Kate McGarrigle 1946-2010

One of Janice's very favorite recording artists died this Monday. Although she and Janice never met formally, we did have the great pleasure of seeing her perform with her sister Anna at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano. Linda Ronstadt describes what it was like to see the McGarrigle sisters in today's LA Times obituary, which you can read here:

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-kate-mcgarrigle20-2010jan20,0,2618111.story

I can not help but be struck by the similarities between Janice and Kate. The were the same age, they both died of rare forms of cancer, they were both highly regarded artists that never found huge widespread fame, nor cared to aggressively pursue it.

I can't say enough good things about Kate's music. I can tell you that from the time Heartbeats Accelerating came out in 1990 until the day she died, this album never was too far from Janice's CD player. I posted the following tribute to Kate on her website (mcgarrigle.com) last night. My comment is number 281, and I reprise it here for you.

I am sure that Janice has already begun to show Kate the ropes in heaven, and that they two of them have an awful lot to catch up on.

Dear Anna and family-

I was very saddened to hear the news of Kate’s passing today. I have
followed your work since the 70’s, and my wife and I were both big fans.
Living in Southern California seemed to mean that live appearances by you
were few and far between in our neck of the woods, but I still remember very
fondly the night we saw you at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano back
in 1990. It still remains one of my very favorite concert experiences.

Kate’s passing has an additional personal significance for me. I lost my
beautiful wife of 27 years back in September, also from an uncommon form of
cancer. Like Kate, she was born in 1946, was a mother, a wife and a
grandmother. She was also an incredibly talented artist, although her chosen
field was painting and assemblage as opposed to music. Her journals (all 126
of them) reside in the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution.
You can see her work out at http://www.janicelowry.com.

She and Kate were both taken from us far too soon, and leave large gaping
holes in two very remarkable families. My deepest sympathy and very best
wishes go out to all of you. I feel your pain very much.

A grateful fan,

Jon

New interview with Janice from Where Women Create sessions

Jo Packham, who published the beautiful interview with Janice in the current issue of Where Women Create also does an e-newsletter. This weeks issue features an antidote from Janice that was not published in the magazine, and Jo has shared it with us here.

It is so, so Janice. I think you will really enjoy it. Here is a link to the story:

http://www.wherewomencreate.com/newsletter-feature/09/novdecjan.html

The painting Janice is talking about in the interview is now in the collection of her oldest son Brandon and his wife Carri. A few weeks before Janice died, she made one last visit to her studio with me and all of our children and their wives. They each got to choose one piece, and Carri chose that painting. Janice had always refused to sell it, since it was one that gave her so much courage to keep fighting her fears. And in the end, she never did sell it-she gave it away to the next person she thought might be needing it.

Jon

Janice's friend Julia needs your support

Janice met Julia Beers almost immediately after moving to California in 1976. Son Kevin was enrolled into Kindergarten, and when Janice went to the new parent orientation, there was Kevin's new teacher Julia. The two creative, gregarious earth mothers with their giant hearts and dreaming spirits immediately connected, and Julia remained one of Janice's closest friends until the day she died.

Nearly 20 years ago, Julia was diagnosed with breast cancer and not given much hope for recovery. But Julia is a resilient soul. She beat the disease and has remained cancer free all these years.

But life has played it's cruel tricks. Cristoph, her husband at the time was to be stricken with cancer himself shortly after Julia was and died a few short years later. Julia was single for many years, but this September she became a newlywed to Jim Kelly, and they are happily head over heels in love.

Having just returned from their honeymoon, Julia was not feeling well, and was taken to the hospital. Doctors discovered a large cancerous tumor in her skull pressing against her left frontal lobe, and it was surgically removed this past Friday.

At this point, they are awaiting the results of a biopsy to see just what it is they are up against. It is definitely serious, but Julia is hopeful, and as always, a fighter.

Chances are, if you are a friend of Janice's, you are probably a friend of Julia's too. Her friends have set up a website to keep everyone posted, as well as give people the opportunity to send Julia their love and support. And this is where you come in.

It certainly made a big difference to Janice and I to know so many people out there were caring for us, and I would ask you to do the same for Julia. You can access her site at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/juliabeers

She and her family would love to hear from you.

Much love,
Jon

Where Women Create on newsatnds now

The November 2009/Winter 2010 issue hit the news stands this week, and it is really beautiful. This issue features one of the last major interviews that Janice ever gave, and is eight pages long. It was shot at her studio in February of this year, just before we found out about the cancer. She is absolutely full of life and energy, and the photos are really the nicest that were ever taken of Janice in her last studio.

Jo Packham has put together a truly beautiful package, with 12 different women artists profiled. Although Janice didn't get to see the finished product, she did see a proof of her article before she died, and she agreed with me that this was probably the nicest article that had been done on her. If you are reading this blog, chances are good you'll want this book.

Jon

Genevieve and Jon at the installation of Janice's ofrenda

I came by to see Genevieve as she put the final touches on Janice's ofrenda at the Bower's Museum Friday, October 30th. That Sunday alone, over 4,000 people came to the Day of the Dead celebration at the Bowers. Janice would truly have loved that. I have a feeling she was there checking it all out.

Thanks again to Nancy Johnson and everyone else at the Bowers for making it happen.

Jon

Pictures of Janice's ofrenda at the Bowers Museum

Thanks again to Genevieve and all at the Bowers. It looked beautiful. In case you missed it, it will be in the basement level of the Santora building as part of the Santa Ana artwalk on Saturday, November 7th.
Jon

Janice to be featured at Bowers Museum Day of the Dead celebration

Janice had many friends and admirers who work at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, and they have chosen to honor her at this years Day of the Dead celebration. Genevieve Barrios-Southgate has been constructing Day of the Dead altars (or "ofrendas") for about 15 years, and has done one for Janice in the front lobby of the Bowers. I went there yesterday for it's installation, and loaned Genevieve a number of Janice's personal affects for the altar. It's really beautiful, and something Janice would have loved. It combines her long love affair with traditional Mexican art with her long love affair with the Bowers, and I am so pleased that it has happened for her.

The offrenda will be up at the Bowers only until Tuesday, November 3rd. It will then be moved over to the Santora Building in the Santa Ana Artist's Village as part of the first Saturday Art Walk and Day of the Dead celebration on Saturday, November 7th.

I hope you will get a chance to see it at one of these locations. Here is a link to the Bower's website that mentions Janice:

http://www.bowers.org/index.php/learn/events_details/135

Thanks again to Nancy and everyone else at the Bowers that knew and loved Janice.

Happy Day of the Dead-
Jon