MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) – In its continuing collaboration with the Yuba County Historic Resources Commission, Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is pleased to present a special tribute to local legendary artist, Stan Gelling.  

A cartoonist and caricature artist extraordinaire, Stan was born in Pocatello, Idaho and died in Marysville in 1985 after a swashbuckling life of boxing, military service, hunting and fishing, many jobs, and an overriding passion for art. Bearing a passing resemblance to Clark Gable he cultivated his image with a pencil thin mustache. 

Stan was a colorful well-known figure in the local community from the 1950s into the 1980s. Though employed as an advertising salesman by the Appeal Democrat, his talent shown in his cartoons with which he illustrated his Saturday “Making the Local Scene” column.  Before he found his niche in Marysville, he wrote and illustrated the Farragut Fables, the newsletter of the United States Naval Station in Farragut Idaho where he was stationed during World War II. 

Stan also painted western scenes and wildlife in oil along with pencil sketches and watercolors, many of which remain in the area in private collections, but his talent lay in the few strokes of ink with which he could capture the physical essence of anyone. Before the dictates of political correctness, no subject was off limits.  If a prominent attorney was cited for drunk driving, he could expect to be lampooned in Stan’s column on Saturday along with the cop who stopped him.

“Stan Gelling brought color to the Appeal Democrat and to the people of Yuba Sutter,” said longtime Marysville resident and community leader, John Nicoletti. “He gave us a self-esteem and a lot of joy,” he added.
Come see a retrospective of Stan Gelling’s work on Saturday, May 7 from 10:00 A.M.-1:00P.M. at Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture, 630 E Street in Marysville in the Burrows Theater and the Art Gallery.  People are encouraged to bring their own Stan Gelling memorabilia and stories to share. The event is sponsored by Yuba County Historic Resources Commission and Yuba Sutter Arts and Culture. Refreshments will be served. 

For more information, write or call email @yubasutterarts.org or 530-742-2787.

About YSA: Yuba Sutter Arts is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide arts programming, education, advocacy, assistance and service to artists, organizations and residents of Yuba and Sutter Counties. The official agency for Yuba and Sutter of the California Arts Council, its programs include the Yuba Sutter Youth Choir, Applause Kids!, Arts in Education, Very Special Arts Festival, Art Crawl, Open Mic Nights, Harvest the Arts, Arts in Corrections, Third Sunday Jazz Jam, Art Everywhere, Solo Sessions, Poetry Square and much, much more!