THE GOLD MEDAL(S)

[Above left: CAC Gold Medal of Honor, designed by Philip Paval c.1960, reproduced by kind permission of Mr. Winston S. Churchill.
Above right: CAC Gold Medal, designed by Leo Nowak c.1978, collection CAC.]

THE ANNUAL EXHIBITIONS & AWARDS

Though the Annual CAC Exhibitions are currently called "The 97th 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." [See annual exhibition pamphlet covers.] The words "Gold Medal" apparently 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 2010). The 84th Annual is the only known year (1993) an exhibition was never held, apparently due to lack of a venue.

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, or for subject or medium categories such as Figures, Portraits, Graphics, Watercolor, Marines, Landscapes, etc. (73rd, 78th Annuals). Awards changed from year to year. Some years also saw a Best of Show award.

The idea of a Gold Medal award can be seen as far back as the 17th Annual in 1926, although it would not have been the same medal used today. The current practice of awarding only two Gold Medals, one for Painting and one for Sculpture, began with the 90th Annual in 2000. Since then, a third Gold Medal Award has been added, and is awarded under the title of the "Edgar Payne Award for Best Landscape" (96th Annual, 2006).

THE GOLD MEDALS

At present, two gold medals are known along with their creators, and are shown at the top of the page. One, bearing the inscription "Medal of Honor," was designed and executed c.1960 by Philip Paval (1899-1971), 24th President of the CAC (1953-55). The first medal struck of this design was awarded to Sir Winston Churchill, accompanying the title of "Honorary Member." The medal now resides in the Collection of Chartwell House in the U.K.

The second medal was designed c. 1978 by Leo Nowak (1907-2001), a CAC member who served in a number of capacities including CAC Vice President. Both the Paval medal and the Nowak medal were subsequently reproduced on CAC Rosters and Bulletins. (See chronological list below.)

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 is taken out of context. If one reads 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, predecessor to 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