PALACE
OF FUN
Mentor Huebner (c) 1955
Oil on Masonite 24 X 30
PALACE
OF FUN
BY
Visitors
to Southern California from countries that border the Mediterranean
Sea, or from the Middle East, especially Spain would all insist
the Vistas in Southern California paralleled landscapes in their
own countries. It made them feel sentimental. Mentor’s
film locations took him around the world and he agreed; Southern
California indeed resemble those countries.
And when
we were in Spain, we too were struck with sentiment based upon
its 'look'. The coastline of Spain, with its ancient Moorish
Forts and Castles always reminded us of home. Still, Mentor
painted “A Palace of Fun” several years before he'd
ever left the USA. The long shot view of the Amusement Park
Pier reminded him of Castles in Spain. Without ever having seen
them.
He loved the beaches in Southern California and over the years
painted them from every angle. Mentor painted every week. Although
Mentor painted on Sundays, he wasn't a Sunday painter. Painting
was his life, not his hobby. He worked in the film industry
only for money so as not to ‘sellout’ his personal
style and to be able to paint whatever he wanted to paint. No
art collector could ever lure him with enough money to paint
what they dictated. “I'm my own benefactor. I support
my own art.” He never painted to please anyone except
himself, and followed no fad.
When he painted this long view of the Amusement Park, he was
unaware that we would
return frequently, to the very spot, and picnic there with three
children, ours. The area offers a wide expanse of clean sand
and is perfect for kids.
Our first born son, as a toddler, loved it there. The minute
we arrived, he would gleefully race to the other end of the
beach ~ really fast. But having won medals at track, Mentor
would always catch him before he could disappear into the Amusement
Park. Appearing to be indifferent, Mentor would give the kid
a quarter of a mile lead. Then when our son was caught, Mentor
returned to his painting.
In time paintings and picnics parted.
It was better that way.
<<<PREVIOUS
NEXT >>>
