Response to Article on Artworks

We appreciate the opportunity to express our feelings about the ill-treatment that has been given to our art department in portions of the article on March 16 by Esther Schrader.

We believe that an art critic has every right to praise the works of artists (i.e., Andy Warhol), but it is reprehensible to depreciate the work of others, sight unseen, as was the case in this article.

The mural by Martin Mondrus, which was dedicated April 2, was the culmination of two years of work by the artist, but it also involved the efforts of many others from the college community.

The mural was a gift by Mondrus, who has been on the faculty for 33 years, and is now chairman of the fine arts division.

The mural became a community project, no longer belonging to the artist but to the college community, present and future.

The general tone of the article in question not only did Mondrus and his achievement an injustice, but it also demeaned the status of our faculty members as artists. We are proud of the accomplishments of our art staff. They have received considerable recognition and acclaim for achievements in their particular disciplines.

We, the undersigned members, respect the right of critics to review artworks according to their personal tastes and standards. It is only proper, however, to view the works before making value judgments. We invite you to visit to view the mural at any time.

MARTIN MONDRUS

Mount Washington

Besides Mondrus, 58 others identifying themselves as faculty and staff of Glendale College signed the letter.

The article referred to was written by a reporter rather than a critic or reviewer. It reported on the loan to Glendale College of a private collection of works by artists of international prominence, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and David Hockney.

It did not mention Mondrus by name but referred to production materials from his mural project as follows:

“The three-week exhibit will be taken down late Friday to be replaced by a more usual type of exhibit for the college--a group of studies and small paintings done by a teacher there.”