First piece of artwork donated to new library

Article Date: 10/6/2006

By Canan Tasci, The Sun

The Fontana Library is still under construction and will not be complete until 2008. However, its collection of artwork is raising the standard for future art that will continue to be displayed in the library.

During a Fontana City Council meeting late September Mayor Mark Nuaimi presented the library with a painting a Milford Zornes, which was donated by Robert and Connie Constant. This marks the first piece of artwork that has been donated to the library.

“Mr. Zornes painting has set the tone of what we are looking for as far as future art to be displayed in the library,” said Ray Bragg, redevelopment and special projects director. “We hope to continue to fill the library with artwork like this so it can be enjoyed in decades by people.”

Zornes, 98, grateful to share the evening with this wife and closes associates in the art field, stood in front of the Council thanking them for acknowledging him as a painter.

The 3-feet by 4-feet watercolor of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome is one of a kind”

“I’ve discovered that if you choose the most obvious image in reflection to the subject, like the Half Dome is to Yosemite, it becomes the most recognizable to the public, and that symbol and image can be identified in the park,” Zornes said. “I take a simple view when it comes to art.”

Familiarizing himself with Half Dome, Bragg said he can see why Zornes chose the location.

“Art has to be something that you can relate to and that’s why I think he chose that spot,” Brag said. “When I look at this Zornes painting I can say I have been there and I can relate to it.”

Giving back to the community is what the Constants intended when they donated the painting.

“We think of art as an important part of our life and the public can see that importance,” Bob Constant said. “Besides, we get more pleasure seeing the painting in the (Fontana) library than seeing it in our library (at home).”

Describing the painting as “not only big but expensive,” Bragg said that the value of the piece is more than $4,000.

Zornes said the insurance value of the watercolor is $10,000.

He attributes any cost of a painting to be according to the “value and recognition of the artist.”

“This is a much larger piece for one thing and if it was on the market in a gallery I would hope to get at least $6,000 to $7,000, but logically I would put at least $10,000 worth of insurance on it.”

Zornes paintings can be found in the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the White House and the Pentagon.

“I have to believe as an artist our art in any way, shape or form is a benefit in the community for cultural growth,” Zornes said.

Connie Constant hopes that the Zornes painting will be an inspiration.

“We hope that some child will see the painting in the library ans ay that is a beautiful picture,” Connie said. “We hope that it inspires them to be an artist or go to Yosemite.”

Zornes began this painting in 2003 and it was bought by the Constants a year later, the artist said.

“They know my work very well, they have multiple paintings from me,” Zornes said. “Mr. Constant has a comprehensive knowledge of what I’ve done.”

Bragg said that he has been speaking to the Constants for two years about their generous donation.

“Two years ago, we weren’t under construction,” Bragg said in regard to the new library. “Before that the donor doesn’t know where their art work would have been displayed, but now they know what we’re doing.”

Bragg said the mayor and the City Council are committed to the future of the community.

“All of this is a reflection of the direction of the mayor and the City Council and their vision upon where they want to take the community,” Bragg said.

With the addition of Zornes’ art, the new library, which will cost an estimated $60 million to build, will be more than just a place where books are stored, Bragg said.

“A library in our viewpoint is more than just a repository of books, it is really the embodiment of a place of learning, it’s a place of enjoyment, a place for reflection, a quite place to go and sit and enjoy a book whether it’s in English, Spanish or any other language,” Bragg said.

Brag added that the goal of the Fontana Library is to create an enriching environment to where the community as a whole can read a book or look at a “fine piece of art.”

“It is easy to build roads and storm drains but if that’s all people get to experience, well that’s good, but it’s not totally a community experience. We are trying to create a community that is going beyond a good road and a good storm-drain system,” Bragg said. “We are trying to build something for people’s minds.”

Milford Zornes, 98, of Claremont, sits in front of one of his paintings that was donated to Fontana’s new state-of-the-art library.