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Dear (Contact First Name),
THIS IS IT! The final arrangements are all in place for the BEST Artworld coming out party of all time where Noel Rockmore will take center stage starting Oct. 28th-30th in LaGrange, Georgia with "Creative Obscurity: The Genius of Noel Rockmore!" Most of you by now have received your collectible LaGrange Art Museum Invitation Packets (if you did not or if you need more, please send us your mailing address, or other addresses to mail to). There will be over 220 Rockmore artworks to view over three venues and a Beautiful 80 Page Rockmore Color Catalog with over 100 color images, the most EVER in any Rockmore catalog. The only way to get one is to come to the show during the 3 months it's up and you might as well come to the BIG OPENING for an art experience you won't soon forget including a Rockmore Masquerade Halloween Party!
We spent the last several weeks in LaGrange working with the staff and attending an endless stream of major art happenings there. We arrived in time for the opening of the Francoise Gilot show attended by the 89 year old artist and bestselling author widely known as the lover and artistic muse of Pablo Picasso from 1944 to 1953, and the mother of his children, Claude Picasso and Paloma Picasso. She later married the American vaccine pioneer, Jonas Salk. She was awarded a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur, in 1990.
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Presentation of the Key to LaGrange to Francoise Gilot from Mayor Jeff Lukken |
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Tee & Francoise Gilot & Rich at Opening |
At 89 she was lovely, poised and gracious to everyone she met and she met lots of people. She attended many functions and was there because her godson lives in nearby Hogansville and his wife is on the board of the LaGrange Museum and they asked her to do this exhibition. The artwork was stunning and so was the presence of Francoise. In her remarks, Francoise mentioned how nice, appreciative and welcoming this little part of the world is and different from other places she has been. We could not agree more, it is something you really need to experience in person.
We shared living arrangements with a guest artist from Ireland, Mark Clare, who was doing an installation work commissioned by the LaGrange Museum. It was interesting living with a modern day artist and understanding the huge difference between the way artist are supported in the UK & Europe (applying for grants and endowments) and the USA (make your own way while maintaining a teaching job at a school). Several art teachers from surrounding towns came for Mark's opening in a great show of solidarity for their friend. Mark constructed a full scale shotgun southern house in the courtyard behind the museum.
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Artist - Mark Clare |
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Construction of Shot Gun House in LaGrange Museum Courtyard |
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LAM Crew - Mark - Tee |
Another LaGrange Opening that we became involved in was The Breast Cancer Awareness Event at the Museum led by Amber Dow who had survivors decorate paper mache torsos and then exhibit them at the Museum to coincide with Paint the Town & Museum Pink Day (we're talking Pink water in the fountain of the completely Pink town with everyone dressed in Pink). Tee became the documenter of both events and the spirit of the town support coupled with the heartfelt stories of survivors who put their pink handprints on the Museum's exterior was emotional, inspiring and unforgettable. You can view Tee Marvin's photos of Amber's show "BodyWorks The Journey" here and "Paint the Town & Museum Pink" here.
The Rockmore LaGrange Show will be up until the end of January 2012. We will be on hand for the October opening with Shirley Marvin and will also make ourselves available to Curators, Directors and Collectors from other Museums who wish to make the Rockmore exploration pilgrimage to LaGrange in the coming months. We will actually be heading down to LaGrange next week to do some last minute details and attend the Hummingbird Festival in Hogansville and then it is on to daughter Macy & Bodie's Wedding in Louisiana (with Mega party to follow January 7th). Next we will catch the opening of Curator Dan Cameron's Prospect 2 in NOLA with Shirley before returning to LaGrange for the BIG Rockmore show!
There will be two days of Shirley Marvin Collection Rockmores on eBay this coming weekend On Saturday October 8th and Sunday October 9th at 10PM Eastern time. See below.
What a great moment it will be in LaGrange for Shirley Marvin in her 89th year to see over 200 of her Rockmore works on display. This is the start of something really big and all because she believed in Noel Rockmore and his art and she knew one day that holding on to it would lead to his rediscovery and eventually the recognition we all know he deserves. Please let us know if you plan to come to the show! THIS IS IT!
Thanks to all that made it happen,
Rich & Tee & Shirley Marvin
The Noel Rockmore Project Team
www.Rockmore.org | 
