July 4, 1973 (12 pages)

Ss 10 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., July 4, 1973 NORM AND NORMA Christensen stand next to Norm's oil painting of the Grass Valley narrow gauge railroad locomotive. Christensen spent over 130 hours working on the painting. Norm Christensen specializes in western traditional art — Norm Christensen paints in the western traditional style and operates the Gallery of Western Art on the Colfax Highway near the Peardale Volunteer Fire Depaxstment. Christensen has painted Grass Valley’s narrow-gauge railroad locomotive from a side view, a task that could only be accomplished. through hours of research in librarys and other sources. A photograph of the narrow gauge does not exist that shows it from. the side, all are frontal views. Christensen explained that he worked on the narrow gauge painting for over 130 hours and it is the only one known to be in existence. Christensen, who moved to Grass Valley in 1970 with his wife Norma, paints in his studio from the evening hours until two or three in the morning. He has done many western scenes, including other locomotives, one of which is the engine that traveled west to meet the eastbound train in Utah where the golden spike was driven, marking the first transcontinental train route. This train also had never been _ painted, to his knowledge, the only evidence existing in faded photographs. He explained that he researched the train extensively, supplying the detail of the locomotive missing in the blurred photos. Western scenes, however, are Christensen’s prime subject matter and locomotives are only a part of the west’s past. He has done scenes of the high Sierra, one which shows the Donner Pass trail near the western edge of Donner Lake. The painting shows an abandoned wagon near a trail that leads to the mist obscured high reaches of the Sierra summit. Christensen uses interesting color combinations to bring to life the western scenes ‘he depicts. A di-chromatic, one color with black and white, he has done shows the high range of the deer and wild mule in a reddish hue. The effect creates a living quality in the western art. Christensen sells his art to 25 or 30 collectors outside the area. His paintings are in collections throughout the country and the world. One collector visits Christensen each year from Spain where he maintains and up-dates his collection regularly. He said that one Sacramento man’ is changing his art collection from seascape to traditional western art and has been buying Christensen’s paintings on a regular basis. Christensen said he believes that western art will be reborn in the country and that it’s popularity will again grow. The western artist Christensen mostadmires was Russell, the artist that lived in the rugged west as a trapper and frontiersman and recorded his experiences in oil. Russell’s paintings are now _ worth thousands of dollars, even though he gave them away for drinks in his later life. Christensen first became interested in painting when he was a child of three. He began painting with all sorts of materials on whatever would serve aS a canvas. Walls and floors were covered with his art. He became fascinated with horses when his family moved to Colorado. He would spend hours drawing the muscle structure of the animals on his sketch pad until he neared perfection. From that time on his fascination with the west and its cowboy heritage led him to concentrate on western artChristensen has_ taught himself most of the techniques he uses, his only formal training came from a staff artist with the Denver Post who saw his talent and guided him for two years. Christensen’s work hangs in the capital and many of the other state buildings in Colorado. The state hired him to do murals that depicted the western experience of the 1800’s. He works at his art on a full time basis, producing about 120 oils a year. His western paintings sell from about one to three hundred dollars but he has sold his work for as much as $2,500. His philosophy is to create art for the people, the working man who can’t afford the higher priced paintings but who can appreciate art. Christensen said he enjoys the people like the little retired lady that saw his art and spent weeks picking bottles up along the Colfax Highway so she could afford the $35 purchase price. ‘‘I hated to take her money,” said Christensen, ‘‘but if I didn’t it wouldn’t a he meant as much to her.”’ The Gallery of Western Art is open on a daily basis from 1 in the afternoon until 8 p.m. He uses the studio in the late evenings to work on new paintings. He is also devoting himself. to sculptures that he makes from pliable sculpturers’ wax. He plans to create a stage coach and full team of horses from the wax that will then be bronzed. He will make about 200 sculptures — then destroy the mold. CHP warns about slow driving Chances are you will be stopped by a California Highway Patrolman if you create a freeway bottleneck by driving too slowly in the left-hand or middle freeway lanes. California Highway Patrol Commissioner, Walter Pudinski, said there is a need for stepping up enforcement to eliminate congestion problems and the accidents caused by . drivers who clog freeways. He pointed out that the California Assembly has identified the problem in a recent resolution which specifically dealt with the ‘unsafe practice of driving motor vehicles towing trailers.and certain motor trucks in the middle and left lanes of divided highways,” creating hazards for other vehicles. The resolution also sought increased enforcement. California law provides that vehicles with a maximum speed limit of 55 mph—including threeaxle trucks and all vehicles towing trailers—-must be driven in the right-hand lane of the multi-lane roadways except when preparing to turn, and when passing must use the lane immediately left of the righthand lane, returning to the righthand lane when the pass _ is complete. “The law also requires any vehicle moving slower than the normal flow of traffic to be driven in the right-hand lane or as close -as practicable to the right-hand edge of the road,”’ the Commissioner emphasized. Pudinski said all Patrol Field Commanders’ have _ been instructed to ‘‘take’ the appropriate enforcement action which will reduce violations as a necessary step in cutting down accidents and minimizing congestion.”’ WW1 vets hold officer installation New officers of Veterans of World War I, Grass Valley Barracks and Auxiliary, conducted their first meeting recently at the Grass Valley Veterans Memorial Building. Marie Kohler was elected conductress, Gladys Clemo, secretary and Evelyn Moy, guide. President Agnes Brown inducted three new members, Gertrude Ahearn, Louise Butterfield and Viola Hankins. Commander C.A. Savage. conducted the barracks meeting following a potluck luncheon. There were 43 members present and one guest, Uay Blanchett, sister of Bessie Gwinn from Florida. Floyd Butterfield joined the barracks, with Commander Savage conducting the ceremony. Members and guests played cards after the business sessions.

Ss 10 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., July 4, 1973 NORM AND NORMA Christensen stand next to Norm's oil painting of the Grass Valley narrow gauge railroad locomotive. Christensen spent over 130 hours working on the painting. Norm Christensen specializes in western traditional art — Norm Christensen paints in the western traditional style and operates the Gallery of Western Art on the Colfax Highway near the Peardale Volunteer Fire Depaxstment. Christensen has painted Grass Valley’s narrow-gauge railroad locomotive from a side view, a task that could only be accomplished. through hours of research in librarys and other sources. A photograph of the narrow gauge does not exist that shows it from. the side, all are frontal views. Christensen explained that he worked on the narrow gauge painting for over 130 hours and it is the only one known to be in existence. Christensen, who moved to Grass Valley in 1970 with his wife Norma, paints in his studio from the evening hours until two or three in the morning. He has done many western scenes, including other locomotives, one of which is the engine that traveled west to meet the eastbound train in Utah where the golden spike was driven, marking the first transcontinental train route. This train also had never been _ painted, to his knowledge, the only evidence existing in faded photographs. He explained that he researched the train extensively, supplying the detail of the locomotive missing in the blurred photos. Western scenes, however, are Christensen’s prime subject matter and locomotives are only a part of the west’s past. He has done scenes of the high Sierra, one which shows the Donner Pass trail near the western edge of Donner Lake. The painting shows an abandoned wagon near a trail that leads to the mist obscured high reaches of the Sierra summit. Christensen uses interesting color combinations to bring to life the western scenes ‘he depicts. A di-chromatic, one color with black and white, he has done shows the high range of the deer and wild mule in a reddish hue. The effect creates a living quality in the western art. Christensen sells his art to 25 or 30 collectors outside the area. His paintings are in collections throughout the country and the world. One collector visits Christensen each year from Spain where he maintains and up-dates his collection regularly. He said that one Sacramento man’ is changing his art collection from seascape to traditional western art and has been buying Christensen’s paintings on a regular basis. Christensen said he believes that western art will be reborn in the country and that it’s popularity will again grow. The western artist Christensen mostadmires was Russell, the artist that lived in the rugged west as a trapper and frontiersman and recorded his experiences in oil. Russell’s paintings are now _ worth thousands of dollars, even though he gave them away for drinks in his later life. Christensen first became interested in painting when he was a child of three. He began painting with all sorts of materials on whatever would serve aS a canvas. Walls and floors were covered with his art. He became fascinated with horses when his family moved to Colorado. He would spend hours drawing the muscle structure of the animals on his sketch pad until he neared perfection. From that time on his fascination with the west and its cowboy heritage led him to concentrate on western artChristensen has_ taught himself most of the techniques he uses, his only formal training came from a staff artist with the Denver Post who saw his talent and guided him for two years. Christensen’s work hangs in the capital and many of the

other state buildings in Colorado. The state hired him to do murals that depicted the western experience of the 1800’s. He works at his art on a full time basis, producing about 120 oils a year. His western paintings sell from about one to three hundred dollars but he has sold his work for as much as $2,500. His philosophy is to create art for the people, the working man who can’t afford the higher priced paintings but who can appreciate art. Christensen said he enjoys the people like the little retired lady that saw his art and spent weeks picking bottles up along the Colfax Highway so she could afford the $35 purchase price. ‘‘I hated to take her money,” said Christensen, ‘‘but if I didn’t it wouldn’t a he meant as much to her.”’ The Gallery of Western Art is open on a daily basis from 1 in the afternoon until 8 p.m. He uses the studio in the late evenings to work on new paintings. He is also devoting himself. to sculptures that he makes from pliable sculpturers’ wax. He plans to create a stage coach and full team of horses from the wax that will then be bronzed. He will make about 200 sculptures — then destroy the mold. CHP warns about slow driving Chances are you will be stopped by a California Highway Patrolman if you create a freeway bottleneck by driving too slowly in the left-hand or middle freeway lanes. California Highway Patrol Commissioner, Walter Pudinski, said there is a need for stepping up enforcement to eliminate congestion problems and the accidents caused by . drivers who clog freeways. He pointed out that the California Assembly has identified the problem in a recent resolution which specifically dealt with the ‘unsafe practice of driving motor vehicles towing trailers..and certain motor trucks in the middle and left lanes of divided highways,” creating hazards for other vehicles. The resolution also sought increased enforcement. California law provides that vehicles with a maximum speed limit of 55 mph—including threeaxle trucks and all vehicles towing trailers—-must be driven in the right-hand lane of the multi-lane roadways except when preparing to turn, and when passing must use the lane immediately left of the righthand lane, returning to the righthand lane when the pass _ is complete. “The law also requires any vehicle moving slower than the normal flow of traffic to be driven in the right-hand lane or as close -as practicable to the right-hand edge of the road,”’ the Commissioner emphasized. Pudinski said all Patrol Field Commanders’ have _ been instructed to ‘‘take’ the appropriate enforcement action which will reduce violations as a necessary step in cutting down accidents and minimizing congestion.”’ WW1 vets hold officer installation New officers of Veterans of World War I, Grass Valley Barracks and Auxiliary, conducted their first meeting recently at the Grass Valley Veterans Memorial Building. Marie Kohler was elected conductress, Gladys Clemo, secretary and Evelyn Moy, guide. President Agnes Brown inducted three new members, Gertrude Ahearn, Louise Butterfield and Viola Hankins. Commander C.A. Savage. conducted the barracks meeting following a potluck luncheon. There were 43 members present and one guest, Uay Blanchett, sister of Bessie Gwinn from Florida. Floyd Butterfield joined the barracks, with Commander Savage conducting the ceremony. Members and guests played cards after the business sessions.