13365: Gerard: Fw: In Memoriam

[corbetre@webster.edu]

From: Gerard <grlato@adelphia.net>

---------------------------------
IN MEMORIAM
LAWRENCE PEABODY
1924-2002
---------------------------------
 Friday, October 11, 2002 -

Haitian Art lost one of it's most prominent supporters with the passing
away of Larry Peabody. Those of us who knew him are deeply saddened by his
death. He died August 19 of a cerebral hemorrhage at Massachusetts General
Hospital.

Larry Peabody first came for a visit to Haiti with his wife Bette in the
early sixties. As an already successful American interior designer, his
encounter with Haitian Art was an important one, for him and for Haiti.
At about the same time he and his wife decided to stay in the country. They
acquired from Tonton Lysles in Pacot one of the fanciest gingerbread
palaces built by Léon Mathon in 1912 for Gustav Keitel. Larry completely
restored and lavishly decorated the house, using exclusively art and crafts
from Haiti. This house celebrated Haitian Art. His clients mostly abroad
and sometimes in Haiti discovered and welcomed his Caribbean touch. His
work appeared in respected magazines such as Architectural Digest and
Travel & Leisure.


Peabody House

Larry left Haiti a few years ago, but continued to visit regularly. Art was
always on his agenda. On his trips to Port au Prince, he made regular
visits to Galleries such as the Centre d'Art or the Galerie Monnin. He had
a passion for antiques, he could spend hours with his friend Michèle Manuel
at La maison Defly. Until the end Lawrence Peabody never failed to promote
the country he had adopted and who had adopted him.

Haiti lost a friend and the Haitian art community is mourning.

LMS


www.artmediahaiti.com/amh-journal/index.shtml