Christopher Toovey - Lithograph 1982 "Floating Landscape"

Christopher Toovey - Lithograph 1982 "Floating Landscape" 4/7 printed at Mt Sac on grey stone from Scripps. 17 x 21 inches framed.

Christopher Hart Toovey:  co-founder of the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona is a local artist who can often be seen painting huge murals for businesses and buildings.  Chris says as a young Claremont artist, he experimented with new ideas in the late 1950s. Claremont sported an established art community. Nevertheless, his vision of where art was headed was ahead of the Claremont Colleges. Contemporary and modern art was still heavily favored among the colleges and its associated galleries, so when people talked about the fine arts, they always referred to the colleges. Yet, “Art is about seeing; it’s a visual experience. One can only take so many landscapes and seascapes,” says Chris, who was born in the city of Orange in Orange County but raised in Claremont. As a student, he recalls having “really great art programs in elementary school alongside a district art teacher who was brilliant.” Her name was Dory Hart, and she shared a vision that allowed students the freedom to be themselves when it came to artistic expression. “She gave us the tools, but she said, ‘You’re the ones who will provide the art,’ and to ‘never be afraid,’” remembers Chris. “As a child of 10-11 years old, we had free range.” As up and aspiring artists, he and his Claremont classmates were invited to use the college’s facilities. “We owned the colleges.” This was due largely because many of the students’ parents were art professors or artists themselves. Their children would constantly get invited to gallery presentations. “It was pretty open to us; it was a very different time,” says Chris.

• Name : Chris Toovey