Art Department Quad

Howard Henry Morgridge, Herbert James Powell, and Albert Alton Richards

Art Department Quad

September 1972

Architecture, Structure/Buildings (Cement, Steel). Reinforced Cement Concrete

Santa Monica College’s Art Quad has had students, for many years, access the quad to create, envision, and fashion bodies of art. Because of the open area and the state of serenity it offers, this provides a much easier atmosphere to study, lounge, and complete their assignments. Santa Monica College has a collection of departments that cater to definitive needs and essentials for majors accessed throughout its campus. Here you will find an open area with stunning water features, beautifully molded sculptures, tables, and alluring views truly catered to art and the art form.You can see students from time to time drawing, painting, and capturing life, art, and the allurement of nature through film and camera. Here, you will have access to classrooms, study halls, lectures, and landscapes that offer easy access and comfort in and out of the area. Previous art movements influence the unique architecture which marks the space.

The Art Department Quad acts as the Art and Art History department’s primary location for learning and connecting students to art. The structure’s orthogonal open-air layout efficiently allows for students to take inspiration from the enclosed nature and manufactured steel/concrete compositions which mark the courtyard. Functionally, the open central space allows for numerous students to compose artworks or study, with sufficient space for isolation and privacy. The rooms for teaching/study on the first floor contain appropriate furnishings and lighting, all with enough space and communal supplies for students to learn and practice simultaneously. Large windows allows natural light to flow into the classrooms from both above and the side. Lining these rooms are s of lockers for holding students’ personal supplies and belongings. On the second floor of the eastern side of quad is a lecture hall with enough space and equipment for scores of students. In inspiring, the sculptures and structures, as a whole, help remind students of some of the tenets of the college's mission--personal and intellectual exploration through diverse global environments.

Jason Lee

Zixuan Fang

Miguel Quezada

Ryan Kim

Matthew Magennis

Leslie Xochipiltecatl

Ashley Jenkins

Mckinizi Speights

Maraleli Perea

Alejandro Hernandez

Jellmer Tanig

Jonathan Archila

In 1952, a new addition was added to Santa Monica College in the form of a patio and buildings for the art campus.
“An example of the most modern in architecture, the building was constructed to furnish the best possible atmosphere for the study of art. The ideal of unshadowed lighting, so necessary to the artist is made possible by the slanting roofs. Their exposure to the-north eliminates the distortion of direct sun rays.”

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=CRS19521029.2.24&srpos=16&e=------195-en--20-CRS-1-byDA-txt-txIN-architecture-------1

“An example of the most modern in architecture, the building was constructed to furnish the best possible atmosphere for the study of art. The ideal of unshadowed lighting, so necessary to the artist is made possible by the slanting roofs. Their exposure to the-north eliminates the distortion of direct sunrays."

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=CRS19521029.2.24&srpos=16&e=------195-en--20-CRS-1-byDA-txt-txIN-architecture-------1

Santa Monica City College, as it was named in 1952, moves from Michigan Ave to the now current location on Pico Blvd. The art quad was funded in 1970. The funding came from state and district funds. The art building was originally meant to accommodate 120 students, have two classrooms and two offices for faculty. “SMC adds Art Building”. October 14, 1970. $219,549 comes from state and district funds the state’s share will be $172,017; the district share will be taken from the last bond election monies and will total $47,532.” Art building near completion and ahead of schedule, September 1972.

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=CRS19720920.2.15&srpos=9&e=------197-en--20-CRS-1-byDA-txt-txIN-%22art+building%22-------1 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

The quad is reminiscent of High Empire 96-192 AD Roman Architecture, where many homes of the elite featured courtyards with central pools or fountains often with statues and pillars surrounding it. The open-aired confinement of nature shares striking similarity with the basic properties of Hadrian's Villa. The Quad is also shares some characteristics of late antiquity architectural style Mosques, where courtyards are centered with the purpose of providing a place for folks to gather.

Art Building Near Completion

“Within days the new art building will be completed, according to Leßoy M. Hoff, dean of special services. "We've been running ahead of schedule," said Hoff. The two-story structure houses two classrooms, offices for all the art instructors, and a lecture hall of 120 tiered seats. A gallery on the first floor will exhibit student and contracted art works, according to Mario Semere, department chairman. "There will be five shows a year," says Semere, "with a student show and a faculty show every year, and three or more shows drawn from the outside. First scheduled is a faculty show in November." Phil Morrison will direct the gallery. "He's now at San Fernando State College," said Semere, "and has experience in setting up shows there." The new building cost $235,380, according to Hoff. Of this amount, $172,000 came from California bond money and the remaining came from the district. Architects were Powell, Morgridge, Richards, of Los Angeles.”

https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=CRS19720920.2.15&srpos=9&dliv=none&e=------197-en--20-CRS-1-byDA-txt-txIN-%22art+building%22-------1

Citations:
Helen, G. (2015). Gardner's Art Through the Ages. 15th ed. Cengage Learning.