History of the Gold Medallions
The History of the CAC Medals and the Artists Who Created Them
Exhibition Titles
Though the Annual CAC Exhibitions are currently titled “Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition,” they weren’t always referred to by that name. Previously, the annual exhibitions were typically referred to as “The 37th Annual Exhibition,” or “Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture.”
The words “Gold Medal” first appeared in the exhibition title of 1967, the 58th “Annual Gold Medal Award Exhibition.” Another form of the exhibition title was “Gold Medal Show.”
The California Art Club was founded in mid-December of 1909, but the 1st Annual wasn’t held until early 1911, with the 2nd Annual following later that same year. This brief pause explains why the current exhibitions do not sync up with the year (i.e., the 100th Annual won’t occur in 2009, but in 2011). The 84th Annual is the only known year (1993) an exhibition was never held, apparently due to lack of a venue.
Awards
Historically there have been many various and colorful awards given at the Annual Exhibitions: Best Landscape, Best Sculpture, Honorable Mention, etc. [16th Annual]; The Minnie Tingle Memorial Prize, CAC Medals for Painting (Gold, Silver and Bronze), CAC Medals for Sculpture (same), [17th Annual]; The Eudora Hull Spalding prize of $200, The Fletcher Ford Purchase Prize of $100, The Dalzell Hatfield Gold Medal for the painting contributing most to the success of the exhibition, and carrying with it $50 [21st Annual]. Many awards were given in someone’s name, and for subject or medium categories such as Figures, Portraits, Graphics, Watercolor, Marines, Landscapes, etc. [73rd, 78th Annuals, etc.]. Awards changed from year to year. Some years also saw a Best of Show award.
The Gold Medals
The idea of a Gold Medal award can be seen as far back as the 17th Annual in 1926. The practice of awarding two Gold Medals, one for Best Painting and one for Best Sculpture, began with the 90th Annual in 2000. Since then, a third Gold Medal Award was added in 2006 [96th Annual], given under the title of “Edgar Payne Award for Best Landscape”, a fourth was added in in 2009 [98th Annual], awarded with the title “Guy Rose Award for Best Multi-Figurative Composition,” and a fifth Gold Medal Award was added in 2010 [99th Annual] with the title “Gold Medal Award for the Advancement of Art.”
Following is a chronological list of known CAC medals along with their creators.
Van Wolf Medal (1950)
A gold medal (“five bronze medals plated with 24K gold”) was designed by sculptor and CAC Member Henry van Wolf (1898-1982) and presented to the Club at their January 1950 meeting. The winners at the annual CAC Spring Show at the Greek Theater (Feb. 12 – 26, 1950) were the first to receive this medal.
[New Medals, Oct. 1949 CAC Bulletin; Van Wolf Medal, Jan. 1950 CAC Bulletin]
Edgardo Simone Memorial Medal (1951)
Shortly after the first medal Van Wolf designed another, this one in memory of CAC member and sculptor Edgardo Simone who had passed away in 1949. This medal was awarded as “the Popular Prize for Painting” to Artist Member Leon Franks of Laguna Beach at the following annual CAC Spring Show at the Greek Theater (Mar. 18 – Apr. 1, 1951). Innocenzo Daraio won the CAC Medal, while Lewis Physioc took home a medal made by Philip Paval.
[CAC Bulletins: New Medal, Oct. 1950; Medal, Mar. 1951; Popular, Apr. 1951]
A competition was announced in Dec. 1950 for sculptor members to come up with a new medal design, to be awarded at annual exhibitions. It is unknown if this ever came to fruition, although two other medals, by Van Wolf and Paval, are awarded at subsequent Spring Shows.
[Competition, Dec. 1950 CAC Bulletin]
Van Wolf Medal (1952)
CAC Gold Medals, designed by Van Wolf and reproduced on the [missing] catalogue cover were presented at the Annual CAC Spring Show at the Greek Theater (March 16 – 30, 1952). Unknown if these are the same Van Wolf medals made earlier or not. The Popular Award for Painting was won by CAC President Charles Argall.
[CAC Awards, Popular Vote, April 1952 CAC Bulletin]
CAC Medal of Honor (c.1953)
Bearing the inscription “Medal of Honor,” this medal was designed and executed c.1953 by Philip Kran Paval (1899-1971), 24th CAC President (1953-55). “A new Special Medal of Honor has been designed by Philip Paval and will be presented this year for the first time to the winner of a special competition among former 1st prize winners at our CAC Greek Theater show.” [New Medal, March 1953 CAC Bulletin, Vol. 12 No. 7]
This medal was later awarded in 1954 to Sir Winston Churchill when the statesman was invited by Paval to join as an Honorary CAC Member. Churchill’s medal now resides in the Collection of Chartwell House in the U.K.
Will Foster Medal (1953)
CAC member Will Foster, N.A. (d. 1953), passed away June 27, 1953 – just two days before, CAC friends had honored him by authorizing a special medal in his name. [In Memorium, Sept. 1953 CAC Bulletin, Vol. 13 No. 1]
Silver Medals
Five silver Medals of Achievement were awarded in 1954 to CAC members in recognition of special services to the club: Innocenzo Daraio, Mary Lauritz, Einar Petersen, Greta Ammon and Mary Jarrett. [Medals, June 1954 CAC Bulletin, Vol. 13 No. 10]
Paval Medal
This gold medal was also designed by Paval. Three of these medals were awarded to Robert Schaar at the 60th Annual Exhibition [1969], and were probably used up through the 68th Annual Exhibition [1977] when Angie Whitson was awarded the same medal.
Nowak Medal
The most recent medal was designed c. 1978 by Leo Nowak (1907-2001), a CAC member who served in a number of capacities including Vice President. The Nowak medal has been awarded at Annual Exhibition since its creation, up through the 99th Annual [2010]. Both the Paval and Nowak medal designs have been reproduced on CAC Membership Rosters and Bulletins.
Further Clarity on the Paval & Nowak Medals
The June 2001 issue of the California Art Club Newsletter, in an article titled “Celebrating the 91st Gold Medal Juried Exhibition,” contains a section regarding the history of the gold medal which (mistakenly) reads:
The medal itself has an interesting history. It was created by artist Philip Paval, who was President of the CAC from 1953 to 1955. Born in Denmark and educated as a gold and silversmith, Paval settled in a Hollywood art studio and promptly led an active art career and scandalous social life. He was known to cohort with various movie actors, opera singers, European royalty and ambassadors. With quite a flair for the extravagant, he painted and sculpted prolifically for his clients and acquaintances. In his autobiography, Paval, published in 1968 by Gunther Press, he describes the medal he created: “I got the commission to make some medals for the Club. I never won one, but I still made them…“
The above quote was taken out of context. Reading the preceding paragraph of Paval’s book, it becomes clear that it is not the California Art Club that he is referring to, but rather the “Painter Sculpture Club” [i.e. the Painters and Sculptors Club of Los Angeles, founded 1923], of which he was also a member. To wit:
We always went out on Saturdays to paint; sometimes the California Missions and sometimes to San Pedro where we painted boats. My painting at San Pedro was the one accepted in the Painter Sculpture Club exhibition. Stewart Robson was the president and I spent many evenings there.
I gave a lecture at the Club and as I was gradually getting well known in the field of silversmithing, I met many of the Southland’s painters there. The first time I was accepted in the Club, I had to cook a dinner; a friend and I cooked a spaghetti dinner with red wine and all. I met artists such as Paul Sample, Thorwald Probst, Ralph Holmes, Ejnar Hansen, Peter Nielsen, Art Yoman and many others. Earl Stendahl, the art dealer, was always ready to let us meet at his gallery. I got the commission to make some medals for the Club. I never won one, but I still made them and kept the original which I later gave to Benton Scott as he had won one but never received it.
– Paval, Gunther Press, Hollywood, California, 1968
Philip Paval did create a gold medal for the CAC, but it is not mentioned in his autobiography. As the excerpt below explains, the medal that the CAC currently uses was designed and created in fairly recent history. A note in the December 1991 issue of the California Art Club Bulletin (later retitled the California Art Club Newsletter) explains this:
We want to acknowledge a nice gesture from Leo Nowak, an Honorary Life Member who now resides in Inyokern. Leo designed the CAC Medallion for the 1978-79 Roster and Bylaws, and that we use this on our bulletin. He noted that the logo was looking faded from repeated reproductions, so he kindly sent us his original print. We will use it when we make up new letterheads in the near future. Leo also sent CAC a check to help with the cost of postage in mailing bulletins. Thank you for your generosity, Leo.
– California Art Club Bulletin, December 1991, Vol. 100, No. 9
CAC Gold Medals in Chronological Order of Appearance
1960
A new Gold Medal of Honor was adopted in early 1960 and the CAC voted to have Winston Churchill receive the first one struck. Designed by Philip Paval, it was later used on the cover of the 1984 Roster, with slight modifications (below; “Medal of Honor” is changed to “Since 1909”).
Reproduced by kind permission of Mr. Winston S. Churchill
c. 1969-1977
The Gold Medal given during this period was also designed by Paval. It was received by painter Robert Schaar (1969) and sculptor Angie Whitson (1977).
Courtesy of Robert Schaar
The inscription reads “Robert L. Schaar, First Award, Portraits, California Federal Plaza, 1969.” Very faintly on the lower left edge it is stamped “Sterling” and “Paval.”
1978
Cover and detail of the medallion used on the cover of the California Art Club’s Roster & By-Laws, 1978-79. First appearance of the medallion designed by Leo Nowak. His signature appears under the lower right portion of the medallion.
1984
Cover and frontispiece of Who’s Who in the California Art Club, Inc., Roster and By-Laws 1984, 75th Anniversary Edition.
“Cover: C.A.C. Gold Medal – designed and executed by Philip Paval, 20th President of the California Art Club 1953-1954-1955.”
[Paval was actually the 24th President during those years.]
Top portion of the California Art Club Bulletin and detail of the Paval’s medal design. His design was used on the Bulletin from 1984 through February 1990; the following month Leo Nowak’s design replaced it.
1991
Top portion of the California Art Club Bulletin and detail of medallion, December 1991 issue. Features a new crisp reprint taken from Leo Nowak’s original print. His signature appears under the lower right portion of the medallion. This design is first seen on the March 1990 issue of the CAC Bulletin.
Today
Detail of the Gold Medal Award which is currently given at the California Art Club’s Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibitions. The details of this medal match Leo Nowak’s design exactly.
Some unanswered questions:
Was there an actual gold medal awarded in earlier exhibitions like the 17th Annual [1926], where CAC Medals for Painting and Sculpture were given in Gold, Silver and Bronze?
Same for the 58th Annual [1967] when “Gold Medal” is included in the title of the for the first time?