France And Spain: John Stermer European Era

Introduction.

I would like to continue talking about  John Stermer’s history.  In this article, we will discus John’s time in Europe, and, more specifically, France and Spain.  He and his new wife, Lucy, would live there from 1952 through 1959.  John and Lucy would leave Europe with five children, an expanded portfolio, and experiences for a lifetime.

To explain, this is the third in a series of articles about John Stermer’s life and artistic development.  Part one talks about John’s formative years in Elmira NY as well as his service in the Navy during World War II.   Part two discusses his years at The Art Students League of New York from 1947 through 1951.

I would like to highlight that this series of articles is based on the research done prior to the 2021 retrospective of his work at the Frances McCray Gallery of Contemporary Art, Western New Mexico University in Silver City NM.  Our thanks to the research team, including Dorothy Stermer, Maria Jensen, and Paula Geisler, all of New Mexico.

France & Académie de la Grande Chaumière.

Early in 1952, John and Lucy landed in Paris, France.  Here  he would continue his studies at the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere.  The Academie specialized in painting and sculpture instruction.   Also, the instructors encouraged students to develop their own interpretations and styles freely.  This freedom influenced John’s own teaching methods.  In later years, he became highly sought after as an art teacher and the students’ praises of him referred to the freedom they felt while learning in his presence. 

Lucy and John enjoyed living south of Paris in the village of Paliseau.  He produced watercolor paintings that he sent home as gifts of appreciation to those who funded and inspired their trip to Europe.

On a personal note, I recall Dad saying how much he enjoyed going outside and painting while the lived in France.  It was a love that lasted all his life.

The Spain Years.

By1953, John’s GI Bill benefits were depleted.  With the need for an income, the young couple and their son John Paul moved to the Mediterranean coast of Spain where the US Air Force offered John employment. 

John continued to work on his drawing, painting and print making. Again, his chosen motifs remained people and places. The Spanish light and the Catalan culture influenced John’s style and color palette.

Regarding their time in Spain, I remember, for example, Mom and Dad talking about going to local cafes and someone would pull out a guitar and start playing music.  Or, how the Spaniards had a tradition of singing.  That is, people sang as part of their daily life, even, for example, when hanging out the laundry on clothes lines.  In other words, it seemed that art was all around them.

Time To Return To The USA.

As the 1950s grew to a close, so did John and Lucy’s time in Europe.

With a growing family, the need for more income became a significant concern. Fatefully, a friend from Barcelona was connected to Kennecott Mines in Southwest New Mexico.  In 1959, Kennecott offered John a job that would use his training and background in heavy equipment. They left Spain and the family of five young children traveled across the country to a remote corner of New Mexico.

And, a new era for the artist and his family began.

Personal Note.

As one of John and Lucy’s children, my formative years were influenced by their time in Europe.  Spain and France seemed like a wonderful and exotic place.  And, yet, the memories of their time in Europe were real to me in that paintings from France and Spain decorated our home’s walls.  Also, we listened to music from these countries.  Most of all, we  heard stories of the people of France and Spain that Dad and Mom met and loved.

And, I still have paintings from Spain on my walls.  

Thank you.