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Show Mil lelSrsfliii Ctaereinl ! By ALICE MITCHELL . Former West Bountifulite Mike Mcllrath, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mcllrath, was recently given special recognition recog-nition in the newspaper of Conifer, Colo., for his accomplishments ac-complishments in the field of art. His paintings "Spring' Gather," "Nebraska Winter," "Hide Camp," "Sentinel," and 'Through the Trees" were noted. All of his accomplishments came after many struggles following injuries in-juries in the Vietnam War. IN JUNE of 1962, before the Vietnam War had escalated from guerilla warfare, Mike stepped on a landmine on the outskirts of Saigon. He awoke, in the Zama Hospital in Japan. Both legs and both arms were severely damaged. He also suffered extensive internal in-ternal injuries and a concus-sion. concus-sion. Doctors feared he would lose both legs, but one doctor told him he could save his legs in time. After two years, most of it in Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, the doctors did save his legs. His hospital stay lasted nearly three years. DURING THIS time Mike had a lot of time to think. He had spent his early days in Centerville working cattle,; horses and other livestock on , the family ranch. He did some : painting during his youth but never considered a career in ' art. Most of his paintings were given away as gifts. Mike joined the Army just out of high school and was sent to Southeast Asia as an advisor with the Army Security Agency. DURING HIS recovery, period Mike finally decided to pursue a career in art and when he was finally released from the hospital, he entered the Colorado Institute of Art, where he studied under John Jellico, the founder of the institute, in-stitute, and under Dane Clark. After graduation Mike worked in commercial art for a time, but did not think that the field offered him the challenges he wanted. He sold .his studio and moved to Winter Park to pursue a career in fine art. He is an, artist of the romantic old west 'and of the new west. He gets-; many of his ideas from Vardis Fisher, author of "The; Mountain Man." MIKE'S CAREER in fine art was abruptly interrupted. One evening, while playing cards with friends, his right (arm suddenly dropped. He had lost feeling in it. Nerve and muscle damage trom tner war injuries had made his Tight hand and arm useless. ' He went through a series of surgeries, 55 to the present, since 1962. Nerves were transplanted from his leg to his arm. No one knows yet; whether the operations will prove successful. The arm is now controled by tendons and Mike can grip with it, but it still has little feeling. THROUGH THIS period, Mike was sustained by his love of painting and his love for his wife Val a licensed! practical nurse, whom he met in the hospital and later; 'married. Mike said he would not give up painting even if he had to paint with his teeth. He trained himself to paint left-' handed. He entered the Colorado Institute of Art; again and was given valuable-assistance valuable-assistance by John Jellico in learning to work left-handed. ' MIKE PAINTS more slowly !now. Each painting requires! between 120 to 140 hours of. work, where it took him 30 to 40 hours before the loss of his ' right hand. Mike has exhibited in galleries and for a time was affiliated with Hadden Western Wes-tern American Galleries in Denver. About a year ago, he 'was featured in a Western art ;Show with several noted art--jists, including August Lennox, Len-nox, Ramon Kelley and Siha. Although he does little promotion, he has found a market for his paintings, which currently bring $1,200 to $2,000 for each. Mike is on 100 percent disability from the Army, but likes to make enough to be somewhat independent. HE LIVES in Pine Valley Estates with his wife and three children. He donates some of his paintings for fund raising projects. |