William Cunningham - Los Gatos Art Association

Bill Cunningham's involvement with the Los Gatos Art Association began over 50 years ago with it's inception. In the Fall of 1947 he was a neophyte, newly hired and only Art teacher at Los Gatos High School. Fresh from San Jose State's Art Department he taught beginning and advanced art, crafts and jewelry making, as well as art classes in the evening high school program. At the time, Dr. Arturo Falico, a Professor of Philosophy at the College, was also teaching an art class in LG. High's adult program. Getting together at break times from their classes, they opined that a combination of the two classes would constitute a nucleus for the creation of an association for the Arts. Its aims were to further participation and community education in the Visual Arts.
Therefore, in the Spring of 1948 he found himself as President pro-tem conducting a series of organizational meetings, establishing by-laws, writing down the duties of officers and other essential matters. Once organized, Dr. Falico was selected as the organization's first President. The Association then busied itself with holding exibitions, utilizing guest speakers and demonstrators, holding "paint-outs". They even produced a newsletter (with silk screen covers),and named it the "Palette". Most of what was so carefully put into place in 1948 still exists today.