The Man Beneath the Paint: California Impressionist Tilden Daken
with Bonnie Portnoy, Author and Granddaughter

Famous in his day and a pal of Jack London, Tilden Daken (1876-1935) was one of the most adventurous and prolific painters in the American West; he painted in every California state park and national park in the West, from the redwoods to the High Sierra to beneath the sea in a custom-built diving bell. Bonnie Portnoy, who never knew her grandfather, spent 25 years researching him, unraveling his mysteries, and gathering his art, culminating in the fully illustrated biography, The Man Beneath the Paint: California Impressionist Tilden Daken.

The stories include: his beginnings and ending in the California Mother Lode; his ride on the rails with Jack London; his experience in the 1906 earthquake; getting caught in the cross fire of the Mexican Revolution; his exhibit at the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition; his years in Hollywood when he painted to music; his journey to New Guinea to paint the headhunters; and the many notable people with whom he mingled—politicians, activists, Hollywood celebrities, naturalists, writers, journalists, and fellow California Impressionists.

Portnoy’s talk, which ends with a Q&A and book signing, includes a PowerPoint presentation of his art, stories of his adventurous life, and her serendipitous journey to learn about the man beneath the paint. Copies of The Man Beneath the Paint: California Impressionist Tilden Daken will be available for sale.

This presentation by Bonnie Portnoy is featured as part of the Monday Noontime History Series at Mechanics' Institute and meets on in the 4th Floor Board Room.

About the Presenter

Bonnie Portnoy lives just a few miles north of the enchanting Arts and Crafts house Tilden Daken built in Mill Valley, California, in the 1920s — unbeknownst to her until she launched the Tilden Daken Legacy Project. Through this project, she made invaluable connections with art historians, museum curators, gallery owners, and avid collectors who helped her flesh out Daken ’s long-lost story. In addition to family lore, she mined hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles, exhibit catalogs, personal letters, autobiographical short stories penned by the artist, and much more. Portnoy, a former merchandising and marketing executive at several San-Francisco-based retail firms, lectures frequently about Daken at a wide variety of public and private venues.

About the Monday Noontime History Series

Mechanics' Institute, a historical institution in the heart of downtown San Francisco, proudly hosts its noontime history series on select Mondays, offering a fascinating journey through various historical topics that resonate both locally and internationally. This series is a treasure trove for history enthusiasts, featuring an array of engaging subjects that bring the past to life. Past presentations include "Poems of Chinese Exclusion" with Jeffrey Thomas Leong, "The Personal is Political" with Isidra Mencos, and the serials "A Short History of Deception" and "From Bad News to Fake News: Media and Conflict 1850-2017" with Myles Dungan. Through this diverse and enriching series, Mechanics' Institute continues to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of history, bridging the past into the present so that we could more democratically shape our shared futures.

Cancellation Policy

We reserve the right to cancel at any time and issue a full refund. If you are unable to attend this seminar, please email [email protected] by Friday, August 16, 2024, to receive a full refund less any non-refundable ticketing fees which may be applicable. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. After Friday, August 16, 2024 no refunds will be issued.

Questions? Please contact [email protected]