What an exciting Rockmore adventure we have just completed down to GA, NOLA and Dallas. The REALLY BIG NEWS is that we met with an Award Winning Documentary Filmmaker based in NOLA & NYC that wants to do the definitive Rockmore documentary film next. His last short documentary film was a hit at Cannes, Sundance, NYC, LA, Dallas, Austin, Chicago & more. The most exciting thing to us was that he owned Rockmores and he "understands Rockmore" as a NOLA/NYC genius American artist with famous parents. This deal is moving so quickly down the track that we wanted you to be able to share in the thrilling anticipation. We will be redoing the web page soon with hundreds of new Rockmore additions to help accomadate the filmmaker. After that we will be contacting many of you to discuss the possibility of filmed interviews of characters and collectors by regions in the US.
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Ralph & Nita Howard |
Our visit down south began with a trip to Georgia to pick up the art and say thanks and bon voyage to
Ralph Howard who was on his way to Australia for 2 months.
Ralph & Nita Howard were the LaGrange collectors who breathed life into the LaGrange Museum Show, party & catalog that led us to where we are today. Without their support Rockmore would not have been revived.
Shirley saved the art and
John Ed Bradley wrote the article,
The Tomb of Noel Rockmore, and mentioned the
Rockmore LaGrange Show when it was just a concept. Then Ralph & Nita had the vision to bring it out of storage to be shared with the world. The
LaGrange Art Museum made it happen after that along with the
Lamar Dodd Art Center &
Cochran Gallery and Rockmore was back.
Cain Burdeau wrote the
Rockmore AP article with an assist from
Barbara Woike on AP photos and suddenly Rockmore was known worldwide.
After Georgia it was on to Baton Rouge where we picked up Shirley and headed out to Slidell to see Gypsy Lou Webb. Lou was doing great at 95, feisty as ever and willing to venture to the Tacos & Beer, watering hole. 
Tee showed Lou the personal video that Clint Maedgen of Pres Hall band had sent to Lou using her iPhone. Suddenly, Gypsy Lou looked over my shoulder with a scary glare and shouted, "What the heck are you staring at?" I did not turn around for fear it was a biker or burly drunk guy she was snarling at but whoever it was completely disappeared. I decided that if I make it to 95 it sure would be nice to be an intimidating force of nature like Gypsy Lou & Shirley Marvin. Lou was in good health & spirits and had made an initial trip to the Senior Center. She is still getting letters and occasional checks and she writes back all who write her. She has some visitors as well (she just missed Edwin Blair - her patron for life who left his card while we were out with her) and she would like more letters so if you have a chance - Gypsy Lou Webb, 1050 Cousin St. Apt. A, Slidell, LA, 70458.
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Mary & Eric Laub (right) - Herschel Weisfeld (far right)Pinochelle & Jester Courtesy The Laub Collection |
We arrived in Dallas and we met collector Herschel Weisfeld who had known Rockmore since 1979 when he was introduced to Rockmore by Rita Posselt. Rockmore bonded with Herschel over his college years at Tulane. Rockmore really appreciated Herschel's love of fine art and we heard some great stories that detailed a very encouraging side of Rockmore that we don't often hear about. We then saw a fantastic collection of art from Herschel's many friends who all seem to become sought after artist.
New Rockmore collectors, Eric & Mary Laub, joined us to see Herschel's collection and then we proceeded to the Laub's home where we saw the stunning Rockmore's to the left and several more. We were treated to a house tour with many art wonders and then we were served a delicious home cooked meal. Over dinner we brainstormed ways to get Rockmore the Artworld recognition that still eludes him.
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Phil & Renee Thompson |
The next day with met with Rockmore collector Phil Thompson & his wife Renee. We had bonded with Phil who was an avid Rockmore eBay collector and he and his wife Renee came by Herschel Weisfeld's as we documented Rockmores and then we all went out to a great Italian dinner at Patrizios. Last fall we got the saddest goodbye letter from Phil to his UK (Kentucky) alumni friends where Phil had starred in football from 67-69. Phil was the party coordinator for UK athlete alumni events and was letting his friends and teammates know that he had bone marrow cancer and a not great prognosis but to please party on for UK without him. Then we got an email a month ago after his eBay auction win, Phil was back and doing much better and was actually a candidate for a stem cell bone marrow transplant that he underwent this past week. Sometimes, when we least expect it, God looks right at us through another man's courage and we are never the same. Prayers to Phil & Renee & their kids, and Phil certainly has the right BBall team for March Madness and the right attitude to beat his cancer.
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March 16, 1986 - Exuma, Bahamas |
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With the Schurmeiers this year in Backwoods GA
at decorated Hunter's Pub |
We (Tee & Rich) will be celebrating our 26th Wedding Anniversary this Friday, March 16th. We were married in Exuma, Bahamas and both my college roommates, Bill Baumler & Mark Schurmeier (right), surprised us there. Mark, a doo wop singer, sang "This Magic Moment" by Jay & The Americans a cappella in the town square and would call on our anniversary and sing it until he tragically perished in Tower 1 on 9/11. His parents came to the Rockmore opening in LaGrange and we had a great time with them..
These Shirley Marvin Collection Rockmore works below will be available on eBay this ThursdayMarch 15th at 10PM Eastern Time. This time is different than normal because if you list an eBay item before the clocks change, you will be off by one hour - lesson learned!
Peace, Health & Happiness to all,
Rich & Tee & Shirley Marvin
The Noel Rockmore Project Team
www.Rockmore.org
The End
