In 1955, my mom, dad, sister and I moved to Clark Air Force Base in the Philippines Islands. My dad, Maj. Joseph Champion Krimm, was a Comptroller for the Air Force Communication Command. I was in second grade and only interested in baseball, football, Cub Scouts and riding my bike. I am not sure what my six-year-old sister was doing! Sorry, Sue.
However, I do remember my mother, Ruby Griff Krimm, taught swimming on the base and started taking charcoal drawing and oil painting classes. Many of her early pictures were landscape scenes and still life. In 1957, we moved to the Washington D.C. area, then to California in 1960 and to Belleville, Illinois in 1961. As I remember this time, her artistic focus changed from painting to sewing, knitting, hat making, and square dancing with my dad. Of course, Sue and I also took up much of her time and energy.
When my parents moved to Greenwood, Missouri in 1970, they established the Art Barn, a framing and antique consignment shop. She began to paint again and framed her own works plus artwork from local artists. Dad and Mom started attending auctions and collecting all types of antiques to sell in the Art Barn. They also bought many numbered prints and the silk embroidery pieces from China displayed on the Silks page. She loved framing and they both enjoyed collecting.
My parents have always been active members of the Catholic Church. I remember my mom often designed and sewed vestments and large banners to hang in the church. They presented these as gifts to the local church and priests. She often served on the committee responsible for the altar flowers and used her artistic eye to create beautiful floral arrangements.
In 1980, mom and dad decided to “retire” and moved to Fairfield Bay, Arkansas. In this home, she claimed the downstairs “furnace room” as her framing area and created an artist corner with her easel, brushes and paints. Her works in oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media often matched the view outside their home. She also painted from pictures she took while on vacation in Canada, Alaska, and even our vacation to Switzerland.
Mom joined the North Central Arkansas Artist League at Fairfield Bay and painted with several artist friends there. She helped to organize different types of group painting classes and workshops. She never stopped wanting to learn different painting techniques. She and the Artist League often displayed their works at the North Central Arkansas (NCA) Art Gallery at Fairfield Bay and at local hospitals and libraries. Her work was recognized and awarded ribbons on numerous occasions. Dad died in 2006 and we moved mom to Flower Mound in 2015. She now resides at Autumn Leaves Memory Care facility.
All of the antiques, paintings, prints, silks and embroidery works will be sold at an estate auction on March 10th. A sampling of merchandise is shown under each tab on the menu. Individuals and dealers are welcome to bid. We look forward to seeing you there.
Joe and Linda Krimm