DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY
Collection Number
This collection is non-accessioned.
Creator
This collection was assembled by Cynthia Matthews. It was donated in 2014 to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History.
Extent
Seventy seven (77) posters
Repository
Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Archives
705 Front Street
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Abstract
This collection consists of approximately seventy-seven (77) posters from various Santa Cruz festivals, exhibits and events donated by Cynthia Matthews to the Museum of Art and History Santa Cruz. The posters are in great condition, although a few (roughly 15) have dog-eared corners or fraying on the edges and or/yellowing. These posters represent a variety of events pertaining to the culture of Santa such as Santa Cruz First Night, Santa Cruz Woodies on the Wharf, Santa Cruz Arbor Day, and Illustrating Nature posters promoting the Student Science Communication UC Santa Cruz artworks exhibitions at the Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural History and more.
Location
The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, CA
Preferred Citation
The Cynthia Matthews Poster Collection, The Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz, CA
Publication Rights
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the head of Archives at MAH. Researchers may be responsible for obtaining copyright permission to use material not produced by museum personnel.
Process By
Renata McRee
Date Completed
2014
SERIES I. FIRST NIGHT POSTERS
Four (4) Posters
Series Scope and Content Summary:
This subseries consists of approx. four (4) posters for the Santa Cruz County event First Night Santa Cruz in Downtown Santa Cruz on New Year’s Eve (December 31st)The posters are in great condition and are between 23”height x 17”length and 24”height x 16”length. The posters feature whimsical illustrations in vibrant colors by local artists, logos of sponsors for the event and information on where to purchase the iconic First Night Buttons. The posters in this subseries include an attractive purple 1995 Poster with a caption stating “First Night Santa Cruz 1995 The Beginning of an Annual Tradition in Santa Cruz”, a 1997 Poster featuring colorful artwork by artist Renee Flower, a 1998 Poster with eye-catching artwork by Jesse Sweetwater, and a 1999 Poster with a whimsical illustration by artist Mott Jordan. The posters include the date of the even with the year often whimsically worked into the illustrations.
Location:
The Flat File, MAH Archives
SERIES II. ILLUSTRATING NATURE POSTERS
Seven (7) Posters
Series Scope and Content Summary:
This subseries consists of seven (7) posters that the Illustrating Nature Exhibit at the Santa Cruz City Museum of Natural Museum. This exhibit featured student works from the University of California, Santa Cruz Science Communication Program. The posters are all in great condition except for with dog-eared and/or slightly torn corners, but otherwise they are in great condition. The posters range in size from 16”x19” at the smallest to 24”x17” and 27”x11” at the largest. The posters feature one or several student artworks from the exhibition. This subseries includes Illustrating Nature posters from the years 1990,1991,1992, 1993,1994, 1995 and 1997. Some of the student artworks featured on the poster include: “Magnolia” by Marni Fyling, “Mountain Gorilla” by Melinda Jones, and “Arctic Loon” by Lynn Thorensen to name a few. The posters include the date range of the exhibit.
Location:
The Flat File, MAH Archives
SERIES III. SANTA CRUZ ARBOR DAY POSTERS
Five (5) Posters
Series Scope and Content Summary:
This subseries consists of five (5) posters for Santa Cruz’s Arbor Day event in April sponsored by the Santa Cruz Arbor Day Committee. The posters are in great condition, ranging in size from 17”x11” at the smallest to 25”x19” at the largest. This subseries includes posters for the Arbor Day event occurring in the years 1984, 1986, 1988, 1991 and 1995. The 1991 poster features a pretty landscape painting by Betsy Miller, while the 1988 and 1987 poster features whimsical and colorful artwork by Renee Flower. The 1968 poster features an attractive illustration of a tree by Diana Moll and the 1984 poster displays an eye-catching geometric inspired design by Jay Collins. The posters include the dates and the year the event was held.
Location:
The Flat File, MAH Archives
SERIES IV. WOODIES ON THE WHARF
Five (5) Posters
Series Scope and Content Summary:
This subseries consists of five (5) posters for the Santa Cruz County event Woodies on the Wharf. The posters are in great condition all feature colorful designs incorporating the beach, wharf, surfboards and the iconic “woodie” automobile from which the event gains its name. This subseries includes poster from the fifteenth and sixteenth annual Woodies on the Wharf events occurring in the years 2009 and 2010, as well as posters from the years 1996, 2006, and 2008. Artists featured on the posters include Bob Barbour (2006), Johhny Mojo (2008) and Louanne Korver (2009) among others. The posters range in size from 18”x24” at the smallest, to 25”x19” at the largest, and feature the date of the event (some posters in this collection do not).
Location:
The Flat File, MAH Archives
SUBSERIES V. PICKLE FAMILY CIRCUS POSTERS
Three (3) Posters
Series Scope and Content Summary:
This subseries consists of three (3) posters advertising San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus’s appearance at the San Lorenzo Park Benchlands in Santa Cruz. The posters are in great condition except for some yellowing and spotting in some areas on the reverse sides of the posters. The posters range in size from 23”x10” at the smallest to 29”x11” at the largest. The posters feature bright, graphic designs in primary colors and include the dates of the month the Circus will be at the San Lorenzo Park but do not include the year. Two posters include the artist’s signature; these artists are Zoe Leader and De Carlo. The posters include ticket information as well and are for the months of May, June, and July appearances the Circus made.
Location
The Flat File, MAH Archives
SERIIES VI. MISCELLANEOUS
Fifty-three (53) posters
Series Scope and Content Summary:
This subseries consists of approx .fifty-three (53) posters for various Santa art, literature, musical events , lectures, festivals, exhibitions, and auctions among other events in the Cynthia Matthews Poster collection. These posters are in great condition except for approx. ten (10) with dog-eared, fraying, or slightly torn edges. Posters in this collection include two (2) very colorful and attractive posters for the Santa Cruz Mission Fiesta event, one for 1985 and the other for the year 1985. The 1985 poster features a beautiful pink, orange, green, blue, and white illustration by Doni Tunheim while the 1982 poster advertising the Plaza Park Parade for the Santa Cruz Fiesta features a striking illustration of a scene from mission life in blues, reds, yellows, and blacks by Doni Tunheim. Other posters in this subseries include an O’Neil campaign advertisement that preserves the culture of the 1980’s and promotes the fashion of the time, a Boardwalk 75th Anniversary Poster from 1999 featuring the Giant Dipper, and a poster for the 1991 Celebration of actor Rory Calhoun’s films at the Santa Cruz Theatre The Nickelodeon and many more. The Posters range in size from 17”x11” at the smallest to a large 34”x22” Cabrillo Music Festival Poster from 1980 and many of the poster include the year of the event, however roughly half do not.
Location:
The Flat File, MAH Archives
