The world, particularly the art world, lost a wonderful, beautiful spirit this week: Willard E. Johnson II. His family, friends, and colleagues gathered to celebrate his life yesterday at a beautiful service of remembrance at First Presbyterian Church Oklahoma City, his church home since 1947.
I was able to give Willard my gift of music, playing old gospel favorites on my flute, with John Edwards at the piano. Some of these hymns were The Old Rugged Cross, Softly and Tenderly, and one of my all-time favorites, In the Garden. Pastor Matt Meinke read meaningful scripture from Psalms 23 and 46, Isaiah 40, Romans 8, and John 14, and shared a moving meditation with the family and congregation about Willard and his faith, and Jesus' promise of Eternal Life. Robert Meister, long-time friend of Willard, and Willard's grandson Kris, gave emotional, yet humorous tributes to a man they admired, respected, and loved so much.
I met Willard only 2 months ago, seeking his help with the auction for the Shepherd Sisters artwork. Every time I called people trying to find someone to do appraisals, I got the same answer: "Call Willard Johnson of Colonial. He can help you." Consequently, he and I spent hours walking around the halls of Shepherd Manor. During that time we discussed each piece and he gave me appraisal values, comments and history on each one of them. He actually had seen the locations where some of the landscapes were painted, and had met the Shepherd Sisters. While discussing one particular painting of an orchard, he told me about the time he and a friend had picked peaches from the Shepherd family's orchard, with an angry Mr. Shepherd chasing them off the property. He laughed so hard telling that story.
During the service, Robert Meister or Kris Kanaly quoted Willard as saying: "art becomes art when one single person says it is". Let us all celebrate our own art and creativity and those of others by remembering that saying. The world would be a better place for it.
God Bless you, Willard.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Shepherd Sisters Art Auction 11/1/09
I have been asked to coordinate an auction for the sale of more than 100 pieces of art created by Oklahoma's Shepherd Sisters: Nellie, Edith, Leona, and Nettie. The proceeds from this auction will benefit Shepherd Manor Retirement Center, where most of these works are displayed. PLEASE DO NOT VISIT SHEPHERD MANOR TO SEE THE ART BEFORE THE AUCTION.
The silent auction will be held on Sunday, November 1, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm in Watchorn Hall at First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, located at NW 25th & Western. Advance viewing will be available from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm beginning Tuesday, October 27 through October 30.
If you are not familiar with the Shepherd Sisters, here is some background. A very talented Impressionist painter, Nellie spent four years studying in Paris with various instructors, mostly with Henri Martin. Her most important, well-known painting from her years in Paris is a 3/4 life-size portrait of her sister Lottie, which was one of two of 800 paintings by American artists selected to hang in Le Grand Salon in Paris in the spring of 1910, and was awarded an honorable mention. In 1910, she and her friends Mrs. John Shartel and Mrs. Ed Dunn organized the Oklahoma Art League. Their dedication to preserving Oklahoma art assisted in the later formation of the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. In addition to Nellie, sisters Leona, Nettie, and Edith were also fine artists, with works to be represented at the auction.
If you love art and/or Oklahoma, you won't want to miss this opportunity to view and possibly own a piece of Oklahoma's early artistic history. Starting bids range from $100 to $1,000.
For more information call 405-326-8134, or email me at linda@gottahavearts.com .
Gallery of Shepherd Sisters' Art
Here are a few more artworks created by Oklahoma's own Shepherd Sisters: Nellie, Edith, Leona, and Nettie.
The Art Auction of their works will be held on November 1, 2009, from 12:00 to 4:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. For more information call 405-326-8134 or email me at linda@gottahavearts.com .
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