Beginning in the late 1980s, software entrepreneur and art collector Peter Norton has commissioned an art edition to celebrate the Christmas season and holidays. Created by artists represented in the Nortons’ own collection, and sent as gifts to personal friends and members of the art community, these art objects were intended to foster engagement with the world of contemporary art. One of Norton’s gift recipients was Anne F. Wittels, member of Palos Verdes Art Center’s original artist group, The Rembrandt Crew, who has donated her collection to the Center to share with visitors. Included among other works in the exhibition are commissioned pieces by Kara Walker, Lawrence Weiner, Jim Hodges, Sanford Biggers, and Yasumasa Morimura; though small in scale, these works deliver powerful statements on identity, the environment, and social justice. An exhibition of these works was mounted at PVAC during 2014 holiday season.

During that exhibition, another recipient–who desires to remain anonymous–gifted PVAC with more works from the Peter Norton series, including pieces byRobert Lazzarini, Do Ho Suh, Christian Marclay, Nina Katchadourian, Marc Swanson, Benjamin Lord, Escher GuneWardena Architecture, and Ry Rocklin.