LAKE CITY, Minn. (AP) - Ron Hunt never intended to be an artist.
It wasn’t until age 26 that he tried his hand at painting, the Post-Bulletin reported . And it wasn’t for fun. He was working for a Rochester loan company that was opening a branch office in Winona. The supervisor gave him $40 and told him to buy art to fill a huge, blank wall in the new building. It quickly became clear to Hunt that the money wasn’t going to go far.
So he improvised. He gathered some of his favorite photos he took while serving in the Army in Hawaii, Japan and Germany and displayed them on canvas with a projector. He sketched the images as best he could and began painting. It was then he learned a basic fact about colors - blue and yellow mixed together makes green. He finished the paintings and hung them on the loan office walls.
“I wrote myself a check for $40,” Hunt recalled.
That first foray into art led to a 57-year passion for painting and drawing. But the mustachioed artist, known for his trademark black beret, has had to put away the brushes and paint. Four years ago, Hunt was diagnosed with macular degeneration - an incurable eye disease that causes vision loss. He can no longer see well enough to do the landscapes he so loves to put on canvas. He has also been diagnosed with prostate cancer and lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system. In addition, he is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
His partner of 34 years, Billie Hunt, decided to open a temporary art gallery in downtown Lake City to feature the painter’s work.
“I suggested this (gallery) because it gives him something hopeful - a place to visit with people and sell some artwork. It’s something else to do besides just thinking about his health problems,” she said.
On Saturday morning, local businesswoman Jil Garry stopped by to visit her longtime friend. Garry said Hunt is not only a talented artist, but also a passionate champion of the town.
“He’s an amazing, amazing man. He is a blessing to our community,” Garry said.
Hunt was born in a railroad car in 1934 in Estherville, Iowa. He grew up on a farm in Dodge County and graduated from West Concord High School in 1950. For many years, he was an active member of the Mantorville community. He and his former wife, Suzie Hoven, owned Suzy’s Shoppe. Hunt helped found the Mantorville Theatre Company and Southeastern Minnesota Visual Artists. Hunt and Hoven went on to write a book about those years called “Welcome Back to Mantorville.”
An avid traveler, Hunt has visited 49 states and 39 countries. He brought his art supplies with him, painting bed and breakfasts, churches and landscapes along the way.
In the makeshift gallery in Lake City, watercolor paintings and ink drawings fill the walls. Scenes include Rochester’s downtown skyline, paddlewheel boats on the Mississippi River and the historic Minnesota Capitol.
While he can no longer paint or draw, Hunt is keeping busy. He still writes a column for the Lake City Graphic - called “The Old Curmudgeon.” He is also working on a book about his travel, relying heavily on his detailed journals.
Reflecting on his life, Hunt said, “It’s been a hell of a ride. It really has.”
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Information from: Post-Bulletin, https://www.postbulletin.com
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