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CALIFORNIA ART CLUB NEWSLETTER Documenting California’s Traditional Arts Heritage Since 1909

Joseph Duncan Gleason (1881–1959): A Buoyant Life

by Elaine Adams

Islands (Hawaii). The trip was a long and arduous one. It took 154 days for the California to sail around the Cape Horn until she finally anchored in Oahu in December. The young New Englander experienced his first winter in “paradise,” surrounded by the warmth of the tropic air and the perfume of gardenias and jasmine. Grandfather Gleason Sets Roots in California On March 4, 1846 James Gleason sailed from Honolulu to Monterey, Alta California to begin his new post as supercargo for Paty & Co., a job that entailed acting as merchant-ship officer in charge of the Don Quixote’s cargo, and included riding horseback along the coast from town to town to line up advance sales. James Gleason was instantly captivated with California’s Homeward Bounder, The Bohemia, c. 1951 scenic beauty and the gentility of the Oil on canvas 300 3 400 Californios, as well as the financial © 2012 The Kelton Foundation prospects of this new land, which was soon to strike gold and achieve U.S. statehood. f you were to mention sailors and steamboats in the In a letter dated July 25, 1846 James same breath in the hearing of some old shellback of a sea dog, he would Gleason wrote to his beloved sister, probably mutter a few deep sea oaths and spring the old one about iron Frances Gleason, in Plymouth, “Iships and wooden men, etc.—‘Deck hands, that’s all they are,’ says he.” “…I once thought that the Such was the controversy among mariners in the early twentieth century and such Sandwich Islands was a delightful was the salty repartee of Joseph Duncan Gleason (1881–1959), as recounted from his place but now give me California article, “A Perilous Voyage,” printed in The Wanderlust while aboard the Intrepid. with its beautiful sky and its lovely señoritas…. I shall never go to the Saltwater in his Blood William Paty, owners of the stately Islands again to live.” Joe Duncan Gleason was not the first trading bark, Don Quixote, at their mariner in his family. In fact, he claimed mercantile store in Honolulu. Launching Progeny a rich lineage of sailors among his In 1841 at the age of seventeen, James In a letter dated May 22, 1847 James ancestry. His grandfather, James Henry Gleason left his home in Plymouth, Gleason informed his sister that he Gleason (1823–1861), worked with his Massachusetts and sailed aboard the had become engaged to “the Belle of maternal uncles, Captains John and California destined for the Sandwich Monterey,” Maria Catarina Demetria california art club www.californiaartclub.org summer 2012 YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 2

Henrique Gleason & Nellie Duncan Life in Los Angeles Henrique Gleason was twenty-five when In 1882, upon the personal urging of he met Eleanor “Nellie” Duncan (1846– his friend, George Alexander, future 1925), a schoolteacher at Colton Hall in Mayor of Los Angeles (1909–1913), Monterey and a descendant of Abraham Henrique Gleason moved his family Lincoln on her mother’s side. Her family from Watsonville to Boyle Heights, arrived in Mission San Juan Bautista, east of the Los Angeles River. There, California in 1853 after travelling in a he purchased twelve choice acres of covered wagon along the Oregon Trail land that was described as having from Lineville, Iowa—to find the “land “full-bearing Fruit Trees of different of golden dreams.” The Duncans built varieties” and magnificent views of the California’s first sawmill, Duncan’s San Gabriel Mountains (now includes Mills in Sonoma County. the site of General Hospital and Gleason Henrique and Nellie married in Street). He also invested in the Mariposa 1875, and two years later, moved forty Grocery Co. on Main Street across from miles south to the small town of Soquel City Hall, from where he sold groceries in Santa Cruz County, and later, to and liquor, the latter of which Mrs. nearby Watsonville. Henrique became Gleason strongly disapproved. co-owner of a dry goods store and The marriage, however, was not Self-Portrait of Joe Duncan Gleason at Age Nellie was a corresponding writer for successful. The Gleasons soon separated Twenty, 1901 0 3 0 the Santa Cruz Weekly Courier with her and eventually divorced. In 1897 Nellie Oil on board 18 14 column “Letters from Soquel,” under divulged to a family friend, author Collection of Gleason Family the penname of “Puss.” They had three William Heath Davis, “Without children, Pearl Elaine (1876–1972), companionship of the soul, marriage is Watson. “Kate” Watson was the daughter James Henry (Hal) (1878–1935), and sad bondage.” Davis referred to Nellie as of London-born Scotsman James Joseph Duncan (1881–1959). “a dashing widow and an intellectually “Santiago” Watson who, as a boy, ran superior woman.” Although Nellie away from home to become a crewman Gleason was not technically a widow, on British ships. It was in 1824 while she preferred its more socially acceptable aboard an English whaler off the coast of Santa Barbara that he disembarked and walked 250 miles to Monterey. Watson eventually became a civic developer and successful merchant. He married Californio, Mariana Buena Ventura Escamilla, and together they had twelve children, nine that survived to maturity. James Gleason, who was twenty- three at the time of his engagement, promised his fiancée’s parents to wait eighteen months before they would wed, as Kate was only fourteen years of age. They married on October 7, 1849, and the following year their first son Henry Senovia Gleason (1850) was born. “Enrique,” as he was called by his Spanish name, was to become the future father of artist Joseph Duncan Gleason. The family grew to include eight children, but sadly, their father, James Gleason, died at the age of thirty-eight. Kate could not raise eight small children alone and decided to find families who could support them. Eleven-year-old Enrique was raised by a French family that renamed him “Henrique,” in the Tropical Waters — An Arbuckle Sugar Ship Nearing Hawaii, c. 1932 French derivative. Oil on canvas 25 1/40 3 300 © 2012 The Kelton Foundation

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The owner, Louis Blankenship, wrote to the boy’s mother, “He has been a good and most faithful worker, and his CALIFORNIA drawing of work for reproduction has ART CLUB in much been equal to that of much more experienced artists.” Duncan was NEWSLETTER also musical and played the ukulele, mandolin, and cello. Summer 2012 Art Education Contents When Joe Duncan Gleason was still in grade school, he received his Cover Joseph Duncan Gleason first drawing lessons from Cornelia (1881–1959): A Buoyant Life Bradfield, the first drawing instructor by Elaine Adams in the L.A. public schools. In 1897 at the 9 Sergio Sanchez: age of fifteen Gleason enrolled in the Traditional Means/ University of Southern California’s Contemporary Voice newly-formed College of Fine Arts, by Molly Siple founded and directed by William Lees Judson (1842–1928). 12 Clarence Hinkle While on a trip to San Francisco in by Janet Blake 1899, the seventeen-year-old Gleason Engraving created for Cox Engraving, Mexico 14 Membership Programs landed a job with Sunset Engraving City, 1905 and Events Company. One of his sketches was published in Charles Fletcher Lummis’ title than that of “divorcee.” The Gleason 15 Call for Entries (1859–1928) periodical, Land of Sunshine. property was then sold for $12,000 to Lummis achieved national recognition 15 Collectors’ Circle Corner Henry Huntington for his Southern as a photojournalist, author, and the first Pacific railroad. 16 Corporate 100 city editor of the Los Angeles Times. As a Henrique Gleason moved to Los Angeles transplant from Cincinnati, Albuquerque where he remarried 17 Chapter News and Events Lummis once proclaimed, “Southern and had three sons. Nellie stayed in California grows brains as well as 18 News Briefs Los Angeles and became active in oranges.” The time was certainly ripe in the community and in civic causes, 19 Donations California for creative juices to flow. including instigating the development While Gleason was in San Francisco, of the Second Street Tunnel through 20 Museum/Gallery Exhibitions and Lectures Bunker Hill (from Figueroa to Hill Street). The tunnel helped create a better 29 Book Reviews flow of traffic, but it also helped increase local property value (Mrs. Gleason 29 Bulletin Board owned property on Second Street). 29 Membership News The Makings of an Artist 28 & 31 New Members When Joe Duncan Gleason was just three years old, his mother prophesized Advertisers on one of his sketches that, “He may be an artist one of these days,” and she 28 Fine Art Connoisseur encouraged the possibility. Whether to 29 Heritage Auctions keep her son amused or to provide him with artistic inspiration, Nellie Gleason 29 Plein Air Magazine would take Duncan, as a little boy, to San Pedro Harbour to see the boat wreckages 15 RayMar Art that washed ashore. At seven years of age, he drew convincing pictures of these boats in his black ledger book. At fourteen, Gleason helped the family by taking a job as an illustrator and graphic designer at Union Photo- Engraving Company in Los Angeles. Southwest cover for Leslie’s Weekly, May 5, 1904

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professional career he combined being an artist with being a gymnast. He was also a natural on the parallel bars. When he was seventeen and living in San Francisco Gleason rode his bicycle from the Bay Area to Los Angeles. At eighteen he performed in an acrobatic six-man pyramid-building team in the Grand Athletic Entertainment event at the Los Angeles YMCA. At twenty he entered and won his first competition, the YMCA All-Round Gymnastic Championship. In 1910 being fit and adventuresome Gleason took a six-month trip through Europe travelling on his motorcycle and toured North Africa on foot. In Los Angeles he joined the Los Angeles Athletic Club and contributed illustrations for their membership magazine, Mercury. The club’s Athletic Director was Al Treloar, famous for winning the first large-scale above: bodybuilding competition (held in A California Afternoon Oil on canvas 250 3 320 1904 in Madison Square Garden), was © 2012 The Kelton Foundation declared “The Most Perfectly Developed left: Man in the World.” Treloar was amazed Doria Brand Crate Label with Dorothy Ferguson by Gleason’s surprising strength. Gleason as the model could perform one-hand stands on anything and in perfect balance. again in the spring of 1906. In 1905 he Treloar recommended that the Los spent seven months in Mexico working Angeles Athletic Club send Gleason at the Cox Engraving Company in to New York to represent them in Mexico City and attending the National the 1920 National Gymnastics Academy of San Carlos studying under Championships of the Amateur the renowned Spanish artist, Antonio Athletic Union. Subsequently, Gleason Fabres (1854–1936), who also taught received first place titles in the National he took classes at the Mark Hopkins Saturnino Herrán (1887–1918). Championships on the Roman Rings Institute of Art. To further his Gleason was well liked by fellow (Flying Rings) for eleven consecutive education, in 1902 he enrolled at the Art students, and was known to have a light- competitions, a record that has never Institute of Chicago where his evident hearted personality and fun sense of been broken. Over the years, Gleason skills gained him immediate acceptance humour. He amused his classmates by won a total of twenty-five medals for into life-drawing courses. Gleason drawing pun-inspired cartoons depicting gymnastics and fencing. had also hoped to study privately with nautical terms. He was known as “Joe” While in New York Gleason arranged Howard Pyle (1853–1911) in Chadds by family and friends, and initially to visit with local sea captains and gather Ford, Pennsylvania. However, Pyle signed his work as “Joe Duncan Gleason,” first-hand information about their accepted very few pupils, and those he then, “J. Duncan Gleason,” and later, as sailing experiences, particularly with accepted were taught without charge. “Duncan Gleason.” An interesting side square-riggers. He compiled his detailed Touched by Gleason’s earnest letter, note is that he was ambidextrous, and notes into a manuscript, accompanied Pyle offered to review the young artist’s painted with his left hand, but signed his by his own colour illustrations with portfolio, after which he commented, paintings with his right. the hope of one day publishing them “…I do not see why you should study as a book with the title of “The Cape any further for you have enough The Athlete Horners.” Unfortunately, Gleason passed knowledge now to give you a start…” Joe Duncan Gleason was 5 foot, 6 1/2 away before he could realize this dream. Deciding not to reapply to the Art inches tall with a wiry frame, excellent Institute in Chicago, Gleason opted to sense of balance, strong arms, and The Publishing World go to New York to study with Frank tremendous upper body strength. He All throughout his art education Vincent DuMond (1865–1951) at the Art was robust and kept up with physical Gleason supported himself as an Students League from 1903 to 1904 and exercise even as an art student. In his illustrator. Now as a trained artist, it california art club www.californiaartclub.org summer 2012 YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 5

made sense to live in New York and find for the brands of Doria, Favorita, and Family Life employment in the publishing business, Meritoria. The assignments called for The Gleasons moved into a Los Angeles which he did gainfully. He created portraits of beautiful young ladies—for bungalow at 3418 South 4th Avenue. illustrations for Hearst’s Magazine, which Gleason used the same model, The following year their first daughter Forecast, the Ladies Home Journal, Dorothy Ferguson. Ferguson was a was born on March 26, 1920, and named Leslie’s Weekly, and Mother’s Magazine. concert pianist who studied at the Eleanor Janet, after Duncan’s mother Ultimately, Gleason wrote and illustrated Manhattan School of Music under (Eleanor Gleason). dozens of articles and books about the the internationally celebrated violinist When the baby was three months California coast and maritime history, and pianist Howard Bauer (1873–1951). old, the family moved to New York including his heralded 1922 publication, Gleason and Ferguson met through the so that Gleason could compete in Windjammers, that focused on Gleason’s California Art Club when Ferguson the national athletic events. While fascination with square-riggers. performed a recital in 1917 at one of the travelling cross-country by train, a Club’s programs. Art and the Railroad baggage car was equipped as a gym Marriage for Gleason to keep up his training. A A 1904 cover illustration Gleason created watchful eye was kept on baby Eleanor for Leslie’s Weekly depicted a southwest The couple were married on June as she was contained in a crate. pueblo scene, which caught the attention 25, 1919 in a garden wedding at the of William Haskell Simpson, chief of Hollywood home of photographer advertising for the Atchinson, Topeka Maude Davis Baker. The flower girls and Santa Fe railroad. Simpson offered were the daughters of Cecile B. DeMille, Gleason free passage to California in Katherine and Agnes, who were both exchange for paintings that he would piano students of Dorothy Ferguson. create along the route. After ten years Gleason used his earnings from his in New York Gleason was delighted to crate label designs to take his bride on accept the proposition and was looking a month-long honeymoon, which they forward to returning to California. humorously referred to as an “auto camping trip deluxe,” driving along Back in California the California coast in Gleason’s 1915 In May of 1914 Gleason returned to Los Hupmobile. Angeles, but realized that although he was well known as an illustrator, he right: lacked recognition as a fine artist. To Gleason in a perfect one-arm hand stand. work towards this goal, one of the first Photo taken from the roof of the Los Angeles things he did was to join the California Athletic Club Art Club. Gleason’s active participation with the Club paid off, and in 1916 he was below: given a solo exhibition at the Club’s new Gleason in one of his prizewinning performances venue in the Los Angeles Public Library on the Roman Rings (Flying Rings) showing his (then located in the Metropolitan ability to stay completely still in a single position Building at 5th and Broadway), for which for a long period of time. he exhibited paintings of the sea and ships. For new inspiration, Gleason took sketching trips in his 1915 Hupmobile touring car, which he had rigged as his mobile art studio and customized the back seat so that it could be removed to recline flat to create a bed. California’s year-round sunshine propagated a boon in agriculture, which encouraged the development of a new promotional industry—that of crate label making. Artists were hired by various produce companies to create the most beautiful crate labels that would attract the most buyers. In 1918 Gleason was commissioned to create four orange crate labels for the Anaheim Orange and Lemon Association

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Portrait of the Artist’s Daughter, Eleanor Mocambo Beach, c. 1947 Collection of Gleason Family Oil on panel 120 3 160 © 2012 The Kelton Foundation

An Artist at Sea the history of transportation. Passage by cruise as a moneymaking opportunity. What did Joseph Duncan Gleason—an railway and automobiles had become He proclaimed, commonplace and travellers were just artist of reputable renown—have to do “The fact is that I think the trip beginning to adapt to the convenience with The USS Intrepid? The story goes offers the biggest chance that can and speed of air travel. The leisurely days that one day when his wife Dorothy was be found today in the motion of shipboard travel were waning, and the peeling carrots for dinner and using a picture business. It is growing skills required for hauling the jib, tuning two-week old newspaper to catch the tremendously costly to build the the rig, and understanding points of parings, an advertisement peered back at big sets that pictures require…with sail were not being handed down to the her that announced, the wide variety of characters and next generation. The Intrepid Company personalities available within the Around the World—Here is a chance aspired to revive the romance and Intrepid party as well as in the ports to join a congenial group of men and adventure of sea travel. women, with the roving instinct like to be visited, there is a wealth of yourself, on a long, unconventional Passengers aboard the Intrepid character material at hand which on the lots would be very costly…. yachting cruise around the world on a The passenger list represented a diverse I feel certain the pictures taken on staunch steel bark of 1500 tons…. You array of seafaring travellers, including this trip will be worth considerably will not travel as a simple passenger; an architect, banker, lawyer, doctor, a more than the entire capitalization you will be a part owner in the Missouri farmer, a former Colorado state of the company.” enterprise. —The Intrepid Company. librarian, a secretary of the YWCA Hotel Dorothy called out to her husband, in San Francisco, a UCLA instructor, The concept was an intriguing one. “Joe, here’s something [that] looks like students, a chemical engineer with Passengers would purchase shares of it is made for us.” Within twenty-four Gulf Petroleum, and an assortment of ownership in the Intrepid with the idea hours the couple signed up for the trip. accountants and businessmen, an actor that they would make a movie of their The USS Intrepid was a bark (three- Seymour Zeliff, two pianists, including voyage and sell the film. They referred to masted sailing vessel, no engine) built at Dorothy Gleason and Maybel S. West, themselves as the “Intrepidors.” Gleason’s the Mare Island Navy Yard and launched two artists including sketch artist V. duty on board was to produce paintings in 1904, commissioned by the U.S. Navy De Vezino and Joe Duncan Gleason. of their voyage and to work as art in 1907, and decommissioned and sold on Children were also on board, including director for their on-board publication, December 20, 1921. She was bought by the baby Eleanor Gleason and a boy scout The Wunderlust, a sixteen-page journal Intrepid Company and reconditioned for with his Airedale dog named “Intrepid.” that would chronicle their voyage with a 1923 passenger world voyage. Also on board was Ivor McFadden a etchings provided by Gleason. The ship The 1920s were a transitional time in motion picture producer who saw the was equipped with a printing press,

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type, and acids for engraving plates. Life in Hollywood the high seas were especially popular. Gleason could utilize his early training In 1925 the family purchased a Spanish- Joe Duncan Gleason found his work as a photoengraver to help produce the style house at 2411 North Edgemont as a set artist in demand with the two shipboard publication. Alas, only one in the Los Feliz Hills of Hollywood. biggest studios, Metro Goldwyn Mayer issue of The Wunderlust was published They were indeed happy at “Casa and Warner Brothers. In addition, and the grand voyage never occurred. The Feliz,” as they aptly named their home. Gleason’s remarkable athletic abilities Intrepid was sold to pay off incurred debt. There was much laughter and frequent and strength merited him jobs in the movies as a stuntman, and because of his Gotta Sail! entertainment, often provided by the visiting artists, actors, dancers, poets, slim stature, he occasionally doubled for Still in a mood for the sea, in 1924 the musicians, writers, sailors, athletes, and actresses in perilous situations. Gleasons rented a hillside studio located art collectors. Gleason’s reputation as an esteemed in San Pedro from where they had a The Gleason’s second daughter, marine artist warranted a solo exhibition panoramic view of the Los Angeles Lillian Joy, was born on May 1, 1927. for his paintings of ships and the sea at harbour to the south. Joe became She was named after Dorothy’s mother, the Stendhall Art Gallery located in involved in the local art community and Lillian Gertrude Prest Ferguson (1869– the Hotel Maryland in Pasadena. The became president of the newly formed 1955). Interestingly, Lillian Ferguson exhibition ran in conjunction with the Artists Club of San Pedro. Commissions was also an artist. She studied at the 1934 Pasadena Tournament of Roses began to roll in from commercial ship Académie Julian in Paris under Jules- whose theme that year was “Tales of the lines and private yacht owners who Joseph Lefebvre (1836–1911) and later in Seven Seas.” wanted paintings of their vessels. New York with William Merritt Chase Gleason worked on at least a dozen As art sales rose, Gleason could (1849–1916). The family had now settled major movies with some of the biggest finally afford buying his own boat. He into a community that reflected their film stars of the day. His first production began with a 10-foot punt, followed many interests. was with Cecil B. De Mille in the making by a 22-foot sloop, named the Dorothy, of Yankee Clipper (1927) starring William and later, in 1953 he bought a 26-foot The Depression and Moviemaking Boyd (Hopalong Cassidy); and with yawl and promptly re-named her the When the Great Depression of the Warner Bros.’ his first film project was Dorothy G. The family took frequent 1930s struck the nation, one of the few Captain Blood (1935) starring the dashing weekend sailing trips, often to Catalina industries that actually managed to earn Errol Flynn. Gleason and Flynn worked Island where Gleason found excellent profits was that of moviemaking. The together again on other movies, including subject matter to paint. One of his best economy was shattered and people were Charge of the Light Brigade (1936), The collectors was William Wrigley, Jr., out of work, but a 25-cent ticket to the Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), and U.S. chewing gum industrialist, who movies provided an immediate form of Dodge City (1939). The artist and the actor owned controlling interest in the Santa escape. shared a love, which was the sea. They Catalina Island Company. Pirate movies and adventures on became friends and fellow members of the Society of Cape Horners, an

Down to the Sea, c. 1947 Avalon Bay from Mount Ada, Santa Catalina Island, c.1934 Oil on canvas 200 3 240 Oil on canvas 160 3 220 © 2012 The Kelton Foundation © 2012 The Kelton Foundation california art club www.californiaartclub.org summer 2012 YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY 8

Museum had that segregated art by establishing two separate juries, “one for the Radical and one for Traditional Art.” In 1950 the Stever Art Gallery in Pasadena sponsored an exhibition with the title “Conservative Versus Eccentric Art.” Gleason opposed the term “conservative” to describe representational art, and preferred “traditional,” which he defined as “a building up of Art through successive generations, and based on the fundamentals of beauty.” Joe Duncan Gleason applied a conscious sense of exuberance, perpetuity and strength to everything he did. He explained his motivation, “It is the craving to do something big which has power that makes me long to paint the sea. I particularly like vigorous subjects. The power of the ocean appeals to me more than its colour or drawing. These are only accessories to the fact. While painting the sea, one may give full play to their imagination, as its constant movement is kaleidoscopic.” Y

Start of the Race, c. 1955 Notes: Oil on canvas 250 3 300 Elaine Adams is a published author and © 2012 The Kelton Foundation public speaker on topics relating to fine arts and aesthetics, and is Editor-in-Chief of the informal group of seafarers, many who Joe sketched, Dorothy kept everyone California Art Club Newsletter. sailed around Cape Horn, and were entertained by playing the piano. The author wishes to thank the daughters interested in maritime history. The group Both Joe and Dorothy became of Joseph Duncan Gleason, Eleanor met at Gleason’s Los Feliz studio. involved with the Los Angeles Power Gleason Muller and Lillian Gleason About creating art for moviemaking, Squadron in 1952 in the effort to Garrison, for their personal recollections, Gleason said, “Movie work is fascinating, promote safe boating. Gleason rose family archives, and for the gracious tea and hospitality Further appreciation goes exciting, but each assignment is on the to the ranks of senior lieutenant, and . to Eleanor’s children, Diane Grossman boards for only a few weeks and is gone. Dorothy became president of the A good painting is more lasting and Clinton and Robert Duncan Grossman, seems somehow more valuable.” Squadronettes. For eight years Gleason for their recollections and valuable research. edited the Squadron’s publication, Research sources for this article include The ‘40s and ‘50s Range Light, and contributed images and the books: Beloved Sister—Letters by During World War II Gleason worked for articles. Joe Gleason was also appointed James Henry Gleason from California the war effort by serving in the U.S. Coast chairman of the committee to promote and the Sandwich Islands 1841–1849, Guard Auxiliary and in the Coast Guard the creation of a state park on the west compiled and published by Dorothy Reserve. In 1943 he received recognition end of Santa Catalina Island. Gleason, The Arthur H. Clark Company, for contributing 1,000 hours of volunteer Glendale, California, 1978; Duncan service. In 1944 Gleason was appointed Ending Thoughts Gleason: Artist, Athlete, and Author, by vice-commander of the Auxiliary, and Regarding the direction of art, Gleason Jane Apostol, published by the Historical in that same year his painting of the wrote in a letter dated April 27, 1950 to Society of Southern California in Los clipper ship, Coriolanus, was presented fellow artists: Angeles, 2003; Joe Duncan Gleason— to President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a Rediscovering California’s Marine gift from Gleason’s good friend, Donald “The showing of Traditional Art Art Master, published by the Newport Douglas (Douglas Aircraft Company). is a worthwhile project at this Harbour Nautical Museum in The painting hung on board Air Force time, when the public is confused conjunction with a four-month exhibition One during Roosevelt’s presidency and is and indignant at the trend of of paintings by Gleason, curated by Marcus now at the Presidential Library in Hyde public galleries in showing radical De Chevrieux and Jacqueline Williams Park, New York. paintings to the exclusion of the Snyder (daughter of Lillian Gleason In 1946 Gleason made frequent visits Traditional Art inspired by the Garrison), May 17 – September 30, 2003. to Sawtelle Veterans Hospital in west beauty and grandeur of the world Many images were provided through the Los Angeles and made sketches of the we live in.” courtesy of The Kelton Foundation and wounded veterans as his contribution Gleason protested an exhibition the Blue World Web Museum, www. to help boost their morale. While policy the Los Angeles County Art blueworldwebmuseum.org. california art club www.californiaartclub.org summer 2012