April, 2005

A LIFE IN PICTURES
On the eve of his first career retrospective, photographer Bud Lee looks back at some of his favorite shots.

The Weekly Planet Article By Eric Snider

Jan. 24, 2004

BUD LEE AND FRIENDS SHOW:
Thanks to everyone who made it possible!

Call it an eclectic indulgence of the creative eye: swirls of color, shapes, black and white, forms of film, metal, paper, wood and glass. But for celebrated photographer Bud Lee it was a ray of hope and an illumination of the love and respect art lovers have for his work.

More than 1000 people from New York to Miami, Gulfport to Plant City, rubbed elbows and other appendages at the Lotus Room Gallery in Tampa on Jan. 24, 2004 to bid on the work of Lee and friends. The Bud Lee and Friends Show was a tremendous success with more than 240 pieces of art auctioned to benefit Lee, who has been bed-ridden since suffering a stroke in August 2003 and has no health insurance to cover vital physical therapy.

Musicians playing acoustic instruments including mandolin, guitar, didgeridoo, concertina, violin and sprocket twanger roved through the brick-walled gallery along with Bohemians, the well-heeled, undercover cops and reporters as they shared Bud Lee stories, penciled in bids for their favorite pieces and dined on Tampa’s famous Cuban cuisine.

Lee, who is recovering at the Community Convalescent Center in Plant City, was unable to attend the packed event. Nevertheless, his wry, unadulterated perspective was never farther than a gallery wall. Images of Lee’s work from the ‘60s and ‘70s flashed on a distinctive wall screen. Some prints of those same images sold during the live and silent auctions. Lee fans also bid on Bud’s sketches, paintings, collages and assemblages. The Port-a-let decorations also were amazing and well worth the wait.

The event’s tremendous success goes to many longtime Lee friends and event organizers including Denise Myhre, Susan Johnson, John McEwen, David Hall, Lissa and Charles Lyman, Lynn Logsdon, Annie Walstead, Jenny Carey, James Harvey, Lynn Waddell Harvey, Ann and Jim Graves, Carolyn Kossar, Paul Wilborn, David Audet, wife Peggy, the Lee children - Thomas, Parker, Steckly and Charlotte…

Business owners that were so kind in their support include Val Spies and Joanne Karpay of the Lotus Room, Tampa Blueprint (Thank you! Stewart Lippe for blowing up those gorgeous prints of Bud’s collages) Clayton Galleries, Tampa Theater, Madstone Theaters, Specialized Painting, Hillsborough Community College-Ybor, Gordon and Denise of Grown Man Films, Strictly Entertainment and Peter of Melaragno Films… (Those interested in Peter’s 2-hour documentary of the evening can contact him at pmelaragno@gmx.net. Copies are $40 with the funds going to Bud after costs.)

In addition to Lee’s work, the paintings, sculptures, photographs and multi media work of the following artists were auctioned: (Your generosity was only exceeded by your smiles)

Jeff Whipple, Mic Knight, Elizabeth Mitchell, Roger Palmer, Susanne Camp-Crosby, Judy Tampa, John Costin, John McEwen, James Tokley Sr, Sylvia Curbelo, Rick Melby, Ed Ross, David and Kat Dye, Joanne Karpay, Andy Karpay, Laura Keane, Chris Schumaker, Mama Johnson, Sara Singh, Art Keeble, Cat Thompson, Carolyn Kossar, Nancy Cervanka, Charles Lyman, Neverne Covington, Dee Hood, Pat Fenda, Angela Dickerson, Stuart Lippe, Steve Holm, Abbie Rubin, Mernet Larsen, Britzel Vasquez, Hillary Adams, Erica Schmidt, Monica Naugle, John Briggs, Carolyn Briggs, Jay and Peter Aalberg, James Harvey, Jim Graves, Paul Wilborn, Laurie Karpay, Frankie Wujick , Doug Werner, Jeffery Kronsnoble, Dan Bradbury, Judy Chicago, Kenny Scharf, Kathy Olivas-Peters, Anna Tomczak, Maria Castiglianoa, Ruby Williams, Ralph Warren, David Audet, Zef and Oona Fessenden, Francis Pisacane, Ian Malinowski, Liz Gordon And others…!

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