MARITAL MILESTONES BY STEPHEN CSOKA OPENING AT SHELTER ROCK ART GALLERY APRIL 30

In 1935, artist Stephen Csoka, made his first anniversary painting for his wife Margaret. In time, the anniversary paintings/drawings grew to over 50 in number.  Stephen named these artworks Marital Milestones as indicated by the road marker in each image. Illustrated with a great deal of humor, the Milestones are a record of a family moving through the formidable events of life. Each piece depicts important events from Stephen and Margaret’s life from the previous year.

When Stephen and his new wife emigrated to the U.S. from Hungary in 1934, he found that his well established reputation and recognition as an artist in Hungary had little to do with his acceptance as an artist in America. On the contrary, gallery directors wouldn’t even look at his art. So it was, that at the age of 37, Stephen went to work with his father-in-law as a house painter. His days were spent at the backbreaking job of scraping and painting houses followed by a hot bath and painting at his easel at night.
Marital Milestone number 11 celebrates his breakthrough as a recognized artist.
           
This exhibit highlights 22 of the Marital Milestones including some of the artwork depicted in the paintings.
           
​Shelter Rock Art Gallery, Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock,
48 Shelter Rock Rd, Manhasset, NY  11030  516-472-2933   April 30 – June 6, 2017
Opening: Sunday, April 30, 1-3pm.

---