Artistic Hang-Ups : Torrance Employees Get Chance to Show Other Talents

Since high school, Al Sherman has always wanted to be an artist.

After dropping out of school and serving a stint in the Navy, Sherman spent years working at odd jobs--picking cotton, being a bank teller, drawing designs for the aerospace industry--while he worked on painting. But money was tight, and at times he was literally a starving artist.

“Living off of my artwork was hard,” he said. “My wife and I . . . lived off a bag of rice and spaghetti for a while.”

Sherman, 47, eventually got his high school diploma, as well as a college degree. For the past 10 years, he has worked full time as an administrative analyst for the Torrance Police Department--and, at home, continued to hone his artistic talents.

Sherman is one of 21 Torrance employees whose talents are displayed at a city employees’ art exhibit at the Joslyn Center of the Arts.

Benefit for Center

Until Dec. 22, the employees, including librarians, clerks and administrators, will exhibit their paintings, drawings, ceramics, needlework and jewelry. Many of the works will be sold, with 20% of the money going to benefit the city-owned community center at 3335 Torrance Blvd.

A similar exhibit was held in 1984, but the following two years it was canceled for lack of interest. This year, only one painting has been sold, but officials say they are not worried.

“We did not expect to sell a lot of works,” said Anne Montgomery, visual arts coordinator for the center. “Our intention was to give city employees a place to express themselves, a platform to show their works.”

The amount of talent and the variety of media were a pleasant surprise, said Barbara Johnson, the center’s curator.

Most of the employees who submitted works consider art a hobby, Montgomery said. “It’s just something they do in addition to work for the city. It’s an evening or weekend activity.”

But others, like Sherman and Margaret Page, a clerk in the city manager’s office, have been selling and exhibiting their art for years.

Page, who said she is inspired by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh, studied art through the Palos Verdes Art Assn. for 13 years before being hired by the city two years ago. She submitted three pastel drawings, which she described as “abstract with bold shapes and a lot of color.”

Page said she has been painting for more than 25 years and has a studio in Palos Verde Estates, but the demands of her job do not leave her time to paint as much as she likes.

Sherman agreed. “I have a series of paintings in my mind,” he said. “I just never have the time to do them.”

Sherman, who described his style as abstract expressionism, submitted four pieces, including a pencil drawing of two running shoes he titled “Soul Ala Fresco.”

Like Page, Sherman said he still has a desire to be a full-time artist. But he said the increasing cost of living and the high cost of art supplies make it unfeasible.

Some of the police officers he works with think he is “a little different” and tease him about his interest in painting, but Sherman said he doesn’t let it bother him.

Claire Gall, the mayor’s secretary, submitted three oil paintings. She said she works in a traditional style and likes to use a variety of colors. Gall said many city officials have been supportive of her hobby and have made the effort to attend the exhibit.

Painting for 5 Years

Josi Urrea, a typist in the Planning Department who submitted two oil paintings and two watercolors, said she has been painting for five years and studied art for two years at El Camino Community College.

Fellow employees in the Planning Department have been supportive, said Urrea, who has worked for the city 3 1/2 years. “My co-workers seem to like my paintings--even my boss,” she said.

No paintings, pottery or needlepoint were submitted by any of the council members or the mayor, said Johnson, who added: “I guess they just don’t do artwork or they think their work is not good enough.”