Historical February–March 2005 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
In late 2004, we lost a significant artist, friend of the neighborhood, and unforgettable personality.
I did not know Bill Kohn well although I wrote about him and his work several times. But, he left a very strong impression on me and I am glad I was able to meet him.
I became acquainted with Bill Kohn at Duff’s.
The stunning landscape that graces the wall in one dining room catches the eye of everyone who enters as it did mine.
I knew the artist lived in Skinker DeBaliviere and had a studio at Four Corners but that is all I knew. That situation changed when neighbor and Regionals Arts Commission director Jill McGuire suggested I do a story on Kohn’s exhibit on Inca country in Peru, then at the Elliot Smith gallery.
I made an appointment to meet him there and was taken aback by the scope and breadth of his paintings and by his vibrancy.
He was clearly a man who loved what he did and loved life.
His work displayed tremendous presence and terrific use of color.
He and his wife Pat had been quite active in the neighborhood in the 1970s and his studio at Four Corners was a very important anchor to that part of the neighborhood.
A friend who lived on 59xx Kingsbury once passed the studio on a walk with her two year old daughter.
The door was open and she thought it was available for viewing. Kohn greeted her warmly and showed her the work in progress.
She wanted to see more of his paintings.
The last time I saw Bill Kohn I was crossing Des Peres and confronted with a group of men riding bicycles. One was Bill.
He won a governor’s award for work in the arts and enjoyed considerable success.
I keep small representations of the Duomo in Florence and Macchu Picchu in my study. Like many of us, I enjoyed the art—but—even more I enjoyed the person. We’ll all miss him.
Original photograph caption
Bill Kohn gallery photograph accompanying remembrance; other people not individually identified by source.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2005.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2005_02.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
