SPOTLIGHT: LOCALS GIVE WORK BY FAMOUS WATERCOLORIST

New library to boast donated painting

Article Date: 10/9/2006

By Monique H. Henderson, The Press-Enterprise

A Milford Zornes painting is the first piece of artwork donated to the city of Fontana for display in the a new downtown library that is under construction.

The painting, donated by local residents Bob and Connie Constant, is a 3-by-4 foot watercolor painting of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome, City officials hope to display a variety of professional artwork in the library.

Zornes, who is 98, is nationally famed artist and teacher known primarily for his use of broad brush strokes and unpainted space in watercolors. He attended a Sept. 26 Fontana City Council meeting, where the painting was presented to the city. Zornes still paints frequently and is widely recognized for his lectures.

The Constants lived in the Inland Empire for a number of years before moving to the Los Angeles area, where Bob Constant works in the aerospace industry. The family still owns property in Fontana.

City officials have said they are committed to bringing public artwork and other cultural opportunities to Fontana.

“We are trying to build people’s cultural awareness,” said Ray Bragg, redevelopment and special projects director of the city of Fontana. “We want to expose people to different forms of art and this is a natural way to achieve that.”

Bragg said he hoped the library’s art display will encourage creative exploration.

“A child might come in and see this piece of artwork, and it might get them thinking,” Bragg said.

“He might decide it is something he wants to try to do himself, and then soon this passion is ignited. That’s the kind of thing we hope to see happen.”

The new library will be located in the Civic Center at 8473 Sierra Ave. in Fontana. The city of Fontana and San Bernardino County have worked to secure funds, including private contributions, for the regional library.

The new library will include a collection of more than 140,000 books, periodicals and other resources, more than 200 computer workstations and a 330-seat auditorium for community events. It also will have a bookstore and coffee bar.

For more information call 909-350-6586.

Milford Zornes, 98, is mostly known for broad brush strokes and unpainted space in his watercolors. The painting behind him, donated to the city of Fontana, is of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome.

The painting of Yosemite Valley and Half Dome.