A Second Plaque for Beauford - Update
Good news!
Les Amis has received approval from the City of Paris for the installation of a second plaque honoring Beauford in the 14th arrondissement. It will be mounted on the façade of Hôtel Le M at 20 bis, rue de la Gaîte.
Le M Hôtel
Image from the Hôtel Le M Web site
Beauford frequently took meals with friends at a restaurant called Les Mille Colonnes that was once located at this address.
In April 2014, the City of Paris approved the mounting of a plaque at the Odessa Hotel, which is only a couple of blocks away.
Hôtel Odessa
© Discover Paris!
Beauford stayed at the Odessa when he first arrived in Paris in 1953.
Stay tuned for updates on the fabrication of the plaques and the installation ceremony!
Les Amis has received approval from the City of Paris for the installation of a second plaque honoring Beauford in the 14th arrondissement. It will be mounted on the façade of Hôtel Le M at 20 bis, rue de la Gaîte.
Image from the Hôtel Le M Web site
Beauford frequently took meals with friends at a restaurant called Les Mille Colonnes that was once located at this address.
In April 2014, the City of Paris approved the mounting of a plaque at the Odessa Hotel, which is only a couple of blocks away.
© Discover Paris!
Beauford stayed at the Odessa when he first arrived in Paris in 1953.
Stay tuned for updates on the fabrication of the plaques and the installation ceremony!
Live from Paris! The Art and Life of Beauford Delaney
I recently had the great pleasure of being interviewed by my friend Tim Paulson, marketing master, art lover, and artist, about Beauford.
I introduced Tim to Beauford's art in 2010 and told him that one of Beauford's self-portraits hangs at the Art Institute of Chicago. When Tim visited the museum and saw the painting, he was so captivated that he took several detailed photos of it and shared them with me for the blog:
Beauford at the Art Institute of Chicago
Detail of Beauford's 1944 Self-portrait
Art Institute of Chicago - Gallery 262
Image courtesy of Tim Paulson
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Tim is a brilliantly inspired artist in his own right and he has begun to explore his love of art in a new way by creating the Art Lovers Podcast. Soon after launching the podcast, he contacted me to ask if I'd be willing to record a segment about Beauford. Of course I couldn't refuse!
Listen to our interview entitled "Live from Paris! The Art and Life of Beauford Delaney" (dated November 3, 2014) on ITunes at the following link (there's no charge):
The Art Lovers Podcast
I introduced Tim to Beauford's art in 2010 and told him that one of Beauford's self-portraits hangs at the Art Institute of Chicago. When Tim visited the museum and saw the painting, he was so captivated that he took several detailed photos of it and shared them with me for the blog:
Beauford at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago - Gallery 262
Image courtesy of Tim Paulson
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Tim is a brilliantly inspired artist in his own right and he has begun to explore his love of art in a new way by creating the Art Lovers Podcast. Soon after launching the podcast, he contacted me to ask if I'd be willing to record a segment about Beauford. Of course I couldn't refuse!
Listen to our interview entitled "Live from Paris! The Art and Life of Beauford Delaney" (dated November 3, 2014) on ITunes at the following link (there's no charge):
A Second Plaque for Beauford
In April 2014, I posted that the City of Paris approved the mounting of a plaque honoring Beauford in the 14th arrondissement.
Today I bring news of the possibility of a second plaque in the same neighborhood.
If approved, this one would be placed at 20 bis, rue de la Gaîte.
In an interview that I conducted with Beauford's friend Colin Gravois in 2010, Colin talked about a restaurant that was once located at this address. It was called Les Mille Colonnes and Beauford liked to eat there.
Les Mille Colonnes was a renowned dance hall during the 19th century. Documentation of the history of the associated restaurant is sketchy, partly because other sites in Paris operated under the same name.
Postcard - Les Mille Colonnes restaurant
Rue de la Gaîté à Paris, circa 1900
The site is currently occupied by the Hotel Le M. The owner granted permission for the placement of the plaque earlier this year and Les Amis de Beauford Delaney submitted a request to the Préfet de Paris for official approval shortly thereafter. We recently discovered that the dossier was never received by the appropriate office and have relaunched the request. With luck, we'll receive notification of approval in early 2015 and can begin planning for the installation of both plaques.
Today I bring news of the possibility of a second plaque in the same neighborhood.
If approved, this one would be placed at 20 bis, rue de la Gaîte.
In an interview that I conducted with Beauford's friend Colin Gravois in 2010, Colin talked about a restaurant that was once located at this address. It was called Les Mille Colonnes and Beauford liked to eat there.
Les Mille Colonnes was a renowned dance hall during the 19th century. Documentation of the history of the associated restaurant is sketchy, partly because other sites in Paris operated under the same name.
Rue de la Gaîté à Paris, circa 1900
The site is currently occupied by the Hotel Le M. The owner granted permission for the placement of the plaque earlier this year and Les Amis de Beauford Delaney submitted a request to the Préfet de Paris for official approval shortly thereafter. We recently discovered that the dossier was never received by the appropriate office and have relaunched the request. With luck, we'll receive notification of approval in early 2015 and can begin planning for the installation of both plaques.
Les Amis Breaks for the Summer
It's summertime!
Beauford's painting Composition 16 (shown below) has all the warmth and glow of a summer day.
Composition 16
(1954-56) Oil on canvas
Private Collection
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Image courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York , NY
We're taking a few weeks off to rest and rejuvenate. We'll be back before September to bring you more great information about Beauford's life and art.
Hope you're enjoying or looking forward to a fabulous vacation!
Beauford's painting Composition 16 (shown below) has all the warmth and glow of a summer day.
(1954-56) Oil on canvas
Private Collection
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Image courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery, LLC, New York , NY
We're taking a few weeks off to rest and rejuvenate. We'll be back before September to bring you more great information about Beauford's life and art.
Hope you're enjoying or looking forward to a fabulous vacation!
Les Amis Pays Homage to Darthea Speyer
Darthea Speyer passed away on May 20, 2014, at the age of 95. She was one of Beauford's strongest and most faithful supporters during his Paris years.
Beauford and Darthea Speyer (left) at American Cultural Center event
Image courtesy of Robert Tricoire
Reproduced with permission by the U. S. Embassy in Paris
Darthea grew up surrounded by art. Her mother was a painter and a sculptress. Both of her parents collected art and Darthea began her own collection at the tender age of 15. Her sister is a painter and her brother was an architect who went on to become the curator of 20th-century Painting and Sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Darthea studied art history at New York University. She came to Paris as a cultural attaché for the United States Information Services (USIS) in 1950 and began to encourage interest in American art among the French. She opened the American Cultural Center on rue de Dragon in 1957 and the Galerie Darthea Speyer on rue Jacques Callot (designed by her brother, James) in 1968. She commissioned many paintings by Beauford (including the portrait represented in the image below) and showed his works at both of these venues.
Image courtesy of Robert Tricoire
Reproduced with permission by the U. S. Embassy in Paris
Darthea grew up surrounded by art. Her mother was a painter and a sculptress. Both of her parents collected art and Darthea began her own collection at the tender age of 15. Her sister is a painter and her brother was an architect who went on to become the curator of 20th-century Painting and Sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Darthea studied art history at New York University. She came to Paris as a cultural attaché for the United States Information Services (USIS) in 1950 and began to encourage interest in American art among the French. She opened the American Cultural Center on rue de Dragon in 1957 and the Galerie Darthea Speyer on rue Jacques Callot (designed by her brother, James) in 1968. She commissioned many paintings by Beauford (including the portrait represented in the image below) and showed his works at both of these venues.
(1965) Oil on canvas
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Image courtesy of Galerie Darthea Speyer
Through her work, American artists became much better known and solicited in France.
Due to failing health, she closed her gallery in early 2010 and returned permanently to the United States. Her treasure trove of art was sold at auction at Christie's Paris. Several of Beauford's paintings were among the collection.
To read more about Darthea and Beauford, click HERE.
A Plaque for Beauford: Latest News
I am thrilled to announce that the City of Paris has granted approval for the placement of a plaque honoring Beauford! It will be affixed to the façade of the two-star Hôtel Odessa, 28, rue d'Odessa, in the 14th arrondissement.
The hotel is modernizing its appearance. When I first visited several months ago, the entrance to the lobby was shaded by a brown awning and the space above the door was opaque. The old model of the Paris tourism plaque was displayed to the left of the door.
Hôtel Odessa Entrance
© Discover Paris!
Now a new, transparent canopy graces the entryway and a glass panel above the door allow more light to enter the lobby. A sleek, new plaque provides details of the hotel's classification for tourists.
Recently renovated entryway at Hôtel Odessa
© Discover Paris!
New canopy at Hôtel Odessa
© Discover Paris!
Beauford's plaque will be placed to the right of the entryway so as to be readily visible to all who pass by.
The next steps will be to determine the final dimensions of the plaque and the material from which it will be constructed.
I will post information about progress on the installation as soon as it becomes available.
The hotel is modernizing its appearance. When I first visited several months ago, the entrance to the lobby was shaded by a brown awning and the space above the door was opaque. The old model of the Paris tourism plaque was displayed to the left of the door.
© Discover Paris!
Now a new, transparent canopy graces the entryway and a glass panel above the door allow more light to enter the lobby. A sleek, new plaque provides details of the hotel's classification for tourists.
© Discover Paris!
© Discover Paris!
Beauford's plaque will be placed to the right of the entryway so as to be readily visible to all who pass by.
The next steps will be to determine the final dimensions of the plaque and the material from which it will be constructed.
I will post information about progress on the installation as soon as it becomes available.
A New Year for Les Amis de Beauford Delaney
Happy New Year everyone!
It's hard to believe that the Les Amis blog has been in existence for just over four years! I have loved every minute of the effort that it has taken to keep Beauford's memory alive and to share his artistic gift with the world. 2013 was particularly special in this regard due to the large number of paintings that Beauford's estate has recovered and the exposition at Levis Fine Art that showcased many of them last May / June.
Untitled: Abstract in Red, Green, Ochre and Black
(1962) Gouache on wove paper
Signed and dated lower right, Paris
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Image supplied by Levis Fine Art Gallery*
This year, Les Amis hopes to accomplish something that will preserve Beauford's memory in a different way. The organization continues to pursue the possibility of having a Beauford Delaney commemorative plaque installed in Beauford's beloved Montparnasse.
We were engaged in talks with the Hôtel Lenox (formerly the Hôtel des Ecoles) about this last summer, but the owner of the building eventually declined to accept our proposal. Happily, the owner of the Hôtel Odessa, where Beauford spent several of his first days in Paris, has agreed to have the plaque installed there. We must now receive the approval of the City of Paris before anything further can be done. I will certainly keep you posted as things progress!
Hotel d'Odessa
© Discover Paris!
I have also had the pleasure of meeting Paris residents who knew Beauford personally and who have graciously taken the time to talk with me or write to me about their experiences with him and to show me paintings that he gave them. I plan to bring you as many of these stories as I receive permission to share.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the faithful followers of this blog for your support and encouragement. I am looking forward to sharing new discoveries with you in 2014!
Beauford's Paint Box
© Discover Paris!
It's hard to believe that the Les Amis blog has been in existence for just over four years! I have loved every minute of the effort that it has taken to keep Beauford's memory alive and to share his artistic gift with the world. 2013 was particularly special in this regard due to the large number of paintings that Beauford's estate has recovered and the exposition at Levis Fine Art that showcased many of them last May / June.
(1962) Gouache on wove paper
Signed and dated lower right, Paris
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Image supplied by Levis Fine Art Gallery*
This year, Les Amis hopes to accomplish something that will preserve Beauford's memory in a different way. The organization continues to pursue the possibility of having a Beauford Delaney commemorative plaque installed in Beauford's beloved Montparnasse.
We were engaged in talks with the Hôtel Lenox (formerly the Hôtel des Ecoles) about this last summer, but the owner of the building eventually declined to accept our proposal. Happily, the owner of the Hôtel Odessa, where Beauford spent several of his first days in Paris, has agreed to have the plaque installed there. We must now receive the approval of the City of Paris before anything further can be done. I will certainly keep you posted as things progress!
© Discover Paris!
I have also had the pleasure of meeting Paris residents who knew Beauford personally and who have graciously taken the time to talk with me or write to me about their experiences with him and to show me paintings that he gave them. I plan to bring you as many of these stories as I receive permission to share.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the faithful followers of this blog for your support and encouragement. I am looking forward to sharing new discoveries with you in 2014!
© Discover Paris!