The Carmel Arts and Crafts Club was an

art gallery An art gallery is a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. In Western cultures from the mid-15th century, a gallery was any long, narrow covered passage along a wall, first used in the sense of a place for art in the 1590s. The lon ...

clubhouse Clubhouse may refer to: Locations * The meetinghouse of: ** A club (organization), an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal ** In the United States, a country club ** In the United Kingdom, a gentlemen's club * A ...

founded in 1905, by Elsie Allen, a former art instructor for

Wellesley College Wellesley College is a private women's liberal arts college in Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1870 by Henry and Pauline Durant as a female seminary, it is a member of the original Seven Sisters Colleges, an unofficial g ...

. The club was located at Monte Verde Street in

Carmel-by-the-Sea, California Carmel-by-the-Sea (), often simply called Carmel, is a city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated on October 31, 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, Carmel is known for its natural scenery and ric ...

, where the

Golden Bough Playhouse The Golden Bough Playhouse is a historic two-story theatre in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California on Monte Verde St., between 8th and 9th Avenues. The playhouse occupies the site of the former Carmel Arts and Crafts Club, Carmel's first cultural center a ...

is today. The clubhouse served as the Carmel community cultural center. It held dramatic performances, poetry readings, lectures, and was a summer school for the arts. Between 1919 and 1948 Carmel was the largest art colony on the

Pacific coast Pacific coast may be used to reference any coastline that borders the Pacific Ocean. Geography Americas Countries on the western side of the Americas have a Pacific coast as their western or southwestern border, except for Panama, where the Pac ...

History

Many of the local artists living in the area got together and formed a club that became the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club. Their first meeting was held at the home of Elsie Allen in 1905. The club was established to attract artists to the

art colony An art colony, also known as an artists' colony, can be defined two ways. Its most liberal description refers to the organic congregation of artists in towns, villages and rural areas, often drawn by areas of natural beauty, the prior existence o ...

that became

. Allen was elected president, Jane Powers, wife of

Frank Hubbard Powers Frank Hubbard Powers (September 25, 1864 – November 15, 1920), served in the California State Assembly for the 41st district from 1895 to 1897. He was a San Francisco attorney for Heller & Powers. He and real estate developer James Franklin Dev ...

as vice president, Louis S. Slevin as treasurer, and Mary Braley as secretary. Josephine K. Foster was elected president on September 4, 1906. The club was incorporated under the name of ''Arts and Crafts Club of Carmel.'' Activities held at the club included dances, card parties, plays, lectures, music recitals, and art exhibitions. The club sponssored summer classes for artists. In 1906, the

Carmel Development Company The Carmel Development Company was a real-estate development company that operated in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California from 1902 to 1965. It was developed by James Franklin Devendorf and Frank Hubbard Powers. Powers provided the capital and did th ...

provided the club with their first building on Ocean Avenue. Their first art exhibit was held in this temporary building. Foster formed a committee to raise money to build a permanent site for the clubhouse. It raised money by holding a "Dutch Market" with booths to sell goods and food at the park across the Hotel Carmelo. Those in charge of the booths were:

George Sterling George Sterling (December 1, 1869 – November 17, 1926) was an American writer based in the San Francisco, California Bay Area and Carmel-by-the-Sea. He was considered a prominent poet and playwright and proponent of Bohemianism during the f ...

's wife, Sydney J. Yard's wife, Michael J. Murphy's wife, and others.

Sinclair Lewis Harry Sinclair Lewis (February 7, 1885 – January 10, 1951) was an American writer and playwright. In 1930, he became the first writer from the United States (and the first from the Americas) to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, which was ...

acted as master of ceremonies. By July 1907, a lot and the clubhouse building costing $2,500 was completed on Monte Verde Street south of Eighth Avenue. Every summer

Jennie V. Cannon Jennie Amelia Vennerström Cannon, also known as Jennie Vennerstrom Cannon (1869–1952), was an American artist who spent most of her career in California but gained national recognition. She received the first master's degree from the Art Depa ...

travelled to the

Monterey Peninsula The Monterey Peninsula anchors the northern portion on the Central Coast of California and comprises the cities of Monterey, Carmel, and Pacific Grove, and the resort and community of Pebble Beach. History Monterey Monterey was founded in 17 ...

, and in 1907 purchased real estate in Carmel, where she joined the local art colony, participated in its birth and development, and exhibited at the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club. Harold Sutton Palmer spoke at the club in March 1907 as well as musical selections by Mabel Gray Lachmund, Peral Tuttle, Sallie Ehrmann, and a reading by Fanny M. Yard, wife of watercolor artist Sydney J. Yard. Her husband, Sydney Yard exhibited at the club as well. Other early events included the Café-chantant and bazar to raise funds to pay for an art exhibition held at the clubhouse; entertainment for the Manzanita Club, which included music and dancing followed by dinner and speeches. On July 16, 1908, the first annual breakfast of the Club was held at the clubhouse. George Sterling was toastmaster for thirty-two members of the club. Mary E. Hand was introduced as president of the club, which she held for sixteen years. On September 24, 1911, the Club put on the play ''

The Land of Heart's Desire ''The Land of Heart's Desire'' is a play by Irish poet, dramatist, and 1923 Nobel laureate William Butler Yeats. First performed in the spring of 1894, at the Avenue Theatre in London, where it ran for a little over six weeks,Yeats, William Butl ...

,'' produced by

Herbert Heron The Forest Theater is an historic amphitheater in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Founded in 1910, it is one of the oldest outdoor theaters west of the Rockies. Actor/director Herbert Heron is generally cited as the founder and driving force, and ...

, at the

Forest Theater The Forest Theater is an historic amphitheater in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Founded in 1910, it is one of the oldest outdoor theaters west of the Rockies. Actor/director Herbert Heron is generally cited as the founder and driving force, an ...

amphitheater in Carmel. From July 4-5th 1916, the Club presented ''The Piper,'' by

Josephine Preston Peabody Josephine Preston Peabody (May 30, 1874 – December 4, 1922) was an American poet and dramatist. Biography Peabody was born in New York and educated at the Girls' Latin School, Boston, and at Radcliffe College. In 1898, she was introduced ...

at the Forest Theater. Four Carmel artists acted and painted scenery: Arthur Vachell,

Mary DeNeale Morgan Mary DeNeale Morgan (May 24, 1868 – October 10, 1948) also known as M. DeNeale Morgan, was an American plein air painter, especially in watercolor, and printmaker. She was the director the Carmel Summer School of Art sponsored by the Carmel Arts ...

, William F. Ritschel, and Laura Maxwell.

Percy Gray Henry Percy Gray (1869–1952) was an American painter. Gray was born on October 3, 1869 into a San Francisco family with broad literary and artistic tastes. He studied at the San Francisco School of Design and later under William Merritt Chase ...

Gray was very active in the Carmel art colony, often staying for several months at a time, and exhibiting with the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club (1913, 1923) and the

Carmel Art Association The Carmel Art Association (CAA) is a Not-for-profit arts organization and Art museum, gallery located in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The CAA is Carmel's oldest gallery. It features the work of many local artists living on the Monterey Peninsu ...

(1927-1928, 1932-1943).

William Frederic Ritschel William Frederic Ritschel, also known as Wilhelm Frederick Ritschel (1864–1949), was a California impressionist painter who was born in Nuremberg, Germany on July 11, 1864. Germany and New York After completing his education at a regional Gy ...

exhibited at the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club between 1913 and 1924 and continued as a frequent exhibiting member for more than two decades at the

, where he received numerous awards and served as president and on the board of directors.

John O'Shea John Francis O'Shea (; born 30 April 1981) is an Irish professional football coach and former player. He was known for his versatility in playing several positions on either side of the pitch or the centre. Born in Waterford, O'Shea joined Man ...

relocated to Carmel In 1917, and frequently exhibited at the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club. The last exhibition held by the Club was the Eighteenth Exhibition from September–October 1924. The art community saw a decline in the sale of paintings. In April 1927, the deed to the clubhouse was sold to the

Abalone League The Abalone League was an amateur baseball and softball club based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California from 1921 through 1938. It was the first softball league in the Western United States. The League was incorporated on September 8, 1927. The League ...

and the proceeds were used to pay off the Forest Theater debts. By September 1927, the

replaced the Arts and Crafts Club and became the center of the art community on the

Arts and Crafts Theater

Mary Hand, president, helped build the Carmel Arts and Crafts Theater in 1922, where the Club put on their own theatrical productions. The formal opening of the Arts and Crafts Theater was highlighted by the performance of two plays produced by

John Northern Hilliard John Northern Hilliard (August 18, 1872 – March 14, 1935) was an American newspaperman, poet, novelist, and playwright. Among his works is a best-selling book on magic, ''Greater Magic''. Biography John Northern Hilliard was born in Palmyra, N ...

, ''The Thrice Promised Bride'' and ''The Queen's Enemies.'' The play ''The Bad Man,'' a three-act comedy by American playwright

Porter Emerson Browne Porter Emerson Browne was an American playwright (June 22, 1879 – September 20, 1934), born Beverly, Massachusetts. History He was the author of numerous plays, including ''A Fool There Was'' (1909), which was adapted for film twice, in 1915 ...

, was put on by the Arts and Crafts Theater on January 15, 1926. Artist

Jo Mora Joseph Jacinto Mora (October 22, 1876 – October 10, 1947) was a Uruguayan-born American cowboy, photographer, artist, cartoonist, illustrator, painter, muralist, sculptor, and historian who lived with the Hopi and wrote about his experiences in ...

and real estate developer

Byington Ford Lewis Byington Ford (November 1, 1890 – January 19, 1985) was a Monterey Peninsula real estate developer. He was a major force in developing Pebble Beach and Carmel Woods. Ford established the Carmel Valley Airport, the first airpark of its kin ...

were among the persons in the play. Other plays put on by the Arts and Crafts Theater were ''Cinderella,'' ''Doubling in Brass,'' ''Captain Brassbound's Conversion,'' ''Children Of The Moon,'' ''Clarence,'' ''In His Arms,'' ''One Of The Family,'' and ''What Happened to Jones.'' To help raise funds to pay off the Arts and Crafts Theater, and avoid the competing

, the two groups decided to merge in 1924, into the Forest Theater Corporation, as a unifying entity to produce and manage plays staged at the Forest Theater.

Carmel Summer School Of Art

Carmel-by-the-Sea Arts and Crafts Summer School

In 1910, the Club established a Carmel Summer School Of Art, with Yard as director, to teach drama, painting, pottery, metalwork and a variety of other crafts. The school's instructors included Mary DeNeale Morgan from 1917-1925;

William Merritt Chase William Merritt Chase (November 1, 1849October 25, 1916) was an American painter, known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons School of Design. ...

, in 1914, a former director of the London School of Art; Josephine Culbertson, Ida A. Johnson, Helene Woods Smith, of

Pratt Institute Pratt Institute is a private university with its main campus in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. It has a satellite campus in Manhattan and an extension campus in Utica, New York at the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. The school was ...

in Brooklyn; Jo Mora from 1922-1926; Paul K. Mays of the

Provincetown Printers Provincetown Printers was an art colony in Provincetown, Massachusetts during the early 20th-century of artists who created art using woodblock printing techniques. It was the first group of its kind in the United States, developed in an area when ...

and the

Art Students League of New York The Art Students League of New York is an art school at 215 West 57th Street in Manhattan, New York City, New York. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists. Although artists may stu ...

. Morgan settled in Carmel in 1909, became the director of the School and Club. From July through September 1914

taught his last summer class, his largest with over one hundred pupils, at the Summer School Of Art. His former student, Jennie V. Cannon, in conjunction with Chase's business manager

Channel Pickering Townsley Channel "Chan" Pickering Townsley or C.P. Townsley (1867–1921) was an American painter, art administrator, and educator. The subject and genre of his California Impressionist paintings were landscapes, portraits and still lives. He served a ...

and Carmel's co-founder

James Franklin Devendorf James Franklin Devendorf (April 6, 1856–October 9, 1934), was a pioneer real estate development, real estate developer and philanthropist. Devendorf and attorney Frank Hubbard Powers (1864-1921), founded the Carmel Development Company in 1902. ...

, persuaded the painter to visit the Pacific Coast. Several of the Carmel students published descriptions of his lectures and teaching methods. Chase found the art colony at Carmel too confining socially and moved his residence to the nearby

Hotel Del Monte The Hotel Del Monte was a large resort hotel in Monterey, California, from its opening in 1880 until 1942. It was one of the finest luxury hotels in North America. During World War II, it closed and the building was leased to the United State ...

in Monterey. In mid-August one of his students, Helena Wood Smith, was brutally murdered by her Japanese lover, which caused the cancellation of several classes, near violent hysteria in the art colony, and the early departure of some of his students. Chase continued with his regular teaching schedule, held meetings with important regional artists, such as William Ritschel, painted several local scenes, and experimented with monotypes.

Legacy

An Arts & Crafts scrapbook, produced by the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club, chronicles the activities of Carmel's Arts and Crafts Club from 1912 to 1926. The scrapbook contains pamphlets, photographs, articles and letters documenting the Club's summer school, annual art shows, theater productions and other activities.

Exhibitions

The clubhouse staged annual and special exhibitions, which attracted visiting artists from across the country, and provided professional instruction in painting, sculpture, and crafts.

Exhibitors

Below is a partial list of exhibitors at the club. For a complete list see Exhibitors of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club (1906-1924).

Publications

Jennie V. Cannon: The Untold History of the Carmel and Berkeley Art Colonies, Volume 1
by Robert W. Edwards, 2012
Arts and Crafts Club of Carmel: Arts and Crafts Club Scrapbook

References

External links

Carmel Art Association
website

and CAA {{DEFAULTSORT:Carmel Arts and Crafts Club Arts organizations established in 1905 Art in California Art museums and galleries in California American artist groups and collectives Arts organizations disestablished in the 20th century 1905 establishments in California