>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, HERE WE ARE, WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF THE OLD GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY, TODAY, IS NOT GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL TODAY IT IS-- >> --HARRY JR. HIGH.

>> HARRY JR. HIGH.

BUT NOW THESE YOUNG LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WERE ALL STUDENTS AT GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL BACK WHEN THIS WAS THE HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS, I THINK, THE HIGH SCHOOL FROM-- >> --1904 UNTIL 1965.

>> '56.

>> 1956.

YOU'RE CORRECTING HER ON ALL OF THESE THINGS.

[LAUGHTER] >> TELL US--TELL US WHAT EXACTLY--WHY ARE WE HERE THIS MORNING AND WHAT IS THE STORY THAT WE'RE HERE TO DEVELOP?

BECAUSE IT'S REALLY QUITE A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED INSIDE THIS OLD HIGH SCHOOL.

>> WELL, BACK IN 1919 OUR PRINCIPAL, MR. WHITELY, WAS INTERESTED IN THE STUDENTS LEARNING ABOUT ART.

AND HE STARTED THIS LEGACY WHERE EACH GRADUATING CLASS-- AND IN THOSE DAYS IT WAS A JUNIOR CLASS AND A--A AND A SENIOR CLASS, A WINTER CLASS AND A SUMMER CLASS.

AND EACH CLASS WOULD BUY A PAINTING FROM AN ARTIST AND DONATE THAT TO THE SCHOOL, AND THAT STARTED IN 1919.

>> NOW, BACK THEN GARDENA WAS OUT IN THE STICKS WASN'T IT?

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT WAS OUT HERE?

>> BEANS.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT'S IT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

BEANS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> NOT A LOT OF ART OUT HERE.

SO HIS IDEA WAS TO KIND OF EDUCATE THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE GREAT ARTISTS OF CALIFORNIA.

>> EXACTLY.

AND--AND FOR THE STUDENTS TO LIVE WITH THIS.

IT WAS IN ALL OF THE MAIN BUILDINGS, AND THE LIBRARY WAS SPECIFICALLY BUILT FOR THE ART COLLECTION TO BE EXHIBITED.

AND WE GREW UP WITH THIS FOR SIX YEARS, BECAUSE WE WERE A SCHOOL THAT WAS A SIX-YEAR SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL ON ONE CAMPUS.

>> SO YOU AS STUDENTS WERE CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO THIS ART THAT WAS HANGING ALL AROUND YOU ON THE WALLS?

>> OH, YES, IT'S OUR FRIENDS.

IT'S OUR VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

ONE OF THE THINGS I REMEMBER THE MOST, IS I DIDN'T LIKE TO GO HOME, BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANYONE THERE, IT WAS-- MY FOLKS HAD TO WORK.

AND I'D GO TO THE LIBRARY AND DO MY HOMEWORK AND I WOULD JUST SIT THERE.

AND I WASN'T ONE OF THE "A" STUDENT'S I'M AFRAID, SO I HAD TO STUDY A LOT AND I WOULD LOOK UP AT THESE PAINTINGS AND THE ANSWERS WOULD COME.

>> YEAH.

>> IT--IT WAS A FRIEND.

>> WELL, THE OLD LIBRARY HAS BEEN TORN DOWN FOR EARTHQUAKE REASONS, BUT THE AUDITORIUM IS STILL HERE AND THERE'S STILL SOME OF THAT ORIGINAL ART, SOME OF YOUR OLD FRIENDS ARE IN THERE.

>> YES, THEY ARE.

>> SO LET'S GO INSIDE AND KIND OF COME BACK IN-- GO BACK IN TIME AND DEVELOP THIS STORY ABOUT THE ART AT GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE IN THE BEAUTIFUL OLD--BOY, THIS HAS A NICE, OLD FEEL TO IT.

THIS IS GREAT.

NOW TELL US WHAT HAPPENED IN HERE WITH THE ART.

>> THIS--THIS AUDITORIUM, WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL OR WHEN ALL OF US WERE IN SCHOOL, THESE WALLS WERE LINED WITH BEAUTIFUL PAINTINGS.

>> ALL AROUND HERE?

>> YES.

WE--WE LIVED--WE LIVED WITH THOSE PAINTINGS.

IT WAS JUST PART OF OUR DAILY LIVES HERE-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --YOU KNOW, AND THEY WERE JUST--AND AT THE TIME, HUELL, WE DIDN'T REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, BUT LOOKING BACK, IT WAS A GREAT PART OF OUR LIFE.

>> WELL, NOW MOST OF THEM ARE GONE.

THERE'S STILL TWO, ARE THESE ORIGINAL?

>> THESE ARE ORIGINAL AND THESE WERE COMMISSIONED ESPECIALLY TO BE PUT RIGHT THERE IN THOSE PLACES-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --THAT'S WHY THEY'RE THERE NOW.

>> SO THEY'VE BEEN THERE SINCE-- >> UH, ONE WAS 1925 AND ONE WAS 1926.

>> WOW.

SO MOST OF THE PAINTINGS WERE REMOVED FROM THIS SCHOOL WHEN IT CEASED BEING A HIGH SCHOOL.

WE HAVE THE PRINCIPAL HERE.

COME ON DOWN HERE AND TALK TO US FOR JUST A MINUTE.

YOU'RE THE PRINCIPAL OF THIS SCHOOL RIGHT NOW.

>> YES, I AM.

>> DO YOU THINK MOST OF THE KIDS HERE UNDERSTAND OR KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THESE PAINTINGS?

>> I--I WOULD SAY PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE RECENTLY THE ELECTIVES HAVE BEEN CUT IN LOS ANGELES UNIFIED AND PERHAPS STUDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE VALUE OF ART.

>> SO THEY'RE NOT STUDYING ART.

>> WELL, WE HAVE JUST BEGINNING ART CLASSES, BUT NOT REALLY IN-DEPTH ART, SO THEY PROBABLY DON'T KNOW THE VALUE OF THESE PAINTINGS.

>> YEAH.

WELL, YOU ALL REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF IT BACK THEN, DID YOU?

>> NO, WE DIDN'T.

WE JUST ACCEPTED IT AS PART OF OUR TRADITION GOING TO GARDENA HIGH.

WE LIVED WITH THEM, AS RASSIE SAID, FOR SIX YEARS-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --AND WE JUST TOOK A STEP AND THE NEXT STEP, GOT CLOSER AND FINALLY WE'RE SENIORS AND WE GOT TO CHOOSE.

>> I GOTCHA.

AND IT WAS PROBABLY A BIG DEAL TO MAKE THAT CHOICE.

WHAT WERE YOU GOING TO CHOOSE?

WHAT WAS THE CLASS OF '48 GOING TO CHOOSE?

>> WELL, THE TEACHERS, THE ART TEACHERS, WOULD GET US TOGETHER IN THE STUDY HALL WHERE THE PICTURES WERE HUNG, AND SHE WENT OVER ALL THESE THINGS AND EXPLAINED, AND SOMETIMES THE ARTISTS CAME AND WOULD DO DEMONSTRATIONS OR WOULD TALK WITH US TOO.

AND IT WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

IT--IT JUST WASN'T A QUICKIE DECISION.

>> SO WAS IT A BIG DEAL TO HAVE YOUR PIECE OF ART, IF YOU WERE AN ARTIST, HUNG HERE IN GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL?

>> THIS COLLECTION BECOMES SO FAMOUS THAT ARTISTS FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY-- ACTUALLY I THINK THERE WERE SOME INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS CAME TOO, TO PRESENT THEIR WORK TO THE CLASS, BECAUSE IF THEIR WORK WAS SELECTED, IT WOULD BECOME A BIG PART OF THEIR RESUME WHENEVER THEY ADVERTISED THEIR WARES FOR SALE.

>> AH, SO THEY COULD SAY THAT THEY HAD A PIECE HANGING IN THE GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL COLLECTION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SO YOU REALLY, AS SENIORS, HAD A LOT OF POWER TO CHOOSE WHICH ARTISTS WOULD BE HUNG IN THE SCHOOL?

>> AND ARGUMENTS, TOO, BECAUSE-- [LAUGHTER] >> --WE DIDN'T ALWAYS AGREE ON THE SAME PICTURE-- >> I GOTCHA.

>> --AND WE HAD TO GO WITH MAJORITY RULES.

>> AH.

>> THERE COULD BE A LITTLE ANIMOSITY THERE.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, THERE IS NO ANIMOSITY TODAY.

WE'RE STANDING HERE WITH ONLY GOOD FEELINGS VIBRATING THROUGH THIS OLD AUDITORIUM.

AND WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOUR SCHOOL NOW.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY-- >> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME, ANYTIME.

>> --AND WE'RE--WE'RE GOING TO GO--HOW FAR AWAY TO THE-- TO THE NEW GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL?

>> MAYBE ABOUT--JUST A LITTLE BETTER THAN A HALF MILE.

>> BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THERE'S STILL SOME OF THE ORIGINAL PAINTINGS STILL ARE.

YOU HAVE ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE OF THEM--TEN OF THEM IN YOUR SCHOOL, BUT THE NEW GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL HAS A LOT MORE, AND WE'RE FINALLY GOING TO GET SO SEE SOME OF THESE PAINTINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> LET'S HEAD OFF.

NOW, WE'VE COME OVER TO PRESENT DAY GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M STANDING HERE WITH-- YOUR NAME, SIR?

>> MICHAEL PEREZ.

>> YOU'RE THE PRINCIPAL?

>> YES, SIR.

>> AND YOU WERE ALERTED THAT WE WERE ON OUR WAY TODAY, WEREN'T YOU?

>> YES, I WAS.

[LAUGHTER] >> GOOD.

WELL, LET'S GO IN HERE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR ART.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> AND YOU KNOW WHERE WE CAN FIND IT.

HERE'S THE FIRST PIECE RIGHT HERE HANGING OVER YOUR DESK.

NOW, DO YOU KNOW THE HISTORY BEHIND ALL OF THIS ART?

>> WELL, SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE I'VE FOUND OUT THAT CLASSES HAVE PURCHASED ARTWORKS AND WE HAVE A COLLECTION HERE ON CAMPUS, AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE PUT IT UP ON THE WALLS-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --AND IT'S--IT'S AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS AND STAFF TO COME AND VISIT.

>> AND LOOK.

>> AND LOOK AT IT, RIGHT.

WE HAVE A GALLERY AND WE ALSO HAVE SOME HANGING IN OUR CONFERENCE ROOM.

>> WELL, LET'S--FIRST, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ONE-- DID YOU PICK THIS ONE TO HANG OVER YOUR DESK?

>> ACTUALLY, YES.

ACTUALLY, UH, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXAMPLE, THERE WAS ONE--I FORGOT THE TITLE BUT IT HAD FISHERMEN FIGHTING AGAINST THE ELEMENTS AND IT WAS NOT VERY RELAXING TO ME-- [LAUGHTER] >> --AND I--I SELECTED THIS ONE HERE BECAUSE I LOVE THE MOUNTAINS, I LOVE THE OPEN SPACE-- >> AH.

>> --AND, UH, I JUST LOVE LOOKING AT THIS WHEN I COME TO WORK EVERY DAY.

>> NOW, WHAT'S THE STORY BEHIND THIS ONE?

>> WELL, THIS WAS PURCHASED BY THE CLASS OF WINTER '37.

IT'S CALLED "THE STORM KING" BY RAYMOND HENRY.

SO YOU PICKED A STORMY ONE WHETHER YOU WANTED IT OR NOT.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW, IS RAYMOND HENRY A WELL-KNOWN ARTIST?

>> NOT TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

UH, THERE ARE OTHERS THAT YOU'LL SEE LATER THAT ARE MUCH MORE, UM, WELL-KNOWN.

>> WELL, THIS ONE IS THE CLASS OF THIRTY-- >> --SEVEN.

>> THIRTY-SEVEN.

>> WINTER '37.

>> OKAY.

AND WE GOT THE--THE REST OF OUR COMMITTEE IS HARD AT WORK IN HERE AND BOY, YOU ALL ARE--YOU CAME RIGHT TO THIS ONE, DIDN'T YOU?

>> YES, THIS IS OUR FAVORITE.

THIS IS EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE.

>> WHAT'S THE STORY ON THIS ONE?

>> UM, THIS IS 1930 CLASS GIFT, AND I WISH IN KNEW SOMEBODY FROM THAT CLASS SO I COULD TELL THEM THANK YOU, 'CAUSE I'VE LOOKED AT THAT GUY A LOT.

>> NOW, WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS PAINTING?

>> UH, IT'S BEETHOVEN.

>> BEETHOVEN?

>> YEAH, THIS IS BEETHOVEN AND IT WAS BEFORE HE BECAME POPULAR AND THINGS, BECAUSE YOU SEE THIS LADY IS NOT WATCHING HIM HE'S NOT A PERSON OF NOTE-- >> AH.

>> --AND--AND I REMEMBER BEING TOLD THAT THESE ARE SCORES IN HIS POCKET-- >> AH, I GOTCHA.

>> --AND HE'S ON HIS WAY TO SHOW THE SCORES AND PLAY THEM.

>> SO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOUR ART TEACHER TOLD YOU, DON'T YOU?

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT MUST ABOUT THE ONLY THING I REMEMBER.

[LAUGHTER] >> BEETHOVEN.

NOW, IT'S HANGING HERE.

IS IT--IS IT, UH, THIS THE CLASS OF-- >> --1930.

>> 1930.

WONDER WHAT MADE THEM DECIDE TO PICK THIS ONE?

>> NO TELLING.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT THEY WOULD HAUL IT OUT BECAUSE WE HAD A SYMPHONY PRESENTATION AND WHENEVER THE SYMPHONY PLAYED THIS GUY GOT HAULED OUT.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> AND IT WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE STUDENTS' FAVORITES.

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER IT?

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

IT HUNG IN THE LIBRARY AND MOST OF US THOUGHT IT WAS SPECTACULAR.

EVERYONE CAME TO VISIT AND SEE THE PAINTING.

>> YOU REMEMBER IT?

>> OH, YES.

I TOLD SOMEBODY THE OTHER DAY THAT I SAID, "WE HAVE BEETHOVEN," I SAID, "IT MUST BE EIGHT FEET HIGH."

TO ME IT WAS A GIANT.

>> WELL, COME OVER HERE AND STAND IN FRONT OF IT.

LET'S REUNITE THE STUDENTS WITH ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PAINTINGS.

>> WELL, WHEN RASSIE AND I CAME IN HERE WE BOTH KIND OF HAD LUMPS IN OUR THROAT BECAUSE OF THE NOSTALGIA.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, HERE HE IS AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS HE'S STILL HANGING ON THE WALL.

>> BUT, HUELL, THIS IS MY CLASS PICTURE.

>> OH, WELL, THERE'S NO PLAQUE ON IT.

>> WELL, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT BUT THIS IS OUR CLASS.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW, THIS WAS THE CLASS OF-- >> --SUMMER--OR WINTER '48.

>> THIS IS JUST REALLY NOSTALGIC TO ME.

IT JUST SORT OF, LIKE HE SAID, IT CERTAINLY GIVES ME A LUMP.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, IF YOU THINK WE'RE GETTING A LUMP HERE, WAIT TILL YOU SEE WHERE WE GO NEXT, 'CAUSE THIS ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING.

OKAY, HERE WE ARE.

WE'RE HEADING DOWN THE HALL, WE'VE GOT--YOU DIDN'T KNOW THIS ENTOURAGE WAS GOING TO BE HERE, DID YOU?

>> NO, I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE COMING.

NO, I DIDN'T.

[LAUGHTER] >> OKAY.

NOW, WE'RE AT THE ART GALLERY.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> AND WE'VE GOT--OH, BOY, LOOK AT THIS.

GO ON IN LUIS.

OH, WOW!

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE PAINTINGS IN HERE.

>> THESE ARE LIKE SEEING OLD FRIENDS.

>> REALLY?

>> TRULY.

>> WELL, NOW, WAIT A MINUTE, WHO'S THIS FELLOW RIGHT HERE?

>> HE'S THE MAN THAT STARTED IT ALL.

THAT'S JOHN WHITELY.

>> HE'S THE PRINCIPAL.

>> YES, 1919 TO 1927-- >> WHO, IN 1919, STARTED IT ALL, SO IT'S VERY APPROPRIATE THAT HIS PORTRAIT-- >> EXACTLY.

>> --BE HANGING HERE.

NOW, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT OVER HERE, LADIES?

>> OH, I LOVE THIS ONE.

I USED TO LOOK AT THIS ONE A LOT.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> WHAT'S IT CALLED?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S CALM TO ME.

>> UM-HUM.

>> IT JUST--IT JUST IS RELAXING.

>> WHERE WAS IT HANGING BEFORE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT HAVE BEEN IN THE LIBRARY, BECAUSE I REMEMBER IT, BUT I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHERE.

>> AND WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL ONE.

>> OH, YEAH.

YEAH, BUT--THAT'S THE LADY IN BROWN.

>> THE LADY IN BROWN.

WHAT'S THE STORY ON THE LADY IN BROWN?

WHO KNOWS-- >> I KNOW THE STORY OF THE LADY IN BROWN.

SHE WAS A GIFT FROM THE ARTIST, A VERY WELL-KNOWN ARTIST, WILL FOSTER-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --SHE WAS GIVEN TO US IN 1936 AND SHE BECAME SO DINGY THAT NONE OF US KNEW THAT SHE WAS HOLDING A HAT-- >> WOW!

>> --AND WHEN SHE WAS RESTORED, CLEANED, SHE CAME OUT WITH ALL THIS WONDERFUL DETAIL OF HER FOLDS IN HER CLOTHES, THE HAT, THE FEATHERS, HER BEAUTIFUL PROFILE, WE ALWAYS GOT TO SEE THAT, BUT SHE HAS A DIFFERENT COLOR COMPLEXION NOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW A LOT OF THESE PAINTING WERE DONATED BY THE ARTISTS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THEY WANTED TO BE PART OF OUR COLLECTION-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --BECAUSE WE HAD, BY THAT TIME, BECOME PRETTY WELL-KNOWN IN THE ART--CALIFORNIA ART WORLD.

>> ANY OF THESE BRING BACK MEMORIES?

>> ALL OF THEM DO.

IT'S JUST--IT'S JUST AMAZING, EVERY TIME WE LOOK AT THEM THAT ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THIS STUFF COMES FLOODING BACK OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.

>> SO YOU MUST HAVE REALLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME-- >> I'VE SPENT HOURS AND I DIDN'T KNOW IT.

I CAN'T--I DIDN'T REMEMBER, BUT I'VE SPENT HOURS STUDYING THE LIGHT AND SHADOW IN THIS.

THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE PAINTING ON LIGHT AND SHADOWS.

AND AS THE WATER AND THE COLOR IN THOSE CLOUDS AND IT GIVES DEPTH, AND I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH THESE MEANT TO ME DURING MY LIFETIME OF DOING ARTWORK, UNTIL I LOOK AT THESE AND-- >> SO YOU BECAME AN ARTIST?

>> YES.

AND I--I HAVE TO SAY THAT A PART OF THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE OF THIS COLLECTION.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT THIS APPRECIATION STAYED WITH MANY OF THE STUDENTS?

>> OH, YES.

>> BECAUSE THERE WAS PROBABLY SOME CONCERN WHEN THE SCHOOL CLOSED-- THE ORIGINAL HIGH SCHOOL CLOSED, WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE COLLECTION.

>> WELL, WE TOOK SUCH GOOD CARE OF IT AND LOVED IT AND APPRECIATED IT, IT HAD NEVER DAWNED ON ANY OF US THAT--THAT THE PEOPLE FOLLOWING WOULDN'T DO EXACTLY THE SAME-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --AND IT WAS RATHER A SHOCK TO MY HUSBAND AND I WHEN HIS BROTHER WAS THE FIRST CLASS TO GRADUATE FROM THE NEW SCHOOL, WHICH IS HERE, AND THE ART COLLECTION DID NOT FOLLOW IN THE SAME MANNER-- >> AH.

>> --THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO.

>> SO I KIND OF STOPPED IN 1956.

>> YES.

YES.

>> SO YOU'VE REALLY GOT 40 YEARS, BASICALLY, OF COLLECTION HERE.

>> ALMOST.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

BUT PART OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE GOING TO HANG THIS, AND THAT'S WHY THIS ROOM WAS BUILT.

HOWEVER, IT WAS MADE A LITTLE SMALLER THAN IT WAS INTENDED TO BE-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --AND, UH, I WAS IN THE ORIGINAL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN '55 AND '56 AND I HAVE TO SAY, I THINK WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN KEEPING IT AT GARDENA, INSTEAD OF IT GOING DOWNTOWN.

THERE WAS WORD THAT IT COULD GO DOWNTOWN AND BE DISPERSED AMONG ALL THE SCHOOLS.

SO WE FELT LIKE WE WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT PART OF IT.

>> WELL, OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUES.

NOW WE HAVE COME TO THE IRVINE MUSEUM HERE IN THE CITY OF IRVINE.

COME ON IN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

HOWDY.

>> HOWDY.

WELCOME TO THE IRVINE MUSEUM.

>> I'M HUELL HOWSER.

>> I'M JOHN STERN, DIRECTOR OF THE MUSEUM.

>> AND YOU'VE BEEN WITH US ALL DAY, YOU HAVE NOT FORMALLY BEEN INTRODUCED YET, KATHY.

>> I'M KATHY ZIMMER, DIRECTOR OF THE ART GALLERY AT CSU DOMINGUEZ HILLS.

>> NOW YOU ALL ARE WELCOME TO KIND OF MILL AROUND.

WE'VE SPENT THE DAY WITH YOU SO FAR AND WE'VE GOTTEN THE STUDENTS' SIDE OF THIS STORY.

NOW WE'RE GETTING THE PROFESSIONAL SIDE OF THIS STORY, BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE HERE, JOHN, IS A COLLECTION OF--OF PICTURES, OF--OF WONDERFUL WORKS OF ART THAT WERE COLLECTED BY THESE STUDENTS FROM 1919 TO 1956, KIND OF AS A CLASS LEGACY.

BUT IT HAS ENDED UP TO BE SOMETHING QUITE SPECTACULAR, HASN'T IT?

>> WELL, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT COLLECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONISM IN THE COUNTRY.

>> REALLY?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> ARE YOU ALL LISTENING TO THIS, WHAT HE JUST SAID?

THAT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> WELL, NOW WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> WELL, THE--THE STUDENTS WERE--WERE VERY FORTUNATE IN THE CHOICES THEY MADE.

AT A TIME WHEN THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THESE PAINTINGS WOULD BE IMPORTANT OR VALUABLE, THEY CHOOSE SOME BEAUTIFUL WORKS AND--AND EXQUISITE PAINTINGS BY--BY WHAT ARE NOW FAMOUS PAINTERS.

THEY KEPT UP THIS COLLECTING FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND IN THE END, THEY ENDED UP WITH A COLLECTION THAT REALLY RIVALS JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER COLLECTION OF THIS MATERIAL.

SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PAINTERS OF CALIFORNIA ARE REPRESENTED IN THIS COLLECTION, AND SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PAINTINGS BY THOSE PAINTERS ARE IN THIS COLLECTION.

>> NOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN THEM DISPLAYED AS THEY SHOULD BE DISPLAYED.

KATHY, WHAT CONDITION WERE THEY IN WHEN YOU ALL STARTED CURATING THIS COLLECTION?

>> THEY WERE IN VARYING CONDITIONS.

A LOT OF THEM WERE IN DISREPAIR, THE FRAMES WERE FALLING OFF, THERE WERE--SEVERAL OF THEM HAD HOLES IN THEM, SO WE WERE ABLE, THROUGH THE W.M.

KECK FOUNDATION GRANT, WE WERE ABLE TO RESTORE ABOUT 21 OF THE 30 THAT WE HAVE IN THE PAINTED LIGHT EXHIBITION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS CALLED THE PAINTED LIGHT.

AND JOHN, GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT KINDS OF WORK YOU HAVE HERE.

>> WELL, THIS--THIS PAINTING IN FRONT OF US, HUELL, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHAT PAINTED LIGHT IS ABOUT.

IT'S--IT'S A VIEW OF--OF THE ROOFTOPS IN QUERNAVACA BY A MAN NAMED OLSEN CLARK, BUT IN REALITY, IT'S--IT'S A PORTRAIT OF THE LIGHT, EARLY IN THE MORNING, IN A TROPICAL PART OF THE WORLD.

AND--AND YOU SEE THAT--THAT EVERY PART OF THAT PAINTING IS JUST RADIATING WITH BEAUTIFUL COLOR AND--AND BEAUTIFUL LIGHT.

THIS IS A TYPE OF WORK THAT CAN ONLY BE DONE WHEN THE ARTIST IS PAINTING ON-SITE, OR AS THE FRENCH SAY, AU PLANEUR, YOU HAVE TO BE THERE, YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE LIGHT TO BE ABLE TO RECORD THIS BEAUTIFUL LIGHT.

>> PLANEUR, AND THAT'S WHAT--IS THIS PLANEUR DOWN HERE?

>> YES.

YES, THAT IS, TOO.

THAT'S A PAINTING BY JOHN FROST OF THE DESERT NEAR PALM SPRINGS, AND IT CATCHES A VERY SPECIFIC MOMENT WHEN THE SUN IS JUST BREAKING THROUGH SOME CLOUDS IN THE CENTER OF THE PAINTING AND LIGHTING UP THE VERY FAR DISTANCE IN THE CENTER.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLES OF--OF PAINTING THE LIGHT THAT THESE ARTISTS WERE SO GOOD AT.

>> NOW, ARE THESE SIGNIFICANT PIECES OF ART WE'RE LOOKING AT?

>> YOU ARE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PAINTINGS OF THIS STYLE.

NOW, UH, THEY DO NOT RIVAL YET, YOU KNOW, NAMES LIKE WILLIAM MERA CHASE, OR--OR OTHER FAMOUS AMERICAN PAINTINGS, BUT THEY ARE EVERY BIT AS GOOD.

AND IT IS A STYLE THAT--THAT OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN LARGELY IGNORED, BUT OVER THE LAST 15, 20 YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC.

>> KATHY, WE'VE GOT A WHOLE GALLERY FILLED HERE.

HOW DID YOU DECIDE WHAT WAS GOING TO BE DISPLAYED AND WHAT WAS GOING TO STAY IN THE BASEMENT, SO TO SPEAK?

>> THAT WAS DIFFICULT.

WE PULLED OUT ALL OF THE PAINTINGS AND TOOK A LOOK AT THEM, THERE'S ABOUT 90 PAINTINGS IN THE COLLECTION, AS A WHOLE.

AND WE REALLY CONCENTRATED ON THE BEST OF THE COLLECTION, WHICH INCLUDED MANY OF THE CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST PIECES BUT ALSO THERE ARE OTHER ARTISTS, SUCH AS MAYNARD DIXON, WHO YOU REALLY WOULDN'T CONSIDER A CALIFORNIA IMPRESSIONIST.

>> WELL, NOW MAYNARD DIXON IS A NAME THAT EVEN I RECOGNIZE.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF ART, ISN'T IT?

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN.

NOW--NOW, DIXON IS KNOWN FOR HIS BEAUTIFUL MURALS THAT YOU'LL SEE UP IN--IN SAN FRANCISCO AND IN OTHER PLACES.

AND HE IS ESSENTIALLY A MURAL PAINTER, BUT, UH, IT--IT IS TRULY REMARKABLE, HUELL, THAT THIS PAINTING, THIS VERY IMPORTANT PAINTING, WAS PURCHASED BY A GROUP OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, AND THAT THEY TOOK CARE OF IT AND IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 50 YEARS.

AND HERE IT IS ON--IN THE WALLS OF--OF THE IRVINE MUSEUM FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE IT.

IT IS A REMARKABLE OCCURRENCE.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THESE IMPORTANT PAINTINGS.

IT WAS BOUGHT BY THE CLASS OF 1927 AND THIS IS BY JAMES SWINERTOON WHO'S--WHO'S EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN AS A DESERT PAINTER, BUT THIS IS THE BENA TACAN RUINS WHICH IS IN--IN THE NAVAJO NATIONAL MONUMENT.

IT IS, UH, ANASAZI RUINS, CLIFF DWELLINGS, THAT ARE BUILT INSIDE THIS HUGE HOLLOWED PART OF SANDSTONE CAVE.

>> WHEN YOU HEARD ABOUT THIS COLLECTION, AND LET'S LOOK, WE'VE GOT EXAMPLES OF IT ALL HERE, WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS COLLECTION, COULD YOU BELIEVE THAT IT HAD HUNG ON THE LIBRARY WALLS AND THE AUDITORIUM WALLS OF--OF GARDENA PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL IN GARDENA, CALIFORNIA?

>> WELL, I'VE KNOWN ABOUT THIS COLLECTION FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, HAVING STUDIED THE FIELD, AND I'VE SEEN IT SEVERAL TIMES IN--IN THE STOREROOM THAT IT WAS IN.

AND TO VISUALIZE THESE HANGING WHERE KIDS CAN BUMP INTO THEM ON THEIR WAY TO CLASS OR, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SITTING AT THE LIBRARY AND YOU'RE BORED AND YOU START PECKING YOUR PENCIL AT A PAINTING OR SOMETHING, IT--IT JUST SENDS A--A CHILL UP MY BACK.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE IN A--A--A, YOU KNOW, A BONAFIDE ART MUSEUM HERE, WELL-LIT, WELL, YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT KIND OF AIR AND--AND LIGHT AND EVERYTHING ON THEM, IT'S A WONDER IN A WAY THAT THEY'VE SURVIVED, ISN'T IT, KATHY?

>> YES, IT IS.

IN FACT, UH, WE ARE VERY GLAD THAT THE COLLECTION HAS REMAINED INTACT ALL THESE YEARS BE--AND I KNOW THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AND SOME DEVOTED ART TEACHERS AT GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL.

>> WHAT'S BEEN THE REACTION OF ART LOVERS TO--TO SEEING THIS COLLECTION HANGING HERE IN YOUR GALLERY?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS--IS PEOPLE THAT KNOW THESE PAINTINGS ABSOLUTELY DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS FORMED IN THE WAY IT WAS FORMED.

IT--IT IS A REMARKABLE THING THAT IT WAS FORMED BY A GROUP OF KIDS.

AND THE SECOND THING IS, THEY--THEY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THESE IN--IN ONE EXHIBIT OR ANOTHER OVER THE YEARS AND--AND TO SEE IT ALL TOGETHER, THEY--THEY REALLY ARE IN A STATE OF STUNNED, AWARENESS THAT--THAT THESE THINGS EXIST, AND THAT THEY HAVE--THEY ARE NOT SOMEPLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN'T SEE THEM.

THAT'S REALLY THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS SHOW THAT KATHY ORGANIZED IS THAT THEY CAN FINALLY BE SEEN AS AN ENTIRE COLLECTION, AND--AND TO KNOW THE GENIUS OF THE PEOPLE THAT--THAT ADVISED THE KIDS AND--AND THE FACT THAT IT--IT REMAINED TOGETHER ALL THOSE YEARS.

>> YEAH.

I'M JUST STANDING HERE LOOKING AT THIS.

THE COLORS ARE ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.

>> THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL PAINTING, THERE'S TWO PAINTINGS BY HANSON PUTUFF.

AND ACTUALLY, HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN ORGANIZING THEIR YEARLY ART EXHIBITION.

HE SUGGESTED TO THE CHILDREN IN 1922 THAT THEY HAVE AN ART EXHIBITION IN-- ALSO SHOW THE PURCHASE PRICE, PAINTINGS, AND HAVE A HUGE ART EXHIBITION.

SO HE--I THINK THEY PURCHASED ONE AND THEN HE DONATED ONE TO THE DIFFERENT CLASSES.

>> THIS WAS THE CLASS OF 1928 RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS THE ONE THAT THE PRINCIPAL MAY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT-- >> YES, IT WAS THE JOE DUNCAN-- >> --THAT HE TOOK DOWN FROM BEHIND HIS DESK.

>> --IT WAS TOO STORMY FOR HIM.

MADE ALL-- >> THE PRINCIPAL WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS.

>> I CAN SEE WHY.

>> HE TOOK THIS DOWN FROM BEHIND HIS DESK-- >> THAT'S IT.

>> --BECAUSE HE SAID THIS WAS A LITTLE-- >> THIS--THIS IS NOT A CALM, RELAXING PAINTING, IS IT?

>> BUT IS THIS A, UH, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO SAY FAMOUS, BUT IS--IS THIS A SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF WORK HERE?

>> YES, IT IS.

THE ARTIST, DUNCAN GLEASON, IS WELL KNOWN AS AN ILLUSTRATOR OF--OF SHIPS AND THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA.

AND--AND HE WROTE BOOKS ON THE DISCOVERY OF THE ISLANDS AND HE ILLUSTRATED THEM WITH--WITH SHIPS, PAINTINGS FROM ALL THE WAY BACK FROM--FROM CABRILLO ON TO--TO THE MODERN.

AND YOU CAN TELL BY LOOKING AT THIS PAINTING, THAT HE REALLY KNOWS WHAT'S HAPPENING ON A BOAT, ALL THE LITTLE DOODADS, ALL THE GADGETS-- >> UM-HUM.

>> --THE WAY THE MEN ARE WORKING AND--AND THE DYNAMIC COMPOSITION OF THIS BIG TRIANGLE CRASHING INTO THE WAVES IS--IS A VERY DRAMATIC THING.

I--I CAN SEE HOW THE PRINCIPAL WOULD NOT--WOULD NOT BE VERY RELAXED HANGING AROUND A PAINTING LIKE THAT.

[LAUGHING] >> IN THIS ROOM THERE ARE THREE VERY IMPORTANT PAINTINGS ON THE WALL, THE ONE NEXT TO ME HERE-- >> OH, WOW!

LOOK AT THE GREEN HERE.

>> --IS A WONDERFUL PAINTING BY WILLIAM WENT, WHO'S KNOWN AS THE DEAN OF THE CALIFORNIA PLANEUR PAINTERS.

UH, THIS IS A VIEW OF THE ARROYO SEKO, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, IS--IS BETWEEN PASADENA AND LOS ANGELES.

UH, OVER HERE IS A WONDERFUL WINTER SCENE CALLED "LINGERING SNOWS" BY JACK WILKINSON SMITH.

AND THIS IS REALLY WONDERFUL IN THE WAY THE ARTIST IS SHOWING HOW THE SNOW IS MELTING, AND UNDERNEATH THE SNOW YOU CAN SEE THE GREEN NEW GROWTH, THE FLOWERS, THE--THE GRASS, EVERYTHING THAT'S COMING BACK, IT'S LIKE THE REBIRTH OF A NEW YEAR.

>> THIS IS THE CLASS OF 1928, NO, '23 HERE.

>>'23.

>> AND THIS IS THE CLASS OF '32.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PAINTINGS IN THE COLLECTION, TOO.

THIS IS BY BENJAMIN BROWN.

UH, BROWN EARNED UNDYING GRATITUDE FOR CALIFORNIA PAINTERS WHEN HE WAS EXHIBITING IN NEW YORK.

UM, HE HAD SOME PAINTINGS THERE, AND--AND THE ART DEALER SENT HIM A TELEGRAM AND SAID, "MR. BROWN, WE'RE FINALLY GETTING SOME SALES HERE, WE'RE NOT TELLING PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE FROM CALIFORNIA."

AND HE WAS SO UPSET THAT FROM THEN ON, UNDERNEATH HIS SIGNATURE, HE WROTE THE WORD "CALIFORNIA" SO EVERYBODY COULD SEE.

>> AND ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT THESE PAINTINGS WERE ACQUIRED IN THE DEPTH OF THE DEPRESSION?

>> YES.

>> THAT SOMEHOW OR ANOTHER THE STUDENTS MANAGED TO ACQUIRE ART EVEN IN--DURING THE DEPRESSION.

>> IT REALLY IS INCREDIBLE.

UH, I KNOW THE ARTISTS WERE VERY SYMPATHETIC TO THE STUDENTS' PROJECT, THEY LOWERED THEIR PRICES.

EVEN SO, I KNOW THAT THEY PROBABLY PAID BETWEEN $200.00 TO $500.00, WHICH AT THAT TIME WAS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THESE STUDENTS TO RAISE THROUGH TEAS AND THE USUAL WAY THAT STUDENTS RAISE MONEY.

>> SO ALL OF THESE WERE ACQUIRED--WHEN THE STUDENTS WOULD RAISE MONEY, THEY WOULD LITERALLY HAVE THE EQUIVALENT OF CAR WASHES AND DONUT SALES-- >> EXACTLY.

>> --AND CANDY SALES AND WHATEVER TO ACQUIRE THESE PIECES OF WORK.

>> EXACTLY.

AND THAT'S PART OF THE WHOLE GREAT PART OF THE STORY, THAT THE STUDENTS RAISED THE MONEY, BOUGHT THEM, EXHIBITED THEM AND YEARS LATER, APPRECIATED THEM.

>> YEAH, YEARS LATER.

>> RIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, LET'S END UP OVER HERE.

HERE ARE OUR STUDENTS BACK HERE AGAIN, HOLDING A PICTURE OF--THIS WAS THE ART ASSOCIATION MEETING BACK IN GARDENA.

THIS WAS IN WHAT, 1929, '28, SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> I THINK THAT WAS '35-- >> 1935.

>> --AND IT WAS THE ART EXHIBIT DINNER.

THAT'S HOW WE RAISED MONEY.

>> SO YOU CAN SEE THE KIND OF SUPPORT THAT THIS HAD IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> THAT'S THE CAFETERIA.

>> AND WE ARE JUST KIND OF ALL STANDING HERE AMONGST THESE TREASURES, REALLY PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS, TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF GARDENA HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1919 TO 1956, AND THEIR TEACHERS, THEIR FACULTY, THE PRINCIPAL, MR.WHITELY, THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO GATHERED TOGETHER THIS WONDERFUL COLLECTION.

ENDING THIS PROGRAM, WE MUST SAY WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S EVENTUALLY GOING TO HAPPEN TO THIS WONDERFUL COLLECTION.

IT'S KIND OF SCATTERED AROUND IN SOME--IN TWO OR THREE DIFFERENT PLACES.

UH, SOME OF IT IS HERE BEING WELL TAKEN CARE OF, SOME OF IT IS STILL STUFFED IN A CLOSET SOMEWHERE.

BUT THE POINT IS THAT WE ALL NOW KNOW THAT THIS COLLECTION IS HERE, AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS SO THAT SOMETHING WONDERFUL WILL HAPPEN TO THIS COLLECTION, WHICH IS A REAL TRIBUTE TO THE GOOD WORK THAT ALL OF YOU ALL DID-- >> THANK YOU, HUELL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THESE ARE FOUR OF THE STUDENTS WHO MADE IT ALL POSSIBLE.

WITHOUT THESE STUDENTS, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE A COLLECTION HERE TODAY.

>> WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THESE STUDENTS, AND--AND WE WISH THAT THE STUDENTS THAT WERE INVOLVED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING COULD SOMEHOW COME AND SEE THESE PAINTINGS AND THEY WOULD FEEL SO GRATIFIED THAT THEY MADE SUCH BEAUTIFUL AND INTELLIGENT CHOICES.

THIS IS ONE-OF-A-KIND.

AND THE FACT THAT IT'S HERE IS A MINOR MIRACLE.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.