World Renowned Artist Celebrates 90th Birthday With Launch
of Website
by Joe Dolice
 (November 9, 2004) Over 150 family members, friends and guests
gathered Saturday afternoon November 6, at the Sarah Neuman
Center in Mamaroneck
to pay tribute to world renowned artist and long-term Larchmont
resident Alton S. Tobey on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
The event also marked the official launch of artist’s
website, at www.altontobey.org, the culmination of over
a year’s work.
The website contains images of over 300 paintings
that Mr. Tobey created, including murals for the Smithsonian
Institution, the MacArthur Memorial and the Westchester
County Courthouse in White Plains. Over a hundred of his historical paintings
for Life magazine, the Golden Books series and other publications can be
seen on the site along with a detailed biography and many
pages describing his techniques,
his work as an educator and his modern Curvilinear and Fragments pieces.
The major surprise of the party was the appearance
of “Leonardo DaVinci” (an
actor in full
costume), who presented the birthday celebrant
with a personal copy of the Mona Lisa. Other highlights included
live keyboard entertainment,
and his son David and daughter-in-law Moira performing violin duets.
A display of photos and portraits of the artist showed him
at work from the time of his
graduation from Yale in 1934 to the 1990’s. All guests at the party received
a 20-page souvenir booklet on Mr. Tobey’s life and work, excerpted
from the website.
Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano sent
along a letter
congratulating Mr. Tobey on this milestone event and that
was on display along with a scrap book full of hundreds
of news clippings about the artist and a 125-page printout
of
material from the website.
Although the artist did receive many personal
birthday gifts, Alton’s daughter Judy noted that he
wished to continue to be a source of nurture and encouragement
to young artists
pursuing their dreams and talent. In lieu of gifts, he
asked that contributions be made in his name to the annual
Young
Artist On The Rise Scholarship Award, established by the
Mamaroneck Artist’s Guild. More information on the
fund and on The Alton S. Tobey Scholarship Award is available
at www.altontobey.org or
by clicking here.
Joe Dolice
is the webmaster for the Alton Tobey website.
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