On the Town: An artists’ Beatlemania is on display
When Burbank native Sharon Taraldsen Miller was a young girl, she spent a Saturday visiting a girlfriend. It would prove to be a day that would change her life.
“She had all these records by a group called the Beatles, and a collection of Beatles bubble gum cards. I asked her if I could take some of her cards home to look them over and that was it,” she recalled with a laugh. “I was hooked on the Beatles and wanted to marry Paul McCartney.”
Fast forward to 2002, when, after having long given up on the chance of becoming Mrs. McCartney, but still a devout fan of the mop tops, Miller’s boyfriend, Mark Buckmaster, took her to see McCartney in concert.
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“It was one of the greatest nights of my life and, when I got home, I was inspired to paint a portrait of Paul in hopes of getting it to him as my way of saying thank you for such a great show,” Miller said.
While she never got that particular painting to McCartney, she did get to personally present him with another one of her creations years later when she came in second place in a Talenthouse art show the former Beatle had sponsored to support artists.
A copy of that watercolor painting, on display along with a photo of her presenting the original to McCartney, and more than 60 other original works of art Miller has created to honor the Liverpudlian lads who changed music, are now on display at the Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery.
Her one-woman show, titled “The Beatles: Now and Then,” officially commenced during an opening night reception held last Friday evening.
“This is my first show,” Miller said as she welcomed a steady stream of friends and supporters to last week’s opening. “And I’m so excited that is has happened right here in my hometown.”
Having first discovered her talent to paint when she was very young, Miller said she has developed her skills over the years with no formal training.
“The only art classes I ever took were when I was a student at Jordan Middle School and Burroughs High School,” she said.
Among those who enjoyed Friday’s reception, staged by Paul Paolone, Noah Altman and Doug Fowler of the Burbank Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, who oversee the gallery’s operations, were the artist’s daughter, Lacy Broderson, sister-in-law, Diane Taraldsen and many friends including Paul Simmons, Stuart Berry, Caryn Brokaw, Walter Fallon, Sandy Shaffer, John Cameron and Rosie Cases.
“I’m not taking my eyes off the front door. I invited Paul to come tonight so, who knows, he could walk in any minute,” Miller said jokingly.
“The Beatles: Now and Then” will run at the gallery, located at 1100 W. Clark Ave., through Jan. 26. For more information and gallery hours, call (818) 238-5397.
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DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
