Description

Learn about UC Davis's Art Department and its famous art teachers.

Transcript

The History of UC Davis in California Part 5/6 Host: The College of Letters and Science at UC Davis first opened its doors in 1951, known as the College of Arts Letter today; it features a world renowned faculty including Pulitzer Prize winning authors and even one of the 20th century’s most famous artists Wayne Thiebaud. In the 1960s, 32 along with Robert Arneson, Roy DeForest, Manuel Neri and William T. Wiley were all teachers at UC Davis when they founded an art movement known as California Thought. The group became famous for challenging the pretentiousness of art during the time. And in the process, they catapulted the art department at UC Davis into the national spotlight. Wayne Thiebaud: Teaching is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, next to painting and actually a very, very lucky as we 106. Host: The national prominent of UC Davis also extend to the written world. The creative writing program was started in the 1970s by amongst others a Pulitzer Prize winner. Department of English professor Gary Schneider is well known as one of the premier poets of his generation. Louis Warren: Student or work of Gary got to 133 was one of the great creative minds in the 20th and early 21st century. I mean he’s one of the America’s greatest poets. Host: Graduates of UC Davis have been the minds behind several highly acclaimed written works, including Anthony Swofford’s Jarhead and Chris Markus and Steve Mcfeely’s screenplay of the Chronicles of Narnia. But as a home for the arts there’s probably no better example of UC Davis is preeminent than the Mondavi Center. The center has created a showcase for local and world class musicians, lesbians, and speakers and has interviews countless school children to the arts. Margrit Mondavi: It makes me feel very proud and we’re pleased and I’m very hopeful for the future to see just lots and lots of young people going through this dynamic many facilities the many schools and to be entertained in this great performing arts until which I think is one of the most beautiful ones on West Coast.