The Coronado Public Library’s “Art through the Generations” exhibit, scheduled from March 1 through May 31, features the works of nine artists who attended Coronado High School. They are linked through public education and their teacher, Esther Painter Hagstrom.
Hagstrom taught art at Coronado High School from 1939 until her premature death in 1951. Some of her watercolors and etchings are displayed with the works of her students who went on to become accomplished artists.
Patty Murphy Jepson of Coronado, Coronado High School class of 1948, is commercially successful — selling her works and painting on commission. Dolores Bridges Mote of El Cajon, Coronado High School class of 1945, has painted as a hobby all of her life.
Other artists include John Clampitt of Coronado, class of 1954; Sarah Mott Durand of Ashland, Oregon, class of 1948; Lois Drake Ferguson of San Diego, class of 1953; John “Jack” Minchin of Encinitas, class of 1948; Doris Klindt Naccarato of Coronado, class of 1951; Hildegarde Jaeger Stubbs of Encinitas, who finished high school in Santa Monica; and Celeste Walkup Usler, of Puyallup, Washington, class of 1951.
Suzy Hagstrom, a journalist in Point Loma, organized the exhibit in tribute to her paternal grandmother, Esther Painter Hagstrom. “This is the grandmother I never knew. She died before I was born,” Hagstrom said. “Connecting with her students was a way to get to know her.”
Hagstrom found the students by talking with Coronado High School classmates of her late parents, Barbara Lou Eagles Hagstrom and Robert Painter Hagstrom, classes 1950 and 1948 respectively. “Even students who had no interest in art remember my grandmother and her lessons on perspective.”
The Coronado Public Library will become the permanent home of Esther Painter Hagstrom’s watercolors, prints and other works. The exhibit highlights the importance of art in education. Although the timeless landscapes of San Diego have inspired students and teacher alike, each artist has a unique style.
More information is available by calling Christian Esquevin, director of library services, at 619-522-7395 and Suzy Hagstrom, 619-758-0532. The Web site is: www.estherpainterhagstrom.vpweb.com
ART RECEPTION
The Coronado Public Library is hosting a reception for the nine artists participating in its “Art through the Generations” exhibit. The event, set for 3 p.m. Saturday April 6, is a chance for the public to meet the artists whose watercolors, oils, acrylics, pastels, pencil drawings and other works are on display through May 31.
The reception is also a chance for the artists to meet each other and get reacquainted. They are linked through their art teacher, Esther Painter Hagstrom, who taught art at Coronado High School from 1939 until her premature death in 1951.
The artists are: John Clampitt of Coronado, Coronado High School class of 1954; Sarah Mott Durand of Ashland, Oregon, class of 1948; Lois Drake Ferguson of San Diego, class of 1953; Patty Murphy Jepson of Coronado, class of 1948; John “Jack” Minchin of Encinitas, class of 1948; Dolores Bridges Mote of El Cajon, class of 1945; Doris Klindt Naccarato of Coronado, class of 1951; Hildegarde Jaeger Stubbs of Encinitas, who finished high school in Santa Monica; and Celeste Walkup Usler, of Puyallup, Washington, class of 1951.
Suzy Hagstrom, a journalist in Point Loma, organized “Art through the Generations” to honor her paternal grandmother, Esther Painter Hagstrom, whom she never met. “She died before I was born,” Suzy Hagstrom explained. “Connecting with her students was a way to get to know her. Now the students have a chance to connect with each other.”
Hagstrom is helping organize the reception for the artists, who attended Coronado High School with her late parents, Barbara Lou Eagles Hagstrom and Robert Painter Hagstrom, classes 1950 and 1948 respectively. “The reception will be like a mini-Coronado High School reunion,” said Christian Esquevin, director of library services for the Coronado Public Library. “Some of these artists haven’t seen each other for more than 50 years.”
The library will become the permanent home of Esther Painter Hagstrom’s watercolors, prints and other works. The exhibit highlights the importance of art in education. Many of the paintings of Hagstrom and her students are inspired by San Diego’s timeless landscapes, yet each artist has a unique style.
The reception will be held in the Winn Room of the Coronado Public Library, 840 Orange Ave. in Coronado. More information is available by calling Esquevin at 619-522-7395 and Suzy Hagstrom, 619-758-0532. The Web site is: www.estherpainterhagstrom.vpweb.com
