June 13, 1935 - Sept. 2, 2020.
Loved. Cherished. Revered.
With heavy hearts the family of John Metheany announces his peaceful passing in Sault Ste. Marie, ON, on Wednesday September 2, 2020, at the age of 85. John was born in Mt. Pleasant Michigan to the late John and Virginia Metheany. Loving father to Jan-Stella Metheany-Traveson (Jim) Sault Ste. Marie, ON, John Milton Metheany Kalamazoo, MI., Laura-Jean Buckler (Jason) Traverse City, MI., Elizabeth ‘Charlie’ Mallon Metheany (James Erickson) Newman, CA., Anne Bradford Metheany (Thomas Raczka) Toronto, ON. Proud grandfather to Nicole Elaine Patricia & Sean-Paul Michael Falldien, Jessica Bay, Eden Margaret, & Grace Elaine Metheany, Jaden James & Stella Marie Buckler and Arthur Bolek Raczka. Delighted great grandfather to Eli Dane Sergeev-Falldien; and dear long-time friend and mentor to Alan Lant (Jo Weber) Santa Rosa, CA.
John attended Michigan State University from 1961-64, where in three years he earned a B.F.A., M.A., and M.F.A - Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Honours Society. As a professor of art at both Michigan State and Western Michigan Universities (35 years), John specialized in the teaching of drawing and painting at all levels of undergraduate and graduate classes. His ability to teach colour theory, figure drawing and expressionistic painting is appreciated by thousands of students of all ages.John was also employed at various times as a slide lecturer, film cartoon animator, portrait and mural painter, museum exhibit preparatory, art juror, workshops director, and boat builder.
Parallel to his teaching career, John was also an internationally known exhibiting artist. The Kalamazoo Art Institute, Kalamazoo, MI. ;Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, Ill. ; University of California, Santa Barbara, CA.; Gilman & Siegel Galleries both of Chicago ,Ill.; Midtown Gallery, New York, NY.; Allied Artists of America Inc., New York, NY.; Edith Cooke Gallery, Turnbridge Wells, England; The Atlanta Art Museum, Atlanta, Georgia, Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, ON; Roses Art Gallery, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, are just a few listed among the many exhibitions of his works. The number of John’s works included in public and private collections throughout the United States and Canada number well over one thousand consisting mostly of landscape paintings in oil upon which his reputation is based.
John’s intellect and creativity knew no bounds. The many accolades, awards and honours given to him during his lifetime are too many to list. The things he was proudest of however are the things he leaves behind namely his paintings, his children, his friendships, and his cabin. In 1968, John built a log cabin of driftwood logs without any power tools along the shore of Lake Superior at Montreal River Harbour, ON. Many if not most of his landscape paintings were inspired by the beautiful Algoma region. John and his family lived at the cabin full-time every summer until he took up permanent residency in Sault Ste. Marie, ON in 2001 after retiring from teaching. The old log cabin will continue to be a source of pride, joy, celebration and retreat for his family for generations to come.
John was a lover of jazz music and he played several instruments. In particular, he dedicated study to jazz piano over the past 35 years. John was also a furniture maker, sculptor, potter, canoe and paddle crafter, avid canoeist, cross country skier, Voyageur Trail Association member, writer, barbershop singer (``The Sharpies``- a quartet he formed at age 13), Northland Barbershop Chorus member and a dangerous chess player.
John had a wonderful sense of humour and stories about his quick wit will no doubt continue to be shared by all who knew and loved him. John will be greatly missed by his family, the arts community, and his many friends. We his children are forever grateful for the vast richness of experiences he afforded us, for inspiring a deep appreciation for all forms of creative endeavour and particularly for teaching us to continually marvel at the awesome beauty of the natural world around us.
The family would like to thank Karen Petingalo John’s community personal support worker of 6 years for her care of John and support to the family. Also, we want to thank Linda and Karlene as well as the amazing staff at the F.J. Davey Home for taking care of John during this unprecedented time and the SAH 3B nursing staff this past week.
The family will be having a private celebration of John’s life at his cabin and a public retrospective exhibition of John`s private collection of paintings will be arranged at a future date when all on both sides of the border are able to congregate. Donations to the Alzheimer Society will be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E 705-759-2522).