Page 12 FULLERTON OBSERVER EARLY APRIL 2014 ArtSpeak by Aimee Allan The Prolific & Broad Talents of Artist Steve Metzger “Some people can make wonderful paintings in one shot, but Steve layers and glazes and waits for them to dry - and then repeats the process again. He builds up the rich surfaces that way,” says Jamie, Steve’s wife of 30 years. He adds, “It takes a long time to paint realism. Thats what I do.” The first time I experienced Metzgers work was last August in his retrospective exhibition at the Egan Gallery, and now Im a loyal follower of his work. I was blown away. And I know you will be, too. Steve Metzger will be unveiling his lat- est work at Stephan Baxters Art With an Agenda, The Beautiful Autism exhibi- tion, on April 4th from 6pm to 11pm again at the Egan Gallery located in the Magoski Arts Colony on West Santa Fe in Fullerton. The event includes a silent auc- tion. There will be a CD release party on April 5th from 2pm to 5pm at Bourbon Street, 110 E. Commonwealth Ave. in Fullerton. That event combines Metzger’s art and music and is sure to be an audio, as well as, a visual feast. He will also be showing from April 5 through the 26th at Veronese Cafe, 419 W. Commonwealth. There is no reception at this artist-owned cafe, so visit anytime. Steve teaches art classes at Fullerton col- lege. He likes the color blue, enjoys walks downtown with his wife and adores the sense of community he feels in this quaint little walking town. He is more than a painter. “Art and music go hand in hand, for me,” says Metzger who is also a seasoned bassist and plays the keyboard. He’s got a separate studio devoted solely to woodworking where he stretches five-sided canvases and other odd shapes, and makes the frames for his work, and another just for making music. The Metzger home is like a vintage oasis you never want to leave. Above the man- tle hangs a small unfinished painting of the Continental Room sign, which is my odd favorite. And resting side by side on the piano are the works of two other major local talents: E.E. Jacks and John Sollom. Check out Metzger’s amazing art, music, resume, and thoughts on art on his website at stevetown.net. The thing I love most about my work for the Observer is my access to artists stu- dios, from the grandiose to the humbly lit. True artists speak with a universal voice and are united in spirit as Mildred Kouzel, a local sculptor and painter in her 90s says, “there is no age in the arts, what binds us is our common interest.” Next month look forward to getting to know painter Melinda Hagman and the amazing assemblage artist Adam Watts. And later this year, I have tentatively secured an interview with the extraordi- nary jazz vocalist Susan Sinner who will be releasing a new record soon.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 17:38:41 +0000