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Art show and dinner will recognize Holmbom

    MONSON — Mark your calendars as Saturday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. is the opening for the Bill Holmbom art show and celebration dinner at the Monson Community Center (formerly the Monson school). This significant showing will present a large display of Holmbom’s work.

    James William (Bill) Holmbom was born in Monson, a child of parents who moved from Sweden to Monson. The slate quarries in the area were known around the world, and his father was skilled in that work. At first, he could speak no English but as his children brought home their schoolbooks he taught himself and soon could speak the new language fluently. He eventually became the manager of the quarry and was able to support his wife and eight children in the early 1900s. Holmbom graduated from the Monson schools and enlisted in the Army. He fought in WWII and used his GI Bill funds for education.

    “At first I started in forestry, but that wasn’t for me so I chose art instead,” he said.

    This was a fortuitous decision indeed because, despite never having drawn or painted before, he had a natural talent that burst to life in art school. He discovered the joy of painting landscapes and he met his wife Anne at college. She is also a fine artist and for many years and in many places they worked in schools and taught art to young people.

    For those not familiar with his work, Holmbom has the ability to capture the essence of location. A mountain landscape hearkens to the Hudson River Valley painters of the late 1800s with the warmth of air and patterns of light.

    Waves swirling around a misty rock are palpable in their cold ceaseless movement. Swaths of scarlet winter blueberry fields draw you in to misty indigo hillsides in the distance.

    “He does this all from memory, his mind’s eye,” observed Anne. “Most artists paint from photographs or in the environment.” Her childhood was spent on Chebeague Island, off the southern coast of Maine. They still summer there, where the air has a certain quality cherished by landscape artists for generations. They even had an art gallery next to Anne’s family home – Juniper Knee Gallery.

    Holmbom works in acrylics while Anne creates bold watercolors. They spent many years in Mexico and also lived in Hancock for 30 years, during which time Holmbom produced the bulk of his paintings.

    After the reception, a celebration dinner is happening from 5 to 6 p.m. at Linda Bury’s Thymes and Seasons in the Monson Community Center. Seating is limited to 16 people, Reservations will be accepted up until Jan. 11.

    Following the dinner, there will be an evening reception at the Holmbom’s on Center Street. For further information, contact Susan Fitz-William, organizer of the art show at 997-3687.

    You may also e-mail her at scdfw1@yahoo.com or contact Linda Bury at thymesandseasons@aol.com, 997-3495 or 343-0799 to reserve seating.

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