A fan of many types of music, my mother had a special fondness for folk music, and Joan Baez, in particular. Janice had a subscription to TIME magazine and would read it daily over lunch. In 1962, TIME ran a cover story on Ms. Baez. Imagine my mother's surprise when she saw a photo of Dr. and Mrs. Baez at home with daughter Mimi. The painting on the wall behind them had a strangely familar look.
American Portrait Artists supplied my mother with a slide of every painting she did, to be used for reference on future assignments. She looked through her file, and there it was the painting she had done of Joan, some twelve years earlier! She had been to the Baez family home in New Jersy, I believe it was, to do the paintings from life, not the usual APA custom, and had enjoyed meeting the family, having, of course, no idea that this little girl would grow up to such prominence!
Joan Baez
American Portrait Artists supplied my mother with a slide of every painting she did, to be used for reference on future assignments. She looked through her file, and there it was the painting she had done of Joan, some twelve years earlier! She had been to the Baez family home in New Jersy, I believe it was, to do the paintings from life, not the usual APA custom, and had enjoyed meeting the family, having, of course, no idea that this little girl would grow up to such prominence!Joan BaezJanice wrote to TIME:
At that time, she also did a painting of Joan's older sister, Pauline.
When Mrs Baez saw my mother's letter in Time, she sent the following note:
Mrs. Albert Baez
9 Rue Sedillot
Paris 7 France
Dear Miss Campbell---nay Mrs. Candela:
I had to say hello after all these years. And I had to tell you that those Pictures of Pauline + Joanie have been in the most prominent positions always in every house we’ve lived…and we have lived in many!
Pauline’s is on the other side of the room. We’ve always loved those pictures!
I hope you’re still doing more + more children…
As our Folk-singing Joanie sings (only in the bath-tub), “some cat’s got it + some cat’s ain’t.” I think you got it –
Very truly – Joan Baez (Sr)
9 Rue Sedillot
Paris 7 France
Dear Miss Campbell---nay Mrs. Candela:
I had to say hello after all these years. And I had to tell you that those Pictures of Pauline + Joanie have been in the most prominent positions always in every house we’ve lived…and we have lived in many!
Pauline’s is on the other side of the room. We’ve always loved those pictures!
I hope you’re still doing more + more children…
As our Folk-singing Joanie sings (only in the bath-tub), “some cat’s got it + some cat’s ain’t.” I think you got it –
Very truly – Joan Baez (Sr)
2 comments:
What a great story! Thanks for sharing it. Would've been an even better story if the Baez family had contacted your mother after the letter. :)
Hey! Thanks for the update. And it is an even better story. How fun.
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