Pacific Art League facts for kids
Pacific Art League (2022)
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| Formation | 1921 |
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| Type | non governmental arts organization |
| Purpose | arts education, arts exhibition |
| Headquarters | 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, California, United States |
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Formerly called
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Palo Alto Art Club |
The Pacific Art League (PAL) is a special place in Palo Alto, California. It started way back in 1921. This group is a non-profit organization that helps people learn about art. It's also a school where you can take art classes and a gallery where you can see amazing artwork. You can find PAL in a beautiful old building at 668 Ramona Street in downtown Palo Alto.
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Learning and Teaching Art
The Pacific Art League has many talented art teachers. About 35 to 40 instructors work there. In 2017, over 2,000 students were taking classes each quarter! Classes are offered throughout the year. They also have special workshops and fun summer camps for young artists. From 2019 to 2020, Lisa Coscino was the director of PAL.
A Look at PAL's History
The Pacific Art League started as the Palo Alto Art Club in 1921. Around 40 artists created the club. Many of them were connected to Stanford University.
Early Days and New Homes
At first, the club members met in each other's homes. Later, they started meeting at the Palo Alto Library. By 1926, they moved to a building at 340 Melville Avenue. The art classes became very popular. Because of this, the group moved again in 1952 to 855 Cowper Street. Over time, the club became more open to everyone in the community. It is now a non-profit organization.
Finding a Permanent Home
In 1965, PAL bought its current building at 668 Ramona Street. This building is very old and has a special Spanish Revival style. A famous architect named Birge Clark designed it. In 2014, the building got a big upgrade. They spent $4 million to make it better. This included making it easier for people with disabilities to use. They also made the building stronger to protect it from earthquakes.
A New Name for a New Era
In 1984, the Palo Alto Art Club changed its name. It became the Pacific Art League, which is the name it still uses today.
Famous Artists Connected to PAL
Many talented artists have been part of the Pacific Art League. Some were members, some taught classes, and others showed their art in exhibitions. Here are a few of them:
- Greg Brown (1951–2014), a mural artist from Palo Alto.
- Arthur Bridgman Clark (1866–1949), who led the Art and Architecture Department at Stanford University.
- Birge Clark (1893–1989), a well-known architect.
- Terry Acebo Davis (born 1953)
- Pedro Joseph de Lemos (1882–1954), one of the early members of PAL.
- Edward McNeil Farmer (1901–1969)
- Mabel McKibben Farmer (1903–1956)
- Helen Katharine Forbes (1891–1945)
- Eva Joseph Goldsheid (1926–2016)
- Ralph Johonnot (1880–1940)
- Tom Killion (born 1953), famous for his woodcut and linoleum prints.
- Marianne Kolb (born 1958)
- Bonnie E. Malott (1886–1988)
- Elizabeth Norton (1887–1985), a sculptor, printmaker, and painter. She was one of the first people to start PAL.
- George Rivera (artist)
- Sigrid Lorenzen Rupp (1943–2004)
- Ray Strong (1905–2006)
- Cloyd Jonathan Sweigert (1897–1973), a political cartoonist and painter.
- John Edward Walker (1880–1940), a California Impressionist painter.
- Florence Wideman (1893–1989)
- Shirley Williamson (1875–1944), another California Impressionist painter.
See also
