1972 part 2 - San Dieguito Art Guild and Off Track Gallery

San Diego Union
Sunday, April 9, 1972
Works on Display
Indian Leads Children to Art, by Noel Osment
Robert Freeman is an artist who is an Indian, not
an Indian artist. His 79 students, mostly children, are
Indians learning art- not children learning Indian art.
“I don’t care what they paint, as long as they get it
down, “ said Freeman, who had accompanied a group
of the youngsters in from the Rincon Reservation
to see their work exhibited at San Dieguito Art
Association’s Chateau Art Gallery in Del Mar.
Nevertheless, a number of the children did choose
stylized Indian motifs for their colorful paintings.
“They probably do that because they think
that’s what’s expected of them,” said Freeman, who
believes the day for tom-toms and teepees is past, and
cites as misleading Indian arts and crafts exhibitions
devoted solely to Navajo jewelry and rugs.
Freeman’s own abilities as an artist, particularly
in the media of pen and ink, have brought him to
the attention of the La Jolla Art Association, as well
as the San Dieguito group. His heart is with his
students, however, and his work is shown along with
theirs.
His exhibitions, such as the recent one at the
Chateau Gallery, and another that opened April 1 in
La Jolla at the association gallery, have a practical
purpose.
The members of the San Dieguito Art Association
have collected art supplies- and are still collecting
them – for use at the Southern California Indian Art
Center in Valley Center, where Freeman conducts his
classes.
Proceeds of the paintings sold from the La Jolla
exhibition, which will last until April 20, also will be
donated to the center.
Although he has no professional art background,
Freeman is a self-supporting artist whose professional
career began when he placed some drawings in a
bookstore and they sold out.
Freeman’s plans for young people on the
reservation go beyond art classes, however. His
fears for their future have led him into the realm of
counseling Indian students in high school.
Looking around at the bright-eyed and interested
youngsters, mostly preteens, who had accompanied
him from the reservation, he said, “these children will
become the future dropouts and alcoholics if they are
not reached and encouraged young enough.”
He hopes to see their musical potential developed,
and is willing to start music groups – even though
he plays no instrument himself – as soon as some
instruments can be obtained for the local school.
The La Jolla exhibition will be shown to the public
at a reception from 2 to 4 p.m. today in the gallery,
7917 Girard Avenue. The paintings will be on view
from noon to 5 p.m. during the week.