Institutions and the artistic community: new perspectives on Los Angeles urban art history

Interest in Los Angeles cultural history has been revived in recent times in large part through efforts of major museums in the area. Prior to these efforts, the predominant narrative of the development of American modern art focused on the East Coast. However, from 1915 to 1960, although only a span of 45 years, Los Angeles underwent a significant increase in avant-garde institutions. At least four schools of visual and performance art and three, if not more, major galleries began to operate during these years in addition to changes in infrastructure, political swings, and artistic movements from within the city. The institutions discussed include the Chouinard Art Institute, Otis School of Art and Design, The Art Center School, and Denishawn School of Dance among others. All establishments originated in Westlake/MacArthur Park, a fact few credit the area for. Later, these schools moved to other areas, among which Chouinard became the Disney-affiliate Cal Arts. In this thesis, I recreate the art scene that existed within Westlake/MacArthur Park during the early to mid 20th century, and propose a shift in the focus of art history from individual creative artists to the institutions and societies who inspired these individuals. Such an approach provides the student of modern art history with a better understanding of the influences of the artists that have founded the different fields of contemporary art visible today such as modern dance, animation, illustration, pop art, industrial design, and zone photography. The founders of Denishawn created the first school and community of modern dancers who would support each other at a time when their movement lacked respect among contemporary dancers. Ultimately, their students created their own styles of modern dance that is uniquely American. Chouinard Art Institute’s emphasis on technique mastery in illustration and painting inspired its artists to join new fields of animation, watercolor, and pop art among others. Art Center’s focus on employment for artists in industry inspired its leaders to create the first school on the West Coast to create a training program in industrial design as well as innovative training in supporting fields such as on advertising, and commercial photography. To the current students of these schools, Westlake is but another urban location. However, there are a number of significant reasons why Westlake housed these fledgling art schools in the 20th century. With its galleries and supply shops, scenic park and proximity to downtown, nearby mansions and hotels, Westlake became a magnet for artists during the early to mid 1900s. The wealthy individuals who owned these mansions and hotels around the area provided galleries and capital that funded artists in the community. This thesis traces the origins and later settlements of the schools and other art affiliates from the community with an emphasis on how the graduates and faculty of these institutions influenced West Coast American modern art. It is largely to the credit of these institutions that arenas of art like the California Watercolor Movement, Industrial Design, Zone photography, Modern Dance, as well as the more recent Pop Art and Light and Space mediums and methods hallmark the contributions of West Coast art as discussed in this work.