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12-7-08 The Noel Rockmore Project Update |
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Greetings!
We have some exciting Rockmore events and news on deck for you. Hopefully, you have in hand your "save - the - date postcard" for our February 14th Rockmore Valentines day Get-Together at Bryant Gallery in New Orleans. If you don't, you are only on our email list and should consider sending us your regular (snail) mail address.
Sad news on a Rockmore related front was the passing of Odetta, the Voice of the Civil Rights movement at age 77, see obituary by clicking here. Rockmore painted Odetta twice in 1963 on March 17th - above, and the next day on March 18th - click here to see the somber other painting - two 60X40 oils in two days - quite impressive! This was to be the year that Odetta would become the Civil Rights Voice at the 'Dr. Martin Luther King -March on Washington" where she sang "O' Freedom." Odetta was also a big part of the The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival as shown in this touching photo from Michael Smith's book, New Orleans Jazzfest A Pictorial History.
We have been working hard on the documentation and putting in chronological order over 5000 Rockmore paintings and documents gathered from across the country. Each piece is assigned a catalog #, description and then ordered within a master folder. You can then trace in documents, paintings and brochures the life of Noel Rockmore and his parents month by month after 1957 through 1995.
At this point, we estimate that we have documented less than 50% of the Rockmore works that we know are out there. As far as sharing all of the Rockmore works online or in a publication or DVD, we are not close to that at all - maybe a year or more. So there is still plenty of time to get your Rockmore artwork, documents or photos included.
As a way to share what we are uncovering with those of you that are interested, we have scheduled several events in the upcoming months. These events will allow you to see all that we have uncovered to date in an edited down slide show. We will also be making a major effort in the coming months to contact and add new characters (those who knew Rockmore), collectors (own Rockmores) and Insiders (everyone else). We can use all the help we can get spreading this word so if you know someone who might like this Project, please send us their snail mail or email.
We hope to see or hear from you soon.
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Upcoming Events - Rockmore Valentines Get Together - Feb 12-14 2009 |
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This is the photo of Gypsy Lou Webb (news article) and Noel Rockmore that was on the "Save the Date" postcard that we sent out. Special Thanks to Johnny Donnels who let us use it and Andy Antippas who has the photo in his collection.
We were inspired by Gypsy Lou & Mike Stark (see painting at top) to try and do something with this Rockmore event that might pay tribute to the Quarterites that helped transform the Quarter of the 50s to what it became in the 60s-80s. With this in mind our theme became "the Homage to the French Quarter" which is the painting that proudly hangs in JoAnne Clevengers Upperline Restaurant. Our next Update will have a fill in the blank part to help us identify those in the Homage that we don't know.
Sunday January 4th, 2009 2-5PM Bryant Gallery
Want to see a slide show of the treasures uncovered so far and help plan the Rockmore Valentines Get together? This is an event for you at the 321 Chartres Bryant Gallery in New Orleans. Let us know by email if you can come.
Rockmore Valentines Day Get Together Feb 12,13,14
(Formal invites with RSVP will arrive in early January - if we have your address)
Day 1 Thursday, Feb 12th - Slide Show & Rockmore Walking Tour 3PM Slide Show Insiders Meeting at a site TBD, then afterwards a walking tour of Rockmore haunts in the Qtr. (Tentative thoughts - Johnny Whites, The Alpine, Preservation Hall, the Skyscraper, Cassell gallery, 511 Royal, Orleans St. Apt, St. Peter St. Apts, Maison Bourbon, Fritzell, Vaucresson - Cafe Creole, ~8PM - Dutch Treat dinner at possibly Mulates (Cajun food & music) - if you have any thoughts on places, would like to speak at a place or have ideas to add to this day - please email us asap.
Day 2 Friday, Feb 13th - 3-6PM Event TBD (ideas?) - 6-9PM Tribute to Gypsy Lou & the Quarterites at The Jazz & Heritage Foundation - Tribute to Honor those depicted in Homage to French Quarter - especially Gypsy Lou Webb - possible raffle, mini auction, sharing of stories, music?, food, drinks -
Day 3 Saturday, Feb 14th - 4-6PM Insiders Opening Bryant Gallery,
6-9PM - Public Opening - Rockmore Valentines Day Get Together
- Do you have Rockmore artwork of any of these characters that you would like to have on Display at Bryant as part of this Get-Together? Let us know asap -
Artist, Patrons & Dealers - - Max Hill, Larry Borenstein, Xavier de Callatay, Charles Richards, Gene Daymude, John Miller, Sister Gertrude, Bruce Brice, George Wein, Victor Potamkin, Vincent Price, Bryant Allen, William May
Quarterites - Larry Borenstein, Pat Borenstein, Alan Jaffe, Sandy Jaffe, Bill Russell, Gypsy Lou Webb, Jon Webb, the Old Man, Ruthie the Duck Lady, Jules Cahn, Johnny Donnels, Joe Marcal, Andy Antippas, Mike Stark, Dodie Smith Simmons, Resa Lambert, Sandi Miller, Brenda Maitland, Barbara Reid, Tom Bethell, Johnny White, Alpine John, Dan Leyher, Tom Hill, the scary clowns - (who did we leave out?)
Quarterite Kids - Sacha Clay, Rachael Borenstein, Ben Jaffe, Russell Jaffe, Kelly Edmiston, Gene Daymude, Bunny Kaminsky, Anna Lambert, Noel Nami
Girlfriends/wives - Betty - 1st wife, Antonio, Anja, Saki, Carol, Robin - 2nd wife, Mary May, Janice, Riva, Micki, Andrea, Rita, Mary May
We do not need Rockmore Jazz musicians, family paintings, abstracts, Egyptian grid or Travel paintings for this event - that is for the future. |
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Results St. Charles Auction - September 27-28 |
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"Mike Sultzer", ink and watercolor on paper, sight 14" x 11", St. Charles Gallery Estimate = $150 - $300
The Rockmore Project Buy Rating: $100-$150 a steal
Sold for $150
"Leslie - Tie-Dyeing Clinic", ink and wash on paper, sight 10-1/2" x 13-1/2", "Rockmore, June 22, 1970".
The Rockmore Project Buy Rating: $100-$150 a steal, $150-$225 a great buy
Sold for $175
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Results Neal Auction Oct. 11 & 12 |
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LOT DESCRIPTION
"Chicken Henry" oil on canvas, signed, titled and dated "April 1st, 63" 76 in. x 38 in., in a period frame.
Neal Auction Estimate = $4000-$6000
The Rockmore Project Buy Rating: $3K-$4K a steal, $4K-5K a great buy, $5K-7K Good Investment, $7K-
Sold for $7500
"Golden Star" (Star Joey) oil on canvas, signed and dated "'81" upper right, 24 in. x 18 in.
Neal Auction Estimate = $3500/5500
The Rockmore Project Buy Rating: $1K-$2K a steal, $2K-3K a great buy,
Sold for $2500
 "Joey II" (Star Joey) oil on board,"'82" lower right, "1982, Aug. New Orleans" en verso, 24 in. x 20 in.
Neal Auction Estimate = $3500/5500 The Rockmore Project Buy Rating: $1K-$2K a steal, $2K-3K a great buy,
Sold for $2500
 "My Mother (Glady Rockmore Davis)" pen and ink drawing, "61, New York" lower right, sight 12 3/4 in. x 9 1/4 in., framed. Neal Auction Estimate = $700/900
The Rockmore Project Buy Rating: $800-$1000 a steal
Sold for $200 | |
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"Tenants Anyone?" - by Johnny Donnels - 
