The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena kicks off second century supporting the arts in Pasadena
By Pasadena Independent
Since 1913, The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena has supported the arts and artists of our community by sponsoring exhibitions, performances, and scholarships.
On Monday, Beacon Media was invited to CalTech’s world famous Athenaeum for a showing of Greg Ross’ abstract and other subjects in oil paintings. Also attending the dinner was Ms. Hiroko Masuda who performed the Koto, a Japanese stringed instrument that resembles a harp after the dinner meeting.
AS a historical footnote: Eleanor Miller held a meeting of sixty musicians and artists at her Pasadena residence in 1913 for the purpose of forming a league of one hundred professionals in the Fine Arts. The members were encouraged to support the Arts. Representatives of the arts of painting, sculpture, and literature were later incorporated into the group, together with honorary members Charles Wakefield Cadman, Mrs. Carrie Jacobs Bond and Gilmore Brown.
During the post-war years, President J. Maria Pierce and a few dedicated members began to improve and modernize all aspects of the Club. In addition, as chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, she used her influence with the Opera Guild and the Pasadena Symphony Association to successfully initiate and coordinate the first three Pasadena Festivals for the Arts.
The Club is dedicated to promoting the enjoyment of the arts and to granting awards to talented young artists. There have been 138 winners in various categories of the Arts, since the awards were first granted in 1962.
The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena is a founding member of the Pasadena Arts Council. At least twenty of the Club’s active, honorary and young award winners have received Gold Crown Awards from the Pasadena Arts Council. On June 5, 1983, The Fine Arts Club itself was given a Gold Crown Award “!Kin recognition of continuous contributions of the Arts.”
On October 4, 2013, The Fine Arts Club of Pasadena celebrated its Centennial anniversary at the Athenaeum at Caltech.
The organization is actively seeking new members and inviting the community to learm more about the organization. Go to their informative website at: www. fineartsclubofpasadena.org for more information.