Art in the City: Michael VonDrak and His San Francisco Paintings is a biography and retrospect of American artist Michael VonDrak, focusing on his San Francisco paintings, and written by his daughter, Ilona Ryder.
When Ilona Ryder was writing the personal biography of her grandfather, Michael Curtiz, she asked her father Michael VonDrak many questions.At one point, exasperated, he turned to her and said, "you should be writing about me!" That statement haunted her for years.
Michael VonDrak, a successful artist in San Francisco at the time, did not live to see his wish come true. Now his first daughter has answered the call, has sketched the varied details of his life in the cities where he lived, and has created a collage of his creative work.
Michael's friends and the many people who knew him can finally hold in their hands, a vivid reminder of Michael's spirited nature and creative energy.
Excerpt from
Art in the City: Michael VonDrak and His San Francisco Paintings by Ilona Ryder:
"San Francisco, California, has long been a haven for artists, and my artist father Michael VonDrak was fortunate to make the City On The Bay his home for almost twenty years during his most mature period.
The color reproductions featured in this book not only display some of his best work, but they also represent the breadth and depth of subject, technique and materials that he developed over his long career.
Over the years, Michael VonDrak created different versions of his artistic vision.
Of the many bits scattered throughout his personal effects, the brochure from his years in San Diego features this statement:
'Artists should be able to create expressions in such a way that they appear visually and need no verbal explanation.'
His insistence that the artwork should speak for itself echoes some of our conversations."
Contributions by: - Tessa Nunn, BA, BFA, MFA, provides a professional assessment of VonDrak's art.
- Mark Stokes of Round Rock, Texas shares his memories of VonDrak painting with his circle of friends.
- Robert Ryder, VonDrak's grandson, now lives in Chicago, Illinois and is a professor of German at Northwestern University.
*A number of the art pieces featured in this book are available for purchase as prints.
Nunn, Tessa: - Provides a professional assessment of VonDrak's art.
Ryder, Ilona: - Ilona Ryder was born in Vienna, Austria, July 9, 1947, to Michael and Ada Vondrak. At age seven, she was adopted by Ada's second husband Frank, and in 1956 this little family emigrated to Alberta, Canada, where she also gained a much younger sister and brother. Her teenage years on a farm gave Ilona a respect for nature and an appreciation for the simple things in life. The family moved to Edmonton in 1965.There was no contact between Ilona and her biological father until 1969 when she travelled to San Diego. Meeting him was life- changing for her. It led to a rewarding relationship with Michael, his second wife Frances and their daughters Felicia and Mia.Over the years, Ilona with husband Gary visited the VonDraks, and she came to know more about the family history. Eventuallyshe researched and wrote the personal biography of her grandfather Michael Curtiz, the Warner Brothers director most well known for Casablanca. Now, in this her third book, Ilona turns to her father's life story, and his life in art.
Stokes, Mark: - Mark Stokes of Round Rock, Texas shares his memories of VonDrak painting with his circle of friends
