The Cincinnati Art Club was formed in 1890 and is one of the oldest continually operating groups or collectives of artists in the United States. It was formed for the purpose of “advancing the knowledge and love of art through education.” The Club achieves its mission through exhibitions, lectures, hands-on demonstrations, sketch and painting group work sessions, monthly critique sessions, maintenance of an art library and awarding of student scholarships.
History
In the latter part of the 1800s a strong colony of working artists had established a small 'Montmartre' on the upper end of Vine Street in Cincinnati. One group of artists gathered informally as the Cincinnati Sketch Club and had its origins in the studio of John Rettig in 1883. The loose collection of artists became the Cincinnati Art Club on 15 March 1890. Its first president was John Rettig and consisted of 14 members. The founding members were: Rettig, Clarence D. Bartlett, James McLaughlin, Edward S. Butler, Matthew A. Daly, Albert O. Elzner, Edward Johnson, Remmington Lane, Leon van Loo, Lewis C. Lutz, William A. McCord, Perry Morris and Joseph Henry Sharp. The club grew rapidly and within a year of its founding growing to 32 active members and 36 associate members. Initially the club was bohemian in nature and did not have a fixed abode and met in the homes or studios of members. The host of the meeting would become the owner of all sketches made. In 1907, the club moved to a new home in the Harrison building and was considered the most attractive home to artists in the Middle West. A club house was eventually purchased in 1923 on Third Street. A regular constitution was adopted in 1892 “to advance the knowledge and love of art through exhibitions of works of art, lectures on subjects pertaining to art, and to promote social intercourse amongst its members.” The club became an advocate for artists and in 1908, the CAC President John Ritter submitted a letter which was presented at a congressional hearing on the arts tariff in Washington DC before the Ways and Means Committee. The club was restricted to males until 1979 when women were allowed to become members.
Notable members
Frank Duveneck, club president - 1896–98. Cincinnati's best-known artist in the late 1800s and early 1900s, was appointed the club's critic.
Henry Farny, club president - 1892–94, creator of the club's trademark, the dragonfly. A famed painter of American Indians.
Leon Van Loo, the club's third and eighth president. Belgian-born photographer and art promoter.
Club presidents
2012–Present Todd Channer 2010-2012 Tom Bluemlein 2008-2010 Kay Worz 2006-2008 Tim Boone 2003-2006 Mike McGuire 2001-2003 Lester W. Miley 1998-2001 David Klocke 1995-1998 Roger Heuck 1993-1995 Judith Q. Barnett 1990-1993 Thomas R. Eckley 1989-1990 Oren Miller 1987-1989 Lester W. Miley 1985-1987 Martha Weber 1983-1985 Sherman Peeno 1981-1983 Dale Benedict 1978-1981 Lou Austerman 1976-1978 Ray Loos 1974-1976 Gene Hinckley 1973-1974 Charles Baltzer 1971-1973 Don Dennis 1969-1971 Joseph E. Peter 1967-1969 George Stille 1965-1967 Wilbur G. Adam 1964-1965 Ray Becker 24 April 1964 Charles W. L. Schlapp 1963-1964 Jerome P. Costello 1961-1963 Mathias J. Noheimer 1959-1961 E. Kenneth Moore 1957-1959 George H. Strietmann 1955-1957 Frederic H. Kock 1953-1955 Vernon C. Rader 1951-1953 Joseph O. Emmett 1949-1951 Harland J. Johnson 1947-1949 Lawrence H. Smith 1945-1947 Merton W. Willmore 1943-1945 Maurice R. Rhoades 1941-1943 Norman H. Doane 1939-1941 Arthur L. Helwig 1937-1939 Julian J. Bechtold 1935-1937 Carl J. Zimmerman 1933-1935 Reginald L. Grooms 1929-1933 Theodore C. Dorl 1928-1929 Ernest Bruce Haswell 1927-1928 John E. Weis 1924-1927 Ernest Bruce Haswell 1922-1924 Herman H. Wessel 1920-1922 George Debereiner 1918-1920 Martin Rettig 1916-1918 James R. Hopkins 1914-1916 Paul Ashbrook 1912-1914 Theodore C. Dorl 1910-1912 Lewis Henry Meakin 1908-1910 John Rettig 1908 Henry F. Farny 1906-1908 W. F. Behrens 1904-1906 John Dee Wareham 1903-1904 Leon Van Loo 1902-1903 Paul Jones 1899-1902 John Ward Dunsmore 1898-1899 Clement Barnhorn 1896-1898 Frank Duveneck 1894-1896 Leon Van Loo 1892-1894 Henry F. Farny 1890-1892 John Rettig
