Melonie Blocker was an artist and a member of the League of Allied Arts. William E. Pajaud was an African-American artist known for his paintings exploring themes of jazz. Pajaud was a member of the Society of Graphic Designers, the Los Angeles County Art Association, and the National Watercolor Society, of which he served as president from 1974 to 1975. Pajaud's work was featured in "Now Dig This!: Art and Black Los Angeles 1960–1980" an exhibition at the Hammer Museum. Founded in 1939 by Dorothy Vena Johnson and Juanita Miller, the League of Allied Arts was established to promote and support the arts in Los Angeles. They provided cultural enrichment programs for the community, honored the creative accomplishments of black artists and awarded scholarships to talented students from Los Angeles who pursued scholarly studies in the arts. Family Savings and Loan was founded by M. Earl Grant in 1949 as Watts Savings and Loan. It moved to a midcentury building in the Crenshaw district in 1963 (3683 Crenshaw Blvd.). Family offered home loans to black customers when larger banks would not. In 2002, it was acquired by the Boston Bank of Commerce, which became One United Bank, a consolidation of several smaller black-owned banks that included Family and nearby Founders National Bank. Caption for similar photo: Approving the selection, Bill Pajaud and Melonee Blocker are shown examining the list of paintings selected for display in the Community Room of Family Savings and loan Ass'n., 3683 Crenshaw Blvd. The exhibit consists of 54 paintings, primarily oil, and a sampling of watercolors and enamel on copper. The exhibit will continue through March 31. The public is invited. (Los Angeles Sentinel 19 Mar 1964: B8) Artist William Pajaud standing next to Melonee Blocker in front of his artwork at an exhibition of his work at Family Savings and Loan Association. Written on back of photo: Bill Pajaud and Melonee Blocker Joint Art Exhibition at Family Savings & Loan.
Type
image
Identifier
uclalsc_1889_b23_f12_004a.tif ark:/21198/z1s19kq7
Subject
African American artists Art exhibitions Family Savings and Loan Blocker, Melonee, 1921-2006 Pajaud, William E., 1925- League of Allied Arts
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