From Pontresina to New York - out of love for Art
September 2002
(Translation of German newspaper article)
(gf) For about one year now, Melinda Hürzeler has been studying at the Art Student's League of New York. The way to New York was not always easy for the 20-year old from Pontresina, yet she follows her goals with determination.
"As a kid I already drew with passion", says Melinda Hürzeler, who together with
two younger sisters, grew up in the Aargau and in Pontresina (CH). Her achievement of top grades in
drawing classes never surprised her family, since her grandmother and mother also painted
enthusiastically in their free time.
Drawing people
In her teens, Hürzeler started to observe her surroundings and eagerly drew people.
"I participated in a cartoon-competition just for fun", she remembers, but when she won the first
price her family got attentive to her unusual talent and encouraged her to continue spending time
with drawing. "At this time, I never thought about being professionally involved with Art", says Hürzeler.
Rather she wanted to complete a solid education and so she started an apprenticeship as a draftsman.
Money for an America-trip
As a 17-year old teenager, Hürzeler planned a trip to America with friends, but her wallet was
completely empty, so she had to come up with something. Then the idea to exhibit her drawings developed.
During the following two months, she drew 27 pictures, which were presented to the public at the Hotel
San Gian in St.Moritz in February 1999. The exhibition was a great success with Hürzeler selling 10
pictures right away. During the next three years, more exhibitions took place, some at the Hotel Waldhaus
in St.Moritz. "After conclusion of my apprenticeship I had to decide whether I want to enter a professional
Arts career", says the young lady. The Art school in Zuerich did not appeal to her, however, she always had
a great fascination for New York City and so she finally decided to study in the "Big Apple". In December 2000,
she traveled to the American Metropolis to look for a suitable Art school. As soon as she choose the Art
Student's League of New York, she was faced with other obstacles. She did not have the needed money for
the studies and the Art school required two previous years at an Art school to be accepted.
With will and determination
The determined young artist solved her financial problems with another exhibition in St.Moritz.
The Art school later accepted her since she had 5 exhibitions and over 55 sold paintings as a reference.
So now the 20-year old has been living and studying in New York since August 2001. "At the beginning,
life here was not easy", she remembers and reflects on the events of September 11th, which had shaken
her up. Meanwhile, she again had financial problems, but selling a few paintings and working at the
school cafeteria solved them. Additionally, Hürzeler received a scholarship of the Kanton Aargau (CH)
and has adjusted very well in her new surroundings. "I feel at home in Queens, where I live", she adds.
Rouse emotions
Asked about her future plans, Hürzeler stated that her studies in New York would take at least
three more years. Afterwards, she wants to try living off her Art. "I would love to paint portraits of
famous people", she specifies. She knows very well that this is not an easy venture, after all she
knows many artists in New York that cannot afford to live from painting alone. "Still I believe, that
one can achieve almost everything, if they only want to", Hürzeler is convinced. Maybe this conviction
resulted from her having been quite fortunate in her life, she says. With her paintings, Hürzeler wants
to rouse emotions in observers, to "convey something to people" as she mentions. Out of these reasons
she paints with passion, no matter if it is an anatomy drawing, an abstract or realistic painting. This
passion and zeal she does not want to lose, "I hope never to be forced to produce mass works because of
money, but to be able to put my heart into every single work." Her paintings show that she's working with
great conviction and her quite troublesome way to New York proves that she possesses enough will and
determination to achieve her goals.