HAIL AND ALL GOOD WISHES TO THE NEW BOARD!!!!!"

     The following was recorded in the May 18, 1982 minutes:
     "The Art Guild show at the Ankrum Gallery in Los Angeles will have an opening reception Tuesday, June 22, from 7-10. The Show runs through July 31…
     The Museum requested the Members of the Art Guild Board to keep a tally of hours spent in volunteer time each month, and to submit this information to Grant Holcomb at each Guild meeting…
     The Museum would like a list of Guild members' personal art collections for the purpose of determining an inventory of collections in the art community and also for the purpose of considering an Artists As Art Collectors type of show…
     Pauline…suggested we have a guest columnist for each newsletter. Grant urged us to be sure the contents of such articles are completely non-political…
     Another possible activity is to show the movie 'Young Turks', a documentary about a selection of Los Angeles artists, and invite at least some of the artists to lecture and share ideas."

     In 1982 the Guild proposed a new California Contemporary Biennial Exhibition to the SDMA. Ten invitations would be given to nationally known artists as part of the exhibition and the juror would be a director of a major museum.
     The June 1982 Newsletter announced that, "50% of membership is in arrears"
     On June 20, 1982 another Hubbell Tour, "Jim Hubbell Day, was held."
     On July 1st-16th, 1982 the Guild "In Conjunction" with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra held an exhibition on the second floor of the Pannikin Building in downtown, San Diego. 40% of the sales price was split between the Guild and the Orchestra. An opening on June 30th was held to celebrate "The Grand Opening" of the Chamber Orchestra's new offices. This show was a "Be-Your-Own-Juror" exhibition, with each Guild member able to submit a work of art without exclusion. Pauline wrote in her announcement to the membership: "This is what you've all been asking for. Let's make it a great show!"

     On Friday, November 5, 1982 from 5-8 p.m. the Guild held their annual dinner with a "Fun Art-Related Happening", a "Boxing" event. This took place in the Sculpture Court of the SDMA. The details were described in a press release for the SDMA calendar and sent out to the newspapers on September 29, 1982:
     "Members will bring boxes (any size, shape, composition) which they can decorate on the spot -- fill them, empty them, paint inside or out, arrange with things hanging out, with sculptures -- anything exciting and meaningful. A good deal of humor will probably be involved. Their entries will remain on public exhibit in the Sculpture Court through Saturday, Nov. 6 and Sunday, Nov. 7."

     On November 30, 1982 the Guild sponsored a lecture by Henry Hopkins, Director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, at the SDMA, starting with a wine and cheese reception at 6:30pm.

     In the December 1982 Newsletter Pauline Eaton, President, wrote:
     "It seems that no matter what kind of potluck we plan each year, the attendance is about fifty of us…. We've heard from so many of you that you want a strong Guild with an improved relationship to the Museum, but it's hard to prove this without your strong support.
     The Boxing Event…. was a delightful success for all those who attended and participated….
     To top off the fun, we dined royally on the many creative dishes and were honored by the visits of Lois Roon, president of the museum trustees and her husband Donald plus several members of the Gallery Association and Grant and Mary and Devon Holcomb - AND Clark Anthony did the weather 'live' on Channel 8 that evening from the sculpture court and featured quite a lot of our creations on the screen. Many people have reported seeing and enjoying the report.
     We not only look forward to seeing you at the next social but also expect your increased participation in all our events to make a strong Guild."

     Elsie Miller wrote this article, published in the January 1983 issue of San Diego Magazine:

A SPUNKY, WILD HORSE IN THE SDMA CORRAL

The Artists Guild heads in a direction of its own
     "The Artists Guild of the San Diego Museum of Art has long been regarded by many as the heart of the San Diego art community. Its nearly 300 members are required to create and exhibit work on a professional level and are juried into the group by their peers. The guild is linked to the San Diego Museum of Art by its history and by the museum's, but over the last two years, the relationship between them has suffered because of the guild's uncertain status.
     Museum officials argue that the guild might not be truly representative of San Diego's artistic talent, and that the museum members want shows of international and historical importance. On the other side, rumors and outcries have accompanied each new move by the museum to increase space allocated for exhibitions with high box-office draw and to broaden its base of local art offerings beyond the scope of the guild.
     Like a spunky, wild horse that refuses to be ridden and corralled, the Artists Guild has responded to the museum's moves by bucking fiercely and expanding its activities and its territory. This year will be the most dynamic ever for the guild, and San Diegans are the true winners in what turns out to be a growth process for both museum and guild.
     The annual, juried San Diego Artists Guild All-Media Membership Exhibition opens at the museum January 15 and continues through February 27. Members will display works in a variety of 2- and 3- dimensional media and compete for two $1,000 cash awards offered by the museum and an additional, anonymous $1,000 grant.
     The most appropriate prize will go to the winner of the Purchase Award, tentatively planned by the guild if funds can be raised for its support. The idea of the guild supporting its own competition, and in effect donating the gift of an artwork to the museum and to San Diego reflects an incredible bull-by-the-horns attitude. Unfortunately, this is also one more example of artists being asked to give to society what society wants but is unwilling to pay for. The museum, of course, will be able to select the artwork that will go into its collection, which is only appropriate.
     In order to raise funds for the purchase, the guild will co-sponsor, with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, an art tour of San Diego on March 12. Community art lovers will be able to view paintings and sculpture within the environments where they were created, and to meet and talk with the artists…
     But what if, despite its moxie and energy, the guild is unable to raise funds? I am sure no artist would turn down a cash award, but why not turn those awards into purchases? This would further honor the artists and serve to enhance the museum 's collection. If the museum cannot find space for guild exhibitions--and I eagerly await some of the independent showings of San Diego art the museum is planning--then why can't it show its commitment to the guild through one purchase award a year?
     The guild has sponsored several other events this year. A sampling of its activities includes the group show in the Pannikin Building last summer; a lecture by Henry Hopkins of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, given at the museum here in November and sponsored by the guild; and a membership dinner and sculpture-building at the museum, also in November. The imaginative sculpture-building, called 'A Boxing Event,' was held in the Sculpture Court. Cardboard boxes were fabricated or decorated by the artists and brought to the museum, where they were combined and turned into a spontaneous sculptural environment. Later this year, the guild plans to sponsor a seminar for artists on self-promotion in cooperation with La Jolla Village Square."

     On January 15, 1983, 500 people showed up at the opening of the Guild's Annual at the SDMA.
     Mark-Elliot Lugo wrote a review of the Guild and this exhibition for the January 28, 1983 issue of the San Diego Evening Tribune:

     "The San Diego Artists Guild is the committee responsible for founding the San Diego Museum of Art. With the exception of the war years, exhibitions of its members work have been held annually in the museum since it opened in 1926. Although the museum constitution guarantees the guild a home, controversy over the relationship of the guild to the museum has ebbed and flowed for years according to the philosophies and temperaments of museum officials and guild board members.
     Is it the responsibility of the museum to support the guild or is it the primary purpose of the guild, as a committee, to support the museum? How much autonomy should the guild have? Should or could the guild be jettisoned, like excess baggage. If it couldn't at least pay its own way or because some of its exhibitions were judged unworthy of a museum striving for big national reputation?
     These and other weighty and sticky political and aesthetic questions surface with regularity. In spite of rumors of purges, ostracizings, bans, boycotts, secessions and protests and periodic upheavals such as last year's mass resignation by guild board members, the guild manages to persevere, clinging to the museum with the tenacity of a barnacle to a whale….
     While this year's Artists Guild exhibition will probably not be recorded in the annals of art history as an epoch-making event, most of the works are of good quality, especially for a group exhibition. The guild show is rather bland, but several outstanding works save it from being boring."

     Henry Hopkins, juror for the Guild show, at an after jurying dinner was paraphrased here in the March 1983 newsletter:
     "From what he saw of the Guild entries, he found San Diego artists could hold their own with those in other major cities. Hopkins does not think we ought to all move to Los Angeles or New York to achieve recognition, but should direct our energies to building a support group for the visual arts here."

     On March 12, 1983 from 9:00am - 5:00pm the Guild and Chamber Orchestra held their 2nd annual open studio tour. A $7 donation allowed for admission to all the studios. They had a free preview exhibition on March 11 from 9:00am - 5:00pm in Calvin Hall, P.B. Presbyterian Church, San Diego.

     In April 1983, Pauline Eaton wrote this proposal to help support the SDMA:
     "The Artists' Guild of the San Diego Museum of Art proposes to establish a fund for the acquisition of works of art by American artists who are residents of San Diego county or are members of the Artists' Guild for the collection of the museum.
     Purchases would be selected by the acquisitions committee and museum board. The Guild wills seek to add to the fund with donations, challenges, and joint ventures with other committees. The major purposes of the fund would be to encourage local artists and to add significant art works to the museum collection."

     Carl Johnson, Dottie Korn-Davis, and Michael Wheeldon, prizewinners of the 1983 Guild Exhibition got cash awards instead of one-man shows, which had previously been canceled.
In December 1983, Henry Hopkins, Director of the San Francisco Museum of Art gave a lecture at the Museum.

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