Yes. You read that correctly. There WAS art culture here in the far West San Fernando Valley that seemed very much alive. Back in 1963, Francis Lederer was a driving force. The place now is Malibu Wines and Beer Garden on Sherman Way in West Hills, CA. It was part of the Lederer ranch where the stables were. The art venue in 1963 was originally called the Canoga Mission Community Art Center until 1967. This post focuses on the first few years when the Canoga Mission Community Art Center was run by David Brockman and John Naftzger from 1963-1967.
“After Lederer no longer required a stable for his horses, sculptor David Brockman was given permission to convert it into an art gallery in 1964. Brockman ran the gallery with John Naftzger until his death in 1966. On June 18, 1967, Lederer’s wife, Marion Lederer, along with Jody Hutchison and Mary and Obdulio Galeana, took over operations and opened the Canoga Mission Gallery, a non-profit art center exhibiting the work of artists from around the world.21
In 1974, the Canoga Mission Gallery was declared HCM No. 135 (Exhibit D: Figures 1-2).22”Dept of City Planning, Los Angeles, CA (Recommendation Report Aug. 11, 2016 pg 179)
1963
Canoga Mission Community Arts Center 23030 Sherman Way Francis Lederer Mon, Oct 7, 1963 – 13 · Valley Times (North Hollywood, California) · Newspapers.com
1964
“The historic structure, modeled after the San Luis Rey Mission and once used as a stable by Lederer, Is being remodeled to exhibit works of art from painters and sculptors from throughout the Western world.”
Valley Times
North Hollywood, California
04 Apr 1964, Sat • Page 34
Who was David Brockman who was tapped as Lederer’s director of the center? Through the clipping below, he moved away from the “rat race”to live in an artist colony in Big Sur and returned to the West Valley. At 27 at the time, he had high hopes to involve the Valley community. He wanted the Los Angeles County Museum at the time to make an addition to the center and he wanted to open an art school out here.
”Situated in rooms which once were stalls for horses will be works from such artists as Gene Flores, metal sculptor formerly of Monterey; Jim Sullivan and Lee Whitten, West Coast ceramic artists; Jay Kipp, Big Sur steel sculptor, and Al Dempster, staff artist for Walt Disney. Also surrounding the mission structure (which Is sometimes used as a subject for painters and photographers) will be a sculpture garden and an area for outdoor exhibits. Noting the increasing growth of the Valley and the concomittant influx of subdivisions and industrial complexes, Brockmann declares the Lederer “mission” at the end of Sherman Way is probably one of the last secluded and quiet places left In the Valley to establish an art center.”
Valley Times
North Hollywood, California
04 Apr 1964, Sat • Page 34
Inaugural Canoga Mission Community Art Center Artists
Robert Frame
One of the first artists to show at the Canoga Mission Community Art Center in 1964 when it opened was Robert Frame (1924-1999), his work featured below from George Stern Fine Arts. Frame was born in San Fernando, CA and was “known for his vivid landscapes, abstract modernist still life and colorful oils that have sold at auction for as much as $15,000.00.”
Flavio Cabral
Another artist was Flavio Cabral who according to his Wikipedia page “was a professor of painting and art history for over thirty years at Los Angeles Valley College.” He also earned a living painting portraits and murals.
Atanas Katchmakoff
Atanas Katchmakoff, pictured below with his bronze Madonna sculpture. Katchmakoff was sculptor, art teacher, and restaurant owner (Sasha White House Restaurant in Northridge).
Saul Bernstein
It appears there is a typo in the original roster of artists that showed on the first opening. Sol Bernstein, I believe was Saul Bernstein. It would make sense if it was Saul Bernstein. He was a Professor of Fine Art at Cal State Northridge for 30 years from 1960-1990. I was unable to find any of his works online.
Harold Schwarm
Harold Schwarm (1925-2014), who in 1959 was the Assistant Professor of Art at Valley State College. Click on this link to find an article about him in 1966.
Jim Sullivan and Lee Whitten
Interestingly, Robert (Bob) Harris, a sound technician in the movie industry purchased a large collection of Malibu Potteries tile and along with help from Jim Sullivan, founded Malibu Ceramic Works. They began producing tile in the style and manner of Malibu Potteries.
“In 1979, Harris thought it would be “interesting” to remake the tiles and called upon his friend, Topanga ceramist Jim Sullivan, whose tile art you walk on when you cross the threshold of the Topanga Library.”
Lee Whitten is actually now back into making pottery and is living in Los Angeles. Click here for his website to see his works.
1965
By 1965, David “Dave Brockman” along with already mentioned Sol or Saul Bernstein had an exhibit with two other artists, Frances Saslow and Fritz Faiss.
Fritz Faiss
Fritz Faiss (1905-1981) was a German American abstract expressionist. He studied at the Bauhaus. Once the Nazis took over, he was forced into a labor camp. He survived the labor camp and after the war went on to teach in Germany.
“In 1951, Faiss left behind a professorship at Frankfurt-am-Main and came to California. He accepted a position at the University of California at Los Angeles. He left after being criticized for encouraging individualism in the arts, and accepted a position at California State University, Northridge. He retired in 1973 as a professor Emeritus. Faiss suffered a stroke in 1976, which greatly influenced his later work. He took another challenge in stride as he used his left hand to paint.”
Other artists that showed in 1965
Guy Maccoy
Guy Maccoy (1904-1981) originally from Kansas and lived in Los Angeles, was an American painter, printer, and teacher. According to his Wikipedia entry, “In 1965 Guy is asked to join and assist the newly formed Los Angeles Print Society (L.A.P.S.)” His great grandfather on his mother’s side was Brigham Young. He is credited with being the father of the serigraph.
Vance Studley
Vance Studley was a teacher at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. He published books on left-handed calligraphy and wood engraving. You can find these on Amazon.
Doug Edge
According to the Smithsonian, “Doug Edge (1942- ) is a conceptual sculptor, painter, and photographer in Los Angeles, California. Edge was a member of the acrylic resin sculpture movement in the late 1960s. He taught at the University of California Santa Barbara from 1974-1985.” He also taught at CalArts.
Charles Bowdlear
Dr. Charles “Chuck” M. Bowdlear was a psychologist and an artist. According to Armstrong De Graf International Fine Art, “He creates still life, abstracts, and oil paintings on wood.” I believe he passed away in 1995.
Howard Tollefson
Howard Tollefson and his wife Sandra Tollefson both exhibited sculpture, painting, drawings, and weaving at the gallery in 1965. Howard Tollefson was a professor
Keeping Up With Gallery Trends
There was the birth of combining music and films with art that was trending in New York and the Canoga Mission Art Gallery decided to follow suit.
Canoga Mission Art Gallery
As mentioned earlier, in Marion Lederer, Jody Hutchison, and Mary and Obdulio Galeana took over the operation, made it a non-profit, and named it the Canoga Mission Art Gallery by 1967.
1967
Stay tuned for more on the West San Fernando Valley…
The book below was from a more recent art exhibition about the San Fernando Valley.
Valley Vista: Art in the San Fernando Valley, CA, 1970-1990 by Damon Willick Paperback – September 6, 2014
For updates on new postings, please follow this blog!
West SFV Lifestyle 
Leave a comment