SOUTH GATE – The Downey Museum of Art’s latest exhibit, “Vic Joachim Smith - Early Work,” opens this Saturday, Jan. 10, at 1 p.m. at South Gate Museum and Art Galleries. Vic Smith moved to Southern California from the Pacific Northwest to pursue a calling in art. He graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 1954 and later developed the arts program and taught at Cal State Fullerton.

During the 1950s and 60s, Smith exhibited throughout Asia and Europe alongside other renowned American artists such as Pollack, Rothko, Kline, and De Kooning.

California institutions, including the Museums of Art in Downey, Newport Harbor, Laguna, Long Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland, also hosted exhibits of his work. In 1967, Los Angeles Times art critic William Wilson noted, “The art of Vic Smith is so good, I can’t understand why it isn’t more famous.”

Downey Museum of Art holds in its collection one complete early series by Vic Smith. “High Sierra” will be shown in its entirety as well as samples of other early work and ephemera.

Simultaneous to “Vic Joachim Smith - Early Work,” Downey Museum of Art will offer a second show, Selections from the Collections, featuring large, avant garde, and constructed paintings from its permanent holdings, including the work of Charles Villiers.

The opening reception will include live music and theater. Featured at 3 p.m, The Other Theater Company will offer a production of “Off Kilter,” a short play about how to look at modern art.

Throughout the reception, Isaac Takeuchi will perform Bach and original cello compositions.

The South Gate Museum and Art Galleries is located at 8680 California Ave., just north of Firestone Blvd.

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Published: Jan. 8, 2015 - Volume 13 - Issue 39