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My Time With Marion |
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I am writing this essay in June of 2009. Forty years ago in 1969, I was a printmaking student with Dr. Janet Turner at Chico State. This was the year that brought Marion Austin Epting to the art faculty at Chico State. He came from “down south,” Southern California that is. He was an accomplished painter and printmaker who graduated from Otis Art Institute.
To put his way through school, he worked for the U. S. Postal Service. I liked him at once and knew that he would be good for the college. He had an easy way about him and exuded professionalism. He taught drawing, printmaking and African art. It was not until I after I graduated that I took African art from Marion. He impressed me with his knowledge of the subject and his smooth delivery in his lectures and slide presentations.
I felt very privileged to be invited to some of the wildest parties I ever attended at Chico State. Yes, you guessed it, Marion could throw one “hell of a” party. I would end up going to many of Marion’s parties and remember them, I think …well.
I left Chico State after the fall semester of 1971 to work for my parent’s appliance repair business and was not destined to make another print for almost 20 years. I worked very hard at the business trying to make it a success. In 1990 I got a divorce and decided to go back to school, something Dr. Turner wanted me to do; and took a night printmaking class from Marion. I could not devote the time required to do my best work because my head was still down “at the shop”, but it gave me the boost I needed, and Marion was very encouraging.
Marion suggested that I assist him with the night class, which I have done ever since. Marion retired in 2007 and I continued on at Chico State as a “volunteer employee.” Since 1990 it has been every Tuesday and Thursday night from 5 till 8. My wife Merry has been very understanding and supportive of my efforts. One of the nice things, and there are many, about volunteering my time is that I have a very large locker and can use that room, and presses, when I need to.
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