Our Laguna: City’s early art promoters tell their stories

A free-wheeling discussion of the perils and pleasures of buying and selling art was presented Monday by the Laguna Beach Historical Society.

Gallery owner Richard Challis and collector Gene Crain offered their perspectives of the opposite ends of dealing in art, set in the context of Laguna’s history as an art colony as reprised by Laguna Art Museum collections curator Janet Blake, who moderated the discussion.

“This was the Historical Society’s fifth program in 2010,” said Eric Jessen, who introduced the panel. “It will be remembered for the living legends on the dais and in the audience.”

Crain opined that Challis, on the dais with him, and Ruth Westphal, in the audience, were the two most influential promoters of art in California.

Westphal is the author of “Plein Air Painters: The Southland,” which preceded the artists of what became known as the California School, nurtured by Challis and collected by Crain.

Challis arrived in the United States in 1946 prepared to return to finish his college education, which had been interrupted by service in the British military in World War II.

“I came to Laguna and found my aunt extremely ill, and I stayed here because of her,” Challis said.

He bought some framing equipment and set up shop in a former vegetable stand where Ralph’s Market now does business. He soon perked up the place with works by local artists, starting with Virginia Woolley, whose Woods Cove studio still exists, although modernized.

Four years after coming to Laguna, Challis opened Laguna Studio Gallery, the first commercial gallery in Laguna not operated by artists. He still owns the building and lives in the apartment he built on behind the gallery, which is run by “Charlie” Ferrazzi.

Challis’ first show at the gallery featured Leonard Kaplan and John McLaughlin.

Crain, an attorney by profession, began collecting in the early 1960s. His collection includes works by Rex Brandt, Phil Dike and Millard Sheets, many of them purchased from Challis.

But that is not how they met.

“I represented one of his former wives [in their divorce],” Crain said.

In spite of that, they became friends.

One of those former wives and still a friend, Laguna Beach artist Patricia Turnier, was in the audience Monday.

Crain became a collector because of his interest in the artists, rather than the art.

“I hoped to get to know the artists,” Crain said. “I thought they would talk to me if I bought their damn paintings.”

He loved their paintings, but also their outlook on life, expressed in their paintings. They were a happy bunch, he said, immune to the depression that ravaged the rest of the county, thanks to Hollywood.

“They all had jobs, working in Hollywood and the Mouse Factory (Disney Studios), and painted on the weekends,” Crain said.

He believes that watercolor is the perfect medium to capture the ocean, the air and sunshine of Southern California, although one of the outstanding pieces in his collection is a Dike oil, “View of Los Angeles,” that Crain bought from Challis.

In all, Crain bought almost 50 paintings from Challis. The collection is highly visible, Blake said.

“Gene doesn’t like to see art hidden,” Blake said. “He loans them to friends; many are in his office, hung salon style.”

“Salon style” is a less formal way to exhibit art. It is traditionally hung from just below eye level all the way to the ceiling.

Challis said Crain’s way of collecting is the right way. He bought what he loved.

“Every time Gene bought, it was because he savored it,” Challis said.

“It is a mistake to buy art because others do. It is a mistake to buy art to go over the sofa. It should be because it affects you deeply.”

And don’t buy art as an investment, unless you are prepared to wait for a return for about 40 years or until the artist dies.

Barbara Painter recalled talking to Challis on the phone after Roger Koontz died. He told Painter that her painting, “The Captain’s House,” had just doubled in value.

Koontz had already been diagnosed with cancer when he sold Painter two of his paintings.

“He said he wouldn’t charge me sales tax because he would be dead before he collected it,” Painter said.

Painter also expressed her appreciation of Challis’ contributions to the nonprofit organizations in Laguna Beach for which he often served as auctioneer at their fundraisers.

He is also known for leading the opposition to a ban of dogs on city beaches.

Society board member Gene Felder put together the slide show that accompanied the discussion by the distinguished panel.

The slides included sales brochures from Challis’ galleries and photographs, including a charming one of Challis’ daughter, Pageant of the Masters Director Diane Challis Davy, that could have been used in a Gerber baby ad.

If you ever want to make Challis Davy giggle, ask her how she feels about her father and the late Andy Wing being selected to censor art considered too racy for the Festival of Arts. They couldn’t find any, a matter of considerable pride to Challis.

“Times have changed,” Challis said. “Nudity is accepted — if it’s tastefully done.”

No doubts about that. Just take a look at the 2011 pageant and the number of nudes in the vignettes.

Challis Davy was in the audience among other folks who had also distinguished themselves in the art world. It included Bolton Colburn, Laguna Art Museum director; Susan Anderson, former LAM curator of exhibitions and one-time interim director, Carole Reynolds, museum librarian and former Arts Commissioner; C.H. Boyd, one of three art appraisers Challis said he could recommend; and Barbara Bing.

Artist William Swift Daniels was Bing’s grandfather, and she still lives in the home he built. Her daughter, Mollie, is a member of the city’s Heritage Committee.

Society Vice President Kimberly Stuart welcomed the audience and thanked the city for the use of the council chamber for the program, which was televised.

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Woman’s Club Women’s Art Show

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club hosted an exhibition and sale of art and crafts on Sunday.

Participants included jewelers Carolyn Skenderian, Martha Johnson Hernandez, Anne Maa, Karen Joyce, Mona Gantt, Wendy Radin, Susanna Russell, Liz Mallory and Lyn Steg; artists KC Horng, Barbara Garrett and Rosanna Tan; bath products maker Teresa McElhany, keychain maker Karma Bombe, and knitters Maria Martini and Kim Salter.

They all contributed as least one example of their work to the silent auction, which raised funds for the club. Michelle Boyd, who was not in the show this year, also donated pieces to the auction.

The sale of wine donated by Culinary Arts also raised funds for the club.

Salter, a past president of the club, chaired the show. She was assisted by Stephany Skenderian, Gayle Waite and Boyd. Connie Burlin helped out.

A past president of California NOW, Salter has been selected to co-chair the California Women’s Suffrage Centennial on Oct. 10. California was the sixth state to allow women to vote.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; call (949) 380-4321 or e-mail [email protected].