The Life of Milford Zornes
Milford Zornes was born Oklahoma, a few miles from the small town of Camargo. When Milford was seven, the family moved the family to Boise, Idaho. Milford's art interest began through the influence of his mother, a schoolteacher. He later received some formal art training at San Fernando High School, after his family moved to California.
After graduating from high school, he attempted a career in journalism, and began by selling photographs to various magazines, including Popular Science, Scientific American, and Popular Mechanics, and then received a few assignments to write articles. Advised that a journalist needed formal study, he moved to Santa Maria, California where he enrolled in what was then called Santa Maria Junior College. During his year there he took a room in the home of two art teachers who recognized his talent and encouraged him to become a painter, but he was resistant. Instead, he decided to study architecture, and he moved to San Francisco.
In 1927, he attended Otis Art Institute (now Otis College of Art and Design) where he studied with Millard Sheets and F. Tolles Chamberlin. He later taught at Otis. For 12 years he was art director for the Padua Hills Theater in Claremont, California.
Zornes married Gloria Codd in 1935 and had one son, Franz. In 1942 he married Patricia Mary Palmer, and had one daughter, Maria Patricia. During World War II (1943-1945), Zornes served in the United States Army in China.
James Milford Zornes died from congestive heart failure on February 24, 2008 in his Claremont home. He was 100.
The Zornes Exhibit
The following is a letter from Maria (Zornes) and Hal Baker:
Dear George,
The first annual Milford Zomes show is almost complete. The Zornes family wants to say a loud "Thank you" and "Well done."
We will not be able to say thank you to everyone involved by name but we hope that you will share our letter with everyone involved.
We want to say a special thank you to the Association Board. Without your commitment the event would not have happened. The show was an unqualifed success from our viewpoint.
Gene Sasse allowed us to preview the book for the show several times prior to its being printed. The end product is outstanding. We talked several times to Joyce Aliingham and she was always helpful and patient with us. George, we appreciate your responding to our e-mails in a timely fashion.
The paintings selected for the show and their presentation was outstanding. We heard a number of comments about how the paintings were presented and they were all positive. The paintings represented a wide range of Milford's career both in time and style. The Zomes family was very pleased.
Please express our thanks and appreciation to everyone involved in the show. We know it takes leadership and lots of hard work by everyone.
We look forward to the show in 2011. The birthday cake for Maria meant a lot to both of us. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Maria (Zornes) and Hal Baker
February , 2010
