ST. GEORGE — From working with the famous horror actor Vincent Price to writing children’s books, George M. Kehew has led a storied – and colorful – life. As his latest accomplishment, Kehew will be Arrowhead Gallery’s featured artist for July.
His work, including a number of new pieces, will be shown throughout the month at the gallery, and an artist reception that is open to the public will be held July 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the gallery.
Kehew received his training at the Chouinard School of Art and the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He was president of the San Diego Watercolor Society and has a California teaching credential for art, design and photography. Kehew is included in the Marquis Who’s Who in the World and Who’s Who in the West.
Kehew is an accomplished watercolorist as well as an oil painter. However, he told St. George News that he now prefers to paint with acrylics, a medium he said provides the virtues of both oil and watercolor.
Kehew is also the author of two children’s books and one craft book.
Kehew was one of actor Vincent Price’s lead artists in his traveling art show. Price had an accomplished art collection and loved Kehew’s work. While they never met in person, the two exchanged many phone calls and letters. Kehew’s wife, Dorrie Kehew, met Price when she delivered her husband’s art in Beverly Hills.
Kehew will turn 95 in August and his wife will turn 92 in July. The couple have been married for 72 years. Kehew keeps and displays every piece of art that he has shown in a competition because he made an agreement with his wife not to sell them.
Kehew uses his talents for activism whenever possible. Because of his research, and at times photography and written articles, he was able to save a marsh in Torrey Park in California from being filled in, an old bridge from being torn down and a historic road from being built over.
“To me this was the highlight of my life, I did some good with my art,” he said.
His paintings were shown on the CBS show “The Promised Land,” and he designed and directed an hour-long program for the television station KEBS in San Diego for a series titled “Art Around Us.”
Kehew worked as the art director for the Scripps Applied Oceanographic Group where he dove in search of submarines. During this time he discovered a love of the ocean and compares his current home in the desert to a dry ocean.
Kehew enjoys comedic art, wrote a comic strip called “Hamalot” that was published in newspapers nationwide. He also paints in comedy and has had his comedic work shown in galleries.
He won a competition to design the insignia for Northrop Grumman’s F-14 Tomcat flown by the U.S. Navy’s Fighter Squadron 1, the Red Wolf Squadron.
His recent awards in Utah were at the St. George Art Museum, the Springville Museum of Art, the annual Robert N. and Peggy Sears Dixie Invitational Art Show and Sale, and the Southern Utah Art Guild. His work is also published in “A Century of Sanctuary, the Art of Zion National Park.” His work is collected nationally and abroad.
Of the many ribbons and awards for his art, Kehew said People’s Choice means the most to him, which he has already won twice this year.
“When you get people’s choice that means your work’s accepted,” he said. “That to me is worth more than all the first prizes.”
Kehew’s art will be shown for the entire month of July at the Arrowhead Gallery, located at 68 E. Tabernacle Street. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guests may also visit the Arrowhead Gallery website.
Event details
- What: Arrowhead Gallery featured artist reception for George M. Kehew.
- When: Friday, July 20, 6-8 p.m.
- Where: Arrowhead Gallery, 68 E. Tabernacle St., St. George.
- Cost: Free.
Email: mshoup@stgnews.com
Twitter: @STGnews | @MikaylaShoup
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Love his works.
Wonderful painter and person, he and his wife are delightful people. BTW, I think you meant to say Torrey Pines Park. I didn’t know you are from California, George (so am I). We will talk when I see you at the Gallery again.
Sue Kroll