Tombstone Inscription
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Less than a year after founding Les Amis de Beauford Delaney, I am extremely pleased to announce that Beauford’s tombstone is in place! The inscription reads:
Beauford Delaney
Peintre • Painter
30 December 1901 - 26 March 1979
Born: Knoxville, Tennessee USA
Died: Paris, France
"I am home"
As a reminder, Les Amis was founded in November 2009 with the intent to accomplish the following:
1) Placement and maintenance of a tombstone for the grave of painter Beauford Delaney, who is buried at the Parisian Cemetery of Thiais.With your generosity and moral support, we have accomplished these goals in less than one year! We have the money to renew Beauford’s concession at Thiais Cemetery (to be paid in 2011); we have participated in three commemorative and educational events in his honor thus far in 2010 (hosted by the American Embassy, Paris Soirées, and the G. R. N’Namdi Gallery), and we have been successful in getting articles and blog postings published about Beauford.
2) Payment of the renewal fees for his grave.
3) Organization of commemorative or educational events in his honor.
4) Inform the press and the media of his life and accomplishments.
Most importantly, we have succeeded in placing a simple, yet elegant tombstone at Beauford’s burial place.
Beauford’s Unmarked Grave – July 2009
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Preparation of the Gravesite – Summer 2010
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Tombstone – August 2010
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Les Amis de Beauford Delaney will hold a commemorative ceremony at Beauford’s gravesite to “inaugurate” the stone and to honor Beauford’s memory. The U.S. Ambassador has indicated his willingness to host a reception following the ceremony. Les Amis and the Ambassador’s staff are currently looking at possible dates for the two events. In the interim, planning for the commemoration is already underway.
Please continue to follow this blog for updates on the ceremony and reception.
3 comments:
Charles Boggs, a close friend of Beauford Delaney and himself an American painter living in Paris, died at the age of 89 on October 26, 2010 in Cavaillon in the south of France. Interviews with Boggs by scholars of Delaney have been cited numerous times in articles and books, most recently in Sue Canterbury's beautiful exhibition book, Beauford Delaney: From New York to Paris. A celebration of his life is being planned for some time in the Spring or Summer of 2011. If you wish to be a part of this event, please contact Ben Allaway benlmnop@aol.com, 515-720-1038 (USA). We hope to gather pictures and photos for the event, to be held at Galerie W.
Charley Boggs would have loved that Beauford's grave was being tended to and adorned in this way. Many thanks for what you have done!
Ben Allaway
Beauford's good friend Charles Boggs died this year, and I am proposing a "Remembering Charley" party/exhibit for the weekend of June 25 in Paris. Either Saturday or Sunday. The idea would be for all of Charley's friends and family in Paris and across France and Europe to come to, possibly, Galerie W in Paris, bringing with them their favorite Boggs. If you wold be interested, please contact me at benlmnop@aol.com.
Many thanks,
Ben Allaway, son of Bill Allaway of University of California
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