GLOUCESTER: Zygmund “Zyg” Jankowski, died peacefully at his home in Gloucester, on December 31, 2009. He leaves two sisters, Patricia Friar and Delores Park, his son, Coy Jankowski, a grandson, Troy Jankowski, all of South Bend Indiana and his long time companion, Myra Hall of Gloucester, as well as his stepchildren, who were very special to him, James Lingar and his wife, Susan of South Bend, John Lingar of California, Brenda Ornat and her husband, Jerry of South Bend and Peter Lingar of Boston.
He was born in South Bend Indiana into a family not interested in art, however; he had an uncle who, recognizing Zyg’s talent as an artist, practiced art with him on weekends, telling the family they were going fishing. As he had no interest in the assembly line work in which his family was involved, he considered the priesthood, as a possible venue for his art interests. However, after his tour in the Navy, one of his Navy colleagues enrolled him in the California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland. He left South Bend for California and began his studies. He had Dong Kingman, George Post and Rex Brandt as teachers. Using his California training, he returned to South Bend to become a commercial artist, but he did his serious painting at night. He also taught art at Notre Dame until it was decided one needed a PhD. to teach, so he went on to teach privately. His work at this time was large encaustic, acrylic and oil paintings for which he was awarded numerous prizes and monetary awards.
In the 1960’s, he gave up commercial art and came to Gloucester to paint professionally. His early Gloucester paintings were primarily watercolors and then about 20 years ago he once again began to paint in oil. His art classes were always oversubscribed, yet he always found time to do his own work, always experimenting. Today his works are included in major corporate and private collections throughout the country and in Europe, including: Liberty Mutual, Boston, Reebok Corporate Offices, Boston, Duke University, NC, Texaco Oil Company, TX., Midwest Museum of Modern Art, IN, Cape Ann Museum of Art, Gloucester. MA, Charles Demuth Museum, PA., National Bank of London, to mention a few.
He has won numerous prizes in juried shows and in 2007 had a one man show at the Cape Ann Museum. His other shows have been at places such as the Snite Museum of Art, Notre Dame University, Friedman Art Gallery, Berkeley CA, ARA Gallery, So. Hamilton, MA, Marymount College, Salinas, CA, American Water Society traveling show, George Washington Carver Museum, Tuskegee, Ala., St Anselm’s College, N.H. Sarasota Invitational, Xavier University, Rotenberg Gallery, Boston, Indiana University, and Rockport Art Assoc., Rockport.
Jankowski was a colorist, painting expressionist paintings. His work went beyond the tradition to which everyone can relate, and in making this leap, he lost some spectators. However, for those who were more adventurous and followed his leap, the reward was a painting full of surprises with the ever present tie to the known or real world. One of his dealers said of his work: “It never fails, if I sell a client one of Zyg’s paintings, within a year that person will return to buy another.”
His work lent a breath of fresh air to the Gloucester art scene and will continue to find new admirers. His contribution to the world of art has been significant and his paintings will continue to give those who own them great joy. He said of his work, “These are paintings, NOT pictures. camera’s take pictures.”
There will be a memorial service at the Rockport Art Association on Main Street, Rockport on Sunday, afternoon January 17th from 2 - 4 p.m. There will also be a memorial graveside service in the spring. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Rockport Art Association or the Cape Ann Museum in his memory.