Celebrating Beauford at the Hotel Talleyrand
On Thursday, we celebrate Beauford at a gravesite ceremony at Thiais Cemetery, followed by an evening reception at the George C. Marshall Center in the Hôtel Talleyrand in Paris.
As you can imagine, I am very busy with last minute arrangements! But I wanted to share with you some photos of the venue:
We'll be in the State Room and the Grand Reception Room, and will have a view of place de la Concorde.
Be sure to visit the blog next week to read the full report!
As you can imagine, I am very busy with last minute arrangements! But I wanted to share with you some photos of the venue:
Entrance - rue Saint-Florentin
© Discover Paris!
Grand Staircase
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
Ceiling above Grand Staircase
© Discover Paris!
State Office
© Discover Paris!
Grand Reception Room
© Discover Paris!
We'll be in the State Room and the Grand Reception Room, and will have a view of place de la Concorde.
Be sure to visit the blog next week to read the full report!
Dorothy's Gallery Supports Beauford
Dorothy’s Gallery has graciously offered to sell the Henry Miller lithograph entitled Sarasota on behalf of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney.
Dorothy Polley, owner of Dorothy’s Gallery, is a long-time American expatriate from Norwalk, Connecticut. She launched the gallery at 27, rue Keller in the 11th arrondissement, Paris in 2006. Having already demonstrated her support for Les Amis by contributing to the gravesite fund in the gallery’s name, she was pleased to take this additional step to help the association preserve Beauford’s memory.
Henry Miller and Beauford Delaney were great friends. They first met in New York, when Beauford lived on Greene Street. He and Miller corresponded regularly, both before and after Beauford moved to Paris. Beauford often wrote of how his work was progressing and his emotional state of being, while Miller wrote to encourage Beauford and admonish him (at least once) for giving away works that Miller thought would one day be in great demand. Miller sent Beauford money when times were hard, and visited him whenever he came to Paris. When Beauford was admitted to the Nogent sur Marne clinic for psychiatric therapy in 1962, Miller was denied entry to see his friend, but did speak with Beauford’s physician, Dr. Ferdière. He continued to communicate with Ferdière regarding Beauford’s condition for the next few years. When Beauford died, a message from Miller about his friend was read at the service.
In honor of the Delaney-Miller friendship, Miller’s son, Henry Tony Miller, donated the print to the cause. Sarasota is number 11/100 of the US edition of the painting. It is printed on Arches paper and measures 25.5 x 20 inches.
Proceeds from the sale will be used to defray costs for the commemorative ceremony and reception that Les Amis is organizing to inaugurate Beauford’s tombstone. We now have a tentative date for this event: October 14, 2010. Stay tuned for details, which will be forthcoming shortly!
Dorothy’s Gallery
27, rue Keller
75011 Paris
Telephone: 33 (0)1 43 57 08 51
Internet: http://dorothysgallery.com/art
E-mail: dorothysgallery@gmail.com
Hours: Sunday and Tuesday – 4 PM to 7 PM
Wednesday through Saturday – 1 PM to 7 PM
Closed Mondays.
Appointments possible.
Dorothy Polley, owner of Dorothy’s Gallery, is a long-time American expatriate from Norwalk, Connecticut. She launched the gallery at 27, rue Keller in the 11th arrondissement, Paris in 2006. Having already demonstrated her support for Les Amis by contributing to the gravesite fund in the gallery’s name, she was pleased to take this additional step to help the association preserve Beauford’s memory.
Dorothy’s Gallery
© Discover Paris!
Henry Miller and Beauford Delaney were great friends. They first met in New York, when Beauford lived on Greene Street. He and Miller corresponded regularly, both before and after Beauford moved to Paris. Beauford often wrote of how his work was progressing and his emotional state of being, while Miller wrote to encourage Beauford and admonish him (at least once) for giving away works that Miller thought would one day be in great demand. Miller sent Beauford money when times were hard, and visited him whenever he came to Paris. When Beauford was admitted to the Nogent sur Marne clinic for psychiatric therapy in 1962, Miller was denied entry to see his friend, but did speak with Beauford’s physician, Dr. Ferdière. He continued to communicate with Ferdière regarding Beauford’s condition for the next few years. When Beauford died, a message from Miller about his friend was read at the service.
In honor of the Delaney-Miller friendship, Miller’s son, Henry Tony Miller, donated the print to the cause. Sarasota is number 11/100 of the US edition of the painting. It is printed on Arches paper and measures 25.5 x 20 inches.
Dorothy Polley and Sarasota
© Discover Paris!
Sarasota
Henry Miller
Photo courtesy of Henry Tony Miller
Dorothy’s Gallery will hold a vernissage (open house) on Friday, September 17th from to . Sarasota Paris
Dorothy’s Gallery
27, rue Keller
75011 Paris
Telephone: 33 (0)1 43 57 08 51
Internet: http://dorothysgallery.com/art
E-mail: dorothysgallery@gmail.com
Hours: Sunday and Tuesday – 4 PM to 7 PM
Wednesday through Saturday – 1 PM to 7 PM
Closed Mondays.
Appointments possible.
Herb Gentry Serigraph Once Again Up for Auction
Hello everyone,
You may remember that during our fundraising drive for Beauford's tombstone, we received a remarkable donation from Mary Anne Rose and the Herbert Gentry estate – a beautiful serigraph entitled Simply Green. ArtNet, an organization in Manhattan that describes itself as "the place to buy, sell and research fine art online," put the work up for auction. But it did not sell.
My contact at ArtNet contacted me last month to say that the auction house was willing to try again, and that they would arrange things as quickly as possible. Today, I received a message indicating that the serigraph is once again available for sale. Bidding is now open!
Mary Anne Rose provides the following description of the print:
Proceeds from the sale will be applied to the cost of the commemorative ceremony and reception that Les Amis is planning for Beauford to "inaugurate" his new tombstone.
You may remember that during our fundraising drive for Beauford's tombstone, we received a remarkable donation from Mary Anne Rose and the Herbert Gentry estate – a beautiful serigraph entitled Simply Green. ArtNet, an organization in Manhattan that describes itself as "the place to buy, sell and research fine art online," put the work up for auction. But it did not sell.
My contact at ArtNet contacted me last month to say that the auction house was willing to try again, and that they would arrange things as quickly as possible. Today, I received a message indicating that the serigraph is once again available for sale. Bidding is now open!
Always Green
Herbert Gentry
Serigraph (2000)
Mary Anne Rose provides the following description of the print:
Always Green was done at the period the artist was working on his final three editions published by GR N’Namdi Gallery in conjunction with his book Herbert Gentry: The Man The Magic The Master. Always Green is among the artist’s final works. This serigraph was printed in 2000 at Lime Grafik in Malmo, Sweden.Always Green will be available for bidding until Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at 2.56 PM Eastern Time. The opening bid is $1500. There is no reserve price. Please click here to visit the ArtNet site and place your bid.
Always Green is about regeneration. In the work of Herbert Gentry, the Green man refers to different aspects of fertility, as well as spiritual growth and transformation. Gentry saw his art as direct contact with the unconscious, and as an artist, he neither consciously determined a work's subjective import nor final appearance. Thus, his works trace states of being and change. The Green Man theme relates to larger paintings like Spiritually Green (1978) and He Seeth All (1962) and On All Sides (1990). Gentry realized his figurative imagery through process and each work evolved out of spontaneous and direct gesture.
Proceeds from the sale will be applied to the cost of the commemorative ceremony and reception that Les Amis is planning for Beauford to "inaugurate" his new tombstone.
Beauford's Tombstone is in Place!
Tombstone Inscription
© Discover Paris!
Less than a year after founding Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, I am extremely pleased to announce that Beauford’s tombstone is in place! The inscription reads:
Beauford Delaney
Peintre • Painter
30 December 1901 - 26 March 1979
Born: Knoxville, Tennessee USA
Died: Paris, France
"I am home"
As a reminder, Les Amis was founded in November 2009 with the intent to accomplish the following:
1) Placement and maintenance of a tombstone for the grave of painter Beauford Delaney, who is buried at the Parisian Cemetery of Thiais.With your generosity and moral support, we have accomplished these goals in less than one year! We have the money to renew Beauford’s concession at Thiais Cemetery (to be paid in 2011); we have participated in three commemorative and educational events in his honor thus far in 2010 (hosted by the American Embassy, Paris Soirées, and the G. R. N’Namdi Gallery), and we have been successful in getting articles and blog postings published about Beauford.
2) Payment of the renewal fees for his grave.
3) Organization of commemorative or educational events in his honor.
4) Inform the press and the media of his life and accomplishments.
Most importantly, we have succeeded in placing a simple, yet elegant tombstone at Beauford’s burial place.
Beauford’s Unmarked Grave – July 2009
© Discover Paris!
Preparation of the Gravesite – Summer 2010
© Discover Paris!
Tombstone – August 2010
© Discover Paris!
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney will hold a commemorative ceremony at Beauford’s gravesite to “inaugurate” the stone and to honor Beauford’s memory. The U.S. Ambassador has indicated his willingness to host a reception following the ceremony. Les Amis and the Ambassador’s staff are currently looking at possible dates for the two events. In the interim, planning for the commemoration is already underway.
Please continue to follow this blog for updates on the ceremony and reception.
Fundraising Success!
I am very pleased to announce that Les Amis de Beauford Delaney has successfully achieved its fundraising goal! Many thanks all of our donors, whose names you will find listed in the right margin. Special thanks go to the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery for having submitted the contribution that allowed us to reach $8500!
Things are moving along swiftly now. Beauford's tombstone has been ordered, and the target date for the preparation of the gravesite and the installation of the stone is July 15, 2010. We are beginning to make plans for the commemorative ceremony that will be held at the gravesite at Thiais Cemetery in August or September 2010, the 57th anniversary of Beauford's setting sail for Paris. We plan to hold a reception in Paris afterward. The exact date has yet to be determined. Details will follow as the organization of this historic event progresses.
Photo to be used for Beauford's tombstone
c. 1960, possibly taken by Gjon Mili
Courtesy of Richard Gibson
Also, if you still wish to contribute, please feel free to do so by clicking on the "Donate" button in the right margin beneath the color photo of Beauford's final resting place, or by contacting Les Amis at amisdebeauford(at)yahoo(dot)com to receive an address to which you may send a check. Funds will be used to defray the cost of the commemorative ceremony.
Beauford at the George R. N’Namdi Gallery in Chicago
I am pleased to announce that I will present “Beauford Delaney: From Paris to Beyond” at the George R. N’Namdi Gallery, 110 North Peoria in Chicago on June 17, 2010 at 5:30 PM. I encourage everyone in the Chicago area to attend – it would be my pleasure to meet you and to share with you my perspective on Beauford’s life and art!
In honor of the occasion, the G. R. N’Namdi Gallery granted me an interview, which you can find below.
Les Amis: Please describe the gallery and its mission.
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: George N'Namdi, who holds a doctorate in psychology, correlated positive mental health with art appreciation and living with art through his research and practice as a clinical psychologist. This was a significant factor in the foundation of the G.R. N'Namdi Gallery in 1981, whose mission is to encourage collectors to develop an appreciation for the historical value of the arts, while increasing awareness of abstract art and inspiring a new generation of art collectors. The father-son-operated gallery exhibits at its locations in Chicago, Detroit and New York, and through partnerships and collaborations with universities, museums and organizations internationally.
Les Amis: How do you select the artists that you represent?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: We select the artists that we feel are making a contribution to the arts. In other words, artists who have a unique voice that adds to the "literature" of arts.
Les Amis: What inspired you select Beauford Delaney as one of the artists whose work you represent?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: Because of his contributions, pushing of the envelope, he's an originator. His works have elements of originality.
Les Amis: Where/how did you acquire your Delaneys? Private acquisitions? Auction?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: We've acquired Delaneys in different ways, mostly by purchases from his estate and private collectors.
Les Amis: Is his work popular among your clients?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: He is known, particularly among serious collectors. He work is still growing in awareness.
Les Amis: You recently held an event whose purpose was to educate people on how to purchase art. How would you advise someone who wanted to become a collector of Delaneys?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: First, research him. Then, find one that you like, that is always the first step. Also, you find one that fits into your vision as a collector.
Les Amis: Please talk about the film that you are creating on African-American artists around the world. How will Beauford figure into this film?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: Yes, Beauford is featured in the documentary film, Art Legacy Abroad: In Search of the Light, http://www.artlegacyabroad.com/. While in Paris, we filmed one of his former homes, and he was mentioned by several of the artists in their interviews during the film.
In honor of the occasion, the G. R. N’Namdi Gallery granted me an interview, which you can find below.
Interior of George R. N'Namdi Gallery, Chicago
Courtesy of George R. N'Namdi Gallery
Les Amis: Please describe the gallery and its mission.
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: George N'Namdi, who holds a doctorate in psychology, correlated positive mental health with art appreciation and living with art through his research and practice as a clinical psychologist. This was a significant factor in the foundation of the G.R. N'Namdi Gallery in 1981, whose mission is to encourage collectors to develop an appreciation for the historical value of the arts, while increasing awareness of abstract art and inspiring a new generation of art collectors. The father-son-operated gallery exhibits at its locations in Chicago, Detroit and New York, and through partnerships and collaborations with universities, museums and organizations internationally.
Les Amis: How do you select the artists that you represent?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: We select the artists that we feel are making a contribution to the arts. In other words, artists who have a unique voice that adds to the "literature" of arts.
Les Amis: What inspired you select Beauford Delaney as one of the artists whose work you represent?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: Because of his contributions, pushing of the envelope, he's an originator. His works have elements of originality.
Untitled
Beauford Delaney
(1965) Oil on canvas
Courtesy of George N'Namdi Gallery
Les Amis: Where/how did you acquire your Delaneys? Private acquisitions? Auction?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: We've acquired Delaneys in different ways, mostly by purchases from his estate and private collectors.
Les Amis: Is his work popular among your clients?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: He is known, particularly among serious collectors. He work is still growing in awareness.
Les Amis: You recently held an event whose purpose was to educate people on how to purchase art. How would you advise someone who wanted to become a collector of Delaneys?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: First, research him. Then, find one that you like, that is always the first step. Also, you find one that fits into your vision as a collector.
Les Amis: Please talk about the film that you are creating on African-American artists around the world. How will Beauford figure into this film?
G. R. N’Namdi Gallery: Yes, Beauford is featured in the documentary film, Art Legacy Abroad: In Search of the Light, http://www.artlegacyabroad.com/. While in Paris, we filmed one of his former homes, and he was mentioned by several of the artists in their interviews during the film.
**********
Note: There are still five days left to bid on the Gentry serigraph. Click here to place your bid now!
ArtNet Auction of Herb Gentry Serigraph is Live!
A couple of weeks ago, I reported in a blog posting that Mary Anne Rose donated a Herb Gentry serigraph to benefit the Beauford Delaney Gravesite Project. I am thrilled to inform you that ArtNet has placed the work up for auction as of 4:30 PM Eastern Time on June 8. Bidding is now open!
Mary Anne Rose provides the following description of the print:
Once again, many thanks to Mary Anne Rose and the Estate of Herbert Gentry for this fine donation!
Always Green
Herbert Gentry
Serigraph (2000)
Mary Anne Rose provides the following description of the print:
Always Green was done at the period the artist was working on his final three editions published by GR N’Namdi Gallery in conjunction with his book Herbert Gentry: The Man The Magic The Master. Always Green is among the artist’s final works. This serigraph was printed in 2000 at Lime Grafik in Malmo, Sweden.
Always Green is about regeneration. In the work of Herbert Gentry, the Green man refers to different aspects of fertility, as well as spiritual growth and transformation. Gentry saw his art as direct contact with the unconscious, and as an artist, he neither consciously determined a work's subjective import nor final appearance. Thus, his works trace states of being and change. The Green Man theme relates to larger paintings like Spiritually Green (1978) and He Seeth All (1962) and On All Sides (1990). Gentry realized his figurative imagery through process and each work evolved out of spontaneous and direct gesture.Always Green will be available for bidding until Thursday, June 17th at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The opening bid is $1500. Please click here to visit the ArtNet site and place your bid.
Once again, many thanks to Mary Anne Rose and the Estate of Herbert Gentry for this fine donation!
A Colorful and Generous Donation!
When I wrote to http://www.herbertgentry.com/ several days ago to obtain permission to use the photograph of Herb Gentry in last week's posting, little did I know that I would receive a generous outpouring of support from his widow, Mary Anne Rose!
Rose sent a return e-mail message within 24 hours, not only to tell me that I could use the photograph, but also to indicate that she wished to donate a Gentry serigraph (silkscreen) to be sold in support of the Beauford Delaney Gravesite Project. "I know Gentry would have given a piece of his art to stimulate other giving," she wrote.
In a second message, she relayed the following:
The work is called Always Green (2000). It is from an edition of 150. The paper size is 15.25" x 11.5".
We are planning to place this beautiful serigraph up for auction as soon as we set up an account with a fine arts auction house. Until that time, the work will be available for purchase at the price of $1,500.00. If you are a collector, or know of one, who would like to acquire this work, please contact me at amisdebeauford(at)yahoo.com as soon as possible.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney thanks Mary Anne Rose for her generous contribution!
Rose sent a return e-mail message within 24 hours, not only to tell me that I could use the photograph, but also to indicate that she wished to donate a Gentry serigraph (silkscreen) to be sold in support of the Beauford Delaney Gravesite Project. "I know Gentry would have given a piece of his art to stimulate other giving," she wrote.
In a second message, she relayed the following:
I met Beauford Delaney twice, at the end of his life. It was when Gentry and I lived at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris (1978-1980), at the beginning of our lives together. Beauford was ill and residing at St. Anne's. The first time I met him, we found him in the garden wearing bright blue pajamas and a yellow straw hat, like the Van Gogh self-portrait. The attendants said they knew he was very special. The second and last time I saw him he was in bed, little and frail. He would not live much longer. Both times when Herb introduced me, Beauford took my hand and held it very gently.
The work is called Always Green (2000). It is from an edition of 150. The paper size is 15.25" x 11.5".
Always Green
Herbert Gentry
Serigraph (2000)
We are planning to place this beautiful serigraph up for auction as soon as we set up an account with a fine arts auction house. Until that time, the work will be available for purchase at the price of $1,500.00. If you are a collector, or know of one, who would like to acquire this work, please contact me at amisdebeauford(at)yahoo.com as soon as possible.
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney thanks Mary Anne Rose for her generous contribution!
Thanks to our Donors and New Appeal for Contributions!
Beauford Delaney (1901-1979)
Self-Portrait, 1950
pastel, charcoal and watercolor on paper
15" x 12 1/2", signed
© Estate of Beauford Delaney; Private Collection
Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York , NY
Patrick Albano, Aaron Galleries
James Armstrong
Estate of James Baldwin
Shelley Bradford-Bell
Sue Canterbury
Frank Carner, in honor of Irene and Billy Rose
Richard Gibson
Barney Kirchhoff
David Leeming
Richard A. Long
Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York, NY
The Reinfrank Family
Catherine St. John
Richard L. Sewell
Mary Sewell Smith
Clarence and Collie Wells
Monique Y. Wells (U.S. Federal Assistance Award)
I would also like to thank one donor who wishes to remain anonymous.
You may have noticed that the donor list is now posted in the sidebar directly beneath our "Donate" button. I will continue to add names to the sidebar, and will acknowledge future contributors in postings, as I have done here.
As I mentioned in a previous message, we are targeting August 2010 for completion of the installation of the tombstone. We now have enough money to begin the preparatory work for the gravesite, and have asked the funeral parlor to order the required materials. But we still need to collect $3100 to reach our goal! We need this money urgently so that we may order the tombstone as soon as possible to have it in place for the commemorative ceremony that we plan to hold in August. Therefore, I ask that you continue to spread the word about our project and encourage your friends and colleagues to donate. If you personally have not yet made a contribution, please consider doing so. Every dollar and euro count!
Sincerely,
Monique
President, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
U.S. Ambassador Rivkin Gives Us His Support!
Shortly after I founded Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, I contacted the Cultural Affairs office of the U.S. Embassy in Paris to inform them of our project and to see what help they could provide. I spoke with Assistant Cultural Affairs officer Jennifer Bullock, who has been my contact, and a great ally, ever since.
One of the things that we discussed was whether or not Les Amis would be able to get the Ambassador Rivkin's support for our project. Ms. Bullock told me that she would send a request to the Ambassador's office. It took several weeks, but I eventually received a warm and encouraging missive from the Ambassador himself!
I am so pleased with the tone and content of this letter that I want to share it with you. See the text, in its entirety, below:
The Cultural Affairs office has encouraged me to attach this letter to fundraising appeals to indicate to potential contributors to the gravesite fund that the U.S. government supports Les Amis de Beauford Delaney. This is exactly what I am doing. I have written to corporate entities such as the New York Stock Exchange, museums and university art departments that currently own or have previously shown Beauford's works, and galleries that sell his works to ask them to support our cause. My hope is that these letters, in addition to this blog and the media releases that I publish, will serve to increase awareness of Beauford and his art as well as encourage donations in support of our cause.
We are now just beneath the $3000 mark in our fund. Once again, my humble and sincere thanks to those of you who have contributed thus far. I am planning to recognize our donors by placing a list of their names in the right margin of the blog. I will ask each donor's permission to publicly acknowledge him or her prior to creating the list. Look for it to appear soon!
If you have not yet contributed, I vigorously encourage you to do so! We still need $5500 to reach our fundraising goal for 2010.
Sincerely,
Monique
President, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
One of the things that we discussed was whether or not Les Amis would be able to get the Ambassador Rivkin's support for our project. Ms. Bullock told me that she would send a request to the Ambassador's office. It took several weeks, but I eventually received a warm and encouraging missive from the Ambassador himself!
The Honorable Charles H. Rivkin
U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco
Photo from U.S. Embassy Web site
I am so pleased with the tone and content of this letter that I want to share it with you. See the text, in its entirety, below:
Dear Ms. Wells,
I congratulate you on your founding of the association, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, which aims to preserve and honor the legacy of this important figure in twentieth century French and American art. Your association, which seeks in particular to place a monument on his final resting place in the Thiais cemetery, is maintaining the memory of a unique artist, whose life serves as an inspiration, and whose work, in addition to its aesthetic value, serves to preserve a special period in the history of both the United States and France.
As you well know, Beauford Delaney, a close friend of James Baldwin, produced work that is now part of both French and American cultural heritage. Delaney overcame poverty and the restrictions of segregation, following his dream to Paris, where he was able to paint and live freely in a culture that valued his work.
His work, which hangs in French embassies in Taiwan and Costa Rica as well as in U.S. museums such as the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago, documents America in the 1930s and 40s, as well as American expatriate life in France. He later created beautiful abstract canvases celebrating color and light.
Delaney’s legacy therefore ought to be preserved and honored. Once again, I applaud your efforts and offer you my best wishes for the success of your association.
Sincerely,
Charles H. Rivkin
Jazz
Oil on canvas (1966)
French Embassy of Taipai, Taiwan
The Cultural Affairs office has encouraged me to attach this letter to fundraising appeals to indicate to potential contributors to the gravesite fund that the U.S. government supports Les Amis de Beauford Delaney. This is exactly what I am doing. I have written to corporate entities such as the New York Stock Exchange, museums and university art departments that currently own or have previously shown Beauford's works, and galleries that sell his works to ask them to support our cause. My hope is that these letters, in addition to this blog and the media releases that I publish, will serve to increase awareness of Beauford and his art as well as encourage donations in support of our cause.
We are now just beneath the $3000 mark in our fund. Once again, my humble and sincere thanks to those of you who have contributed thus far. I am planning to recognize our donors by placing a list of their names in the right margin of the blog. I will ask each donor's permission to publicly acknowledge him or her prior to creating the list. Look for it to appear soon!
If you have not yet contributed, I vigorously encourage you to do so! We still need $5500 to reach our fundraising goal for 2010.
Sincerely,
Monique
President, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
26 March 2010
Beauford died 31 years ago today. His funeral was held at the American Church on April 6, 1979, and his body was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Division 86 at Thiais Cemetery, just south of Paris.
For those who are visiting the blog for the first time, note that the primary mission of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney is to place a permanent market at Beauford’s grave. As president of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, I heartily thank everyone who has contributed to the $2825 that we have in the gravesite fund thus far!
We have not raised the entire amount of money required to proceed with the creation and installation of his tombstone by as of yet, but we remain confident that we can do so. We need an additional $5675 to reach our target of $8500.
We are making good progress with our goals of commemorating Beauford and informing the press and the media of his life and accomplishments. As indicated in the posting of 16 February, I presented “Beauford Delaney: From Paris to Beyond” at the U.S. Embassy Black History Month Festival and at Patricia Laplante Collins’ Paris Soirées during the month of February. Articles about Beauford have been published on the American Center France Web site (in English and French), in the Artist Features section of the online Collector Magazine published by the George R. N’Namdi Gallery, and in the South Florida Times newspaper. Beauford’s hometown newspaper, the Knoxville News Sentinel, published a notice informing the citizens of Knoxville that our organization exists and that we are accepting donations for the gravesite project. More Web publications are to come within the next several weeks.
Our biggest news to date is that we have received a wonderful letter of support from the Honorable Charles H. Rivkin, U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco! I will provide details about the letter in a future posting.
I look forward to bringing you more postings about Beauford, and to including as much information as possible from people who knew him personally. Please forward our URL to anyone who you believe would be interested in learning about him by following the blog and / or anyone who would be willing to contribute to our cause.
Thanks for your support!
Monique Y. Wells
President, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
American Church in Paris
© Discover Paris!
For those who are visiting the blog for the first time, note that the primary mission of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney is to place a permanent market at Beauford’s grave. As president of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, I heartily thank everyone who has contributed to the $2825 that we have in the gravesite fund thus far!
We have not raised the entire amount of money required to proceed with the creation and installation of his tombstone by as of yet, but we remain confident that we can do so. We need an additional $5675 to reach our target of $8500.
Division 86 at Thiais Cemetery
© Discover Paris!
We are making good progress with our goals of commemorating Beauford and informing the press and the media of his life and accomplishments. As indicated in the posting of 16 February, I presented “Beauford Delaney: From Paris to Beyond” at the U.S. Embassy Black History Month Festival and at Patricia Laplante Collins’ Paris Soirées during the month of February. Articles about Beauford have been published on the American Center France Web site (in English and French), in the Artist Features section of the online Collector Magazine published by the George R. N’Namdi Gallery, and in the South Florida Times newspaper. Beauford’s hometown newspaper, the Knoxville News Sentinel, published a notice informing the citizens of Knoxville that our organization exists and that we are accepting donations for the gravesite project. More Web publications are to come within the next several weeks.
Our biggest news to date is that we have received a wonderful letter of support from the Honorable Charles H. Rivkin, U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco! I will provide details about the letter in a future posting.
I look forward to bringing you more postings about Beauford, and to including as much information as possible from people who knew him personally. Please forward our URL to anyone who you believe would be interested in learning about him by following the blog and / or anyone who would be willing to contribute to our cause.
Thanks for your support!
Monique Y. Wells
President, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Presenting Beauford
I am pleased to announce that I will speak at two events in Paris during Black History Month in honor of Beauford and in support of the gravesite project.
The name of my presentation is “Beauford Delaney: From Paris to Beyond.” In it, I will give a brief overview of Beauford’s life, explain how I became involved in the story of his gravesite, and then present images and commentary on his life in Paris. I will discuss the evolution of Beauford’s artistic style, present information on his solo expositions in Paris and retrospectives mounted on his work after his death, and finally, speak about his final resting place and the fundraising effort that we have launched to place a permanent marker at his grave.
On Saturday 27 February 2010, I will speak at an event called “African-American Expatriates – Yesterday and Today” that is organized by the American Embassy. The address is:
New York University in France
56, rue de Passy
Paris 75016
Metro : La Muette or Passy RER : Boulainvilliers
The presentation will begin at 2:00 p.m. It will last approximately one hour, with up to a half-hour designated for questions and answers afterward. Following my presentation, there will be a talk on the 1921 race riot in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 4:00 p.m., and a poetry reading at 6:00 p.m. Wine and cheese will be served at around 7 p.m. Admission is free.
On Sunday 28 February 2010, I will speak at Patricia Laplante-Collins’ Paris Soirées. The informal evening will begin with snacks and wine, followed by a round-robin introduction of attendees. I will give the presentation, followed by questions and answers. A buffet dinner will then be served. If you wish to attend, please send e-mail to Patricia to reserve. Her soirées are always informative and entertaining! Time: 7:00 p.m. Entry fee: 20 euros.
I hope that those of you who live in Paris or who will be passing through on the last weekend of February will join me for one of these events!
The name of my presentation is “Beauford Delaney: From Paris to Beyond.” In it, I will give a brief overview of Beauford’s life, explain how I became involved in the story of his gravesite, and then present images and commentary on his life in Paris. I will discuss the evolution of Beauford’s artistic style, present information on his solo expositions in Paris and retrospectives mounted on his work after his death, and finally, speak about his final resting place and the fundraising effort that we have launched to place a permanent marker at his grave.
On Saturday 27 February 2010, I will speak at an event called “African-American Expatriates – Yesterday and Today” that is organized by the American Embassy. The address is:
New York University in France
56, rue de Passy
Paris 75016
Metro : La Muette or Passy RER : Boulainvilliers
The presentation will begin at 2:00 p.m. It will last approximately one hour, with up to a half-hour designated for questions and answers afterward. Following my presentation, there will be a talk on the 1921 race riot in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 4:00 p.m., and a poetry reading at 6:00 p.m. Wine and cheese will be served at around 7 p.m. Admission is free.
On Sunday 28 February 2010, I will speak at Patricia Laplante-Collins’ Paris Soirées. The informal evening will begin with snacks and wine, followed by a round-robin introduction of attendees. I will give the presentation, followed by questions and answers. A buffet dinner will then be served. If you wish to attend, please send e-mail to Patricia to reserve. Her soirées are always informative and entertaining! Time: 7:00 p.m. Entry fee: 20 euros.
Monique (left) and Patricia (right)
I hope that those of you who live in Paris or who will be passing through on the last weekend of February will join me for one of these events!
Beauford's Tombstone: Call for Donations
We have chosen a simple, yet elegant monument to place at Beauford’s gravesite. It consists of a Tarn granite slab that will cover the full length of the tomb. There will be no additional headstone for the monument because of economic concerns. (A full-length slab with a headstone is the norm in France, whereas in the U.S., we generally only erect a headstone.) A photograph of Beauford will be permanently fixed to the surface of the slab, and beneath it, an inscription in black letters will be carved into the stone.
The gravestone will rest on a rectangular, cement base, which will in turn rest upon a reinforcing structure that will be placed underground to prevent the tomb from collapsing.
Your contribution of $100 or 100€ to our fund will help us to place a fitting monument at Beauford’s grave. Please send your donation today.
To make a secure contribution online now, click on the "Donate" button in the right margin beneath the photo of Beauford's grave.
Checks (in US dollars) should be made payable to Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and sent to the following address today:
Monique Y. Wells
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
11503 Sandhurst
Houston, TX 77048
U.S.A.
As president of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, I would like to personally express my gratitude for your generosity and your support of this important cause! We will inform all contributors of our success once we have reached our goal.
With sincere thanks,
Monique Y. Wells
President, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
P.S. If you are unable to contribute $100 or 100€, but would still like to support us, please consider donating $50, 50€, $25, or 25€ to our cause. If you would like to contribute more than $100 or 100€, please feel free to do so!
The gravestone will rest on a rectangular, cement base, which will in turn rest upon a reinforcing structure that will be placed underground to prevent the tomb from collapsing.
Model of the tombstone for Beauford's grave
Beauford was a man of simple tastes, and we believe that the pure lines of this monument would have pleased him.
Our association is seeking to raise $8500 to cover the cost of the construction and installation of the tombstone, one year of maintenance of the gravesite, concession fees for the ten year period beginning in 2011, and miscellaneous expenses such as banking fees and postage. Our goal is to have raised this entire amount by 26 March 2010, the 31st anniversary of Beauford’s death.
To make a secure contribution online now, click on the "Donate" button in the right margin beneath the photo of Beauford's grave.
Checks (in US dollars) should be made payable to Les Amis de Beauford Delaney and sent to the following address today:
Monique Y. Wells
Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
11503 Sandhurst
Houston, TX 77048
U.S.A.
As president of Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, I would like to personally express my gratitude for your generosity and your support of this important cause! We will inform all contributors of our success once we have reached our goal.
With sincere thanks,
Monique Y. Wells
President, Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
P.S. If you are unable to contribute $100 or 100€, but would still like to support us, please consider donating $50, 50€, $25, or 25€ to our cause. If you would like to contribute more than $100 or 100€, please feel free to do so!
Journal Officiel Announcement!
The announcement for Les Amis de Beauford Delaney has been published in the Journal Officiel – two weeks earlier than anticipated! It appeared in the December 12, 2009 issue and arrived in my mailbox a week later. I have never seen anything administrative be accomplished so quickly in this country.
Now that the association has the right to enter into contracts and other legally binding activities, the next step is to open a French bank account. Because the holidays are approaching, I anticipate that this will take a little time. But maybe, “lightning will strike twice,” and I’ll be surprised once again!
A suivre… (Stay tuned…)
Now that the association has the right to enter into contracts and other legally binding activities, the next step is to open a French bank account. Because the holidays are approaching, I anticipate that this will take a little time. But maybe, “lightning will strike twice,” and I’ll be surprised once again!
A suivre… (Stay tuned…)
Our Association - Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
In France, it is surprisingly easy to create a non-profit association. Basically, all you need are two people and the desire to create an organization to achieve some goal. Neither age nor nationality is important. You write the statutes for your association, submit them to the local authorities along with a couple of additional supporting documents, and await the arrival of a confirmation notice from the authorities indicating that your organization has been created. This generally occurs within five days of your submission, provided that there is no problem with the paperwork that you submit.Approximately a month after receiving the confirmation notice, an announcement will appear in a French government publication called Journal Officiel. You must pay the journal to cover its costs for printing this announcement, but once it has been published, your organization can engage in legally binding operations. It is also eligible to receive subsidies from government and other institutions.
I undertook the task of creating our organization a few weeks ago and the process has gone very smoothly thus far. I took care to solicit advice about how to construct the statutes of the association so that they would be broad enough to allow us to engage in a wide variety of activities in pursuit of our goal. There were no questions about our documentation when I went to the Prefecture de Police (the local authority responsible for managing applications for non-profit associations), and the confirmation letter was signed three days later. It arrived within the expected time frame. We still have a couple of weeks to wait before the appearance of the announcement in Journal Officiel.
How I became involved in the affair regarding Beauford’s gravesite
Prior to the summer of 2009, I would not have considered myself a “Friend of Beauford Delaney.” I knew of Beauford’s life and his paintings because of my work: I write personalized itineraries for Anglophone travelers to Paris and travel articles about Paris. Through my research on 20th-century African-American Paris expatriates, I knew that he was well respected, and much loved. At the time that I discovered the situation regarding his gravesite, I was researching an article on African-American gravesites in and around Paris. But I was not a personal friend, or even an acquaintance.
I knew that Beauford was buried near Paris, but could not remember where. I contacted a colleague whom I believed could give me the information that I sought, but he could not remember the name of the cemetery either. He contacted his colleagues and found that Beauford was interred at Thiais. But his colleagues expressed concern that Beauford’s remains would be exhumed this year, if they had not been already.
I called the cemetery to inquire about the status of the grave. Having been assured that Beauford’s remains were still safely in the ground, I went to the cemetery to see the gravesite for myself. Armed with the coordinates of the tomb (Division 86, Line 2, Tomb 45), I found the division easily enough. However, I was unable to accurately determine the line and space for the grave because of the absence of any sign indicating line numbers or the direction that one needed to walk to begin counting the individual tombs. In addition, most of the land in this division appeared “unoccupied”—either the graves were unmarked or the spaces were actually empty. At this time, I did not know that Beauford’s grave was unmarked.
Finally, two guards were able to help me. They indicated that one begins counting the lines of a division at the lower left corner, and that one counts the tombs from left to right. They both walked the length of Line 2 and arrived at the same space for Tomb 45. The grave was unmarked, and was only distinguishable by a mound of dirt overgrown by weeds. A small, ceramic flower arrangement sat at the head of the plot, but there was no way to know whether this had been placed there by mistake.
I would later learn that the arrangement had been placed at the grave by Sue Canterbury, the curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Art who organized an exposition of Beauford’s work entitled Delaney: From New York to Paris. She is one of the persons committed to keeping Beauford’s grave intact.
Remembering the stories that I heard personal friends of Beauford tell about him, and having recently read the biography of Beauford by David Leeming, I felt that the least I could do for this exceptional man was to help keep his remains interred as long as possible. Friends gathered the necessary funds, sent them to me, and I submitted them to the cemetery. Beauford’s concession is now paid in full through 2011.
I knew that Beauford was buried near Paris, but could not remember where. I contacted a colleague whom I believed could give me the information that I sought, but he could not remember the name of the cemetery either. He contacted his colleagues and found that Beauford was interred at Thiais. But his colleagues expressed concern that Beauford’s remains would be exhumed this year, if they had not been already.
I called the cemetery to inquire about the status of the grave. Having been assured that Beauford’s remains were still safely in the ground, I went to the cemetery to see the gravesite for myself. Armed with the coordinates of the tomb (Division 86, Line 2, Tomb 45), I found the division easily enough. However, I was unable to accurately determine the line and space for the grave because of the absence of any sign indicating line numbers or the direction that one needed to walk to begin counting the individual tombs. In addition, most of the land in this division appeared “unoccupied”—either the graves were unmarked or the spaces were actually empty. At this time, I did not know that Beauford’s grave was unmarked.
Beauford's unmarked grave
© Discover Paris!
Finally, two guards were able to help me. They indicated that one begins counting the lines of a division at the lower left corner, and that one counts the tombs from left to right. They both walked the length of Line 2 and arrived at the same space for Tomb 45. The grave was unmarked, and was only distinguishable by a mound of dirt overgrown by weeds. A small, ceramic flower arrangement sat at the head of the plot, but there was no way to know whether this had been placed there by mistake.
I would later learn that the arrangement had been placed at the grave by Sue Canterbury, the curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Art who organized an exposition of Beauford’s work entitled Delaney: From New York to Paris. She is one of the persons committed to keeping Beauford’s grave intact.
Remembering the stories that I heard personal friends of Beauford tell about him, and having recently read the biography of Beauford by David Leeming, I felt that the least I could do for this exceptional man was to help keep his remains interred as long as possible. Friends gathered the necessary funds, sent them to me, and I submitted them to the cemetery. Beauford’s concession is now paid in full through 2011.
Welcome!
Welcome to the blog site for Les Amis de Beauford Delaney (English translation: Friends of Beauford Delaney)! We are a small, French non-profit organization (Association 1901), that was created in November 2009. The following are the goals of our organization:
Photo of a photo of Beauford
© Discover Paris!
Beauford (as he preferred to be called) died intestate in Paris, France in 1979. He was buried in an unmarked grave in a cemetery outside Paris. Per French custom, fees for gravesites must be paid at regular intervals—or the remains of the deceased will be exhumed and either placed in a common grave, or cremated and scattered in a garden. Several friends of Beauford discovered that his fees (concession in French) had not been paid since 1981. We recently collected the money to settle the outstanding debt for his gravesite so that he is assured of resting in peace until 2011. We now want to place a permanent marker at his grave, as well as provide a means for continued payment of the gravesite fees and the maintenance of the marker.
For more details, please refer to the following articles:
A Final Resting Place for Beauford Delaney
Burial site of Knoxville's Beauford Delaney remains undisturbed thanks to friends, admirers
We have already obtained permission from the Paris Cemetery Service to place the monument, and we have selected a simple, yet dignified tombstone to honor Beauford’s memory. But we have no funds to cover the cost of the construction of the slab. We have therefore created Les Amis de Beauford Delaney to provide a legal means of collecting the money to proceed.
Please stay tuned for further blog entries as we keep you informed of our efforts. If you have questions, or wish to contribute, please do not hesitate to contact us at amisdebeauford@yahoo.com.
- 1) Placement and maintenance of a tombstone for the grave of painter Beauford Delaney, who is buried at the Parisian Cemetery of Thiais.
- 2) Payment of the renewal fees for his grave.
- 3) Organization of commemorative or educational events in his honor.
- 4) Inform the press and the media of his life and accomplishments.
© Discover Paris!
Beauford (as he preferred to be called) died intestate in Paris, France in 1979. He was buried in an unmarked grave in a cemetery outside Paris. Per French custom, fees for gravesites must be paid at regular intervals—or the remains of the deceased will be exhumed and either placed in a common grave, or cremated and scattered in a garden. Several friends of Beauford discovered that his fees (concession in French) had not been paid since 1981. We recently collected the money to settle the outstanding debt for his gravesite so that he is assured of resting in peace until 2011. We now want to place a permanent marker at his grave, as well as provide a means for continued payment of the gravesite fees and the maintenance of the marker.
For more details, please refer to the following articles:
A Final Resting Place for Beauford Delaney
Burial site of Knoxville's Beauford Delaney remains undisturbed thanks to friends, admirers
We have already obtained permission from the Paris Cemetery Service to place the monument, and we have selected a simple, yet dignified tombstone to honor Beauford’s memory. But we have no funds to cover the cost of the construction of the slab. We have therefore created Les Amis de Beauford Delaney to provide a legal means of collecting the money to proceed.
Please stay tuned for further blog entries as we keep you informed of our efforts. If you have questions, or wish to contribute, please do not hesitate to contact us at amisdebeauford@yahoo.com.