BOB MATHENY: ALMOST ANONYMOUS IS THE FIRST MAJOR SURVEY OF THE WORK OF BOB MATHENY
This exhibition at the San Diego History Center ends on March 24th!
Since the late 1950s Matheny has developed his expansive practice through the lens of many different disciplines and mediums, including graphic design, sculpture, small press printing, painting, writing, photography, curating and performance. Grounded in the formal tenets of modernist design, but mitigated by a healthy dose of Dada irreverence and Duchampian hijinks, Matheny’s diverse body of work is a singular blend of craftsmanship and concept, idea and object, wit and intelligence.
Matheny’s legacy in San Diego’s art community also extends to his role as a committed and progressive educator. In the early 1960s he was the first full-time art instructor at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, a position he held for three decades. During his tenure at Southwestern Matheny founded and programmed the college’s art gallery, established its permanent collection of contemporary art and organized a series of public programs and events – including film screenings, performances, and happenings – that were forward-thinking and often controversial.
Presenting key works and moments in his remarkable six-decade career, Bob Matheny: Almost Anonymous showcases the artist’s prolific output and honors his pioneering contributions to, and continued impact on, San Diego’s art community.
Posters from Matheny's work at Southwestern College. He was first hired at the college in 1961 to teach graphic design. One of his goals was to also start an art gallery at the college. The first exhibition, which opened on November 13, 1961, was a John Baldessari solo exhibition. Not a bad start.
Nine shows followed that year including solo shows by Ethel Greene, Joyce Fitzgerald, Richard Allen Morris and Harold Gregor. At that point Bob was acting department chair and the gallery director.
More about Bob's days at Southwestern College can be found at Objects USA.
Some of Bob's early graphic design work.
Circle No. 3, 1963 - Oil on canvas
Textile by Bob
Pail, 1963
Here's Bob, with the piece above, from a 1968 exhibition poster from Chapman College.
The State of Art Welcomes You
A Good Painting from the Estate of Russell Baldwin (with John Baldessari and Russell Baldwin), 2009
Baldwin, Baldessari and Matheny were friends since the early 1960s. This piece is an homage to Baldwin, who passed away in 2008. There was an exhibition including the three artists, Spitting in the Wind, curated by Dave Hampton.
Art Disposal Service, 1969
More about this 2013 ceremony can be found here.
Bob has been creating art for 60 years and counting. Keep up with him on his website, Robert Earl Matheny