayton Beck done about twenty years apart.
T
