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Artist: Susan Smith Evans of Palm Desert, CA -Mural #11 - Bill & Prudie Underhill and The Desert Trail |
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Out of all the historical murals painted in Twentynine Palms, this was the first to portray a living pioneer. Prudie Underhill herself, along with daughter Anne Congdon and son Bill Underhill Jr., attended the dedication of this mural honoring her family's accomplishments. For the artist, Susan Smith Evans of Palm Desert, the pressure was perhaps a bit more intense on this mural, considering that one of her subjects was still an active member of the community and apt to drive up at any moment to scrutinize the artist's details for accuracy. In fact, Prudie did express concerns, but they were concerns about the reality of having to look at an exact portrait of herself looming on the wall as she passed by on her way to the Post Office everyday. In the end, both artist and subject agreed to portray a younger version of the Underhill couple, taken from their wedding photograph. And when it came time for the details, Prudie provided the artist with the actual tie that Bill was wearing in the picture--a tie that she had made for him and had kept all these years. |
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Of her experience of painting in Twentynine Palms, Evans said, "Because I was able to live with a local family and participate in other community activities, I felt I became a true member of the Twentynine Palms community. I felt privileged to experience Twentynine Palms' slower pace and small town atmosphere, which is so rare these days." |
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Susan Smith Evans grew up in Lincoln Nebraska, where her interest in art began at an early age. She received her B.F.A. from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, in 1970, and her M.F.A. from the Art Institute of Chicago in 1980. Susan then moved to Los Angeles, California, and joined an artist's cooperative printmaking studio. In 1976-77 she traveled abroad and taught English in Iran. After receiving her Master's degree from the Art Institute of Chicago, she returned to California to continue her work in printmaking, painting, and photography, and taught art at several colleges in the Los Angeles area, including Santa Monica College, Otis Art Institute, and Cal State Dominguez. In 1987 she began teaching in the Art Department of College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California, where she met her future husband and Professor of Art, Ron Evans. Susan continues to teach part time, while pursuing a career in painting, and she has created numerous murals in public places as well as in private homes. |
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Any software, images, webpages, text, and other materials that are made available to use, view, or download from the http://www.oasisofmurals.com are the copyrighted work of Michael Collins or Vickie Waite or are public domain as noted and cannot be used without express permission of either Michael Collins or Vickie Waite.. |
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