THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IN THE CAMPO DE CAHUENGA NEWSLETTER

WAX MAQUETTE

In the bell cabinet, on a lower shelf adjacent to the shovel, is an Artist’s Maquette (unfinished sculptural work) created for the Bicentennial of the United States by Henry Van Wolf 1898-1982.

The rendering was intended for a bronze medallion slightly larger than a silver dollar;   depicting John C. Fremont and Andres Pico.

Henry Van Wolf was the founder of the Valley Artists Guild.  His statue of the Native “Fernando” stands in the main court yard at the Van Nuys Constituency Center. 

The Maquette is on loan to the Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association by the Museum of the San Fernando Valley.  It was a gift to them from Joseph and Ladonna Van Wolf in November 2011.  The Exhibit was set up by Gerald Fecht, President of the Museum of the San Fernando Valley.  Thank you Jerry.

MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ON THE MOVE

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley has just opened in a new location at Westfield Fashion Square Mall in Sherman Oaks.  For years, the Museum has been a virtual museum, storing artifacts in homes and other private locations.  The Fashion Mall has allowed the Museum to set up temporary exhibits in the empty storefront located at its south entrance.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley began in 2005 to promote public art, conduct history tours, and collect historical artifacts, but lacked a location to display the items.  Note that elsewhere in this newsletter there is an article, the Henry Arnold Wax Maquette, that is on loan from the Museum to the Campo. We in turn gave them two display cases to help out.

Museum President Gerald Fecht, who is also on our Board of Directors, said “We  decided to take the museum to the people, as a traveling exhibit”.  This purpose is demonstrated  by the sign at their location that reads “Educate, Engage, Inspire, Preserve. The Museum is Your Museum.”

Good luck Gerald and the folks at the Museum.  To our readers and history buffs, check out the photo gallery of Valley post-war landmarks, the vintage postcards, videos of longtime Valley residents, and the oral history project funded by the City’s Cultural Affairs Department, among many more exhibits.