L to R Christie Ruple, Dave McKee, Cora Lou Robinson, Melissa Brown

BPCC crew travelled to Memphis to film hospital in action for their documentary

Giclee was presented to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital by Cora Lou Robinson and the co-chairs of the Minden St Jude Auction during their special tour of the hospital in Memphis

LOUISIANA STATE SPECIAL OLYMPICS

 

This painting was commissioned by Sonny Taylor to be given to the State Director of the Louisiana Special Olympics Commission and depicts many of the events in which the kids competed.

BIRTHDAY PARTY-OLD COMMUNITY HOUSE-1940s

It was wonderful to be a child in the 1940s, especially in Minden. Even though a world war was going on, we felt safe here. Nothing today can compare to the life we had. We created our own entertainment and though we had no TVs, Wiis, or I-pods, no one could ever have had a better time than we did.

There were many birthday parties at the old Community House and I created this painting to bring back those memories. The painting depicts my old and dear friends and many things we did for fun.

We had a wonderful life here and I wish all children could experience what we had. Childhood was almost like a fairy tale and I will never forget mine.

....................................................................

This 8" x 10"oil painting is to be sold at silent auction on September 13, 2010, with the proceeds to be donated to the Dorcheat Historical Museum.*

* Top bid was $6000 by Margaret Evans!

**Notecards now available--(8 notecards w/envelopes $10.00)

New Book With My Art on Back Cover

Cora Lou Robinson art on the back of this book is the wedding of Treeby Miller and Harry Andress.

This book could be called Minden, Louisiana:1838-1938, but it's not really a history. When I Was a Little Girl and After, Too is the memoirs of a Southern lady who lived her life in the middle of her family's history. Treeby Miller Andress--a Minden High School and Newcomb College graduate, teacher, wife and mother of three--provides a humorous account of her own early days in Minden and a somewhat more serious account of her ancestors' lives. They were prominent business, civic and church leaders for the entire hundred years covered. This book was compiled by son, Thad Andress as a loving memorial to his grandmother and mother.

G V WISE GROCERY & MARKET-circa 1940s*

Gilbert Wise started Wise's Grocery with $60 back in the early thirties. Gilbert and his wife, Alice, owned and operated this wonderful country-style store for over fifty years. Alice's sister, Grace Gruner, worked there also.

This kind of store is unheard of today. They raised their vegetables and Gilbert butchered the meat. They delivered groceries every morning, and if you needed help thinking of something to cook, Alice and Grace would make suggestions and send what you needed. If you asked for shelled peas and they didn't have any, they'd shell some for you. They even delivered one postage stamp, nothing else, to a shut-in man on the Sibley Road.

Those were wonderful times with wonderful people--- I MISS THEM!!


*this painting is available as a giclee at Easley Fine Art (318-377-1500)

**Notecards now available--(8 notecards w/envelopes $10.00)

Pete Treat (holding the original painting) started the auction in 1976.

A Story of Hope "Minden St. Jude Auction"

being interviewed by Laura Hollingsworth
during the Minden auction

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Written by Bonnie Culverhouse of Minden Press Herald
Wednesday, 03 February 2010
Painting sure to be popular item at the annual St. Jude Auction

Cora Lou Robinson’s paintings always tell a story.

Eighteen years ago, she painted the story of the life of Denise Whaley, a young lady who died from Leukemia. It included her twin sister, Lori, and many of their friends. That painting brought in almost $5,000 for the children of St. Jude.

“It was so popular, prints were given to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket,” said St. Jude Auction Co-Chairperson Melissa Brown.

The winner, Jessica Beech, presented the original painting to Denise Whaley’s parents, Toby and Susan.

It’s taken Brown quite a while to convince Robinson that it was time for a new work of art to be raffled off at the auction. “I’ve begged her for 18 years,” Brown said. Now that she’s retired, Robinson said she has “a little” more time. “I just decided this year, I would do it,” she said.

Robinson has worked non-stop since Christmas on the folk-art-style painting, putting in between 300 and 400 hours on it. “There are so many stories connected with St. Jude and this painting,” Robinson said of the new work. “I’ve tried to incorporate people and stories from 1976, when the auction first started to today.” She even has a scene of Beech presenting the first painting to Susan Whaley. Robinson said she became passionate about St. Jude after Denise Whaley died. “She was one of my students in kindergarten and first grade,” Robinson said. “I did that painting and from then on I have worked at St. Jude every year.”

The auction stage is the center of Robinson’s painting with blocks of different sponsors surrounding it. A group of children represents students from E.S. Richardson School where Robinson taught and has helped with fund-raisers over the years. Another group represents the students from Bossier Parish Communitiy College who give of their time to help the auction stay on the air.

Robinson has also chosen quite a few individuals to spotlight, including Pete Treat, who first started the auction in 1976.

There is a group of children honoring those who are success stories and those who deserve to have their memories honored.

Robinson enjoys folk art because, as she said, “It doesn’t have to be perfect.” But it always tells a story. “It (the painting) tells a wonderful story,” she said. “From the beginning of St. Jude until today. It’s all about what the auction does for children, and that’s why I put a lot of children in the painting. They grow up and become the grown-ups who are in this painting.”

“Nobody can understand how hard these people work,” she continued. “I’m doing this painting in honor of these workers.”


This year’s Minden St. Jude Auction and all of those that came before it were commemorated by Cora Lou Robinson in a painting called “Minden St. Jude Auction,” which was raffled off to raise funds during the auction.

Minden St. Jude Auction Co-chairman Melissa Brown said prints of Robinson’s painting are now available at Easley’s Fine Art on Main Street and giclees` may be ordered.

Prints are being sold for $20, while the computer reproduced giclees` sell for $250.

“All proceeds still go to St. Jude, so they are tax deductible,” Brown said.*

*To date over $10,000 has been raised.


http://www.mindenstjude.com/