Briefly on Ebay

I just saw a 1963 painting on eBay, but when I went to look for it again, it was gone.  I do happen to know which painting it was, however, because it was the painting that appeared on this show flyer.  They even had a copy of the flyer taped to the back of the painting.  Maybe it will be posted again soon and if not, I wonder who bought it!

Paintings from the Coffee Tree

 Hello!  A few readers have written recently talking about paintings they purchased at The Coffee Tree restaurant (now closed) in Vacaville, CA.  I have seen this one in slides previously.  According to my records, it is called called Forest Pond from 1992.  Very Nice.  Here are a few previous posts on Coffee Tree murals and menus.  Some of my previous links to Google Picasa are now 404's... sorry about that.

ARTFORUM DECEMBER 1962/JANUARY 1963

 We previously linked to another ARTFORUM article here.  There's another one here a year later, which has some interesting notes.

Ruth Dicker

THE HORSE'S MOUTH GALLERY

The encaustic technique is used in the major portion of these works. Miss Dicker studied with Carl Zerbe who has been using this practice for many years. The paintings range in style from sche­matic representation to totally abstract evocations of landscapes. The latest abstract works have a restrained surface quality wholly in keeping with the me­dium used.

—James Monte

I don't remember another other reference to Carl Zerbe so I am curious about that.  Wikipedia has an article on Karl Zerbe, which I am going to assume is the same since they both reference encaustic.  Other possible connections include New York City in the 40's and both showing at the Nordness Gallery in the early 60's. The show flyer for The Horse's Mouth Gallery is here.

Save Mary Fuller McChesney Sculptures

Please consider supporting another Sonoma artist history project with Save Mary Fuller McChesney Sculptures.  I don't know the full connection between the two artists, but Ruth Dicker did have a Mary Fuller McChesney statue that she had on her deck for many years.

This summer, in the courtyard at The Astro Motel in Santa Rosa, we're planning an exciting, large-scale installation of the work of Sonoma Mountain sculptor Mary Fuller McChesney who passed away in May at the age of 99.

Mary was a brilliant artist, a formal innovator, a free thinker, prolific writer and fervent feminist. Like so many of the women who were 20th Century modernist masters in American art, her work is underknown, so we're ecstatic at the opportunity to bring it to a new audience in an urban setting welcoming to visitors who might never encounter it otherwise. Curated by Spring Maxfield, who first conceived of this exhibition months prior to her passing, and in partnership with the artist's estate and The Calabi Gallery, the installation will showcase about a dozen totems and goddesses as well as a handful of bronze sculptures.

Summer Updates

OK.  First of all, we have an interested party in Colorado who is looking for some sort of poplers or aspen painting.  This seems doable so we are on the lookout.

An update to Possible sighting in North Bay.  Previously, there was one painting visible in this listing, but it's come on and off the market a few times.  Now it has four Ruth Dicker paintings visible and they are definitely pieces from the mural that hung high above the Coffee Tree Restaurant.  Unknown if the paintings are included in the Inverness listing, probably not.

Finally an update on Blue Lake - Snow Mountain For Sale.  I was trying to connect with someone selling this painting and we weren't able to make it work.  Then, someone emailed from Arkansas to say it was at a Los Angeles area Goodwill and we sent someone over to pick it up.  It's now happily displayed on a new owner's wall and looks amazing.  Success.

Another painting here came and went one bay... who bought it?

There's always more out there to discover so if you have some pictures or information, send it along.