Andrew Wyeth 1917-2009
We live near the Brandywine River Museum http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/ which houses an enormous body of his work and is the backyard to most of the settings in which Andrew painted. My stepfather worked as a security guard at the Brandywine Museum for many years. Wyeth was a regular visitor to the museum and many people did not recognize the old man in the worn barn jacket and scuffed boots. My stepfather, Jim, is a retired flight navigator, and Andrew was always intrigued with flying. Andrew and he would trade questions. Andrew wanted to know about the planes, and Jim wanted to know about the symbolism in his paintings. Over the years they traded a ton of info! When I visited the museum, I always had my personal tour guide, Jim pointing out things in the paintings. Andrew gave Jim a signed print of Christina after he moved some stuff for him once. My favorite story about Andrew at the museum: On one particularly crowded day, Andrew opened his barn coat, pulled out a brush and some paint and started painting on one of the paintings while it was hanging on the museum wall.  Since nobody knew who he was, the visitors gasped and scattered, while the guards laughed at the scene evolving. Andrew thought the ribbons on a May Pole were not bright enough. 
In a strange twist of sadness & coincidence, my grandmother, 94, also passed away today. Her last visit to the east coast was in the spring of 95-96 (She lived in Arizona and always hated traveling east of the Mississippi). My mother decided to take her to the Brandywine Museum that day to go see Andrew Wyeth's paintings. My mother hadn't met my stepfather Jim before that day. If it wasn't for Andrew Wyeth's paintings & my grandmother's east coast visit, they never would have met. It is such a bittersweet coincidence that they both passed on the same day. I'll miss my grandmother more though...  |
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| What a sad coincidence.
I'm very sorry for your losses, Deb.  |
| That is a loss!!
I am so sorry for you. It is so hard when a loved one passes and is far away. |
| WOW. What great memories. Sorry for the loss of your grandmother.. |
| That is amazing. What a great story.
I am sorry about your loss. |
| The stories are great, Deb. I know and admire some of his works, but nothing on a personal level like that.
to you and your family on the death of your grandmother. |
| What a wonderful story, Deb. I am really sorry for your losses. |
Deb, I'm so sorry for the loss of your grandmother.  What great memories you have of her and her part in helping your mother and step-father meet. |
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