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CROWN CITY HISTORY: Carol Pastor highlights local artists Sue Knop and Betty Sherman
Crown City History
IN COLLABORATION WITH CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
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Hidden Gems of The Art W rld
B y CAROL PASTOR, CORONADO HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEER
What does the word “arts” bring to mind? To some, it might suggest painting; to others it may remind them of a sculpture or a statue. Coronado is home to hidden gems of the art world. We know many of our local artists have displayed in galleries as well as during our Sunday Art in the Park event. The show in Spreckels Park has been part of the art scene for many years. Unfortunately, many galleries have disappeared over the past few years. With that in mind, I went looking for new or unknown artists among us.
Sue Knop is half of the dynamic Knop duo. Her husband, David, is a retired Lt. Col. USMC who has a new career as a writer. He has written and published four mysteries featuring a Native American detective in a Southwestern setting. (The books
are something new for mystery lovers to read.) The Knops rst came to Coronado in 1992 but had lived in Solana Beach and Hawaii and settled here permanently to enjoy what Coronado has to offer. Sue taught middle school art classes in Escondido for ve years. With that commute tiring at best, Sue nally retired and picked up her paint brush.
Sue now has the time to devote to her art. She especially enjoys creating still life paintings and looks forward to an upcoming move to a larger home with a garden where she can put her oils to work. Banners created by Sue Knop were recently displayed on the Orange Avenue median.
Another of our hidden gems is the 91-yearyoung, quiet and gracious Betty Sherman, who rst moved here in the mid-1950s with her two children and her mother. After marrying her husband, Jim Sherman, in 1957, Betty and her family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Jim had business interests. The family returned to Coronado on a regular basis to visit Betty’s mother. Over the years, Betty took courses in ower arranging, enameling and jewelry design. In 1998, the Sherman family returned to Coronado to make this their permanent home.
Although she has had a history of interest in the arts, Betty decided to take up painting only six years ago. She had started working in oils but switched to acrylics upon the advice of an instructor from Prima Materia Art Institute in San Diego where she was taking classes. Today, both her studio and home are lled with her work including some paintings she did of Monet’s gardens after her most recent trip to France. Betty’s works grace the homes of lucky family and friends.
Fifteen months ago, when we were quarantined due to the COVID-19 virus, Betty’s daughter set her up with a painting get-together over Zoom. The virtual get-together became a regular meeting of ve women from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Texas, Montana and, of course, California. Each month, they pick a theme or a color, get creative and come back the following month to share their pieces.
There are many other artists here in Coronado, with their talent hidden behind the walls of their homes. There will be other times to explore the gifts of some of these artists, so please share any hidden gems you know with the Coronado Historical Association. And, if you now want to see art created by locals, the association’s store at 1100 Orange Avenue has a nice selection for purchase.