Introduction

Marital Milestones: Anniversary drawings by Stephen Csoka presented to Margaret
Text by Margaret Csoka and Frank Csoka

Marital Milestones is a visual journey through artist Stephen Csoka’s life. In 1935 he presented his wife, Margaret, with their first anniversary painting with a milestone numbered 1. Each year thereafter, Stephen created an anniversary painting to highlight the passage of the previous year. With a great deal of humor, the joys, struggles, triumphs and sorrows of life were illustrated through the skilled hand of this insightful artist.

Stephen Csoka, a recognized artist in his homeland of Hungary, came to the United States in 1934 with his new wife, Margaret, and her parents. His recognition and fame as an artist in Hungary had little influence on the art world in the U.S. He worked as a housepainter with his father-in-law for many years but continued to create his art in every spare moment. Eventually, awards and recognition came his way. In his paintings we see his early awards illustrated in various ways. By the eleventh Milestone, we see him excitedly jumping out of his housepainters overalls, ready to take on the world as a full time artist.

A selection of 21 anniversary paintings will make a moving and impressive exhibition. Adding interest to the exhibition is the fact that the awards and special moments highlighted in the Marital Milestones will be illuminated with the inclusion of the art depicted. For example, in 1948 Stephen won a $1000 prize for an etching while Margaret won $5000 for writing a paragraph about why she liked using the Launderette in a contest sponsored by Bendix. In this amusing painting, Stephen is falling off his cloud while Margaret sails above holding her “money bag” prize. The exhibition would include Stephen’s prize winning etching, Fatherless, and the large poster announcing Margaret Csoka as the 1^st prize winner. The fact that $5000 in 1948 translates to over $48,000 in today’s money had a profound effect on the Marital Milestones paintings to come.

The exhibition would consist of 21 Marital Milestones paintings as well as other of related art.

Fatherless, etching by Stephen Csoka

Marital Milestones Artwork Size Chart: