Donna Fenstermaker

The Breakfast Group Donna Fenstermaker

The breakfast group This informal association of practicing studio artist, dating back to the early 1960's originally began when a group of faculty members at the University of California at Berkeley, decided to meet regularly for breakfast at a Shattuck Avenue coffee house. They met to discuss recent developments in the visual arts, student-related concerns and individual artistic pursuits. In the open-agenda atmosphere of breakfast, conversations would inevitably drift to such diverse areas as current events, Berkeley politics, recent films and progress of the Bay Area sports teams. Over the years there have been a number of changes, both in the composition of the group itself and in breakfast venues. Though current members may be teaching throughout the Bay Area, exhibiting beyond these borders, they stand firm on their allegiance to Cal teams. Artistically, THE BREAKFAST GROUP represents a wide diversity of stylistic and philosophical viewpoints. They get together out of a sense of shared purpose as visual artist in a spirit of conviviality, camaraderie, and conversation. Spanning five decades, THE BREAKFAST GROUP has provided inspiration and encouragement to countless numbers of college art students who have gone on to make significant contributions to our community. THE BREAKFAST GROUP has been a constant touchstone for members who have enriched the arts in California and far beyond.