STUDENT SOPHIA WILEY ELECTED TO MUSEUM BOARD

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Congratulations to Sophia Wiley, latest Student Board Member of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Ms. Wiley, a graduate student in Anthropology, is the third California State University Northridge student to be elected to the Board. 

Aside from acting as the voice of Valley students on the Board, Sophia will work with Kristine Keller to discover ways to further involve our college and university students in the activities and direction of The Museum. She will additionally focus on the Filipino community in the Valley

Sophia Wiley welcomed to Board by Scott Sterling Museum President

RICHARD HILTON RECEIVES HONORS FROM THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

 The following is a statement made by Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch Englander at the honoring of Richard Hilton on February 7th.

"Over the years, I’m proud of the work we have accomplished with the Arts Community to promote and preserve the history and culture of the San Fernando Valley.

Today, I was humbled to honor Richard Hilton, a long-time member and founding board director of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Richard, an accomplished author, photographer, and preservationist has worked to share with the greater community the love he has for the San Fernando Valley. Over the years, he researched, organized and conducted historic walking tours of North Hollywood, Van Nuys, the Oakridge Estate in Northridge and bus tours of Northridge and Granada Hills.

Additionally, he was instrumental in the creation of the “Narrating Lives” Oral Histories Program, (a program funded by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs) preserving and recoding dozens of oral and visual stories of Valley residents for future generations.

When the Museum of the San Fernando Valley, through their Public Art Initiative, first approached my office about the challenges the arts community was facing, we were eager combine our efforts and lend support. We have been involved in initial planning meetings helping the Public Art Initiative take shape and converted our Community Service Center into a community gallery hosting artist receptions and community events, resulting in the sale of several art pieces.

Since then, we have seen the arts community flourish and come together with the formation of the San Fernando Valley Arts Council and the Valley Arts Alliance. The SFV Arts Council and the Valley Arts Alliance meets every second Monday of the month from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at 7100 Hayvenhurst Ave in Van Nuys.

We have also hosted community meetings helping artists and arts organizations connect with funding sources and contacts like Arts for LA, LA County Arts Commission and the Department of Cultural Affairs. We are committed to helping our local artists and arts organizations thrive.

The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs provides a number of programs and grants to support local artist and arts organizations. To view a complete list of opportunities available, http://www.culturela.org/grants/index.html. For additional opportunities available through the LA County Arts Commission , http://www.lacountyarts.org/grants.html."

-Mitchell Englander, Councilmember Twelfth District

 

Pictured: Roger Dolin, local artist; Levi Ponce, muralist; Jerry Fecht, Past President of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley; Councilmember Englander; Richard Hilton, Museum Board Member; Councilmember Paul Krekorian; Scott Sterling, President of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley; and Rania Simms, Museum Board Member.

EXPLORING THE DOCTORS' HOUSE IN GLENDALE

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                  2013

I try not to be pushy about exploring the San Fernando Valley ....... but, here's a push! As part of The Museum Community's effort to understand the challenges of maintaining a professional museum of history, culture and the arts for the San Fernando Valley, we had the good fortune to visit the historic Doctors' House Museum in Glendale. It was simply an amazing experience. I urge you to put the House on your must visit list. 

 Scott Sterling, President of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley in the restored Doctors' House parlor. He stands aside an original Edison Victrola. If the the sound was too loud, the listener would drop a stuffed sock into the horn ... "put a sock in it!" 

The parlor room of the Doctor's House. Note the wall benches restored from a visitor's memories.

Assistant Director, Peter Rusch in a genuine 1890s stove pipe hat, greets The Museum Commnity, prior to entering the Doctors House Museum.

The wall paper in the parlor room of the Doctors' House was matched from samples from the original wall coverings.

Nicknacks, crochet work and sheet music give the Doctors' House a warmth and almost lived in feeling.

No Victorian house would be complete without musical instruments. Before radio and television, a family entertained itself. Fine European prints adorn the walls.

Peter Rusch comes from the Doctors' House to greet his guests. On the roof, just above Peter and a little to the right is a large gouge. A Glendale city worker came to remove bees from the attic. He tore off part of the roof, killed the insects without any consideration for the historic shingles. The shingles remain unmatched.

A missing hallway door was matched and replaced from a nearby demolition.