Magyar News, 1993. szeptember-1994. augusztus (4. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1994-05-01 / 9. szám

THE LIVELY ART OF A QUIET ARTIST

by Magdalene Havadtoy

I first met E. Jean Burke during the American Bicentennial celebration in Fairfield. We had both gone to the office of William D. Lee, the coordinator of the festi vities, Jean with her drawings, offering her artistic talents in any way possible, and I with a manuscript about the contributions the Hungarians had made on the American scene from 1776-1976, particularly in Fairfield.

Mr. Lee looked at her drawings and glanced through my manuscript and suggested that Jean and I should get together and pool our talents. As a result the publication of “Down In Villa Park” was realized, with Jean doing the eleven beautiful superb pen and ink illustrations for the book.

E. Jean Burke, (nee Elizabeth Jean Wargo), was born and raised in the Black Rock section of Bridgeport. She graduated

from BassickHigh School, Bridgeport, and continued studies at the Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut. She also studied oils under the late Wendell Austin, and in 1974 received a Scholarship to study oil and acrylic portraiture under the noted artist Frank Covino.

Jean married Lewis Burke, also a resident of Black Rock in 1956. The couple later moved to Fairfield, where they have lived ever since. The Burke’s have two sons, David and Edward.

Perhaps this statement, “offering her artistic talents,” reflects the quality of Jean’s life. She has offered her artistic talents through the years to her church, the community and to the various civic organizations both in Fairfield and Bridgeport.

She has had five one-woman shows beginning in 1970 at the Connecticut National Bank, Fairfield, and continuing through the years at the Van Doren Convalescent Home, the Connecticut National Bank, Southport, the United Church Hall, Bridgeport, and at the Grand Opening of the Citizens National Bank in Fairfield.

She also has had exhibits in many area shows including the Connecticut Classics; Fairfield Jaycee Wives; Fairfield Sidewalk S how; the Bridgeport Art Leag ue, for wh ich she won an Award For the Most Promising Artist, and the Barnum Festival Art Show, where she received an Award for the Most Popular Picture.

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