Olaf Palm: 'West Coast Old Master' - Real Estate Magazine

Real Estate Magazine Editorial 475for Printingon,” Richard says in the book, “we started playing jazz together. We recorded twice. I miss Olaf a lot. He had acertain earthiness about him that many local musicians recognized.”Olaf and Susan sponsored several lively Art and Music camps in the years they were together. Many finepaintings of the musicians came out of these camps.Chapter Six: “Troubled Times, Serene Settings”The death of Olaf’s son Andy in 1996 was a great loss to him. This melancholy period was reflected in his art.He followed this period up with lush landscapes, quiet groupings of people, and affectionate portraits. Olaf wasdiagnosed with inoperable cancer in 1999.“Jalleen nakenisen taivossa, rakas Olaf (words quoted from Finnish national epic poem, spoken at his funeral)—Until we meet again, farewell dear Olaf.” The book’s epilogue tells the story of Olaf’s last days and hisunforgettable funeral.About the PublicationIrene’s self-published art biography of Olaf Palm is truly a labor of love. His artistic genius speaks for itselfthrough the pages of this beautiful book, and along with his own words from his journals we too come to loveOlaf Palm, the “Quintessential Mendonesian,” as Irene calls him.Irene D. Thomas, Ph.D., grew up in New York and has taught English, linguistics and education at severalCalifornia State University campuses, then made a second career in educational publishing. She moved to theMendocino Coast in 1987. After the death of her first husband, she left the area for seven years. Back on theMendocino Coast, she’s remarried now, to Frank Howard, a support tech specialist [at Mendocino CommunityNetwork, an Internet service provider.] They are passionate Argentine Tango dancers.I first met Irene [on the Mendocino Coast] when she was a member of the singing trio “Nothing Flat” with SandyGlickfeld and Nansee New. Olaf liked the way Irene sang.[She remembers], “I sang with him in the beginning of our friendship and I sang with him at the end.”I asked Irene what she wanted the readers of Olaf Palm, A Life in Art to see when they read this book. Heranswer: “I would like for people who knew him to recognize him and hear his voice again. And I want others tobe introduced to him, and to learn what it was like to be in the presence of this man—hearing his words andseeing his work, grouped by genre and chronology for the first time.”Special mention must also be made here of local resident, Dale Moyer, the designer of this wonderful book, andan accomplished artist in his own right.This limited edition of Olaf Palm, A Life in Art is available for purchase in late September 2005. Composed,compiled and edited by Irene D. Thomas, Ph.D.; designed by Dale Moyer of Moyer Design, Inc.; primaryphotographer, John Birchard; self-published by Redwood Springs Press, Fort Bragg, California.The book will make its official debut at a retrospective of Olaf Palm’s work from October 4 to October 29, 2005at the Mendocino Art Center, with a gala opening and book signing on Second Saturday, October 8, 2005, from5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.You can also meet Irene Thomas, the author and publisher, at the Gallery Bookshop on Sunday, October 16 at3:00 p.m. See http://www.olafpalm.com for more information about Palm and this biography.The hands now know how to do it.I no longer have to give thought to technique.I only have to think about whatI want to do in the picture.file:///Users/chuckhathaway/Documents/WebSites/real%20estate%20mendocino/editorial_475print.htm (3 of 4) [12/31/07 4:04:49 PM]