Pioneers of Silver Lake Art Community return to their original studio with an art exhibit hosted by MUSH
Ceramicist Robert Glover and Painter Bill Wheeler, return to the building at 1617 Silverlake Boulevard where they first launched their studios 50 years ago.
Robert Glover’s first experience with clay was at Chaffey Junior College under the inspired teaching of Tony Ivins. Awarded four yearly scholarships to the Los Angeles County Art Institute (Otis Art Institute) under mentors Peter Voulkos and Helen Watson. Graduated with an MFA in 1960 he began teaching at the Institute in 1962 and has recently retired after 39 years. Robert maintained the studio in the Silver Lake neighborhood for over 45 years and worked on commissions for private and commercial architectural clients.
Robert exhibited in solo and group shows at Janus Gallery and the Space Gallery in Los Angeles, Kitakyushu (Japan), New School (New York), and at museums in La Jolla, Laguna, San Francisco, Berkeley. New York and Los Angeles. His work has appeared in books and magazines such as, Leon Nigrosh, "Sculpting Clay" published by Davis Pub., Les Krantz, "American Artists: An Illustrated Survey of American contemporary Artists, John Conrad, "Contemporary Ceramics Techniques", Prentice/Hall, Art News, American Craft and reviews in the Los Angeles Times. Magazine photo essays have been published in Ceramics Monthly, Visions, ArtWeek, and Sculpture.
Robert moved to the desert in the fall of 2002 and in the spring of 2006, he began working at Silica Studios in Palm Springs.
In his own words Bill Wheeler recalls his move into the area: “In 1973 Bob Glover, who was one of my graduate advisors at Otis, and also a friend by then, was leasing both spaces on Silverlake Boulevard He told me he wanted to give up one of them. With my help he rented the space to a couple of Otis classmates and friends Ruth Kaspin and Sue Mitchell. Both of them also played classical piano, so when my grandmother's stuff came out of storage to be gotten rid of Sue and Ruth let me keep the piano in their newly leased studio. In 1975 it became apparent that I needed an independent creative studio from where I was working at the time as a printer for other artists' etchings and lithographs. Sue and Ruth were moving out and I was left with the choice of either getting rid of the piano, because there was no way to get it into my apartment, or taking over the space. I took over the space and the rest is history. To share the rent ($85/month which was a lot in those years) I had my friend and Otis classmate Drusilla Sumner move in. Together in May of 1976 we opened Studio 1617. Over the years we outgrew the space and we moved our art studio work spaces to other locations, retaining the space in Silver Lake as a fine art gallery, presenting works by many artists. In the 90's the art business changed and I began shifting the emphasis to Latin American crafts, focusing on Peruvian textiles and ceramics. In 2013 after 38 years in the same location I closed the business so I could concentrate on my own artwork again.”
Over the years, Silver Lake has become one of the nation’s most desirable destinations to visit and to live. The area continues to attract young, conscientious artists with unique talents from all over the world.
Dedicated to creating a bridge between old and new and preserving the legacy of the arts in Silver Lake, MUSH invites you to this momentous exhibit in honor of the history of the arts community in Silver Lake.
Exhibit on display: 7/16/16 - 7/31/16
Opening reception with the artists: 7/16/16 from 3PM-7PM
