ANNUAL MEETING SVMA REMARKS

Remarks to SVMA Annual Meeting

March 24, 2016

These are the final remarks I gave at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art's Annual Meeting held on March 24th, 2016.

It seems that several centuries ago Jim Callahan interviewed me for a position on the board of the newish Sonoma Valley Museum of Art. It was 2002 or 3 as I recall.    While we were hardly new residents of Sonoma having come in 1994 as weekenders, still it seemed as if I might finally get a chance to contribute to an important cultural asset in Sonoma.  It was a three year commitment which I did not take it lightly. In those days it was all hands on deck, and I remember being the “closer” on weekends so that we did not have to hire a security service to close the museum. 

By the time Kim and I went to Rome in 2005 the then President Martha Rosenblatt had enlisted me to serve as President on our return from the American Academy and after the term of the skilled Kathe Hodgson.  We returned in February of 2006 and I became the President of the Board in March of that year.   Our then ED, Lia Transue and I met every Friday.  The exhibitions kept getting better and our budget kept getting higher.  Making the budget stay in the black will always be a chore and a challenge, and it was no less so then. But even though it was hard work, I thought it was a great club to be in.  If Mirja Muncey was at the door, it was hard to escape her “invitation” to join the museum.  Callahan kept working hard as did Harriet Derwingson, Martha, Kathe and the rest of our hard working board.  I managed to complete my two year commitment in March of 2008 and returned to the Board for another year in the past president’s chair.  In that period of time we honored Charlotte Lamb and memorialized her by raising 300k for what we called the Charlotte Lamb Fund.  This money later was the rainy day fund for the Museum during the recession of 2008 to 2011. 

In 2009 Kate the great Eilertsen arrived fresh from the Craft world of the California College of the Arts (and Craft) and after curating one of the greatest exhibitions I have ever seen at the Buena Vista Art Center.  A show by Nick Cave that left me breathless in its depth and understanding of the artist.  She had the touch and the exhibits once again moved forward to new heights. 

The exhibition committee took a chance on a novice curator in 20010-11 and allowed me to curate a handmade book show.  It was my first effort; it was a blast and an experience I’ll forever remember.  It was an exciting show paired with the offerings of another unknown, David Hockney.  It made me feel very alive to be on the art side rather than the board.  I did another exhibition along side Larry Thomas in 2012 featuring handmade papers from all over the world.  Along with Katherine Kunst, Stan Abercrombie and Paul Vieryra, we created a different universe in the back of the museum.  Once again the making and showing of art and craft made me feel creative and alive.  As my boss, Kate was completely involved in making me feel comfortable and very wanted.  In my opinion, I failed to create a “great” show but it was professional and very well received.  Katherine’s art piece on the ceiling of the museum made from paper from all over the world was a highlight.  Larry Thomas’s accompanying art work was transformative and enlightened us all. 

Finally, I was free from all the museum commitments and was a happy spectator in the gallery.  It felt good, but I missed the place more than I had thought I would. 

If you have noticed, things in life have a way of coming around and that’s what happened to me at SVMA.  As that champion Gerry Snedaker entered his final months in the office of the President of the Board, the board’s incoming President, Jill Spencer, had to return to Texas to take care of her family.  She was highly qualified to do the job and her loss was unfortunate. 

Gerry took me to lunch and suggested that I come back for a couple of years to be President of the Board.  Not surprisingly, I was very honored to be asked but not terribly keen to take it on.  My incredible wife, Kimberly, suggested that I had been around the house a little too much and I should consider the offer.  In any case, my ego having been massaged by both Gerry and Kim enabled me to say yes, and I returned in March of 2013.

It was not an easy time for culture and the usual wrestling match for money in the non profit world was taking place.  With the assistance of a remarkable board, we were able to return to budget to the black.  It could not have happened without our exec committee of Yvonne Hall, Doug Wilson, Gary Hultquist and Jane Milotich.  Many others on our board showed up, too and I thank you all for your help. 

Today, as I look at the first year of Doug Wilson’s presidency, I see only positives.  An engaged and working board, a super executive committee and a skilled new ED, ready to take us to a new level.  A new financial set of metrics that will enable us to stretch to another new high will also make the sky the limit and a public perception that we are bringing culture and art to a new and higher standard in this unique lovely community.

In any case, it sounds like a great time to get out of Dodge.  I have served for over 9 years as a board member, twice as Board President and curated two shows between stints and as an advisor when not on the board.

It has been a privilege and honor beyond what I am able to describe to be involved in this cultural treasure in our small village.  I will never forget that you asked me to come back.  I will be hovering around the fringes, waiting and watching your sure to be successful new era with Linda Cano.

Deep thanks and appreciation to you for letting me serve.

DIEBENKORN AT SONOMA VALLEY MUSEUM OF ART

By Simon Blattner

The Intimate Diebenkorn, which opened to the public at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art on Saturday June 6 and runs through August 23, is an exhibition that should draw local and Bay Area art junkies to the museum throughout its entire run.  Curated by the esteemed, local and heavily collected artist Chester Arnold for the Diebenkorn Foundation, the exhibition contains over 50 works of art on paper and ranges throughout his entire career including early and late abstractions, drawings, collages, watercolors, and gouaches.  The exhibit illustrates the exceptional range and evolution of the artist. 

Much of this work was displayed several years ago at the College of Marin where Arnold has taught for over 20 years. Mr. Arnold told me that while all people associated with the art world know of Diebenkorn, most have never seen his work.  This is a wonderful opportunity to discover a world famous artist in our own local cultural treasure.

I have been a fan of Diebenkorn for over thirty years, and I was amazed by the variety of styles, sketches, and drawings that are presented in this show.  Many of the artist’s most famous pieces are large and distinctive.  The smaller pieces here are sketches, figurative work, and drawings, many of which led to the larger pieces but stand on their own.  By the time you leave the show you will never fail to recognize the distinctive work of this renowned artist again.  Simple, unique and approachable, this body of work captures attention and leaves a lasting impression. 

Above all, for the viewer this is an understandable and easy to walk through exhibition.  As always, the museum looks professional, respects the range of work and the space allows the art to be intellectual and personable at the same time.  It is our good fortune to have Chester Arnold in our community.  He is the consummate artist and curator and his choices shine in this space. 

Chester Arnold reported on assembling the exhibit, “I was constantly reminded of the urgency and vitality that drawing can embody, and how the opportunity to look and reflect on what we see holds rewards that cannot easily be quantified”.  He is right on, and this is a great opportunity for SVMA and its audience to see both Diebenkorn and the curatorial skills of a local talent.  It can’t miss - lots of small powerful drawings and sketches and pieces we have never seen.  Well done, Chester. 

The Diebenkorn Foundation and Kelly’s Cove Press have published “From the Model” by Richard Diebenkorn which will make a needed addition to your art library.  It is a great buy at $20.00. 

There are some excellent lectures and events connected to the exhibition:

Saturday, June 13, 2pm Tension Beneath Calm: Diebenkorn’s Figurative Work Stephen A. Nash, former Executive Director, Palm Springs Art Museum	Tues. & Thurs., July 14 & 16, 1-3pm Spotlight Seminar: Richard Diebenkorn Two-part, small-group seminar with Ann Wiklund $45 svma members | $55 general public, includes cost of book, The Art of Richard Diebenkorn
Saturday, July 11, 2pm A Daughter’s Perspective Gretchen Diebenkorn Grant	Saturday, July 18, 2pm Closely Considered – Diebenkorn in Berkeley Jan Wurm, artist and Exhibitions Director, Richmond Art Center
All talks are $10 for svma members; $15 general public

Simon Blattner was President of the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art from 2006-2008 and 2013 - March of 2015.  He remains a member of the museum board.   

New Years Blog - 2015

New Years Blog-2015

January 5, 2015

It was a very hectic Holiday season for Kimberly and me.  It started early and stayed late.  By the time we got to a wonderful Christmas Eve at our daughter’s house in San Francisco, I was beat.  All along it had been our plan to go to Los Angeles for a few days.  I love it down there: the weather is about 10 degrees hotter, there are no meetings, few distractions, and no real plans.  Just play Paddle Tennis in the morning, something around art in the afternoon, then a movie and dinner.  We argue about how much we are going to do.  I think we should only try to do 3 things a day but Kimbo thinks about 5.  We generally settle on 4.  We always stay in Venice Beach and this time in a small bungalow off of one of the “walk streets.”  While it was several blocks from where I wanted to be, still it was only a couple of blocks from the beach. 

We took our dog, Bodhi, and the new Mustang and set off for LA after a sweet Christmas day with our grandchildren.  They are very grown up, and we rarely get enough time with them since they’re away at college during the school year and working in the summers.  They gave us stockings stuffed with all the things we used to put in their stockings: toothpaste, gum, soap, candy etc - very clever and funny.  The drive down is routine and on Christmas day crowded as usual.  From SF, it was an easy 5-1/2 hour drive into the driveway at our spot in VB just as the sun was going down.  We walked down to Abbot-Kinney for dinner and even on Christmas Day had lots of choices.  

Up early in the AM and off to the Public Paddle Tennis pavilion on the beach where I immediately caught up with my coach from our last visit, Gino Berjarano.  What a nice guy.  A good teacher and an excellent player who has developed many champions on these perfect courts.  We had a great time and a perfect lesson remembering all the tricks of what is called “paddle”.  I remembered again why I want to build a paddle court in Sonoma.  It’s a terrific game for overage tennis and squash players with not much movement required but lots of eye hand coordination.  Of course, it is a different game for the younger set and singles is very physical.  I am determined to try and get something built in Sonoma asap.  Thinking of Depot Park. 

Kimberly, Bodhi, and Me at the Paddle Tennis Court.

Our pattern didn’t change much for the next five days: movies, art, paddle, dog park, restaurants for dinner and quiet times. 

Every year we go to the Hammer, which is the museum of the great university, UCLA.  It is dedicated to Armand Hammer who had a broad collection that he donated to start the Museum.  On one of our previous trips, we had occasion to meet the Director, Annie Philbin, who is a well known and respected museum person and she gave us a behind-the-scenes view of running the museum.  This year one of the showcased exhibitions was by Jim Hodges who had tall installations of three dimension cutouts – white leaves and fluttery – really terrific.  But in general for a museum with a fine reputation, I didn’t think they had anything going on that was more than ordinary.  Perhaps I am spoiled by what it takes to make a exhibition outstanding, but in Sonoma, we are very lucky to have a small museum that works on a shoestring but produces terrific shows.  The Hammer has lots of assets and many people including guards, security, store folks, and curators, as well as mucho marble stairs and fancy lighting, but this time it  disappointed from the electric moments that can occur when it all works. 

The next day we trekked north along the coast to the Getty Villa.  It always meets my highest expectation with its remarkable and scenic setting, fantastic presentation of Greek and Roman treasures, concise narratives about the work and peerless decoration.  It never disappoints. 

The weather in LA started turning the day before New Year’s Eve so we headed back up the 5 in big time traffic.  The wind was blowing and the cars were playing bumper tag at about 80 MPH.  No fun, but doable, and home to our own bed.  As usual, my patient partner probably didn’t like So Cal as much as I did, but oh, that Paddle Tennis. 

At my age, it goes without saying that we will continue to lose friends, pals, public figures and relatives.  2014 was a tough year with some very big losses.  One can only hope that they are no longer in pain or at least their friends have made a little peace with their absence.  I have mentioned some of them in earlier blogs, but the loss of Stuart Scott, a seminal sports reporter and announcer at 49 was way too early.  As to Kent Larson, Nancy Tracey, and Arnie Scher, I take their loss personally.  It is my hope that I will remember to take each and everyday as a gift.  It is important to be here now, be mindful, and savor each intake of our breath. 

A Grateful Holiday

November 28, 2014

My favorite holiday of every year is Thanksgiving.  It is an American invention, families get together to celebrate, it eliminates politics, and if you’re lucky, the food is good and plentiful.

That said, it has its pitfalls.  For some families the stress of all getting to the same place, preparing for the mob, and of course, the usual differences among the attendees can create issues for even the closest families and friends. 

In my case, I go to a huge family Thanksgiving with Kimberly’s family.  They are a close-knit bunch with five of six sisters regularly coming together at the oldest sister, Kris’s home.  She does have a 45-year partner, Owen, and they have been holding this grand event for over 40 years.  Everybody is in the game and expected to contribute something to the feast.  I have been invited for 26 years and can’t remember having missed yet.  Everybody generally seems to be having a wonderful time, and it gives us a chance to chat and catch up with the Portland branch and watch all the kids grow up one year at a time. 

Several weeks ago, I had a hip replacement. Not exactly ordinary because it was a hip that had already been replaced with a prosthetic 18 or 19 years ago.  We really can’t remember when.  So, this was a replacement of a replacement.  How lucky can you get? For the present, the rest of my implants seem to be holding up pretty well.  My recovery has gone well.  I am back to working out with my Trainer, the great Elias Casolla, and will slowly get back to my regular routines.  I have a deep aversion to pain meds and since leaving the hospital have not taken anything stronger than Tylenol.  You are not able to take anti-inflammatories because of the risk of thinning your blood too much.  Because I am arthritic throughout my entire body, I am suddenly able to know exactly where every touch of arthritis resides.  At some point I will be able to resume a regular routine with my drug of choice, Aleve, but it won’t be for a few more weeks.  There isn’t much more to say about all of this except I am most fortunate to have had an excellent recovery most of the way.

For some reason, yesterday, Thanksgiving was one of the difficult pain days.  That ache all over feeling that makes even the most stoic patient slow and not so nice.  So, even though we went as usual, I was not at my best.  After the feast, many of us have always played charades, but last night that wouldn’t work for me.  Also, even though I am grateful for many things, it is hard to show when it’s not going too well.  So, we scrammed home and I hit the deck only to watch on replay my fav 49er’s play so badly that I turned off the TV and went to sleep. 

That is sort of the end.  Today, I feel more like myself and am most grateful for that.  Also, for the fantastic Kimberly, my loving family including the beautiful and talented Beccy who turned 21 three days ago, my genuine good health, few worries about material things, and for an older guy a promising future in my business stuff. Because we cannot predict the future and for sure there will be changes, I will take this good fortune for right now.  This moment to be mindful of all the goodness.  Be here, be here now.   

Rain

October 22, 2014

Is it ever going to rain?  We seem to have lots of threats and some very dark clouds but not much coming down.  I left the window of my car open last night by mistake and in the morning it was slightly wet on the inside of the doors but barely.  For a variety of reasons it is driving me crazy.  My inner calendar calls for this season to have some precipitation, and I keep thinking it will come. 

In 1977 I was living in San Francisco in the shadow of Buena Vista Park.  BV, as we called it, has the world’s best public tennis court.  The park is very big by city standards, the second largest park in San Francisco topped only by the very magnificent Golden Gate Park.  The tennis courts were on the East side of the park and were sheltered from the fog and mist that passed over from West to East, so you could be playing tennis while the rest of the park was shrouded in dense fog.  Also, the courts had an unparalleled view of the Bay and downtown SF.  It seemed perfect to me. 

While I had been living in San Francisco for years, there had been no drought since my arrival.  That year, it never rained.  The weather was perfect day after day.  While I was carrying a significant travel schedule, still I was around for many sunny days.  We had a regular game that we played at lunchtime and god forbid some other neighbors or players were on our public court at that time.  Using whatever technique necessary we always got a court.  Lunch was tennis.  We never missed a day and we all improved.  Still I kept waiting for the rain.

As a short aside, in 1982, many of my tennis pals started to get sick and of our group of about 100 players, over half of them died within the next couple of years. It was incredibly sad and devastating to us.  It was a desperate time and AIDS seemed unstoppable.  Many of our players simply disappeared.  It seemed to never end, and of course it finally did, but way too late for dozens of my pals. 

So here we are in Sonoma, 2014 and another Fall season begins with very little promise of rain.  It really worries me that someday we will run out of water.  That we will have used it all up, that the aquifers will run dry, that winter won’t come.  I suppose I have enough to worry about, but it bugs me that we don’t seem to do anything constructive about saving our resources.  Have we reached the level of non-concern that seems to abound in Southern California?  Maybe I am too naive.  What does it take to make our society pay attention to these primal matters?  As much as I dislike the early dark and the falling leaves, it seems the best I can do is reduce my usage and hope it starts raining soon.