Mabel Hutchinson

American
(1903–1999)

Untitled (Totem)
circa 1965

Stained pine and walnut
40.5 x 9.75 x 10 in. (102.87 x 24.765 x 25.4 cm)
Gift of the Kathryn C. Wanlass Foundation
2020.30

Although not formally considered among Los Angeles’ hard-edge painters, Hutchinson was friendly with Abstract Classicist John McLaughlin (perhaps the most important painter in Southern California at the time) and others in this exhibition. It seems possible that Mabel’s sculpture shares an emphasis on the edge and simple geometric shapes reflected in the work of Los Angeles hard-edge painters.

Hutchinson was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, in 1903. She had a tough early life, and her mother died when she was fifteen. In 1924 she received a scholarship to the Agricultural College of Utah (now Utah State University). In 1927 Mabel Bennett married Milon Hutchinson and moved to Riverside, California, where she received an Associate of Arts degree at Riverside Junior College. She and Milon then moved to Orange County, California and she began taking classes from Rex Brandt, a well-known California Regional Scene artist. However, in the early 1960s Hutchinson moved away from making paintings to working with wood. Using castoffs from Milon’s woodworking business making turned wood objects, she began assembling intricate geometric totems such as Untitled (Totem), c. 1965.

—

Aunque formalmente no se le consideraba entre las pintoras de borde sólido de Los Ángeles, Hutchinson mantenía amistad con el clasicista abstracto John McLaughlin (quizá el pintor más importante del sur de California en aquella época) y con otros de los presentes en esta exposición. Parece posible que la escultura de Mabel comparta un énfasis en el borde y las formas geométricas simples reflejado en la obra de los pintores de borde sólido de Los Ángeles.

Hutchinson nació en Blackfoot, Idaho, en 1903. Tuvo unos comienzos duros y su madre murió cuando ella tenía quince años. En 1924 obtuvo una beca para el Agricultural College de Utah (actual Universidad Estatal de Utah). En 1927 Mabel Bennett se casó con Milon Hutchinson y se trasladó a Riverside, California, donde obtuvo el título de Associate of Arts en el Riverside Junior College. Milon y ella se trasladaron entonces al condado de Orange (California), donde empezó a recibir clases de Rex Brandt, un conocido artista de la escena regional californiana. Sin embargo, a principios de la década de 1960, Hutchinson dejó de pintar para trabajar la madera. Con los desechos de la carpintería de Milon, que fabricaba objetos de madera torneada, empezó a ensamblar intrincados tótems geométricos como el Sin título (Totem), c. 1965.

---

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

• Loas Angeles Hard Edge , 7/20/2024 - 12/14/2024

Click a portfolio name to view all the objects in that portfolio
This object is a member of the following portfolios: