Rites of Spring – works of Marcel LaRocque

This show in our Anne Hall Gallery will feature beautiful watercolor works by the late Marcel LaRocque and will open on Saturday, March 7th at 2 pm. LaRocque was born December 30, 1922 in Rhode Island and passed away May 3, 1988 in Oregon. He and his partner, John E. “Jack” Coyne, owned and operated Panache Antiques at 3536 SE Hwy 101 in Lincoln City for about 10 years prior to his death. The shop was located where Theatre West currently resides and Marc & Jack gave the theatre troop its first permanent home. LaRocque was trained as a designer and worked for the May Company in Ohio & California prior to moving to the Oregon coast. He did elaborate window displays for the department store chain and also was a gifted set designer. He taught watercolor classes in Lincoln City and worked with another local artist by the name of Joan Farrouque.

LaRocque was a member of the Watercolor Society of Oregon. One of the paintings that will be included in the exhibition, “Rites of Spring”, won special recognition in the Society’s 1987 Fall Show. Though best known as a watercolorist, LaRocque was an innovative and experimental artist who worked extensively with mixed media and collage. We will have snacks and refreshments for the opening, and art curator Matt Blakeman will be there to answer questions.