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Saturday, January 4, 2014

A New Year for Les Amis de Beauford Delaney

Happy New Year everyone!

It's hard to believe that the Les Amis blog has been in existence for just over four years! I have loved every minute of the effort that it has taken to keep Beauford's memory alive and to share his artistic gift with the world. 2013 was particularly special in this regard due to the large number of paintings that Beauford's estate has recovered and the exposition at Levis Fine Art that showcased many of them last May / June.

Untitled: Abstract in Red, Green, Ochre and Black
(1962) Gouache on wove paper
Signed and dated lower right, Paris
© Estate of Beauford Delaney,
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Image supplied by Levis Fine Art Gallery*

This year, Les Amis hopes to accomplish something that will preserve Beauford's memory in a different way. The organization continues to pursue the possibility of having a Beauford Delaney commemorative plaque installed in Beauford's beloved Montparnasse.

We were engaged in talks with the Hôtel Lenox (formerly the Hôtel des Ecoles) about this last summer, but the owner of the building eventually declined to accept our proposal. Happily, the owner of the Hôtel Odessa, where Beauford spent several of his first days in Paris, has agreed to have the plaque installed there. We must now receive the approval of the City of Paris before anything further can be done. I will certainly keep you posted as things progress!

Hotel d'Odessa
© Discover Paris!

I have also had the pleasure of meeting Paris residents who knew Beauford personally and who have graciously taken the time to talk with me or write to me about their experiences with him and to show me paintings that he gave them. I plan to bring you as many of these stories as I receive permission to share.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the faithful followers of this blog for your support and encouragement. I am looking forward to sharing new discoveries with you in 2014!

Beauford's Paint Box
© Discover Paris!

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