Artweek Magazine, Feb. 19, 1977, Vol. 8 #8:  "While seeking to make art accessable to the public, the Eyes and Ears Foundation has provided a new forum and a rare opportunity for artists to work in exceptionally large format." Suzanne Muchnic

Sunset Magazine, Nov. 1977, Pg. 23:   "Imagine a billboard that has at its base a crowd shading their eyes against the sun, pressing closer for a different perspective, discussing the artist's message - and perhaps returning late in the day to see the effect of changing light."

New West Magazine, Feb. 14, 1977:   "Billboards are becoming a surprisingly personal and varied art form, the world center for which is California, naturally. The Eyes and Ears Foundation show is just the most ambitious project along these lines. Even now, with the commercial billboards along the Strip, it's often impossible to tell the art from the ads. And as Mr. Foster said to Mr. Kleiser, "That's a pretty good sign." - Sally Henderson

Horizon Magazine, Jan., 1978:   "There was a time not long ago when art was a museum monopoly and all paintings were near sacred objects in gilt frames, But now a walk or ride around any big city (and many smaller ones) brings into view giant paintings sprawled across sides of buildings and canvases stretched over streetside billboards. America's urban landscape seems to be turning into a museum without walls."

"Acknowledging California's drive-in ethos, the Eyes and Ears Foundation intregated art with environment by turning the cities into drive-through galleries. Last year as many people saw the billboards as glimpsed the country's biggest museum draw, Treasures of Tutankhamun __without standing on line or, in most cases without leaving their cars."

Los Angeles Times, Feb. 17, 1977 "A $15,000, 16 X 50 foot painting that had been stolen from a Wilshire area rooftop Sunday was dropped off anonymously Wednesday night at the gates of a Glendale cemetary. The huge canvas, titled "Imperial Message" and painted by San Clemente artist, Rick Griffin, is one of a series of works of art designed to be hung from billboards around the city. An anonymous caller a short while before had told The Times he was returning the canvas because he had read in The Times that the art work was commissioned by the Eyes and Ears Foundation to increase public appreciation of the arts."

San Francisco Chronicle, Mon. November 14, 1977 "Seventeen fine art billboards that don't advertise any discernible merchandise are catching motorists' eyes through this month at scattered locations in the North Point - Fisherman's Wharf area." "The showing was arranged by the Eyes and Ears Foundation which tries to find new ways to broaden attention to painters and poets."

Los Angeles Free Press, Feb. 28 - March 3, 1977 "A remarkable undertaking that required a sound stage as a studio has produced a fascinating show for this city where billboards are a way of life."

Artweek Magazine, November 26, 1977 / Vol 8 No. 40 "This aspect of the unexpected is a definite advantage; discovering art, whatever its form, where it is not thought to exist can be a rewarding experience." - Judith L. Dunham

© Copyright, 2008 Foundation




© Copyright, 2008 Eyes and Ears Foundation, 870 Market St., Suite 1260, San Francisco, CA 94102 and POB 5699, Santa Monica, CA 90409-5699, 1-800 330-0486 (U.S.) or 310.392.7135. All publications mentioned reserve their copyrights.




Namaste