[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 27, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E490-E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              HONORING THE LIFE OF ARTIST MARGARET HUDSON

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 27, 2020

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today along with my colleague, Mr. 
TJ Cox to honor and pay tribute to the life of local artist Margaret 
Hudson, who passed away on February 2, 2020 at the age of 93. Her 
iconic clay sculptures of California wildlife and young children were 
loved for generations.
  Margaret Metzler was born to David and Sadie Metzler in Fresno, 
California. From a young age, Margaret enjoyed spending time outdoors 
with animals at her parent's home in Fresno's Old Fig Garden 
neighborhood. She and her family also loved hiking and camping, 
especially in Sequoia National Park. Her appreciation of the Central 
Valley's beautiful landscape grew from a young age, which would later 
influence her art.
  Margaret attended college in New England and studied art and 
theology. She would go on to serve as a missionary in Japan for several 
years. Margaret met and married her husband Gilbert Hudson in 1955 and 
shortly after moved to South Korea as missionaries. Gilbert taught 
physics, and Margaret taught English, at the University of Daegu. They 
had four sons in South Korea and lived there until 1967.
  After returning to the United States, the Hudson family lived in 
various parts of the country. Her love for art blossomed when living in 
New York, where she first began to experiment with materials such as 
decaying barn wood and automotive trims. In Maryland, she began working 
with red clay. Margaret finally found her style of art in red clay and 
began sculpting from her memories of South Korea.
  In 1968, the family moved to Coalinga, California, but after her 
husband became ill with Valley Fever, they moved to Fresno to be closer 
to family. Margaret realized after Gilbert's recovery that she would 
need to help support the family financially. In 1972, she decided to 
open a business, Earth Art's Studio and became one of the first female 
arts entrepreneurs in Fresno.
  In 1988, Margaret lost her father, son, and mother within one year. 
She used art as her therapy and created pieces that were much larger 
than her original work. After 20 years of working with clay, Margaret 
attended Fresno City College to expand her artistic abilities to 
include paint. In 1992, she went to London and Paris and was inspired 
to paint on canvas. That same year, Margaret held her first art show.
  Margaret's artwork is a fixture throughout the Central Valley. Her 
``Mama Bear'' sculpture is displayed at Valley Children's Hospital,

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and several pieces are located at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo. Her clay 
sculptures are a staple in homes all over the county.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join us in recognizing the life 
of Margaret Hudson. Her artwork continues to inspire and is a cherished 
part of life in the valley. We join her family, friends, and members of 
the community in honoring her great life.

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