The Dream Colony: A Life in Art

by Walter Hopps, Deborah Treisman, Anne Doran

Art Forum’s Best of the Year List

A panoramic look at art in America in the second half of the twentieth century, through the eyes of the visionary curator who helped shape it.

An innovative, iconoclastic curator of contemporary art, Walter Hopps founded his first gallery in L.A. at the age of twenty-one. At twenty-four, he opened the Ferus Gallery with then-unknown artist Edward Kienholz, where he turned the spotlight on a new generation of West Coast artists. Ferus was also the first gallery ever to show Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup Cans and was shut down by the L.A. vice squad for a show of Wallace Berman’s edgy art. At the Pasadena Art Museum in the sixties, Hopps mounted the first museum retrospectives of Marcel Duchamp and Joseph Cornell and the first museum exhibition of Pop Art--before it was even known as Pop Art. In 1967, when Hopps became the director of Washington’s Corcoran Gallery of Art at age thirty-four, the New York Times hailed him as "the most gifted museum man on the West Coast (and, in the field of contemporary art, possibly in the nation)." He was also arguably the most unpredictable, an eccentric genius who was chronically late. (His staff at the Corcoran had a button made that said WALTER HOPPS WILL BE HERE IN TWENTY MINUTES.) Erratic in his work habits, he was never erratic in his commitment to art.

Hopps died in 2005, after decades at the Menil Collection of art in Houston for which he was the founding director. A few years before that, he began work on this book. With an introduction by legendary Pop artist Ed Ruscha, The Dream Colony is a vivid, personal, surprising, irreverent, and enlightening account of his life and of some of the greatest artistic minds of the twentieth century.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, History

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 2017

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since my dad Wallace Berman is in the narrative of Walter Hopps own narrative, I was a little nervous to open up and read his memoir. The fact is, there is a chapter here focusing on my father, and it is one of the best things I have read on Wallace. On the other hand, Wallace did a solo show at the Ferus Gallery, where he got busted for pornography (this is the 1950s!), and the show was closed down by the LAPD. When my dad got some friends to go pick up the artwork from the gallery, the works went missing. According to Walter in this book, my father destroyed the works. This is not the case. Someone at the gallery either caused the works to go missing, or they destroyed the artworks. Either by accident or design, the whole exhibition disappeared. And without bitterness on my part, I feel Walter and Ed Kienholz are responsible for these works missing, due that they are the Ferus Gallery at the time. Still, Wallace and Walter were very close friends. I remember Walter from my childhood with fond memories.

"The Dream Colony" is an excellent memoir. Although I do disagree with certain things (like above) and making it sound like my dad didn't like Irving Blum, which as far as I know is not the case at all - is a superb look of the Los Angeles art scene as well as an excellent series of narratives from Walter. Reading the book I can hear his voice, and there is at least one great (and usually) hysterical story per page. This is not a stuffy art bio or autobiography; this is the world seen through Walter's eyes. He was a remarkable and very articulate lover of art. He wasn't schooled in a specific school. He allowed himself to roam through art collections and Walter pretty much knew art in a very instinct manner.

He was a man of great taste and had the brilliant talent of being in the right place at the right time. Walter never wrote anything as far as I know. He mostly dictated his essays and introductions to catalog through another's typing. Everything here that Walter says about himself is basically true, and his lateness in doing things was legendary. Still, he had the vision of giving my dad his first (and only, in his lifetime) gallery show, as well as giving Marcel Duchamp his first retrospective in Pasadena. I was there at the Duchamp opening!

Deborah Treisman and Anne Doran did a fantastic job in editing this book. Ed Ruscha's introduction is smart, warm, and entirely correct. I know it must be difficult to do a project like this, especially after Walter's passing. "The Dream Colony," I think is one of the better books regarding the art world of the 20th century. Walter always struck me as a romantic figure, and I can understand those who are seduced or swayed by his presence and thoughts on art. He was the real deal. And yes, I don't agree on certain narratives that run in this book, it is still Walter's story - and that is not a bad thing at all.

[Brenda Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly engaging memoir. Here was a man who loved what he did - discover and promote contemporary art and artists - and was totally committed to it. He jumped in with both feet no matter that he didn't have any money or didn't make any. It was never about that for him. Hopps was a connector; he knew collectors, artists, curators and others who helped him create his vision. His narrative is self-effacing and matter-of-fact. He doesn't make a big deal of anything he does, but his love for art is contagious. I found myself looking up several artists I had never heard of and learning more about those I knew. Even if you don't particular like contemporary art, Hopps will get you thinking about it and maybe even make you take a second look.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rich, memoiristic retelling of the history of contemporary art in Los Angeles and beyond, spanning the 1950s through the early 2000s. Hopps died before the book was finished, but he left behind extensive recordings that his editors, Deborah Treisman and Anne Doran, used to assemble his posthumous memoir. Their decision to preserve the narration entirely in Hopps’s own voice was exactly right: it brings him vividly back to life and conveys his warmth, enthusiasm, and lifelong passion for art and artists.

The book traces the full arc of Hopps’s career—from his first encounter with what was then called “advanced art” at Walter and Louise Arensberg’s home, to his early ventures running the Syndell and later the Ferus galleries, to his era-defining tenure at the Pasadena Art Museum, and finally his work at the Corcoran and the Menil Foundation. The tone leans more toward anecdote than analysis, but the trade-off is a trove of behind-the-scenes stories—many of which have taken on near-mythic status in American art history. Especially enjoyable are Hopps’s recollections of his friendships with Ed Kienholz, Joseph Cornell, Robert Rauschenberg, William Christenberry, and others.

[Victoria Sadler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ooh this is a tough book to love. Walter Hopps was an extraordinary character - and a hugely influential art curator and influencer in American post-war art. He was larger than life and a real eccentric and so I had hoped that would spill over into his writing. In fact, it proves the opposite that so eccentric he was in life, he found it impossible to sit down and write a cohesive book, hence why this book was completed with a co-writer who obviously does her best to fill in the gaps!

You have the gossip and characters that you hope for - Warhol, Duchamp, Dali and Cornell - but these are fragments that are not part of a coherent and interesting narrative. There is no introspection here, you get no sense of the man. His three marriages seem to come and go with barely a mention - which does give an uneasy sense of sexism in this book and world that seems to be men-only.

I wonder if perhaps a biographer might do a better job as Hopps, brilliant and passionate as he was about art, was no writer, and it does show in this book which is lethargic, lacks energy and gets wound up in mundane details.

[Robert Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography is constructed from interviews/oral history Hopps did shortly before he died in 2005. Deborah Treisman wrestled with the transcripts until she had a pretty smooth manuscript. The story is quite detailed for his early life but as it got closer to the end of his life, it seems to become less and less detailed. For people who knew Hopps in Houston, this is a little disappointing. The story pretty much ends with the founding of the Menil Museum in 1987.

The other problem is that the prose doesn't read like written prose--it has the casualness of spoken word. I would have rather read a straight up biography by a gifted prose-writer.

But in the end, this has a wealth of great information from one of the most important and fascinating figures in American art in the post-war period.

[Alex Greenberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

All right, I'm a little biased because Anne Doran is my coworker, but this is a must for anyone who's obsessed with art history, and a fun time for anyone who isn't. Includes anecdotes about the time Walter Hopps slept in a blanket of Walker Evans exposures, how Robert Rauschenberg literally had sex with the ground(!), and how Marcel Duchamp stylishly trolled a Village Voice reporter who called his work "far-out," among other things.

[Bill Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It is a very conversational memoir with stories about the art world of the 50s, 60s, and 70s that you just don't get from most art history books.

[Patty Kiku · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know what to expect about this book, which was a gift before a vacation to LA to see, among other museums, the Norton Simon. The link between this Walter Hops autobiography was the Pasedena Museum which preceeded the Norton Somon and another museum where Walter Hopps helped amass a treasure trove of the latest and now vary valuable art by American artists. This book provides a birds eye view into the activities, experiences and encounters of a curator, and if you look up the artists, a broad, rich and thorough education into post-Cubism art. The art Walter Hopps pursued and the artistic works he found go well beyond my artistic sensibilities, making Walter Hopps' ability to identify great art ever more wonderous. He particularly served the local artist scene from the 1950s until his death in 2005, but was one of the first to find value and pay tribute to Andy Warhol, Jason Pollock, Claes Oldenburg, Edward Kienholz and a myriad of other artists largely unfamiliar to me until this inspiring introduction. A deeply interesting read.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me awhile to get through. It was very detailed and interesting. 3.5 stars.

The Dream Colony: A Life in Art tells the story of Walter Hopps, an important art curator from the 20th century. Written with Deborah Treisman, it shares Hopps’ experiences, showing his love for contemporary art and work with artists like Duchamp and Warhol. The book talks about his time at the Ferus Gallery, Pasadena Art Museum, and the Menil Collection, where he helped modern art grow in the U.S.

Hopps’ unconventional style and personal challenges are part of the story, giving a real view of the art world at that time. With funny, honest, and interesting moments, the memoir is great for art fans and anyone curious about the art scene’s history.

[Chris Roberts · Rating 1 out of 5]

Insanity is believing a human being can create art,
nature is art,
artists produce second-hand reality.

A memoir is the progression and amplification of the banal,
memoirs die fast, lies linger longer,
it is the buyer beware genre.

Memoir as "I" "Me,"
audacious in conceit
the dizzying, dragging minutia
of a life lived grasping for metaphors.

Reading about an author's life,
family, friends and coworkers
can only lead to Suck Avenue.

How to kill a genre: Memoirs
brother/sister a drug-bug
cancer the sell-all gold standard
author experiences an Epiphany.

Chris Roberts, God Descendant

[Nicole Garton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, insightful, human portrait of one of the 20th century's most influential, pioneering curators, the artists he worked with, and the cultural/political mood of 1940-80s America. Lots of art world gossip told in an honest, clear-eyed way. Highlights include a front view seat at some of LA's best jazz clubs, the political machinations around the Brazilian and Venice biennales, Hopp's relationships with some of modernist art's early collectors, and of course stories into the lives of the artists themselves. An engrossing, conversational read for the avid contemporary art lover, any Los Angeles history buff, or anyone intrigued by the avant garde of the 50s-70s.

[Fer Galan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dream colony is an excellent memoir I loved Hopp’s narration and the enthusiasm he shared for collecting art and curating museum exhibits. I enjoyed learning about The Los Angeles art scene in the 21st century and the Ferus gallery. Hopp’s storytelling really shines through in the different chapters. We get a sense of Marcel Duchamp and Roy Lichtenstein’s life as well as those lesser known artists like Jeff Altoon. Hopp’s make this book such an enjoyable read you wish you were right there sipping drinks with him Andy Warhol and Ed Ruscha.

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not too fond of reading about the 50s-60s art world, and kinda disappointed in the boys-acting-badly milieau of art at that time. Could things have been more innovative if these artists weren't encouraged to do minimalist art with a bit of color? We'll never know. I enjoyed the sections on Rauschenberg and Jay DeFeo.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir was a great inside look into the modern art world of America in the latter half of the twentieth century. I won an advanced reading copy of the book from the publisher as part of the Goodreads giveaways program.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! Hopps helped start the careers of many artists in the 1950's, worked at the National Collection of American Art and helped build the deMenile museum. Just so wonderful in its portrayal of artists in the 50's - '80's! I know I'll want to re-read!

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chockablock with amusing anecdotes and interesting facts about the West Coast art scene, I loved every bit of this book. Walter delivered a candid account of his life that left me with a greater appreciation for contemporary art.

[Michele L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Hopps does a good job of relaying the art world in Los Angeles in 1960's and 1970's.... His relationship with Rauschenburg, Johns, Keinholz and Southern California artists Billy Al Bengston, Rusha, et al.
Delightful read.

[Matt Lennert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous. Written by an author in the voice of Hopps, after his death, as if it were a autobiography and covering this important curator’s very interesting life. The early sections in Los Angeles are very interesting to those who want to know more about modern art in So Calif during mid-century.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at Walter Hopps - was hoping that there would be more chapters on the time he spent in DC, but otherwise, the book certainly describes his genius curating.

[Krzysztof Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this. An excellent series of first hand accounts from Walter Hopps' long and prolific career working with a formidable selection of twentieth century artists.

[Olga Vannucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was in on all art
Right from its start.

[Ethel Poindexter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intreging and super interesting if your an Artist and want a little history. I thought the book was insitfull and fun.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. I can't finish this.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed every page. Walter had adventures galore, and got to know some tremendously interesting people. He lived through some uniquely American periods of art history- abstract expressionism, pop art, post modernism, photography as art... His account of the world of American artists and collectors is particularly compelling because he is not an art critic, nor historian, but a curator with a great eye, an innate sense of what is moving the arts forward. He championed the artists he loved and got them seen. He was a mover and a shaker, figuring out how to put these shows together, obsessing about doing them right.

Reading about artists and particular works of art was much more interesting coming from him, as they were described with reverence, love, and passion. So inspiring to read about the various creative venues and configurations, wheeling and dealing, and promotions that went on. I hope this energizes contemporary artists and art lovers to take a creative spin now.

[Luke Forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly well told story of a maverick curator helping forge the contemporary west coast art scene. Many great telling portraits of artists he worked with including Ed Ruscha, Robert Rauschenburg, and Joseph Cornell. Top Marks!

[Josef Vascovitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong art history as told by someone in its midst. Focused on two or three key artists from inside “the museum” perspective

[J.]

I won this book as a GoodReads First Reads giveaway. I'm looking forward to reading this and will post a complete review when I am finished reading it. More to follow.

[James G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your curious about this book, it's because you know and you care, right? if you know and you care, you kinda can't not love this book. "I have high regard for people who have faith and those are the people I have faith in." Walter Hopps III (1932-2005) (...and "You only put a price on art when it's for sale. Nothing here is for sale, therefore it's priceless or worthless, depending on how you look at it." Dominique de Menil [1908-1997])