Lecture Series: Remembering TB-9

Usually one reads about history in a book or watches a program on television.  It is rare that you get to listen to people who were intricately involved with creating the history you are interested in.  I had that pleasure last Thursday evening when I got to listen to three most distinguished artists recollect about a very important time period and share their thoughts and experiences. 


Peter VandenBerge, Stephen Kaltenbach, Gerald Walburg

Remembering TB-9 was a discussion with emeritus art professors Peter VandenBerge, Stephen Kaltenbach, and Gerald Walburg about their experiences working with Robert Arneson, an important sculptor and professor of ceramics who taught at UC Davis.  All three were graduate students under Arneson in the 60's when an important transformation occurred.  Prior to this time ceramics was seen as more of a functional art than a fine art.  Arneson changed this during a California State Fair event where Stephen Kaltenbach met him during an exhibition of ceramics.  One piece in particular stood out of a bottle that was capped off.  We are used to seeing ceramic pots and bottles with holes in them to "stick a plant in" or something as Stephen Kaltenbach explained.  Arneson changed this by  putting a cap on it, or in some ways putting a cap on the conventional views of art when it came to ceramics.  Arneson was recruited along with other known artists such as Manuel Neri and Wayne Thiebaud to work at UC Davis in the early 60's.  Arneson  took over TB-9 or temporary building number 9 and made into into a hive of art creation that would be impossible to recreate today. Gerald Walberg explained much  about the laid-back atmosphere combined with obsessive work output.  TB-9 was accessible twenty-four hours a day and it was not uncommon to have a keg or two of beer around.  It was also not uncommon to find Robert Arneson there at all times of the evening and early morning according to the three artists.



Peter VandenBerge, House Poet, Ceramic, 2000

This was further explained by the answer to the question I proposed to the trio when I asked them if they could bring one aspect that is lacking in art education today from there experiences at TB-9.  All three of the former Davis students went on to have careers teaching at Sacramento State. Steve said access would be the one thing that is missing today as there was an open door policy at TB-9. Although currently it is possible for students  to obtain a key to Sac State art facilities during off hours, it is not anywhere near as open as TB-9 was.  Peter said interaction was very important and that they all had a certain bond at TB-9 that allowed them to share ideas and sometimes steal them as well. They took a minute to rib each other a little  and accused each other in a playful tone of using each others ideas from sketch books.  Geri said fortitude and work ethic were the main things missing from students today. He said that the talent is present but there has to be " a drive inside you". 

From those wise words I hope teachers and students alike can apply certain elements of TB-9 into their current world.  The height of TB-9 occurred long before I was even born and having grown up in the Midwest I was unaware of the history of it until recently.  It seems as if their lives were intertwined with art and the people that they crossed paths with.  They also had a lot of great advice to pass on.  Therefore I am very fortunate to have introduced myself to these producers and teachers of not only art, but that of life itself.