biography of Robert MCCHESNEY (1913-2008)

Birth place: Marshall, MO

Addresses: San Fran., CA, 1937; Point Richmond, CA; Petaluma, CA

Profession: Painter, printmaker, sculptor, teacher

Studied: Washington Univ. A. Sch., 1931-34, with Fred Conway; Otis AI, Los Angeles, 1936-37.

Exhibited: Raymond & Raymond Gal., San Fran., 1944 (solo); Labaudt Gal, San Fran., 1947 (solo), 1951 (solo); Galeria Escondida, Taos, 1950s; six shows, De Young Mem Mus, San Fran., 1947 (hon. men.)-61; four shows, AIC Ann., 1947-61; SFMA, 1945-49 (solo), 1950-53 (solo), 1954-60 (prize); Gump's, San Fran., 1952 (solo), 1953 (solo), 1955 (solo); WMAA, 1955 (purchase prize); San Fran. AI, 1957 (solo); Corcoran Gal. biennial, 1957; Reed Col., OR, 1959 (solo); CPLH, 1962, 1964; Oakland Mus., 1972-73; Calif. State Univ., Hayward, 1977 (solo); Lincoln Art Center, Santa Rosa, 1978 (solo); Marin Civic Center, 1980 (solo); Adlen Gal., Santa Rosa, 1986 (solo). Awards: purchase prizes, San Fran. A. Commission, 1950 & 1969

Work: San Fran. Art Commission; WMAA; Oakland Art Mus.; SFMA. Commissions: murals, USS Monterey.

Comments: He collaborated with 25 other artists on murals for the GGE, and assisted Anton Refregier (see entry) with WPA post office murals in the 1940s. Had a studio in North Beach in San Francisco. Spent 1951 in Mexico and returned to build a home and studio in Sonoma County. Teaching: serigraphy and life drawing, Calif. Sch. of FA, 1949-51; Santa Rosa Jr. College, 1947-58.

Sources: WW73; San Francisco Art Inst. (board of trustees); Hughes, Artists in California, 365; article, "La Galeria Escondida" in Artforum (n.d.); "Modernism in California Printmaking," Annex Gal., Nov. 1998