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The artist in his studio, early 1960's...photo t knerr....................................Kiichi in the 1970's This page will be expanded by the addition of tributes to Kiichi as they become available. Please send your personal thoughts for inclusion to: email: ...... tknerr@art-spirit.net USMail: Ted Knerr, 120 Riverside Drive, Apt7w, NY, NY 10024-3709 Thanks
Kiichi
We first met Kiichi at the Art Student's League in New York City, when Lois was studying painting there in 1966-67. We have many memories of Kiichi and Betty with our family from that period. One of our mutual painter friends, Mary Bucher, had a two year old daughter Ann, who was very frightened of Kiichi for some reason, and of course he felt bad about that. Soon afterward Kiichi stopped by and rang our doorbell while our daughter Dara, then also two, was having her diaper changed. She squirmed off the changing pad and ran to meet him (for the first time) and put out her arms for him to pick her up (bare bottom and all). It was instant attraction. Kiichi said her welcoming acceptance meant a lot to him.
Kiichi and Betty kindly came to the New York Infirmary (now Beth Israel Hospital) to drive Lois and our new baby Amanda home. Betty said she liked the hospital because it was very international in staff and patients. She felt comfortable there and chose it for a place for Eriko's entry into the world. That summer we have a treasured photo taken at the beach of four families of friends connected to the League including Kiichi and Betty, the Bucher's, the Bagley's and our family, all obviously having a great time together.
In 1968 Kiichi invited Ted to have a one-person show of his sculpture complete with a beautiful catalog. We were impressed to learn recently from his own catalog that he often painted portraits of collectors without charge to thank them for their support of the gallery. Another example of his kindness, and generosity.
Kiichi was a fine man and a wonderful artist. We're very sorry we didn't get to see him again in recent years. His creativity in the face of the difficulties of his last years was miraculous. Not only did he keep at it, his work flowered and kept getting even stronger.
Lois and Ted Knerr, June 2001
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