Sue Tushingham McNary, an Art Icon

Sue Tushingham McNary

Submitted by Kelly Purvis In the fall of 2015 during the 125th

Not so long ago, I walked into the Anniversary Celebration for the City of Coronado Retirement Village and noticed a Coronado, the Cultural Arts Commission painting class in process in the activity room. A honored Sue Tushingham McNary with an petite blonde resident with a paintbrush in her exhibition. Over 50 pieces of her work went hand was creating a beautiful landscape on a on display for a magical weekend small canvas. She had a sweet smile and pure joy showcasing her work. Cultural Arts on her face as her brush made small strokes on Commission Chair Heidi Wilson and Visual the canvas. The others around her were intent on Arts Commissioner Amy Steward worked with their own works and didn’t pay much notice. I Sue to curate the exhibition and Sue graciously walked over to the table and greeted Sue McNary donated a portion of the proceeds from sales during the event to and mentioned to the participants that she was a well-known artist the programs of the Cultural Arts Commission. Wilson, a founding who had once had a gallery in the Hotel del Coronado and that her member of the Arts Commission remembers discussing the idea of paintings were in the collections of Prince Charles, Michael Douglas an exhibition with Sue and was delighted that she was interested to and Dick Van Dyke, to name a few. I chuckled when one of the have her work showcased during Coronado’s 125 Celebration. That elderly residents immediately leaned over, took a critical look at her same year Sue was celebrating 50 years as an artist, so it seemed an painting and asked if she could have Sue’s landscape. appropriate event to include in the city celebrations. Commissioner

Steward reminisced about the exhibition and said, “I enjoyed getting to know Sue McNary when I was a Commissioner on the Cultural Arts Commission. Our working team hosted Sue’s final public exhibition in the Winn Room. Walking into to her home was such a treat! Her paintings hung in every room, hallway, and nook. Her studio was a place of light and love. I treasure my Sue McNary paintings and prints that grace my home. They are a reflection of her beauty and love for Coronado.”

Sue’s professional painting career began in 1965 and in 2015, 50 years later, the City honored her with a reception in the Winn Room. That event provided local friends and collectors the opportunity to see

and purchase artwork that had never been displayed in Coronado. Original paintings pulled from the walls of her home, work that had brought her so many memories and enjoyment. In addition, more than 50 “miniature” McNary oil paintings were also sold that weekend. Coronado’s Public Art Collection includes several original McNary paintings. Of note, is a large oil on canvas originally commissioned for the Coronado Golf Course Clubhouse, that now hangs in City Hall. Also, an original oil painting “Tent City,” one of her more recognizable paintings, is appropriately displayed in the Spreckels Room at the Coronado Public Library. “Tent City” was acquired directly from the artist by Merlyn and Eleanor McIntyre and gifted to

Coronado in January 1996.

McNary studied art from the age of nine years old and graduated with an art degree from Columbia College in Columbia, Missouri. After graduation, Sue married a Navy officer and began the traditional tour of living in several states including Florida, Georgia and Virginia. She did devote a year of intensive art training at Michigan State University. The McNary’s moved to San Diego in 1972. In the early years in San Diego, Sue served for four years on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Art Institute and was appointed to a five-year term on the San Diego County Arts Council.

In 1983 the Sue Tushingham McNary Art Gallery opened in the Hotel Del Coronado and she continued to show her work in international art shows in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Osaka, Japan, and San Diego. Another McNary original was commissioned in 1990 and is owned by the Coronado Unified School District. It is a painting celebrating the opening of the newly constructed Coronado Village Elementary School on Sixth Street. That painting still hangs in the entrance to the school and is the first thing that greets visitors entering the front office.

Most likely, if you live in Coronado you have received a Coronado Directory. A Coronado Directory tradition of featuring an image done by a Coronado artist has featured Sue’s work on three covers. In 2019 she was juried into the City’s “Celebrate Coronado Artists” banner program. Earlier this year she commented how much she appreciated being selected to have a banner on Orange Avenue.

Sadly, Sue passed away in August. However, Sue’s son Glenn will continue to offer Sue’s work through the internet. A talented artist, beloved citizen and friend to many, Sue was an active member of Coronado Rotary and the Coronado

Chamber of Commerce. Coronado indeed was fortunate to have had Sue Tushingham McNary creating so many beautiful paintings of her hometown and her legacy will live on.