The Fresno Bee from Fresno, California • 105

SPOTLIGHT Just call it an artistic arrangement By David Hale Bee arts writer he Fresno Art Museum and artist Robert Cremean are the focus of a precedent-setting act of philanthropy by longtime patrons, George and LaVona Blair. The Blairs have established an annuity that will provide income for the rest of the life of Cremean, a prominent California sculptor. In exchange, much of Cremean's work will ultimately go to the Fresno Art Museum. At this time that amounts to some 75 major sculptures and 100 drawings and graphics and the artist's personal archives. All of Cremean's future work, except for commissions, will become the property of the museum.

Robert D. Barrett, chief curator and director of the Fresno Art Museum, characterized the Blairs' gift as a "model for museums everywhere to acquire art and to support major American 99 The individual behind the gift, George Y. Blair, has served several terms as president of the museum. He also has chaired fund-raising committees which have purchased for the museum monumental works by Fletcher Benton, David Bottini and Jack Zajac. "We all agree," Blair said, "that Robert is one of the pre-eminent American sculptors of the 20th century.

It annuity was an opportunity we've wanted for a long time to give back to the community Michael Penn The Fresno Bee Future works by Robert Cremean will belong to the Fresno Art Museum, and in return he will receive a lifetime annuity. that has given so much to us. I'd hope it will be an example, to let other collectors know that we want to develop repository of Robert's life's work." To Cremean, 60, the arrangement "like a dream." "The Fresno Art Museum is a very special place to me," Cremean said. "Fresno is the major city in the Central Valley and I couldn't be more pleased that my body of work will be there." Cremean, a native of Toledo, Ohio, who now lives in Tomales in Marin County, had his first one-man exhibi- a is tion in 1964 in the California Palace of represented the United States in the the Legion of Honor. He is known for Venice Biennial.

creating sculpture in wood and marble, But since the mid-1970s, the artist in non-specific has largely turned his back on the which clusters of but art symbol-loaded figurative objects relate world and the "system" he came to recomplex statements about personal and gard as demeaning and commodity-oristrongly humanistic matters. ented. Cremean is something of a maverick During the 1980s, Cremean confined in the mainstream art scene. In the public showings of his art largely to first dozen years or so of his career, his three major shows in the Fresno Art work was widely shown, including nu- He was introduced to the Museum. merous important exhibitions in Eucommunity in 1983 through a one-man rope and South America.

In 1968 he Please see Cremean, Page 20 THEATER SPOTLIGHT THEATER GUIDE Play Company Comments All Over Theatre 3 Repertory Company 8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, $9. A family awaits the death of a great man. 1544 Fulton 486-3333. Driving Miss Daisy Second Space 8:30 p.m.

Thursday-Saturday, The growing friendship between a Southern 928 Olive 266-0660 2 p.m. Sunday matron and her African-American chauffeur. Freedom Train Fresno Children's Playhouse 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $4 evening, $3 Harriet Tubman's courageous work Fresno Memorial Auditorium, matinee with the underground railroad. 2425 Fresno 442-5437.

Me and My Girl Good Company Players 8:30 p.m. Poor Englishman inherits money Roger Rocka's Music Hall, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Prices vary. and loses girl.

1226 N. Wishon Ave. 266-9494. A Midsummer Night's Dream The Fourth Wall 8 p.m. $7.

Shakespeare's comedy set in 114 E. Oak Visalia, 625-6112. a magical forest. Nunsense Good Company Players Ends today. 1:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Prices vary. Five zany nuns sing, dance and tell jokes Roger Rocka's Music Hall, to raise money to pay for funerals. 1226 N. Wishon 266-9494. Rumpelstiltskin Fresno Public Theater 2 p.m.

today, Audience participatory production of the Bonner Auditorium, Fresno Arts Center, $5, $3 classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. 2233 N. First Rumours Porterville Barn Theater 8:15 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Neil Simon comedy about an unusual party Olive and Plano streets, 2:15 p.m. Sunday, $6.

where the host is missing. Porterville, 784-2573. Kings Players 8 p.m. 2 p.m. Sunday, $7.

Comedy-drama about the friendship Steel Magnolias Temple Theater, Hanford, 584-7241. of six women in a small town. SPOTLIGHT 14 Sunday, January 26, 1992 THE FRESNO BEE.