Enjoy 34 ORCHARD Issue 4’s cover? Take a gander at the artist’s other work!
If you enjoyed Issue 4 (Autumn 2021)’s cover art—Walter H. Von Egidy’s The Ghosts of the Fair—then you’ll enjoy this post, where you’ll get to see some of his other work.
His 34 Orchard bio:
Walter H. Von Egidy (Cover Art/The Ghost of the Fair) is an American artist, painter and film maker known for his Super 8 photoplays and enamel/oil paintings.
He has had his work exhibited at Gallery 13, The Burnham Library, Housatonic Art League and the White Silo. He has seven finished portrait commissions and private and public collections including a portrait of composer Franz Waxman at Byrd Library, Syracuse University. His work has won first place at various film festivals including the United States Super 8 Film Festival at Rutgers University. He is the owner of New Milford Sign Shop and Von’s Studio. Most recently, his painting “Saturday Night in the Caverns” was chosen as the cover for writer Bob Deakin’s collection, Unruly Mix (Tales of Music, Artists, Posers and Misfits. You can see more of Walter’s work and contact him at www.walterhvonegidy.com.
Every March, Von Egidy holds an exhibit of his works—many of them new—at the Burnham Library in Bridgewater, Connecticut. It’s always a stellar event, with many people we know from town as well as a chance to enjoy Walter’s work up close. One thing about his art—it’s Dali-esque, it’s colorful, and there’s always a good bet you’ll find a piece that speaks to you.
My husband Nathan, left, and Walter.
I take a minute to pose for a quick pic with my favorite artist!
KRISTINA’S ROOM
MERCURY — A TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF ITS MYTHS AND LEGENDS
MIDNIGHT SNACK FOR MATTA
This is an older work of his, and I’ve seen it on display a few times, but I just love it. Maybe I’ll add this one to my collection someday if it doesn’t sell to someone else.
MIDNIGHT SNACK II
I love the dinosaur bird thing holding the little girl’s hand. That just speaks to me of the power of the imagination, and also, that our dark things are with us, perhaps even in childhood.
MIDNIGHT SNACK
MORNING PRAYER
NIGHT OF THE PRACTICAL PHYSICIAN
I spoke to my friend Lynn at the event, who was there with Walter when he got the idea for this piece — she said she was very curious about how he got that title, but it had something to do with a cloud in the night sky looking like a shell with the scorpion’s tail.
SERENADE TO THE MOON BY A BUG ON A ROOF
My husband really likes this one — it’s older, because we saw it at the last show. I think the use of what looks like a piece of asphalt, or something textured like asphalt, is really interesting — to represent the tiles on a house’s roof.
THE ASSASSIN OF ARTISTIC INTUITION
THE BLACK CONE
THE BULL’S CELLO
This is Nathan’s 2nd favorite.
THE RACE FOR SPACE
THE REBIRTH OF THE FIREBIRD IN A LAKE
I really like this one. I’m a sucker for anything firebird-related anyway, but I love that this couple is oblivious to what’s ahead. Kinda like life.
THE SELF DESTRUCTING FIREBIRD
UNCLE BILL AND THE WITCH DOCTOR
I LOVE the darkness in this, but we were laughing, because it’s on display in the children’s section and I just think that’s awesome.
This one didn’t have a number or title. It’s my understanding this is a private commission, but there’s no question this is a representation of our beloved Bridgewater Fair.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN ENTERS THE ABSTRACT
This is Nathan’s favorite. We’d own this one if we had the cash.
FIRST SNOW
This is the one I’d buy if I were looking for new work right now to add to my collection. To me, it speaks deeply of the things in our memories that we treasure that eventually are lost and buried throughout time and circumstance, yet the candy corn represents the thing we love the most, and that stays in the forefront no matter what. It might say something totally different to someone else–that’s the beauty of art–but that’s the story this one told me.
JIMMY’S TURTLE
KATSCHEI THE DEATHLESS
You can always count on getting your Pop Tart fix at one of Walter’s openings! And yes, he has friends that toast and serve!
If you live in Western Connecticut, Walter’s exhibit is running through April 29, and it’s worth a stop-in during library hours to see the work in person.
I own three pieces of Walter’s work.
KATRINA’S REVENGE
This one I had to have because it reminded me of the last scene of my novel, BAD APPLE. I remember looking at it and thinking, ‘how the hell did Walter get inside my head?’
JANUARY THAW
Years ago, Charles (my housemate) and I would spend New Year’s Day at Walter’s. Once, we ended up staying over due to inclement weather, and when we got up the next day, it was sunny, lovely—and like sixty-five degrees. This painting reminds me of that very special weekend. I want to say it was the year 2000.
THE LOVE LETTERS OF MADELINE CRAWFORD
There’s a really complicated personal story behind why I like this one, but again, it’s such a perfect match with what was going on at the time I just HAD to have it. It was like he was somehow telling my story.
Posted on March 31, 2023, in 34 Orchard, Deep Thoughts & Fun Stuff and tagged 34 Orchard dark literary magazine, art that is Dali-esque, Bridgewater, Burnham Library, colorful art, interesting magazine cover art, retro images in art, Walter H. Von Egidy. Bookmark the permalink. 2 Comments.
Wow, Walter is so talented!
OMG, he IS. And his painting is only a fraction of what he does that demonstrates his talent in the arts. I THINK — don’t hold me to this — but I THINK his dad was like a National Geographic photographer or something like that.