Academy of Art University exhibits priceless selection of vintage autos
Classic cars offer historical reference for industrial design students
The San Francisco Chronicle | SFGate.com 55th Annual International Auto Show, presented by AutoTrader.com, will feature one of the largest displays of classic cars in show history. San Francisco’s Academy of Art University Museum will exhibit approximately 30 cars selected for the show by Tom Matano, the university’s Industrial Design department director.
Matano, a designer at Mazda for 20 years before joining the faculty at the university more than 10 years ago, has put together a priceless selection of automobiles from the 1930s through the 1950s that represent the elegance, style, craftsmanship, technology and innovative spirit of each era. This collection is primarily used for student reference in the School of Industrial Design.
Most of the automobile collection is garaged in the museum of the university’s Industrial Design department on Van Ness Avenue. The cars were collected by Richard A. Stephens, son of the late Richard S. Stephens, who founded the university in 1929 and served as its president until 1951. The younger Stephens served as president until 1992, when he was succeeded by his daughter, Elisa Stephens, and named Chair Emeritus.
In existence for just 12 years, Matano’s department has one of the youngest automobile design programs in the country. The list of companies that have hired graduates, however, is impressive: BMW Designworks, GM, Mazda, Toyota, Fox Racing, Black & Decker, Camelback (CQ) Hasbro, Mattel, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Nike, tech stock companies NVIDIA and Palm Inc., Samsung, Tony, Skechers, The North Face and Timbuk2.
The cars expected to be on display from the Academy of Art University collection include: 1930 Duesenberg J Convertible Sedan, 1930 Isotta Fraschini Cabriolet, 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, 1933 Packard Twelve Dietrich Dual Cowl Phaeton, 1934 Cadillac Aero Coupe, 1937 Squire Roadster, 1938 Lincoln-Zephyr Coupe, 1953 Jaguar XK 120 SE Roadster, 1953 Nash-Healey Roadster and 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing Coupe.
With more than 18,000 students, Academy of Art University is the nation’s largest private art and design university. Established in 1929, the school offers accredited AA, BA, BFA, MA, M.Arch and MFA programs in 21 different majors, as well as continuing art education. Students can also enroll in flexible online degree programs in most majors.
Academy of Art University is an accredited member of WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), NASAD (National Association of Schools of Art and Design), Council for Interior Design Accreditation (BFA and MFA-IAD) and NAAB (M-ARCH). For more information, visit www.academyart.edu or call (800) 544-2787.
The cars were collected by Richard A. Stephens, son of the late Richard S. Stevens, who founded the university in 1929.