Strub Hall Centennial: Artists Look to Strub Hall for Inspiration

Our Beaux-Arts building—one of the few remaining early 20th-century-era mansions in Pasadena—has inspired countless artists to capture its elegant facade and its warm, mahogany-filled interiors on canvas and film. She’s still an in-demand subject, even in her 100th year! Below are some recent examples of Strub Hall’s role as architectural muse.

2D Time Travel

To commemorate the centennial of Strub Hall, Paul Tzanetopoulos (aka Mr. T) and his photography students embarked on an ambitious project—to take a photo of the 100-year-old building with a 100-year-old camera. The final result was a spectral and awe-inspiring image that looks very much like those in the Mayfield archives. Mr. T’s class generously donated a framed print as a silent auction item for our Rhapsody in Red gala. (Learn more about the fascinating photographic process on page 27.)

Professional Portraits

We’re especially grateful to two renowned artists for sharing their talents to help us celebrate our Strub Hall home this year. Longtime Mayfield friend Miller Fong (grandfather of Brynn Evans ’13, Catherine Evans ’15 and Anne Evans ’18), a noted architect, designer and USC faculty member, sketched the masterful rendering that graces our commemorative wine glasses on his iPad in just 15 minutes! And acclaimed painter and Mayfield dad Kenton Nelson (Camilla ’21) created the streamlined silhouette that appears on all our official centennial publications. Bravo and thank you both!

“Paint Out” En Plein Air

What a way to celebrate your 100th birthday —having your portrait painted by some of California’s finest plein air artists! A group of local painters, including past parents Darryl Yee (Rebecca ’07) and Kathy Dooling ’63 (Bridget ’96 and Katie ’00), joined us for a “paint out” in October to capture our beloved Strub Hall in the incomparable SoCal sunlight.