Monday, May 12, 2008


I have spent several days with fellow alums and Barbara Bradley's daughters slowly going through the contents of her studio. In stark contrast to the two alums' studios featured earlier, here is her palette, and taboret, which followed her out from her days at Cooper Studios! Her last rinse of the watercolor brush was still in the jar and was awaiting her return. So silent and sad. So amazing and miraculous, though, was opening drawers full of drawings, paintings, and watercolors on par with the best anywhere. I hope that there will be exhibitions and books out as she was a prodigious producer and the work must be seen. I imagine her, arriving upstairs, and having Al Parker take off his hat to her!

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6 Comments:

Blogger Constance McLennan said...

Thanks for the post, though it is heartbreaking to think about. Hope they will find a way to share the artwork, which I would love to see.

7:40 AM  
Blogger Jason said...

My heart just sank two feet looking at that picture Chuck. I don't envy such a difficult task. I'm relieved that you and her family are there to handle her life's work with the utmost reverence, admiration and respect it deserves. J.C. Leyendecker comes to mind as an example of just how horribly things could be handled. Barbara's legacy is in good hands. Hang in there! I'll see you at the memorial in June.

8:24 PM  
Blogger Ian T. Kirkpatrick said...

That is a haunting image, but perfect to measure Barbara's legacy! Thanks for posting Chuck, see you next Thursday!

10:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

John Clymer's studio set-up has been preserved at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming in a room that also contains many of the Native American artifacts he used in his western paintings. It's like he just stepped out to lunch.

Wouldn't it be nice if Barbara's workspace, just as it is shown in the photo, could be similiarly moved and placed in a room surrounded by her work and tributes from her students?

Could the Academy, with their vast San Francisco real estate holdings, find such a space?

Hi Chuck, ancient student of yours from the late 1980's here, still plugging away.

10:00 AM  
Blogger chuck pyle said...

we're trying to save as much as possible, mostly it will be BB's art, of which there is a ton, mostly never seen. fabulous and bookworthy in its own right!

8:24 AM  
Blogger chuck pyle said...

Her memorial will be Thursday evening, June 5th, at 7PM. St Brigid's , VanNess at Broadway, in SF

11:58 AM  

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