This week my mother, Eleanor Creekmore Dickinson, turned 81. Happy Birthday Baba! We are in the midst of clearing out her San Francisco house for sale. Eleanor has been an artist all of her life. Below are photos of some of her honors and tributes and certificates we found in the house. I expect more will turn up as we sort stuff…
Children of the Confederacy, Eleanor Vaughan Creekmore, membership certificate in the Auxilliary of the Daughters of the Confederacy, upon the record of Great Grandfather Emmanuel Bolli, 1945
Poster with drawings by Eleanor and a poem (“Thoughts to a Concerto of Telemann”) by Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 1963. Inscribed: “For Eleanor + thank you Lawrence Ferlinghetti”
National Cathedral School, 1978 Alumnae Citation, Eleanor Creekmore Dickinson “In recognition of your innovative artistic gifts and our sensitive interpretation of American culture, and with pride in your continuing achievements”
Art Commission of the City and County of San Francisco Award of Merit to Women’s Caucus for Art for Distinguished Work in Art and Civic Projects, 33rd Annual Art Festival, 1979
Portrait of Eleanor, paint on wood with burned-in frame by Howard Finster, Inscribed: “Eleanor Dickinson, The Lord Careth For You, Wood Stain Art Beyond This World, By Howard Finster Man of Visions, 1981, 2000 And_ 203 Paintings”
California College of Arts and Crafts / Master of Fine Arts in Film/Video, 1982
San Francisco Art Institute Distinguished Alumni Award “In recognition of outstanding contribution consistent with the goals and purposes of the Art Institute, and with the development of the fine arts”, 1984
National League of American Pen Women, Inc. Award to Professor Eleanor Dickinson The Distinguished Service Citation for Art and Social Activist, 1989
Women’s Caucus for Art President’s Award “In Recognition of Your Contribution to the Women’s Movement and the Arts” 1995
California College of Arts and Crafts Confers Upon Eleanor Dickinson the Status of Professor Emerita Drawing “In Recognition of Your Outstanding Contribution to the College” 2001
Women’s Caucus for Art – Honor Award for Lifetime Achievement In the Visual Arts, “We honor you, Eleanor Dickinson, as a visual and intermedia artist, professor, activist, curator, and author. Your career has articulated a line of love that has encompassed the American people. You drew our silent suffering when our ideology of freedom failed and pumped a subdued light into our night of pigmentation, cancer or AIDS. You helped us see our lovers. You made us love our gospel with a syncopated urgency that moved in and out of a contour breath. You gave fire to a vision of each for the other and the American experiment”, rounded glass frame, 2003
Collage and Poem by Claudia Chapline to celebrate Eleanor’s 80th Birthday, 2011
Images by Katy Dickinson 2012 Copyright
