Fresno Art Museum

Distinguished Women Artists: 1988-2006

When:  Fri., Sept. 12 – Sun., Oct. 5, 2008
Moradian Gallery and Administrative Lobby

The Fresno Art Museum’s Council of 100 has selected and honored twenty distinguished women artists since 1988 including this year’s honoree enamellist June Schwarcz. In 2006 the Museum hosted a survey exhibition curated by Jacquelin Pilar of eighteen of those artists. This exhibition was followed by the extraordinary animal sculpture installation of Gwynn Murrill in 2007 and the current exhibition showcasing the expressionist inspired vessels formed over the past thirty-five years by June Schwarcz. The Museum’s permanent collection holds a wide selection of many of the honored artists including that of June Wayne, Helen Lundeberg, Ruth Weisberg, Ynez Johnston, Ruth Bernhard, Bella Feldman, Claire Falkenstein, Jo Hanson, Ruth Asawa, Nancy Genn, Olga Seem and Junko Chodos.

Celebrating the radical decision to showcase women artist’s work throughout the 1986/87 season, thus launching the formation of the Council of 100, Virginia Farquhar’s leadership forged the beginning of what has become a new way of supporting the accomplishments of women in the arts. Beginning in the fall of 1986 and extending over a period of one year, the Fresno Arts Center (now the Fresno Art Museum) focused on California women artists from 1945 through 1986. This, then revolutionary concept, was developed in order to explore the evolution of women’s art in the nation’s most populous state.

The current exhibition is composed of works by the artists that have been recognized over the last two decades as the Council of 100’s Distinguished Women Artists. The Museum’s exhibitions and collections have been enriched by the visionary program developed through the leadership of women, who, like Virginia Farquhar, continue to serve the arts and the mission of the Museum.

Current Exhibits List

• Phil Bowers
• Mark Rodriguez