Artweek and its founder Cecile McCann

Cover of last issue of Artweek, June 2009

Cecile McCann, the founder of the well-known Bay Area arts magazine, Artweek, died in Oakland on July 2, at the age of 91. An obituary by Justin Wiley appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday, July 17. Shortly before Cecile’s death, Artweek had announced its own demise with the publication of its last issue in June.

I think I have the honor of being the most long-tenured, continuous Contributing Editor to Artweek, having published my first review for the magazine, “Essences of Nature,” on October 13, 1979, a review of new acrylic paintings by Chung-Ray Fong at Triangle Gallery, San Francisco (Vol. 10, No. 33). Judith Dunham was then the able Editor-in-Chief of Artweek, a position I also temporarily held for two issues in 2003 while Kitty Spaulding, who took over as publisher of Artweek from Cecile, searched for a permanent Editor-in-Chief.

Many talented and gifted editors followed Judith Dunham over the years, including Bruce Nixon, Charlotte Moser, Meredith Tromble, Berin Golonu, Laura Janku, and Annie Buckley, the last Editor-in-Chief. Many writers got their start and made their names and careers by writing for this innovative magazine. Most of us who know this magazine recognize its importance in providing a vital outlet and public voice for communication in the arts. We all remember the intriguing weekly contributions of Fred Martin in “Viewpoint” and Mark Van Proyen’s salient “On Point” discussions, always provocative and thought-provoking, which we will certainly miss.

Artweek was unique in its field at the time, being perhaps the only true art weekly in the country. I remember sending issues of the magazine to my artist friends throughout the country, particularly the East Coast, and receiving the praiseworthy response that we were lucky to have such an arts magazine on the West Coast because “there is nothing like it here.”

Under the diligent and hardnosed guidance of Cecile, who brooked no nonsense or frivolity from her writers and editors, Artweek flourished and prospered, most certainly against all odds and advice from the Bay Area arts community at the time. It was a true “live” forum for artists to have their work reviewed, advertised, and critiqued. Issues appeared weekly without fail and no gallery show or artist’s exhibition was reviewed that was not currently open and available for viewing at the time of publication of its review.

Every significant exhibition of art along the entire West Coast was reviewed, from Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and throughout the length of California. Traveling shows by international and national artists were also reviewed, promoting healthy competition among Artweek writers to have their piece selected for lead article. This format was later altered by Kitty Spaulding, who made the magazine a monthly publication and added the attractiveness and slick look of color, but at the same time determined only to cover living local and regional artists. This meant that international exhibits and traveling shows were no longer reviewed and that reviews were usually published after the shows had already closed, although upcoming shows were briefly discussed in the “Previews” section by Debra Koppman.

Among the many notable writers who worked for Artweek over the years are: Susan Boettger, David Buuck, Collette Chattopadhyay, Terri Cohn, Cathy Curtis, Hal Fischer, Ron Glowen, Steve Jenkins, Jeff Kelley, Mark Levy, Andree Marechal-Workman, and Ruth Weisberg. Patty Au also deserves special credit for the persistent high quality of her work as Managing Editor of the magazine for so many years. I apologize to the other talented writers and editors whose names I have omitted. All these writers and the Bay Area art community as a whole will certainly miss Artweek and feel the gap it leaves by its demise. We all hope and trust that online publications like examiner.com will fill this gap and keep arts communications alive and well in the Bay Area.

For more info: 
Cecile McCann Obituary

Demise of Artweek