Memorials Planned For Two Arts and Crafts Friends
As you may have read here a few weeks ago, we recently lost two Arts and Crafts friends: Paul Duchscherer and Dan Lopez. Plans for memorials for both of them have now been announced.
Well-known Arts and Crafts author and speaker Paul Duchscherer passed away last month after a courageous battle with a brain tumor discovered earlier this year. Ever seeking fresh outlets for his creative nature, Paul began writing what eventually amounted to 17 books, many done in collaboration with Douglas Keister and Linda Svendsen. Among them were The Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Home (1995), Inside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Interior (1997), and Outside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Garden (1999), all published by Penguin Putnam, Inc. Attendees of the National Arts and Crafts Conference held each year at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC came to know Paul well, for he often appeared as a seminar speaker, a discussion leader, and a landscape design workshop teacher.
A celebration of the life of Paul Duchscherer will be held on Saturday, October 7th at the historic 1877 McDonald Mansion “Mableton” in Santa Rosa. Paul played a pivotal role in the restoration of the mansion and considered his work on it to be part of his legacy.
Dan Lopez, a well-known and highly-respected Arts and Crafts antiques dealer and an early supporter of the National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn, passed away at his home in Kansas City on June 4th.
Dan was known for his keen eye for design, not only in work from the Arts and Crafts era, but for American art pottery and Mid-Century pieces as well. He canvassed the Midwest, searching for great examples, and creating a network of friends in the process. At the Grove Park Inn’s show, Dan’s booth was always a buzz of activity, not simply because of the pieces he brought, but as much for Dan’s animated stories that accompanied everything he brought.
Suzanne Perrault, David Rago and Cathy Shacklett are organizing an event commemorating Dan’s life at the Rago auction house in Lambertville, NJ on Sunday, September 17 from 5:30 until 7:30. “We are hoping to share stories and look at photos,” Suzanne explained, “so if you have photos of Dan, please send them so we can put together a video album. Also, anyone with a good story or memory will be welcome to share it if they wish.” Suzanne’s email is [email protected].
As any additional information becomes available, we will announce it here.