Collection Information
Size: 250 Pages, Transcript
Format: Originally recorded on 7 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 13 digital wav files. Duration is 6 hr., 13 min.
Summary: An interview of Esther Robles and Robert Robles conducted 1981 August 24-31, by Ruth Bowman, for the Archives of American Art.
Esther Robles speaks of her family background; early art training; opening her own gallery, the Esther-Robles Gallery (1947-1979); exhibitions at the gallery and artists who exhibited; the art community in Los Angeles and some of the problems in being a dealer there; her dedication to showing a variety of artists; working on the U.S. Treasury Department's Art Advisory Panel; and the closing of her gallery. Also interviewed is Robles' husband, Robert, who assisted in running the gallery. The Robles recall Stanton Macdonald-Wright; Martin Friedman; Elise Cavanna; Lorser Feitelson; Karel Appel; Robert Cremean; Claire Falkenstein; Fletcher Bennett; Morgan Russel; John Battenberg; Jules Engel; Stuart Davis; Will Barnet, among others. They also speak of other arts organizations in Los Angeles, including the Los Angeles County Museum, the Southern California Art Dealers, and the Stendahl Gallery. They recall art movements and styles shown in their gallery, including synchromism, kinetic art, and video art.