It would be difficult to find a more powerful
influence on the development of Southern
California's reputation as a center of 20th Century
American art than Mrs. Nelbert Chouinard, founder
and guiding light of Chouinard Art Institute from
1921-1972. When Robert Perine brought this concept
to Oceanside Museum of Art's Exhibitions staff, we
were amazed by the number of distinguished artists
and revered teachers that have called themselves
Chouinardians. Since the closing of the Institute
in 1972, it is remarkable there has never been an
exhibition that attempted to describe the breadth
of her dynamic legacy.
