Mike C. Berry is Gallery Manager at the University of Tennessee (UT) Downtown Gallery and Artist/Owner of Mike C. Berry Studio in Knoxville, TN. He has developed a unique and fascinating "relationship" with Beauford through his framing of Beauford's art for UT. He graciously provided Les Amis with an interview in which he "tells all," including how Beauford's work influences his artistic practice.
Because Berry was so generous with his responses, this interview is presented in three parts.* Find Part 3 below.
Les Amis: Talk about your visit to Beauford’s grave at Thiais Cemetery during your recent visit to Paris.
MCB: On Oct 12, 2023, I took the Paris Metro south out of the city center arriving at the Cimetiere Parisian de Thiais on a overcast drizzly morning. I knew I was looking for “Avenue M, Division No. 86,” and I began to walk in the quiet expanse of this rather large cemetery. I walked for some time finally arriving at Square 86. I walked in between the hedges thinking "Ok, this should be easy to spot because it’s a new piece of marble within a section of old broken headstones overgrown with weeds."
Image courtesy of Mike Berry
I walked around the square which is literally a approx. 50-60 foot square of plots with hedges on each side and not seeing anything I began to wonder if I were in the wrong section. At this point I haven’t seen a soul and it's quiet, all I hear are the rustling of trees and occasionally airplanes above because of its close proximity to Orly airport. Just then, a cemetery attendant approached me from behind. He actually startled me to be honest. I’m standing among graves and I hear “Bonjour!” I probably jumped a little. He smiled and asked me if I spoke French, which I do not, and he told me that he did not speak English.
So, with various hand gestures I communicated my search to him. He somehow was convinced that I was not in the right section and he motioned for me to follow him. I thought this odd as I had just walked past the sign marking Section No.86. We took several steps around a large piles of broken tombstones and I saw it. I exclaimed, "Oui oui, Monsieur, this is it" as I pointed. He smiled and excused himself as I thanked him.
I stood in the drizzling rain and a flood of emotions and thoughts filled my mind. Mainly how short life can be. Mostly just thoughts of respect and honor for an artist that did what he loved and tried to express himself and figure it all out through a mountain of obstacles and hardships ... very much like will all do. I thought about the passage of time and its swiftness. I thought about art, life, his life, light, color....
Image courtesy of Mike Berry
I thought about sense of place and belonging and Beauford’s love of Paris. I thought about eternity and Heaven. The last line on Beauford’s tombstone reads: "I am Home." I interpreted this as his eternal rest in heaven or his love for Paris. I think both would be appropriate interpretations. But thinking about home, especially Knoxville, which has been my home for over half of my life and Beauford’s birthplace and family home, I decided to make a sketch to leave on the tombstone as an expression of love and gratitude from Knoxville.
Image courtesy of Mike Berry
Once the sketch was completed, I slipped it into a Ziploc bag and placed it under the ceramic flowers. I also made a few rubbings of the tombstone inscription to take home for remembrance. I gathered my backpack and stood in silence, said a short prayer of thanks and exited through the hedges and began my quiet walk back to the Metro station.
This memory will stay with me forever ... me alone in a Paris cemetery paying respects to a great artist.
Very special, such a honor.
Les Amis: Any final thoughts?
MCB: I am really blessed to have an active role with the Delaney Estate in helping to raise the profile and honoring a great artist by promoting and preserving his works. Each day I am grateful to use my talents to help and benefit Beauford’s great legacy. A special thanks to Derek Spratley whose kindness and generosity has overflowed onto me.
Thank you, Derek.
*Read Part 1 of the interview HERE.
*Read Part 2 of the interview HERE.
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