If I knew then what I know now… How many times have I said that?! There are so many experiences of childhood that were much more meaningful than I realized.
I grew up in Columbia, CA, a small historic mining town. I was a cheerleader in grammar school and had a great time. One of my friends was Cindy Surendorf, daughter to internationally acclaimed artist Charles Surendorf II. Charlie created art unlike anything I had ever seen (still). He did woodblock printing and later switched to using linoleum. I watched him from afar as he was a brusque man and I respected his creative space.
Cindy has spent her life keeping her father’s style of art alive by teaching and, most recently, by creating a foundation in memory of her father. http://www.surendorf2artfoundation.org/
This weekend I am attending “Woodblock Woodstock” to celebrate the work of Charlie. I am honored to be invited by Cindy and am really looking forward to looking at Charlie’s work with adult eyes. As a child I thought Charlie’s art was too dark. By that I mean that it was mostly black with white, lacking in color. Some of his art was confusing to me.
If I knew then what I know now… I would have worked up the courage to talk to Charlie and get to know him. I would have asked him about his art. I would have watched him working, not from a distance but up close. I would have purchased his work when it was affordable. (Each block was destroyed after 28 prints.) Yes, if I knew then…
But all is not lost. I have Cindy in my life and I can learn from her. I can buy some raffle tickets and possibly win Lode Lynching, a piece of Charlie’s art being auctioned this weekend (pictured below).
Cool, Sally. I really like this artwork. And all of the what-if’s aside, you still had him brush through your life, albeit on the fringes.
Very interesting, Sally. I followed your link, and you’re right, his art is quite dark. They might be better off enlarging the pictures so people could see them better. Sounds like a wonderful opportunity for high school kids! I wish his daughter the best of luck–and you too, won’t it be fun if you win!
This sounds so much fun! How awesome; I hope you enjoy yourself immensely. =0)
Hindsight is a marvelous thing and as you say, you do have Cindy in your life and are at a moment in time when you can truly appreciate the craft. As a fan of dark work I loved seeing this work.
I often find great depth in dark work. You are indeed lucky to have Cindy as a friend and to have known her father as you did.
Vi
Thank you so much for sharing this story, had you not I would not have had this touch of darkness lighting up my life right now
Sally, I am honored to be on your “blog”. To sit at a table of the most forward thinkers I know at the fund raising dinner, to get new and important contacts to keep the show on the road, and most important of all, reconnecting the heart felt love that we had as kids were my highlights of the trip. We are all one big group of friends now with our electronic media, and I am hoping that more and more people will step up to the plate, like you and the people that attended, and invite the CFS2 Art Foundation into their community for a workshop like you attended! xoxo