THE HISTORY OF THE CHAFFEY COMMUNITY ART ASSOCIATION

The Chaffey Community Art Association was founded in the spring of 1941 by Francis and Helen Line as a memorial to their daughter Barbara, a victim of leukemia. The nucleus for a Permanent Collection was the Barbara Line Memorial Collection of nine paintings. The paintings were executed by outstanding artists.

The "Chaffey Community" encompasses the western portion of San Bernardino County and that eastern portion of Los Angeles County that was developed by George Chaffey, an early pioneer, from Ontario, Canada.

Mr. and Mrs. Line organized the Association to stimulate and foster art interest, education and enjoyment in the Chaffey Community. With this object in mind, the Association established in its constitution an Annual Purchase Prize or Cash Award Exhibit of Contemporary American Painting. The Lines envisioned a worthy art collection, for the Chaffey area, when they organized the Chaffey Community Art Association. The plan to promote a Purchase Prize Art Exhibit in Ontario each year was established by Francis Line. The pictures were to be entered by Eastern and California artists. 

The First Annual Invitational Purchase Prize Exhibit of Contemporary Painting was held October 24, 1941 through March 2, 1942.The Lines directed the selection of paintings for a number of years. When they moved from Ontario, members of the Art Association carried on the traditional high quality of the Exhibit.

The Exhibits of Contemporary American Painting were held in the Girls' Gymnasium at Chaffey High School, through the fall of 1963. The Twenty-third Annual Purchase Prize Exhibit in 1963 was the last one to be held in the gymnasium. At the close of this Exhibit, the Chaffey High School stated that they could no longer provide the gymnasium for exhibits. The Annual Purchase Prize Exhibits were discontinued for want of a place to show paintings.

The Annual Invitational Purchase Prize Exhibit of Contemporary painting had the reputation of being the best regular show of national scope held in Southern California. The artists invited to exhibit in this show were very enthusiastic and enjoyed participating in it. From Purchase Prizes, awards and gifts, the Association had acquired a valuable collection of paintings. There are approximately eighty paintings, oils, watercolors, serigraphs and sculpture in the collection. By 1963 there were approximately eighty works of oils, watercolors, serigraphs and sculpture in the collection.

In 1964 the Chaffey Community Art Association became incorporated as a  not-for-profit corporation. The plan was made and carried out by Mr. Clark Heiple, President of the Association, and by the board members. The Chaffey Community Art Association continued to have monthly members meetings, periodically featuring demonstrations, critiques, lectures, small exhibits, dinners and parties, where some form of art was shown. In addition, a Community Artists Exhibit, which was held each year, took the form of a Festival of Arts, where all forms of the visual arts were exhibited. Prizes, ribbons, and honorable mentions were awarded.

For a number of years the Association did not have an established meeting place. During this period exhibits were held in public buildings and homes. The Association was in search of a permanent headquarters and gallery. The search ended when the beautiful Mediterranean style former Ontario city Hall was dedicated, by the Ontario City Council, as a "Museum of History and Art" for the enjoyment and education of the community.

In 1979, the Ontario City Council, recognizing the Chaffey Community Art Association's history and value as a cultural asset to the local community, authorized the Chaffey Community Art Association to supply the "Art" cultural mission. By contractual agreement Chaffey Community Art Association became a part of the Museum of History and Art responsible for bringing quality art to the community through promotion of the visual arts and artists. The program was to be carried out in the north wing of the building. Exhibits in the Ontario Museum of History and Art included the work of artists such as Millard Sheets, Rex Brandt, Milford Zornes, Robert E. Wood, Jose Clemente Orozco and Veloy Vigil.

The relationship with the City of Ontario continued until 1999 when CCAA was offered gallery space at the history J. Filippi Winery. The Association completed the move to the winery in Rancho Cucamonga in 2000. The gallery is now open at that location, housing both the permanent collection and visiting exhibitions.

Recent shows at the winery have included betty Davenport Ford, Marc Muench, Tom Fong, and Robert Lyn Nelson. An annual Salute to the Artist exhibit has honored Milford Zornes and John Svenson (in conjunction with the dedication of his statue of George Chaffey at Upland City Hall). Diversity for local artists has been represented by the Inland Empire Latino Artists Association, the Night Owl Quilters Guild, shows for local high school students, and an Association members exhibit.

THE CHAFFEY COMMUNITY ART ASSOCIATION MUSEUM OF ART

Location (map):

THE J. FILIPPI WINERY, North Wing

12467 Baseline Road, Rancho Cucamonga, California  91739

Hours:  Friday  -  Sunday, 12 noon - 5:00 p.m.,  (909) 463-3733

Mailing Address:

Chaffey Community Art Association Museum of Art

P.O. Box 3902, Rancho Cucamonga, California  91729

© Chaffey Community Art Association Museum of Art