The Davyd Whaley Foundation has launched with a mission to support under-recognized Los Angeles area artists.

Pictured at a recent event announcing the foundation’s formation are Davyd Whaley Foundation board members Nick Brown (left) and Kristan Bonde, director Ellie Blankfort, founder and executive director Norman Buckley, and foundation manager Anitra Kyees. (photo by cmcampbell)

In the spirit of its namesake, David Whaley (1967-2014), the foundation offers grants to help artists fulfill their vision. “To honor Davyd’s generous spirit and to preserve his memory, I have established The Davyd Whaley Foundation to support artists in the Los Angeles community,” said Buckley, a West Hollywood resident. “Davyd’s goals were always evident – make art, buy the art of others, help people whenever possible, grow in consciousness. The mission of the foundation was designed around these tenets.”

The foundation joins a small group of philanthropic organizations that directly support individual Los Angeles area artists. It will award its first grants in early 2017 and plans to expand the grant program in the years to follow. Award recipients at the end of each year will be further recognized with a showcase exhibition and sale of their work at a Los Angeles venue.

“Initially, two grants will be awarded. The release of grants will be staggered over the first year of the foundation – application for the first grant will be available October 15, 2016, application for the second grant will be available January 15, 2017,” Blankfort said. “Those grants are The Davyd Whaley Mid-Career Artist Grant, $10,000 awarded to an under-recognized, mid-career artist in the Los Angeles area and The Davyd Whaley Artist-Teacher Grant, $10,000 awarded to an artist-teacher in the Los Angeles area, to allow them more time and resources for their own studio work.”

Whaley was a resident artist at the Santa Fe Art Colony in downtown Los Angeles, a member of the Los Angeles Art Association, and he previously worked for 15 years as an electrical engineer. His time was split between being a studio artist and an instructor teaching classes in East L.A. Whaley was primarily self-taught, but studied painting at UCLA and with Ronnie Landfield and Larry Poons at the Art Students League of New York.

A special installation of Whaley’s work is currently on view at the Samuel Freeman Gallery at 2639 S. La Cienega Blvd. Visit www.facebook.com/DavydWhaley.