Esther Wertheimer Bids Farewell

Here is a story I wrote for Boca Raton Tribune.

I didn't put this in the story, but Esther is only two years younger than my late, beloved mother.



Sculptor Esther Wertheimer Reluctantly Says Farewell


By Skip Sheffield


All things must pass. Internationally-acclaimed sculptor Esther Wertheimer has sold her Boca Raton winter home and is returning to Montreal permanently to be with her family.
“My son, my daughter and my grandchildren are all in Canada,” Wertheimer explained. “Business has been slow here and my family is providing me with an apartment. Health care is provided in Canada too. I hate to leave Boca Raton, but I will be back.”
Esther Wertheimer was born in Lodz, Poland. She moved with her family to Montreal as
a young child.
Young Esther showed an artistic talent at an early age. She began drawing in Canada at age 8 with encouragement from artist Alexander Berocovich. She attended L’Ecole des Beaux Art and in 1958 won a four-year scholarship to Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. From there she went to the International Academy of Austria in 1966. In 1967 Wertheimer was awarded a one-year scholarship from the Italian government to attend the Academia di Belle Arts in Florence. She immersed herself in classical Italian art, which remains a strong influence. She is particularly fond of Dante and his tale of “Paolo and Francesca,” and has created a number of works on the subject.
Wertheimer won her first gold medal for art in Italy in 1977. In the years since she has amassed a list of honors including Executive Professional Woman of the year from the National Association of Professional Women in 2011. One of her most significant awards is the Gold Medal of Lorenzo il Magnifico and Certificate of Honor for her career and body of work at the Biennale Internazionale Dell’ Arte, Florence Italy, in 2009.
“I was the only American to win a Gold Medal,” Wertheimer reveals proudly. “To be honored for my life’s work and career was very gratifying.”
Wertheimer began wintering in South Florida in the 1980s. Ten years ago she bought a house in Boca Raton, where she spent half the year. Wertheimer is a very social person who loves dancing and music. Her sculptures often depict these loves in graceful, flowing figures of dancers, mothers and children.
Wertheimer has countless friends in South Florida. Jan McArt, Director of Theater Arts at Lynn University, is one of her closes friends.
“Esther Wertheimer is world-class, not only woman, but as a wonderfully talented sculptor,” commented McArt. “She is also a personal friend. I have several of her works in my Boca Raton home. Esther will be sorely missed. She is very generous to philanthropic causes and she is one heck of a wonderful dancer. The fellas will miss her too.”
Esther Wertheimer will be gone but not forgotten. Her works will remain on public display. There are several monumental sculptures at Royal Palm Place in Boca Raton and at least a half-dozen other Florida locations. You can see public commissions of her work all over the world, in America, Canada, Japan (She is particularly popular there with at least 10 public installations), Singapore, Shanghai, China and Australia. Her work can also be found in select galleries all over the USA. She hopes to eventually buy or rent an apartment in Boca Raton for the winters.
Boca Raton Estate Sales is having an open house sale at Wertheimer’s Boca Pointe house this weekend from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25.
“I am telling my patrons and friends that I have over $1 million worth of art I’d like to sell before I leave for Canada,” she explains. “This will be an excellent opportunity to purchase my work at a substantial discount.”
For more information about Esther Wertheimer, call Boca Raton Estate Sales at 305-900-7045. She can be reached directly by calling 561-392-3503 or by going to www.ewertheimer.com or ewertheimer@ewertheimer.com.