Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 15-18, 1965

Jan. 15 to Jan. 18 (Fri. to Mon.)

[As the Burchfield Penney Art Center approaches our 50th Anniversary year, A Burchfield quote that provides some insight to our orgins]

Visit of Susie and Joe Walker, (the reason: to go over the problem of our wills). We found ourselves congenial at once, it seemed as if we had known each other for years, and this was a re-union, not a first meeting –

Two visits in the studio (Friday and Monday, which we all enjoyed) –

The wills full of problems, but we made progress.

Joe wanted to get the “feel” of the whole background so, when I mentioned the college was considering a “Burchfield Art Center” he wanted to visit it as well as the Albright Knox Gallery – So I arranged the [sic] Edna should have lunch with us at the gallery – They “fell in love” with her immediately (afterwards, Joe kept saying what a wonderful stimulating they had had) – after lunch, an all too brief excursion through the French collection then to the College – She showed us Paul Bulger’s office where “December Storm” is hanging – and then on to the second floor the three large rooms now being used as a library, which is being considered for the time being, as a possible location for the Art Center – (walls would be removed one big unit resulting) – a fine view of the Albright-Knox across the street – (She said some felt eventually it ought to be a separate building on the campus) –

A visit to Upton Hall and a discussion of the whole problem of wills and foundations “ – I told Edna we might want her to serve in some way, either executive or advisory and she said she would be willing to help in any way she could.

Sunday – after church we called them up and planned a visit to the Falls, dining at the Sheraton-Brock’s tenth floor dining room – They were ecstatic over the Falls (her first visit, his first in winter) –

Monday – Visit to the studio, then to the airport where we lunched, before their “take-off” which was at 2:30. On the way over, something was said about cats fighting and I told how my brother Joe and I enjoyed cat-fights so much, especially at night. Susie said, “My Joe can imitate a cat-fight well; dog fights too; in fact he can imitate other animals as well birds” – So I said, “The car windows are closed how about giving us a sample?” So he did, much to our delight, both cat – and dog-fights! They were most realistic. At that moment he reminded me so much of my brother Joe – A sort of debonair almost zany quality which endeared Joe to so many of us.

We enjoyed ourselves at lunch. Susie had a sense of humor to match Joe’s  - we parted in a warm glow of “Komeraderie” [sic].

Charles Burchfield, Journals, January 15-18, 1965