Burl Stiff wrote this article for the San Diego Union on January 12, 1977:
     "The Contemporary Arts Committee of the Fine Arts Society is having an 'Etruscan Honeymoon' at the gallery on Saturday Jan. 29, at which you are invited to:
- dress up in a toga;
- eat antipasto, Fantasia and other Italian specialties;
- dance to Doc's Prescriptions;
- bid for artworks in a silent auction;
- have your handwriting analyzed and your body painted. (Those Etruscans were earthy rascals.)…
     The tables for 10 will be covered with red cloths and centered with living plants, Mimi Levinson reported. She promised, tongue in cheek, that the plants will be 'Etruscan looking,' whatever that is…
     Among those working on the party are Kay Whitcomb, Mimi Levinson, Harry Evans, Carole Laventhol, Dorothy Stratton, Nancy Amstadt, Lani Murray, Barbara Walbridge, Anne Young, Priscilla Sellman, Glenna Love, Gayle McInnis, Edie Smith, Marian Warburton, Denny Draper, Roberta Silberman, Janet Disrali, Stan Newcomb, Bruce Robinson, Terry Whitcomb and Gerry Santangelo.
     Artists whose works will be auctioned to benefit gallery activities include Dorothy Stratton, Dee Menaugh, Kay Swartz, Betty Riis, JoAnn Tanzer, Martha Matthews, Jean Braley, Kay Whitcomb, Polly Rozelle, Helen Dowd and Ruth Gewalt.
Other contributing artists are Maria Lench, Carole Laventhol, Rossie Wade, William Bowne, Lois Stecker, Donna Kindig, Lilli Hill, Mary Moller, Harriet Torens, Eve Gilchrist, Mina Pulsifer and Kathy Lineweaver.
     As for body painting; Kay Whitcomb, Terry Whitcomb and Mimi Levinson have volunteered to do it.
     Painted bracelets and amulets in the Etruscan mode are expected to be favored adornments, along with butterflies and flowers.
     But they'll probably paint 'Semper Fi' or 'Mom' on your biceps if that's what your heart is set on."

     Sponsored by the Contemporary Arts Committee, world famous architect and member of both the Guild and Allied Craftsman, Jim Hubbell gave several fundraising "Home Tours" of his artistic and architectural masterpiece in Julian during the 1970's. The tour in May 1977 drew 2,000 people.

     In June 1977, when the author joined the Guild and the Fine Arts Society, four members of the Guild were serving on the Fine Arts Society Board of Trustees including Everett Gee Jackson who served for 30 years.
     A film festival spearheaded by Louis Nidorf and over a year in development, was held on August 25, 1977 at 1:30 P.M. and again at 7:30 P.M., with movies on printmaking, painting and sculpture - methods, techniques and procedures. There was an artist-speaker at these events.
     The September Guild Bulletin reported on this evening of films called "How the Artists Works."
     The December Bulletin encouraged artists to participate in another fundraiser for the Fine Arts Society, to go along with their upcoming blockbuster exhibition of treasures from King Tut's tomb:
     "The Contemporary Arts Committee's Fund-raising 'King Tut's Toot' is scheduled at the Fine Arts Gallery January 28, 1978, and will include treasure items for sale. Guild members are invited to submit small or miniature art works such as jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, fibers, paintings and graphics or other saleable objects which could relate to the King Tut theme. A 60% commission will be paid to the artist on original works."

     From December 3, 1977 - January 8, 1978, Donna De Kindig, Martha Alf, and Hiroshi Miyazaki were given the prizewinners three-man show.
     The following was recorded in the minutes of the March 14, 1978 meeting:
     "Martha Matthews was appointed delegate to represent the Art Guild on the Public Arts Advisory Council."

     In the April 1978 Bulletin the artists were informed of this new study:
     "Bob Simon (husband of Art Guild member Lenore Simon) Ph.D. candidate at U.S.I.U. and assistant Director of Creative Psychology Center, has chosen the members of the Art Guild to participate in research on the personality and creativity of the professional fine artist. According to Mr. Simon, he selected the Guild because 'its membership requirements establish it as an organization with extremely high standards of professionalism in the field of fine art.' Within a few days Art Guild members will be receiving a personality questionnaire from Mr. Simon. Your replies will be kept strictly confidential. When you return your completed questionnaire, you will, upon request, be sent your own individual personality profile as derived from the questionnaire."

     In 1974, Martha Longnecker, artist-craftsman, faculty member at SDSU (she created the ceramics curriculum), and Guild member founded Mingei International, a non-profit, public foundation dedicated to furthering understanding of art of people from all cultures of the world.
     In 1977 developer, Ernest W, Hahn and Associates drew up an agreement with Martha for a building space, good for twenty years. The location was in the new University Towne Center, a shopping center. The Mingei International Museum formally opened on May 5 1978. The Gerald T. and lnez Grant Parker Foundation generously funded the premiere exhibition, "Dolls and Folk Toys of the World". Folk art from many cultures was featured and with an enthusiastic community response and Martha's dynamic energy the Mingei moved to a new facility in Balboa Park on August 8, 1996, and has recently expanded into another building in Escondido.

     This reminder to the membership was given in the July 1978 Bulletin:
     "Contrary to the beliefs of some Art Guild members the Art Rental Gallery is not a function of the Guild but of the Fine Arts Gallery… The opportunity for submitting work for possible inclusion in the Art Rental Gallery is open to Art Guild members but is not limited to them."

     The Fine Arts Society became the San Diego Museum of Art on September 15, 1978 and the official Logo, designed by Guild member Bob Perine, was on the cover of the Fine Art Gallery's Calendar in December 1978.

     The October 1978 Bulletin announced this upcoming Guild sponsored event:
     "On Thursday, October 26, Dr. Charles White, noted printmaker and draughtsman, will present a program featuring slides and a discussion of his work in the Auditorium of the Fine Arts Gallery."
     Jean Swiggett wrote in this edition of the Bulletin:
     "The Old Globe Benefit All-Media Exhibition was the first cooperative venture of the three top art organizations of the area--the Art Guild, the San Diego Art Institute, and the San Diego Watercolor Society. It is hoped that it is only the first of a continuing series of activities bringing together combined members.
     The basic purpose of the exhibition, of course, was to assist reconstruction of the Old Globe Theatre which was destroyed by arson last spring. A total of $944 was raised from sales (and cash donations made during the show). Half of the moneys received from sales went to the Old Globe Fund, half to the artist. Seven pieces were sold of the 76 accepted from 552 entries. In judging the entries so drastically, the jury apparently ignored the basic purpose of the show thus depriving many local artists the opportunity of contributing assistance to the Old Globe by means of their art activities. The Editor of the Bulletin was one whose work was rejected. The two pieces submitted by him, if sold, would have given the Old Globe $325. This amount has been pledged to the Old Globe from his next sale in an attempt to rectify the situation in a small way. Other Guild members may wish to make similar pledges."
     Also in the October Bulletin was this report:
     "114 Guild members completed the psychological test conducted several months ago by Bob Simon, and 70 helped rank the relative creativity of the 114."

     A copy of the program of Artists Equity was enclosed with the November 1978 issue of the Bulletin. Dozens of Guild members were officers and active members of the local chapter of Artists Equity.
     Earl Saunders was one of the founders of the new African Arts Committee of the Museum. On November 11, 1978 the newly formed group had their spectacular grand opening celebration, "Juma Juma", at the San Diego Museum of Art.
     Martha Alf, Peter Matosian, and Christine Oatman, prizewinners from the Guild All-Media exhibit were given a three-person show in the Gallery from November 17 - December 24, 1978.

     In the December 1978 Bulletin, Irina Gronborg in her Message from the Chairperson said:
"At the end of January the trustees are planning on finalizing a set of new goals during a two-day desert retreat.
     The Art Guild is one of the operating units of the museum represented by the current chairperson as one of the thirty voting trustees.
     So far this year, I have met in several sessions with consultants and trustees, and have always sought to represent the Art Guild and its membership of living local artists. In order to present an even stronger and more imaginative position, I would like to hear from those who care."

     1978 marked the end of an era for the Guild. The Gallery had now become officially a "Museum" and with that came a whole new concept of what was to be its new direction. By this time every major museum throughout the country had eliminated its local "Artists Guilds" from their internal structure, and the vast majority had already eliminated their competitive regional exhibitions from their schedules. No official "Fine Artist" representative sat on any other Museum Board of Trustees. Only the San Diego Museum of Art held onto its founding organization, but for how long?

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