Following a soft opening for last year’s Gilroy Wine Festival,
Marquez held a reception and grand opening of the Blue Line
Gallery on September 19th. The gallery has since hosted several
receptions for exhibits by local artists. The gallery is currently
open by appointment only and is available for special exhibits and
receptions. After he settles in he hopes to establish posted hours.
Marquez was an aspiring artist at his high school in Holtville,
California, where he earned a scholarship to art school. Before he
could pursue his studies, however, Uncle Sam came calling and
he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968. Serving at the height
of the Viet Nam conflict, he served a two year combat tour — an
experience that has stayed with him to this day.
“I still wake up in the night reliving my experiences over
there. I think it contributes to the passion in my art and why I
sometimes express social injustices in my paintings.”
It was one of those memories from the service that inspired
the name of his gallery. He related that the rivers on the maps were
called “blue lines,” usually a favorable destination for battle-weary
soldiers.
“I always tried to lead my troops to the rivers, a place to cool
off and kick back for a while.”
After his discharge from the Army in 1970, he moved to San
Jose and enrolled in San José City College as an art major. After
receiving his A.A. degree he transferred to San José State University
where he received his B.A. degree in Art in 1978. While studying
at SJSU he became friends with his professor, Morgan Hill resident
Robert “Bob” Friemark – a prodigious and accomplished artist in
printmaking, watercolors and tapestries.
They spent the next 25 years painting together until
Friemark’s passing in 2010 at age 88. Marquez speaks fondly of
those years with Friemark and considers him a significant influence
on his development as an artist.
“I lost my best friend,” recalls Marquez. “I don’t want his
memory to fade; I think of him every time I paint. I always want
to do work that would make Bob proud.”
Anyone wanting to cool off and kick back while viewing an
exhibit at the Blue Line Gallery is asked to contact Ralph Marquez
at 408.767.9068 for more information.
Dan Craig is a local artist
whose early works were
more of Realism. He now
enjoys an Impressionistic
style. He lives in Morgan
Hill with his life partner, Kim.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
MAY/JUNE 2016
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